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Pickering Surgery News – January 2015
If you require this newsletter in large print or another format, please contact
the Practice on 01751 471296
Happy New Year !
We hope you enjoyed the holiday season but if you are beginning to regret over
indulging take the opportunity of the New Year to start eating sensibly again.
The eatwell plate shown overleaf highlights the different types of food that
make up our diet, and shows the proportions we should eat them in to have a
well balanced and healthy diet.
It's a good idea to try to get this balance right every day, but you don't need to
do it at every meal. And you might find it easier to get the balance right over a
longer period, say a week. Try to choose options that are lower in salt when
you can.
Eating healthily is about eating the right amount of food for your energy
needs. In England, most adults are either overweight or obese. This means
many of us are eating more than we need, and should eat and drink fewer
calories in order to lose weight.
Based on the eatwell plate, try to eat:
Plenty of fruit and vegetables. Did you know that we should be eating at least
five portions of a variety of fruit and veg every day?
Plenty of potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy foods. Choose
wholegrain varieties whenever you can, or eat potatoes with their skins on for
more fibre.
Some milk and dairy foods. Go for lower-fat milk and dairy foods. These are
healthier options to help you get enough protein and calcium.
Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein. These
are important sources of protein, vitamins and minerals, and form part of a
healthy balanced diet.
Just a small amount of foods and drinks that are high in fat or sugar. Cut
down on fat and sugar by eating fewer sweets, cakes and biscuits, and
drinking fewer sugary soft drinks.
Data from NHS Choices. For more information visit www.nhs.uk
Electronic Prescription Service
Pickering Medical Practice is introducing an Electronic Prescription Service. This service will
enable prescriptions for chemist patients to be sent electronically to the chemist for collection.
This is a service that dispensary patients already enjoy from the practice dispensary. For
this reason our dispensary is not currently ‘signed up’ to take part in the Electronic
Prescription Service.
What does this mean for you?
 If you collect your paper prescriptions from the practice you will not have to visit to pick it
up. Instead, we will send it electronically to the place you choose, saving you time.
 You will have more choice about where to get your medicines from because they can be
collected from a chemist near to where you live, work or shop.
 You may not have to wait as long at the chemist as there will be time for your repeat
prescriptions to be ready before you arrive.
Is this service right for you?
Yes, if you have stable condition and you:
 Don’t want to call at the practice to collect your repeat prescription
 Collect your medicines from the same place most of the time.
It may not be if you:
 Don’t get prescriptions very often
 Pick up your medicines from different places
If you wish to nominate a chemist to collect your prescriptions from please speak to one of our
reception team or one of our dispensers.
Out of area registrations
From January 2015 certain changes were made to the registering of patients outside the practice
area.
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The practice can now register patients who live outside the practice area.
Existing patients who move outside the practice area can apply to be kept on the doctor’s
list.
Each request will be reviewed by the clinical team before being accepted or rejected.
If your request is accepted please note: For patients whose registered address is outside our
practice boundary, we are unable to offer home visits. Such patients who develop an urgent illness
or injury at home are advised to contact the practice in the first instance. If we determine you need
access to services local to where you live, we may ask you to call NHS 111 who will direct you to
the local service that has been established by NHS England for patients such as you.
We will continue to see unregistered patients who present at the practice during surgery hours
when their need is urgent they will be given a temporary, on the day, registration.
Cover that Cough
Stop the spread of germs that make you and others sick!
How can I stay healthy?
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Clean your hands often with soap and water or an alcohol based hand cleaner
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth
Avoid close contact with people who are sick, if possible
How do I stop the spread of germs if I am sick?
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Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. Throw the used
tissue into a waste basket.
If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve
After coughing or sneezing, always clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol
based hand cleaner.
Stay at home when you are sick
Do not share eating utensils, drinking glasses, towels or other personal items.
Remember: although a cough is a nuisance, it cannot be cured by antibiotics. Please do not
pressure your doctor into giving you them.
Do you need a hearing aid?
Do you:
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Often ask people to repeat things?
Think others mumble?
Have difficulty hearing on the telephone?
Need to turn up the volume of TV or music?
Find conversations in noisy places difficult?
If you answered yes, you may be losing your hearing. A GP can check for treatable
causes like a build-up of wax or an ear infection, do simple tests, and refer you to a
specialist if needed.
If you do require a hearing aid you may be offered one on the NHS. Whilst most people
opt for an NHS hearing aid you can buy privately but if you intend to do this you’re best
off choosing an independent retailer over a chain.
A basic hearing aid typically includes and costs between £500- £1,400
 Automatic detection – increases the ratio of speech to noise detected.
 Directional microphone – directs the hearing aid to sound coming from
a specific direction.
 Four channels or fewer.
 Bandwidth 250Hz to 5kHz
 Three user defined settings – lets you control how the device behaves.
 Control gain at 3 inputs (eg soft, medium and loud).
Up to high end £1,900 - £4,400 which obviously has a lot of extra features
including
 Multi – directional microphone configuration
 More than 3 user defined programme settings
 Advanced automatic detection
 Bandwidth 250Hz to 6kHz
 Anti-phase feedback management
 Bluetooth streaming functionality
 Bilateral volume control/programme adjustment
 User learning
 Automatic adaptation
Data obtained from the Which magazine for further information visit
www.which.co.uk/hearingaids
Research
We are currently carrying out a MIR study which is looking at the effectiveness of an antidepressant
called mirtazapine as a treatment for depression when given in addition to other antidepressant
medication. Letters have been sent to certain patients regarding this. If you have received one but
not completed the form yet to send back to the study team regarding whether or not you give
permission to enter the trial, could you do so please. A quick tick to say yes or no in the box helps us
and the study team a great deal. Stamped addressed envelopes have been provided.
The ELIOT study in relation to asthma has now reached its target and is no longer recruiting. Thank
you to all those patients who have attended and been enrolled onto the study.
Pickering GP Practice
Steams Ahead with
Research
Since May 2014 Pickering Medical Practice have worked in collaboration with
the NIHR CRN: Yorkshire and Humber to increase the number of portfolio
research trials and recruits into studies within the surgery.
With funding provided for the practice nurse Rebekah Roberts to undertake
research activities, the Practice have recruited to several portfolio trials;
HEAT, Anti CCP, MIR trial, THEMIS and ELIOT and have further plans to take
on several more studies.
With Michelle Platton, Senior Community Research Nurse with the network
acting as a mentor, Rebekah and the practice have been the highest
recruiting site for the Anti CCP trial for the last three months – an achievement
recently praised by the trial manager.
Dr Thiagu, one of the practice GP’s is keen to create a research culture.
Research is now firmly on the agenda and will also be part of the patient
participation group agenda for January 2015. Creating healthy competition
between GP’s regarding identifying research patients, ensuring all practice
staff are aware of the research undertaken, and using innovative strategies to
recruit have all helped in the success at Pickering.
Rebekah Roberts comments
“I have thoroughly enjoyed developing my role as a research nurse at
Pickering Medical Practice. Time restraints are an issue but I have been
supported by such a wonderful team in the surgery and also through Michelle
Platton of the CRN who has enabled me to build on my knowledge,
organisational skills and develop my interest in research. I am extremely well
supported by our IT department who are always on hand to help with sending
letters, doing searches etc. and I would like to thanks Siobhan and Cheryl for
all the work they put in. Dr Thiagu is our PI and considering how busy he
already is at the surgery, he supports me so well while we are trying to build
our profile in research. I meet with the GP partners on a 2 monthly basis to
update them on research issues and we even have a competition to see who
makes referrals to studies, which proves that they do have a healthy
competitive side!” Michelle platton added how she is “delighted at the
progress that Pickering practice has made in the last six months and feel that
we should celebrate their success and praise their efforts. Research is now
firmly embedded in the practice and will continue to be an essential element
of the services offered”.
Thank you
To everyone who bought a bauble to dedicate to their loved ones and helped decorate our Christmas
tree in the waiting room.
We raised £247.50 and this has been sent to Leeds Neonatal Services.
New You - NHS Smokefree Service
Give yourself the best chance to stop smoking for good. Sarajayne Lee the
smoking advisor from the NHS Smokefree Service is available here at
Pickering Medical Practice every Friday morning.
To arrange an appointment with her ring 0300 303 1603.
Alternatively we have 7 registered smoking cessation advisors based here
at the surgery, who can offer the same programme of support and
medication any day of the week. Please ask at reception or ring the
appointments line on 01751 471296 option 2 to book an appointment.
Blood Donor Sessions
Organ Donation
2.2.15 –Community Sports Centre, Malton
2.3.15 – Royal British Legion, Kirkbymoorside
Join the organ donor register today.
Ring 0300 123 23 23
To learn more go to:
http://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/
Knit to Share – Knit to Care
Wanted!
Do you love to knit or make things? Would you like to volunteer?
I need volunteers to knit, sew, crochet either at home or in a group.
Join me on a mission to GIFT a hand made Teddy to an elderly person living with Dementia at
home or in care. Many have few visitors or family to take care of them or look in and say hello.
Help me put a smile on their faces with a ‘Teddy to hug’ of their own.
If you are interested in creating a Knit n Natter group or donating wool, patterns, needles or making
a Teddy then please get in touch.
Kim Pennock
Creative Director
[email protected]
Knit to Share Knit to Care on facebook
#knittoshare on Twitter
Read more from Kim, a Purple Angel Ambassador, in our topic on Dementia
Dementia
We all know someone who suffers from it but how can we help? Here at the practice we are all too aware of
how devastating it is for both the patient and their family when this is diagnosed. The staff at the practice are
trying to find ways in which they can become more understanding of the problems a patient with dementia
faces and of how they can help.
A lot of the practice team have recently signed up to become Dementia Friends which is an initiative of the
Alzheimer’s Society and Public Health England. You can find out more by visiting
www.dementiafriends.org.uk.
Another group helping to spread the word regarding dementia is Purple Angel.
Kim Pennock is the local Purple Angel Ambassador and she sends this message regarding her role and the
Purple Angel group.
What is a Purple Angel Ambassador?
Norman McNamara, a man living with Lewys Body a type of Dementia created the group in order to spread
awareness of this dreadful disease far and wide.
People like me joined the campaign here in England but we now have over 250 ambassadors worldwide
working hard to help others try and understand that Dementia is a disease of the brain that can affect
anybody anywhere and at any age too.
Many, me included, think this disease is just something elderly people get which of course it isn't.
My mum has Vascular dementia and Alzheimer's and over the last four years I have learnt so much about it
that I felt I should try to pass some of that information on to others in order to break down some of the
barriers society put up when faced with something we do not understand very well.
I am no expert, as there are many others who are of course, so my own aim has been to create awareness and
understanding within my community so that those living with this disease can lead as normal a life as it's
possible too, but still within their own environment rather than feeling isolated and being treated badly.
Businesses in Thornton le Dale have all read an information awareness poster and are now supporting the
group by showing our Purple Angel logo in the window. This has been a great success for the people who visit
our area with their loved ones who have Dementia. Simply being aware and not excluding people is a huge
step forward and should you wish to learn more then please do take a look at our web site. Speak to a
community nurse or your GP if you have any concerns for your own mental health or a loved one. Earlier
diagnosis is essential as many things can be done to reassure and to help people lead as normal a life as
possible.
More information can be found on our website www.purpleangel-global.com
Missed Appointments
153 clinical appointments were missed during December. Please remember to cancel
your appointment if you no longer need it.
Don’t forget if you have a mobile phone you can sign up for SMS text appointment
reminders. Ask at reception for details.
Patient Participation Group
If you would be interested in joining the group please contact the secretary Sheila Branch on
01751 473029.
Whilst any new recruits would be welcome, we are particularly interested in recruiting members
under the age of 50
Gluten- Free Carrot Cake
Ingredients
140g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
200g caster sugar
250g carrots, grated
140g sultanas
2 eggs, lightly beaten
200g gluten-free self-raising flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp gluten-free baking powder
50g mixed nuts, chopped
For the icing
75g butter, softened
175g icing sugar
3 tsp cinnamon, plus extra for dusting
Method
1. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line a 900g/2lb loaf tin with baking parchment.
2. Beat the butter and sugar until soft and creamy, then stir in the grated carrot and sultanas. Pour the
eggs into the mix a little at a time.
3. Add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and most of the chopped nuts and mix well. Tip the mix
into the loaf tin, then bake for 50-55 mins or until a skewer poked in the middle comes out clean.
Allow to cool in the tin for 15 mins, then remove from the tin and cool completely on a wire rack.
4.Meanwhile, make the icing. Beat the butter in a large bowl until it is really soft, add the icing sugar
and cinnamon, then beat until thick and creamy. When the cake is cool, spread the icing on top,
then sprinkle with a little more cinnamon and the remaining chopped nuts.
Accident and Emergency Crisis
Everyone will have seen how stretched hospital A +E departments have been this winter
How can we as patients help ?
Before going to A+E think
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Is my problem something the local pharmacist can deal with?
Can I wait until I can see my GP?
Remember here at Pickering Surgery, if your problem is urgent, you will be seen or given advice on
the day.
We also have a Nurse Practitioner, Lucy Martin. She is an experienced nurse who has undertaken
further specialist training. Nurse practitioners can deal with most common primary care problems.
If the surgery is closed ring NHS111.
Friends and Family Test
Since December we have been giving patients visiting the practice the opportunity to
comment on their treatment via a mini questionnaire. It asks whether, following their
experience, they would recommend us to friends and family and also whether they felt
the practice had improved during the last 12 months.
Briefly , 118 said it was extremely likely, 44 likely, 10 neither likely or unlikely, 5
said unlikely, 8 said extremely unlikely and 1 don’t know.
Whilst we are delighted at the amount of positive results received we would like to know
why in some cases you feel you could not recommend us. As it is our aim to offer a first
class service to our patients it would be most helpful if you could write to the practice
manager detailing where we are going wrong.
A few patients asked why they were being asked about recommending the practice
when there were no other practices in town to choose! We must point out that the
question and responses have been set by the Department of Health and is mandatory.
Responses to the question of whether they felt the practice had improved were varied
and the majority felt the service was improving all the time and was excellent. However,
some felt that our response to phone calls could be improved and also that the waiting
room was shabby. In response we are carrying out a survey of phone calls to the
practice to establish where the fault lies. In respect of the waiting room, we are
delighted to inform you that we are continuing our refurbishment of the building and the
seating area in the main waiting room should be reupholstered by the end of February.
Newspaper headlines around the world!
Include your children when baking cookies.
Drunk gets nine months in violin case
Survivor of Siamese twins joins parents.
Miners refuse to work after death
Two soviet ships collide; one dies.
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[email protected]
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