News

Medication Delivery Services

We have been made aware that many patients are having problems with medication deliveries when the prescriptions are requested to be sent to some online pharmacy services.  Some pharmacies are not able to send out prescriptions that contain medications that are controlled drugs, including some pain killers and sleeping tablets.  We have also been advised that patients are having to wait up to 2 weeks for their medication deliveries and are having great difficulty getting any assistance from the online pharmacy customer service agents.

Once the prescriptions are issued by our clinicians or dispensary team and are signed off electronically, the provision of the medication ceases to be our responsibility.  Unfortunately we do not have dedicated contact details for these companies, and they frequently do not reply to our calls or emails.   If you are having problems with your online supplier we would strongly suggest looking for an alternative or utilising the local pharmacies.   Our dispensary team are exceedingly busy and receiving numerous calls daily concerning non-receipt of medications adds to that toll, which results in further delays.

 

Added 18/12/20

COVID Vaccine- What we know so far

We would like to thank Cambs LMC for providing the following FAQ information for communication with out patients about the upcoming COVID vaccine.

 

Headlines last week spoke of “Covid vaccine by Xmas from GPs”. What does this mean for me?
 
Whilst we certainly would want to be involved in any vaccination campaign, we don’t have any information ourselves yet and contrary to media reports no ‘deals’ have yet been done, but we expect more information soon.
 
Will you be getting paid to vaccinate us? 
 
GPs hold a contract with the NHS to provide certain services. The money from that contract pays for the building, the heating and electricity, the nurses, receptionists and staff, clinical equipment and a variety of other expenses that go with providing services to patients.
 
If the government wants GPs to do something new, (e.g. deliver a new vaccine) it will buy that service from the GP to pay for the extra staff, clinics and hours to cover expenses. It is very unlikely that GPs will make a profit out of the Covid vaccine. Based on current information they may make a loss, but recognise that it is the right thing to do for their patients and communities.
 
But what we don’t know, if what we might have to consider stop doing, to free up time to provide this vaccination service, given that we are working at 150% compared with this time last year, according to our LMC’s survey.
 
But isn’t it just like a flu jab?
 
No, not by a long stretch.
 
Flu jabs are delivered in their own little syringes, and kept refrigerated. They can safely last in a vaccine fridge for several months. We can keep them and use them, either in dedicated flu clinics or opportunistically if we see you for something else. We can run the clinics a bit like a conveyor belt, as I’m sure many of you will have experienced. We can get a large number of people vaccinated in a very short period of time.  People then leave the practice immediately. Once a year, job done. 
 
So what’s different about a new Covid vaccine compared with the flu jab?
 
These new vaccines are not yet ready, and we don’t know when they will be. They are completely different. They need to be stored frozen in special dry ice, colder than a home freezer (about -70°C). Surgeries don’t have those freezers. So they will be delivered whilst they are defrosting for use. However they can inky be stored in a vaccine fridge for a few days before expiring.  They don’t come in their own little syringes. We will have to carefully draw them up from a main vial, dilute and mix them for each individual which will probably take from start to finish about 20 minutes, needing two members of staff (one to draw up, one to check - this is established safe practise with these preparations to minimise error). Once the patient has received their Covid-jab they must wait for 15 minutes to ensure no serious reaction -these vaccines are brand new, and whilst there is a huge regulatory framework to ensure their safety, we will have to take extra care.  This in itself will be difficult as we have to maintain social distancing and we don’t know how quickly these clinics will take place. It will be nowhere near as quick as a flu clinic.
 
Will this be at my local GP surgery?
 
To begin with, NHS England thinks that areas will have one central Covid-jab centre. This might be in a local practice. It might be yours, it might not. You may have to travel. How the chosen centre will continue to look after its patients ongoing and urgent health needs, we don’t yet know. No details of those plans have been shared yet.
 
Is it just one jab?
 
No. You will need two. They will be 3-4 weeks apart but you must not have had any other vaccinations in the previous week. 
 
How many patients will get it the vaccine when it’s ready?
 
Government says it wants 40 million people vaccinated (that’s 80 million appointments). Putting that into context, every year there are 40 million A&E attendances and 360 million GP appointments. This is going to take a long time. There are no spare GPs or practice nurses. We don’t yet know how we are going to plan for this on top of what we are doing now - managing hundreds of acute and chronic patients every day: on the phone, over video and being brought into the surgery by invitation.
 
Will it be available by Christmas?
 
No one knows. But if it is, there will be a very small number of doses and we think the Government might suggest protecting Care Home residents first. 
 
Whatever you read in the paper or online, don’t forget - this is going to be very difficult. We need to make sure there is a safe system and a safe vaccine first.
 
Even when it comes, it won’t prevent Covid, it will only make its effects milder. So please bear with us - we are in the dark too. 
 
And there is still every reason to think ‘Hands, Space, Safe’ for a long time to come.
 
Keep safe.

Cambridgeshire Hearing Help

Coronavirus Update November 2020

Our NHS drop-in Hearing Help Sessions throughout the county still remain closed.

However, we have opened four Hearing Aid Maintenance Centres located in Ely, Cambourne, St Ives and Fulbourn, where you can go to get your hearing aids cleaned and retubed.

This is a drop-off and wait outside 30-minute service, by appointment only.

  • • Ely Hearing Aid Maintenance Centre, every Monday from 10:30am to 3:30pm at Ely Library, 6 The Cloisters, Ely CB7 4ZH
  • • Cambourne Hearing Aid Maintenance Centre, every Tuesday 10.30am to 3.30pm at The Hub, High St, Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6GW
  • • St Ives Hearing Aid Maintenance Centre, every Wednesday from 10.30am to 3.30pm, at St Ives Library, 4 Library Row, Station Road, St Ives PE27 5BW

 

  • • Fulbourn Hearing Aid Maintenance Centre, every Thursday 10.30am to 3.30pm at The Swifts Meeting Room & Library, Haggis Gap, Fulbourn, Cambridge, CB21 5HD

To book an appointment please contact the office on telephone: 01223 416141 or email: enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk

We continue to send batteries by post.

If you require batteries please contact the office and leave a message stating your name, full address including postcode and what SIZE battery you require: this will either be size 312 Brown, size 13 Orange or size 675 Blue

 

Cambridgeshire Hearing Help CIO, 153 St Neots Road, Hardwick, Cambridge, CB23 7QJ Registered Charity No 1154071 Tel 01223 416141 enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk www.cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk

NHS Friends and Family

FREE Online fitness classes!

Mencap are offering free online exercise classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 11am via Zoom

To find out more and to join, follow the link below

https://www.mencap.org.uk/about-us/our-projects/mencap-sport/join-our-online-fitness-classes?utm_campaign=1520838_Online%20accessible%20activities%20280820&utm_medium=email&utm_source=dotmailer&dm_i=4P14,WLHI,2UYAVY,40XP0,1

 

Flu Vaccination Eligibility Criteria

People aged 65 years or over (including those becoming age 65 years by 31 March 2021)

Those aged from six months to less than 65 years of age, in a clinical risk group such as those with:

 

  • Chronic (long-term) respiratory disease, such as severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or bronchitis
  • Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
  • Chronic kidney disease at stage three, four or five
  • Chronic liver disease
  • Chronic neurological disease, such as Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease,
  • Learning disability
  • Diabetes
  • Splenic dysfunction or asplenia
  • A weakened immune system due to disease (such as HIV/AIDS) or treatment (such as cancer treatment)
  • Morbidly obese (defined as BMI of 40 and above)
  • All pregnant women (including those women who become pregnant during the flu season)
  • Household contacts of those on the NHS Shielded Patient List, or of immunocompromised individuals, specifically individuals who expect to share living accommodation with a shielded patient on most days over the winter and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable

  • Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or who are the main carer of an older or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill

  • Health and social care staff, employed by a registered residential care/nursing home or registered domiciliary care provider, who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza.

  • People living in long-stay residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities where rapid spread is likely to follow introduction of infection and cause high morbidity and mortality. This does not include, for instance, prisons, young offender institutions, university halls of residence, or boarding schools (except where children are of primary school age or secondary school Year 7).

 

  • Health and care staff, employed by a voluntary managed hospice provider, who are directly involved in the care of vulnerable patients/clients who are at increased risk from exposure to influenza.
  • Health and social care workers employed through Direct Payments (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients and service users.

Avoid Valved Masks

Valved Masks are not fluid resistant and therefore do not offer adequate protection against COVID-19, please see the link to the guidance below point 10.0 for more information.

Patients attending the surgery for an appointment wearing valves masks will be asked to wear an fluid resistant FFP2 mask on top of their own mask so we can ensure the safety of our staff.

https://ww.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-infection-prevention-and-control/covid-19-personal-protective-equipment-ppe#section-10

Lasting Power of Attorney

A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that lets you appoint one or more people to help you make decisions or to make decisions on your behalf.

This gives you more control over what happens to you if you have an accident or an illness and cannot make your own decisions (you ‘lack mental capacity’).

You must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make your own decisions) when you make your LPA.

You do not need to live in the UK or be a British citizen.

Please visit https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney to find out more

Midwife Referrals

Have you recently discovered you are pregnant?

Did you know you can now self refer to the midwife indtead of coming to the the surgery to ask us to do this for you? Please ensure you have read the 'Your Choices' leaflet on the website before submitting your referral so you are aware of the options available to you such as:

  • Where to give birth.
  • Which hospital you can receive your care from.
  • What support and education is avavilable.

To read the leaflet, find out more information and refer yourself please visit https://www.nwangliaft.nhs.uk/maternity/im-pregnant/

Happy Birthday!

 
We have been working hard in the past few months to try and streamline our recall system so anyone with a Long Term Condition (LTC) will be invited to come in for their monitoring on their birthday month!
 
Not only will this hopefully mean less trips to the surgery for you our patients, it will also save clinicians time and help us deal with the back log of patients who had their appointments cancelled at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Recalling patients for the monitoring of their LTCs is a mammoth task and many surgeries have adopted this system as it helps patients remember to book in for their monitoring themselves which in turns helps support the surgery as on average we will be contacting 400 people per month.
 
How does it work?
 
We have synchronised all of your LTCs and added a recall on your birthday month which also allows ourclinical and non-clinical teams understand which appointments and monitoring needs you require.  In creating 4 categories in which you may fall in to  we can determine how many visits to the surgery you have and which type of clinician you will be required to see. Obviously the more LTCs you have been diagnosed with then unfortunately the more trips you may have to have.
 
We will send you a reminder a maximum of three times, after which we will not try any more until the following year.
 
How will you contact me?
 
We will send out reminders to you during your birthday month asking you to book in for your monitoring, this could be in the form of a text message, letter or phone call. Please make sure you that you have updated your details and given us consent to receiving text messages.
 
What if my birthday has passed this year or I've had a recent blood test?
 
We will begin by calling patients who had a birthday during April, May or June and inviting them to make an appointment if they have not already had a blood test. As it will take time for the new way of working to fall in to place you may have a blood test within the normal 12 month period, or slightly outside a 12 month period.
 
Results and Reviews
 
Many patients require follow up appointments with our Diabetic team, CHD nurse, Respiratory team or GP/ANP, at present all of these reviews are being done over the phone or via video consultation unless there is a real need for a face-to-face appointment.
 
Reviews usually involve blood pressure and weight checks, we will try and complete these when you attend for blood tests but we would encourage you to monitor your weight and blood pressure at home prior to your appointment and either bring the results with you or submit them via the surgery website. Please contact us if you have any concerns surrounding your home monitoring results.
 
We are keeping a record of our Diabetic patients who need a foot check and we will be contacting you to arrange an appointment when we are advised it is safe to do so. We urge you to contact us if you have any concerns regarding your foot health.
 
Respiratory Conditions
 
Monitoring of Asthma and COPD requires Peak Flow or Spirometry testing, these are both aerosol generating proceedures and are not currently being undertaken. We are keeping a record of the patients affected by this and will be in touch when it is safe to resume these tests.
 
Finally
 
Please be reassured that we understand the importance of your LTC and if you haveny any concern or should the GP/ANP wish you to have a blood test to monitor your condition we will book you in regardless of your birthday month. Where some monitoring is required more frequently we will invite you to make an appointment as appropriate.
 

Planning to Travel?

If you are planning to travel, make sure you remain safe and plan ahead to ensure you get the necessary vaccinations!

MASTA Clinic is now available to offer advice and vaccines for your long awaiting get away.

Visit their website for more information https://www.masta-travel-health.com/

Call them on 0330 100 4200

Email them at Enquiries@masta.org.

A guide to Test and Trace in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Want to understand Test and Trace a little more? Check out this handy information guide.

PCC CCC 3109 test and trace in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough - final v....pdf

Cervical Smears

If you had your Cervical smear cancelled at the beginning of the outbreak of COVID-19 then please get in touch with us to book yourself back in!

Or if you have received a letter stating that you are due for your routine cervical smear then do not delay and get yourself booked in now!

Masks/Face Coverings

We would ask that all patients attending the surgery for any reason wear a mask or face covering. Those patients attending appointments will be provided with a mask if they are unable to provide their own.

19/05/20

General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19)

 

This practice is supporting vital coronavirus (COVID-19) planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital.

To find out more about what information we are sharing to support COVID-19, why we share it, and how to opt out of data sharing please click in the document below.

 12/05/20

General Practice Transparency Notice for GPES Data for Pandemic Planning and Research (COVID-19).pdf

Self-Isolation Note

If you or a member of your household has symptoms of COVID-19 and have been advised to self-isolate then please follow the link to access NHS 111 Online were you will be able to apply for a self-isolation note.

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

12/05/20

 

COVID-19

 

If you or a household member have either:

  • a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
  • a new, continuous cough – this means you've started coughing repeatedly
  • a loss of/change in tastse/smell

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.

 

Living alone

If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.

Other household members

If you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill.


For anyone in the household who starts displaying symptoms, they need to stay at home for 7 days from when the symptoms appeared, regardless of what day they are on in the original 14 day isolation period.

For all the information on COVD-19 guidance click here: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

HGV License renewal

Temporary change applies to drivers whose licences are due to expire or have expired since 1 January 2020.

Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you currently do not need to provide a medical report (form D4) to apply to renew your licence.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a 1 year licence. Click here for more information

Our new Social Prescriber

 

The George Clare Surgery would like to welcome Mary our new Social Prescriber to the team!

To find out more about Mary's role click here

Key functions of the Social Prescriber:

  • Building rapport and trust with people
  • Listening to 'what matters to them'
  • Helping the person to develop a personalised support plan
  • Knowing the services and support networks available in an area
  • Conecting people to services/support (formal e.g. commisisoned services and informal e.g. groups/clubs/networks)
  • Supporting local communities to set up new activities e.g walking group, gardening club at community centres, coffee morning etc.

 

  • Who would be suitable to be referred to a social prescriber?
  • People with one or more long term condition
  • Those who need support with their mental health
  • Those who are lonley or isolated
  • People who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing

 

 

“I once felt so useless when I now know I’m a star,

I’m strong and I’m resilient because I’ve come so far.

My life is now worth living when it could have been so tragic,

And that’s why social prescribing is a prescription of pure magic.”

 

Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)

We are upgrading to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which will mean that almost all our prescriptions will be processed electronically from 18/03/2020

Electronic prescriptions help save the NHS money.

You will receive your prescriptions in the same way as you do now.

About EPS

EPS allows prescribers to send prescriptions electronically to a dispenser (such as a pharmacy) of the patient's choice. This makes the prescribing and dispensing process more efficient and convenient for patients and staff.

The benefits

The benefits of EPS are that:

  • prescribers can process prescriptions more efficiently and spend less time dealing with prescription queries
  • dispensers can reduce use of paper, have improved stock control, and provide a more efficient service to patients
  • patients can collect repeat prescriptions from a pharmacy without visiting their GP, and won't have a paper prescription to lose

To find out more click here

NHS Health Checks

Get your ‘midlife MOT’ with a free NHS Health Check

NHS Health Checks are now being provided across Cambridgeshire as part of a national screening programme. The programme aims to give people a once-over as they move into their middle years, helping spot signs early and providing peace of mind. It lets you take control of your health, and enjoy life for longer.

Give us a call to sign up!

What do NHS Health Checks protect against?

NHS Health Checks detect a range of different vascular and circulatory conditions. This includes Dementia, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, Strokes, Diabetes and Kidney Disease. Catching symptoms for these issues early will help healthcare professionals to offer treatment and suggest lifestyle changes, and can prevent more serious problems in the long-term.

Who is eligible for NHS Health Checks?

NHS Health Checks are available for anyone who’s aged between 40 and 74 and isn’t already in touch with their GP about a pre-existing condition. A ‘midlife MOT’ like this can help you to live a longer and healthier life.

What does it involve?

The NHS Health Check is very straightforward, and it will only take 20-30 minutes.

It’s based on simple questions about age, lifestyle and family history, along with standard measurements of height, weight, urine content and glucose and cholesterol levels.

What happens afterwards?

A healthcare professional will discuss the results with you in detail afterwards. You’ll be given a full personalised report. This will provide resources and support to help with staying healthy and keeping up good habits, including information about the local support services.

Doctorlink

 

We have been looking at how we can improve access to Practice services; DoctorLink is our new online service where you can access advice and appointments on line. following an assessment you will directed to the right treatment, whether emergency care, your GP, nurse or self-care.

Use online or via the app (available to download from the App Store & Google Play store)

Click here to view our appointments page  to find out more!

 

 

MED3

Requests for certification of absence falls in to the following five catagories:

1. Personally affected so isolating for seven days

2. Personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven days

3. Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice

4. At risk group so following government advice

5. Those in full time education.

1. Personally affected so isolating for seven days

Patients can and should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work.

They do not need to contact their GP.

2. Personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven days

If they remain unwell and unfit to work after seven days the current advice is to visit www.111.nhs.uk where there is an online self-assessment tool; the patient may be invited to call 111 and given further advice and a MED3 certificate emailed to them.

They do not need to contact their GP.

3. Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice

4. At risk group so following government advice

GPs cannot and are not the gatekeeper of the statutory sick pay system. Employers are responsible for putting in place arrangements for home/remote working where this is possible. Where it is not, the employee may self-certify and return to work following the relevant absence which their employer may authorise as per government advice. Where they do become unwell during or after this time, point 1 and 2 applies.

They do not need to contact their GP.

5. Those in full time education.

There is no NHS requirement to issue certification to schools or colleges to confirm absence. These organisations must work with parents and students to ensure that any absence is appropriately recorded, obviating the need for a ‘doctor’s note’.

They do not need to contact their GP

Covid Med 3 Guidance 170320.pdf