Woodingdean MEDICAL CENTRE Newsletter

Woodingdean MEDICAL
CENTRE Newsletter
winter
2014
WE HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY CHRISTMAS AND WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND
HEALTHY NEW YEAR !
Special Points Of Interest
•
Staff Comings & Goings
•
Xmas & New Year Opening Times
•
Carers
•
Blood Pressure Update
•
Patient Participation Group News
•
Accident & Emergency
•
Recipe
Christmas Opening Times
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
24th December 2014
25th December 2014
26th December 2014
27th December
28th December 2014
29th December 2014
30th December 2014
31st December 2014
1st January 2015
8.30 am to 1 pm
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
Surgery Closed
Surgery Closed
8.30 am to 1 pm
8.30 am to 1 pm
8.30 am to 1 pm
New Years Day
&
&
&
&
2.30 pm to 6 pm (urgent appointments only)
Surgery Closed
Surgery Closed
Surgery Closed
Surgery Closed
3 pm to 6 pm
3 pm to 6 pm
2.30 pm to 6 pm
Surgery Closed
Brighton Walk-In Clinic & Late Opening Pharmacies
Brighton Station Health Centre Walk-In Clinic, Aspect house 84-87 Queens Road, Brighton. Tel 01273 769350
(Open all day, everyday, from 8am until 8pm)
Ashton’s Pharmacy, 98 Dyke Road, Brighton. Tel 01273 325020
Westons Chemist, 6-7 Coombe Terrace, Brighton. Tel 01273 605354
CHALLENGE FUND!
You may have seen in the local Press that the
City of Brighton & Hove won a bid for the
Prime Minister’s Challenge Fund, which was
announced at last years Conservative Party
Conference. The basis of the Challenge was to
increase access to General Practice and to coordinate services. The implementation of this
has certainly been a challenge, but we are
working on projects to help implement this and
we will update you in our next Newsletter
about the projects we will be entering in to.
Measuring Blood Pressure at home and in
The Waiting Room
Following publication of new National Guidelines,
the Practice Clinicians have started to ask some
patients to take blood pressure readings at home.
This is in response to research, which shows
patients often have higher BP readings when taken
in a “medical environment”. It’s also thought to be a
positive change towards empowering patients to
become involved in their own care. Home readings
allow us to assess how a patients BP varies over a
seven day period, whilst relaxing at home. Our
doctors can then decide whether treatment with
medication would be advisable. If your doctor
recommends home monitoring, your name will be
added to a waiting list and the Practice Nurse will
contact you when one of our monitors becomes
available. Some patients may choose to buy their
own monitor. If so, they should be “British
Hypertension Society” approved, and should read
arm (not wrist) measurements. Further information
can be found at www.bhsoc.org or from our clinical
staff.
Accident & Emergency
Was your visit really necessary?
You have other Options!
Using the right service means you do not spend hours waiting
in A&E, and treatment can be given quicker to those really in
need or urgent care.
For non life threatening treatment or advice you can:
1
Visit / Call your GP
2
Go to your nearest Walk-In Centre
3
Call in to your local Pharmacy
4
Telephone NHS 111 – Free phone calls from
land lines as well as mobile phones.
Only dial 999 in emergency situations.
Inappropriate use of Emergency Services can deny critical
treatment to life threatened patients in the community.
Telephone Consultations (TCs)
Remember, there are many things we can deal with over the
telephone these days, so save yourself the time and energy
and ring us! We will always tell you if you feel you need to
come in for an examination etc. Telephone consultations are
available throughout the day with GP’s and Nurses. Please
ring reception in the normal way and they will arrange for the
GP or Nurse to ring you back.
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas!
As mentioned earlier the Surgery is closed for a four-day
period over the festive season. Please ensure that you
have enough medication to cover you over this period,
and that any repeat prescriptions that may need filling
over this period should be requested at least 10 days in
advance! Please allow at least 48hours for the
prescription to be filled before collection.
Some medications are available over the counter at the
local pharmacy for both adults and children, e.g.
Paracetamol and Ibuprofen for adults and Calpol and
Ibuprofen for Children. Many simple cough and cold
remedies are also available without prescription. Please
ensure you have a well-stocked medicine box at home
and please check that any existing remedies are still in
date!
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer!
You may have noticed that we have a BP machine in
our waiting room for you to use. It is very simple
and easy to use and the instructions are on the all
next to the machine. If you need any help and
advice to use the machine, please ask a member of
staff. Once you have taken your blood pressure,
please hand the printed reading to the reception
team. You will need to put your name and date of
birth on the reverse of the slip so that we can input
this result on your health record. Thank you.
Whilst Santa Claus has a sleigh and several reindeer to
help him with his special deliveries, doctor’s surgeries
do not have so much luck. The Christmas postal service
may lead to delays in receiving post and there may be a
reduced laboratory collection and results schedule.
Please bear this in mind and arrange any crucial tests
such as INR’s a few days before the holiday period, and
please allow extra time for the results of any tests.
Thank you.
Staff Comings & Goings
We would like to say a fond farewell to:
Doctor Beesley who will be leaving us at the end of December. We will all be sad to see her go and wish her
well for the future.
Receptionists – Lisa Winney has moved to pastures new and we wish her well
We would like to welcome two new Partners joining us in the New Year:
Dr Jenny Min and Dr Opel Baker. We know they are excited to be joining us and we are all looking forward to
working with them.
Quick Guide for Carers
There are approximately 23,000 carers in the City of Brighton & Hove. In many ways, unpaid carers are the
unsung heroes of the Health Care system, saving the Health Service billions of pounds every year as they
provide help and support to partners, children, friends, relatives or neighbours, who could not manage without
their carers regular and substantial help. This could be helping to care for someone who is ill, frail, disabled or
who has mental health or substance abuse problems. If you feel that you are, or might be, an unpaid carer,
please let your doctor or nurse know at your next consultation. You will be entitled to receive the flu jab at the
practice every year, and if you are not already reviewed on an annual basis for a pre-existing condition, you are
welcome to make an appointment with a practice Nurse for an annual health check. You can also request to be
referred for a “Carers Assessment”. There are may organisations out there specifically to support carers.
Brighton & Hove City Councils Access Point provides a single point of contact for social care services,
information and advice. They would be happy to help you find out more about taking a break-how to get a
carers assessment and even how to apply for a “carers card”- offering discounts on a range of activities across the
City to help carers look after their own health and wellbeing. If you feel you might need the reassurance of the
“emergency back-up scheme” for carers, then the Access Point is there to help. Telephone 01273 295555,
email: accesspoint@brighton-hove.gov.uk
There is also:
The Carers Centre works with adult and young carers, and provide:
Emotional support to help you cope with, and make choices about, caring.
Advocacy to ensure you get the benefits and services you need.
Support groups and activities.
Training Courses and events.
Telephone 01273 234045, email: info@thecarerscentre.org
Flu Immunisation
We still have flu jabs available for out “at risk” patients. If you
are 65 or over or you have a chronic condition such as heart
disease, diabetes or asthma, your doctor recommends that you
be immunised against flu. A new nasal spray is also available for
children who were two or three years old on the 1st September
2013. Please contact reception for further information on who
should have a flu jab or to book an appointment.
Woodingdean Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG)
Woodingdean Medical Centre Patient Participation Group continues to grow in number and
is actively involved in a number or events within the Surgery. The PPG aims to contribute to
the continuous improvement of the Woodingdean Surgery services by fostering improved
communication between the patients and the Practice. In September the PPG and Practice
staff hosted a ‘Macmillan’ Coffee Morning with a ‘Bake off’ competition for practice staff.
Their beautiful creations were tested and judged by the GP Partners, who we are sure,
thoroughly enjoyed tasting all the goodies, and later sold to raise funds at the Coffee
morning.
The PPG have continued with their fundraising and have recently been successful in their bid
to win funding from Woodingdean Community Association’s Healthy Neighbourhood
Scheme, towards the purchase of some personal weighing scales and BMI recording
equipment, that links to the existing Blood Pressure machine in the waiting room. This also
ties in with the planned ‘Surgery Pod’, coming soon, where patients will be able to check
their weight, take a blood pressure reading, check their BMI, and get basic self care
information in total privacy, in a small screened off private area within the existing patient
waiting room.
In December the PPG will be helping to host a ‘Mince Pie & Coffee Morning’ on Thursday
December the 18th from 10.00am until 12.00 noon, at the Medical Centre, with the children
from Woodingdean Primary School joining us for Carols at about 11am. All monies raised
from the raffle etc. will be used to support the ‘Crisis’, throw a Christmas Party campaign
for the homeless.
If you would like to know more about the PPG or if you are interested in becoming a regular
group member or if you would like to just receive updates by email then please do contact
the Practice reception or you can email our Vice Chair, Denise, at dabartup@hotmail.co.uk
for further details.
The PPG will be holding their next meeting on Wednesday the 7th January 2015, at
6.00pm at the Medical Centre, Warren Road, Woodingdean, BN2 6PG.
Please come along and join us for a cup of tea and cake. Your voice counts!
http://www.facebook.com/woodingdeanpatientparticipationgroup
HOMEMADE CHILLI
JELLY
Ingredients
4 long red chillies, roughly chopped
2 red peppers, seeds removed and roughly
chopped
300ml (9½fl oz) cider vinegar
800g (1lb 10oz) granulated sugar
3tbsp lemon juice
175ml (6fl oz) liquid pectin
Method
Place the chilli, peppers and vinegar in a food processor and pulse until chopped.
Transfer the mixture to a large stainless steel saucepan.
Add the sugar and the lemon juice. Bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, then boil
rapidly for 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the pectin. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then stir well and pour
the jelly into sterilizing jars, seal and label.
This recipe is moderately hot and sweet. Add a pepper to the mix, as it means you get a good red
colour without having too much heat, but if you fancy a hot jelly, mix in an extra chilli. You can
also add other flavours to your jelly; a little grated fresh ginger is tasty, as are herbs such as thyme
or rosemary. Simply add them to the food processor at the beginning of the recipe.
Top tips
There is no need to buy a specialised jam-making saucepan. Just make sure the pan you use is only
half full when all the ingredients have to be added, as you need to allow space in the saucepan
when the mixture is boiling. Stainless steel is best; avoid aluminium, as it may react with the
ingredients.
Pectin is the natural agent that causes preserves to set. When making jellies, add liquid pectin to
the mixture as it causes it to set quickly but without overcooking. Jars of liquid pectin are
available in most supermarkets.To sterilise your jars, either put them through the dishwashers or
wash them out in hot, soapy water. If hand-washing, rinse the jars with boiling water and then
drain on a clean tea towel before filling. To stop all the bits of chilli rising to the surface, let the
saucepan stand for 10 minutes before spooning your jam into jars. After filling the jars, seal them
immediately.