Kew Medical Practice Newsletter.

Transcription

1 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 General Practice in crisis: Increased demand Reduced funding Hayfever: The common allergy that affects 1 in 5. Dementia: Coughs, Colds and Antibiotics: Page 4 Page 8 Fewer GP s Longer Waits Continued on Worried about your and or loved ones memory? How to get the most out of the NHS: 2+3 Pharmacy First- minor ailments treated fast Page 5

2 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 General Practice in Crisis General practice is the cornerstone of the NHS, dealing with 90% of patient contacts in our health service. Good general practice treats minor conditions, recognizes more serious problems and refers them to the correct specialist, manages complex problems while being the lynch pin of public health. This allows a health service to be efficient, well organized and keep care close to the patients. The WHO recognizes this as the ideal health model. A number of issues have combined to lead to the situation we find ourselves in at present. The NHS has been chronically under funded for many years. While funding has increased over the years, compared to other developed countries we have fallen further behind. Fig 1. Shows the low level of health care spending compared to other developed countries. The increase from 2000 onwards reflex s the increased spending under Blair s Labour. However recent cuts have shown the line dive down again. In General Practice the increase in funding has fallen as a percentage of the total NHS. While funding for hospitals has increased by 40% over the last decade, funding in General Practice has fallen from its normal 11% to dangerously low levels. The most recent figures have shown it to be 7.9% of the NHS budget. More than 80% of GPs say they have insufficient resources to provide high quality patient care.. Fig 2 Shows the decrease in GP funding as percentage of NHS expenditure 2

3 Summer 2014 Lorem Kew Medical Ipsum Practice Dolor Newsletter. Spring 2016 In addition to decreased funding the General Practice has seen a huge increase in demand. Medicine has more treatments to offer, keeping the UK alive for longer. This has led to more complex and elderly patients. There has been an increase of over 40 million extra consultations a year from 10 years ago. While managing with less money and more patients with complex needs, the bureaucratic load has sored. GP s now spend hours each day filling in forms and ticking boxes to be able to claim back their funding. Over the last year the coalition government have put GP s in charge of commissioning new services in the NHS. While this is an exciting opportunity to shape local services, it increases further the work load of GP s. These added pressures have made general practice an increasingly stressful environment to work in. GP s who are near retirement age are retiring early, emigration of doctors has increased three fold. It is predicted we are currently short of 3000 GP s to rise to 9000 over the coming years. It is no wonder that medical school surveys show a drop in students wanting to be GP s from 30% to 13%. Many GPs now fear that patient care will be put at risk and 71% are predicting waiting times to worsen. We want to spend longer with our patients to fully address their needs. Currently we are getting less and less time. The put patient first campaign is calling for a UK wide increase in the share of funding that goes into general practice from 8.39% to 11% of the NHS budget by How you can help: Visit the Put Patients First website for easy links to: Contact your health and social care board Write to your MP SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE LOBBY HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE BOARD WRITE TO YOUR LOCAL 3

4 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Winter Summer 2013/ Hay fever: How to use a steroid nasal spray: 1. Blow your nose and shake the bottle. 2. Tilt your head forward. 3. Hold the spray bottle upright. 4. Insert the tip of the spray bottle just inside one nostril. Close the other nostril with your other hand, and apply one or two sprays as prescribed. 5. Breathe in as you spray (but do not sniff hard as the spray then travels past the nose to the throat). 6. With your head tilted forward, the spray should go to the back of your nose. 7. Repeat in the other nostril. Hay fever is a common allergic condition that affects up to onein-five people at some point in their life. Symptoms of hay fever include: sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. The symptoms of hay fever are caused when a person has an allergic reaction to pollen. Pollen contains proteins that can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses (small air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead) to become swollen, irritated and inflamed. You can have an allergy to: tree pollen, released during spring grass pollen, released during the end of spring and beginning of summer weed pollen, released any time from early spring to late autumn There is currently no cure for hay fever but most people are able to relieve symptoms with treatment, at least to a certain extent. Many people find that their symptoms improve as they get older. In an ideal world, the most effective way to control hay fever would be to avoid exposure to pollen. However, it's very difficult to avoid pollen, particularly during the summer months when you want to spend more time outdoors. Treatment options for hay fever include antihistamines (non sedating options such as Cetirizine are available without prescription), which can help prevent an allergic reaction from happening and corticosteroids (steroids eg Beconase nasal spray is available without prescription over the counter), which help reduce levels of inflammation and swelling. Many cases of hay fever can be controlled using over-thecounter medication available from your pharmacist. But if your symptoms are more troublesome it s worth speaking to your GP as you may require prescription medication. For persistent and severe hay fever there is also a type of treatment called immunotherapy where you are exposed to small amounts of pollen over time in order to build up a resistance to its allergic effects. However, this can take many months or even years to be effective. If you are affected by hay fever then a good tip is keeping an eye on the pollen count on the weather forecast and if high levels are predicted then taking an antihistamine prophylactically (that is before your symptoms start). Further information: 4

5 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 How to get the most out of the NHS: Pharmacy First Every week appointment with your GP are taken to discuss minor conditions. Advice and treatment for these problems can be got at your local pharmacy. Freeing up appointments about warts, athletes foot and colds would allow your GP to spend more time tackling complex and challenging problems. If you are suffering from one of the ailments listed across, you may not need to go to your GP for treatment. So, instead of waiting for a GP s appointment, visit your local community pharmacy first. No appointment is necessary. The pharmacist will always offer advice and if appropriate they will supply a medicine from their formulary. If the pharmacist considers supply of a medicine is appropriate then it will be free for patients who are eligible for free prescription (you will need to show proof of exemption). Patients who have to pay for prescriptions will pay the current prescription charge. If the medicine costs less than the prescription charge, then the patient would be informed of this so they can purchase it instead. Acne Athlete s foot Back pain Cold sores Conjunctivitis Constipation Contact dermatitis Coughs & colds Cystitis Diarrhoea Earache Ear wax Fever Haemorrhoids (piles) Hayfever & allergies Head lice Headache Indigestion Insect bites/stings Mouth ulcers Nappy rash Scabies Sprains & strains Teething Threadworm Toothache Thrush Sore throat Warts & verrucas 5

6 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 Travel Immunisations: Plan ahead to stay safe on Holiday We provide travel immunisations at Kew Medical Practice. We provide this non- NHS service as we know getting your vaccination with us is often the most convenient way. Please plan ahead: Many immunisations require a course to become fully effective, taking up to 6 weeks. It takes three weeks for immunisations to become fully effective. Organising your immunisations takes a few steps: to ensure the correct immunisations are given at the correct time. How to get your immunisations: 1- Complete our travel form- obtained from the reception (a version through our website should be available soon). This will provide Nina, the Practice Pharmacist, with the information needed to advise you about the immunisations that are recommended for your individual travel plans. 2- Some of these immunisations are free of charge, but some will incur a cost as they are not provided on the NHS and they need to be ordered specifically for you. We will therefore ask you to pay for these before your appointment, and they will normally be delivered (assuming there are no supply issues) within three days. These vaccines are not returnable to the supplier. 3- Make an appointment with Hyna the Practice Nurse who administers the vaccines. 4- Whilst we endeavor to inform you if there are any issues with supply of the vaccines, it is advisable to call before your appointment with the nurse to ensure that the vaccines have arrived. This is a service we endeavor to be as competitive as possible in terms of price. We do however recommend that you check other clinics for cost comparisons. For further information about immunisations please look at the Nathnac or Fit to Travel websites. If you have any queries, please request a call back from Nina. 6

7 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 Patient Participation Group (PPG): The PPG met again earlier in the year. The group discussed the previous meetings aims and questionnaires results (as shown in the waiting room). It then went on to discuss what to ask the practice population in the next questionnaire. The PPG is an opportunity to pass on questions, idea and concerns to us so we can feed this information back to the local decision-making Clinical Commissioning Group. If you wish to join the PPG or give your details to reception. We are now looking to form a virtual group. Apprentice Scheme: We are proud at Kew Medical Practice (KMP) to train apprentices, giving young people the opportunity to: Work alongside our experienced staff Gain job-specific skills in health care administration and clinical skills Earn a wage Study towards a NVQ After 18 months we have had our first two apprentices pass through KMP. Laura left a few months ago to a full time job as a medical secretary. Emily has recently left to start at a Nursing University in Buckinghamshire. It has been sad to see two members of our team leave but we also feel very proud to have helped two young people in their chosen careers. We ask you show our new apprentices the same kindness and patience you showed Laura and Emily as they get to know the ropes. When we get things wrong: We are only human and will make mistakes from time to time. A large part of what makes medicine a profession is being open about mistakes and trying to learn and improve from them. We actively encourage our patients to let us know if they feel we have let them down or could do things better. Ideally we would like to know face-to- face about a problem, as from our experience, an open and honest discussion could often allay most worries. However if you feel we still haven t answered your concerns, or feel unhappy talking about it, then please Continued write to the practice manager. The formal complaints procedure is available through the website and at the front desk. 7

8 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 Early Diagnosis of Dementia: Dementia diagnosis rates are shockingly low. Of the 800,000 people living with dementia, less than half have a diagnosis. Without this, they are denied access to support, information and potential treatments that can help them to live well with their condition. Should I be concerned about my memory? It s happened to all of us at some time or another. You can t put a name to a face. You forget where you put your keys. You can t remember where you parked the car. Most of the time such slips are a nuisance, rather than a sign of something more serious. But if you are worried that your memory is getting noticeably worse, or if memory loss is beginning to affect your everyday life, it is worth seeking advice. You might also be concerned about someone close to you. It s important to seek advice because, in some cases, memory problems are an early sign of a medical condition such as dementia. Dementia affects everyone in different ways. As well as problems with memory, other signs can include feeling confused even when in a familiar environment, problems thinking things through, and finding it hard to follow conversations. You should seek advice without delay if your memory is having an impact on your daily life: Make an appointment to visit your GP they will listen to your concerns and possibly arrange for further investigation. Visit to find out more about dementia. If you are concerned about the memory of someone close to you, encourage them to visit their GP. You might start the conversation by gently asking the person if they ve been feeling any different from usual or are struggling with anything. Dementia Friends Dementia Friends is an Alzheimer s Society initiative giving people an understanding of dementia and the small things they can do that can make a difference to people living with dementia. The aim is to create a network of a million Dementia Friends across England by A Dementia Friend learns a little bit more about what it s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action - anyone of any age can be a Dementia Friend. From helping someone to find the right bus to spreading the word about dementia on social media, every action counts. If you are interested in becoming a Dementia Friend and joining a national initiative that will help people living with dementia feel included in their communities, then you need to register as a Dementia Friend and go to one of our Friends information sessions For more information, and to find out how to become a dementia friend or champion, see : 8

9 Kew Medical Practice Newsletter. Summer 2014 Meet the Team: Dr. Mojgan Fitzmaurice is the lead GP Partner who graduated from Manchester and trained in South West London. She established Kew Medical Practice over 12 years ago and has developed it since. Her interests include Paediatrics, Rheumatology, Gynaecology, Preventative Health and teaching. She is married with three children. Nina Khalique: Practice Manager and pharmacist. Nina joined the practice in April 2012 and has 25 years experience in GP and healthcare management. She is also a practicing pharmacist and brings both these skills to the practice. Patricia Askew: Healthcare Assistant. She was previously a midwife. She is able to provide health checks, ECGs, bloods amongst other things. Carron Cox: Medical Receptionist who has been with the practice for many years. She continues her good work with us, especially with referrals and is a familiar face to many of you. Dr. Justin Woolley is the second GP and joined in September He trained at the Royal Free in North London before completing his basic surgical training and then GP training in Manchester. He has a special interest in Paediatrics, Minor surgery and Medical education. He is married, has a baby boy and is a keen rower. Hyna Bennett: Experienced nurse. She is a nurse prescriber who specilises in minor injury triage, chronic disease and travel health. She is passionate about healthcare especially child immunisations. Barbara Paice: Medical Receptionist who has come from a corporate background bringing excellent reception and administrative skills. Charlotte Munt: Is our newest apprentice and has fitted in extremely well with the team. She is expanding her clinical skills while doing vital administrative work to keep the practice running. AQP Podiatry: The local CCG (Commissioning Care Group) has commissioned a podiatry service under AQP (any qualified provider). This is a concept introduced under the new Health Care Act, which gives a choice to multiple providers, NHS and Private. If you have problems with your feet or nails talk to your GP about this excellent service with on an average only a three day waiting time for an appointment. 9

10 Kew Lorem Medical Ipsum Practice Dolor Newsletter. Summer 2014 Spring 2016 Kew Medical Services: We run a number of extra services from the practices premises: Travel Clinic: We can provide NHS and non-nhs travel advice, immunisations and malaria tablets. We are a yellow fever centre. Fill in a form at reception today. Please allow at least 4-6 weeks before traveling to ensure vaccination courses can be completed before travel. Private Physiotherapy: Carsten Uth is an experienced chartered physio with a further practice in Chelsea. Private Chiropractor: Adrian Cobb provides chiropractic treatments, specialising in sports injuries. Private Acupuncture: Ling Chen is an experienced private acupuncturist and herbalist who has worked with the practice for over 10 years. Kew Medical Practice: 14 High Park Road Kew Richmond, TW9 4BH Tel: Opening hours: Monday: 08:30-18:30 Tuesday: 08:30-19:30 (Late Opening) Wednesday: 08:30-18:30 Thursday: 08:30-18:30 Friday: 08:30-17:30 Saturday: Closed Sunday: Closed