News

CQC Inspection Report

We are delighted to announce that following an inspection of the surgery on the 29th March 2022 by the Care Quality Commission (the independent regulator of health and social care in England), that the practice has maintained the rating 'Good' in all key lines of enquiry Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
 
We are extremely proud of every member of our staff and the hard work that they put in every day providing care to our patients and maintaining high standards of care at all times, whilst adhering to practice, local and national policies and procedures.
 
Thank you to our patients for the continued support, understanding and regular supply of treats.
 
The full report is available today on the CQC website:

Hospital Appointments

The Covid19 pandemic has added to the strain on all NHS services. As a result of this, waiting list times for outpatient and specialist appointments and procedures have increased for everybody.

We appreciate that this can cause worry and uncertainty about when you will eventually receive an appointment. The practice has no direct access to the hospital appointment lists.

If you have been referred by your GP/are waiting for :

· An outpatient appointment

· An appointment for hospital tests (eg scans)

· A date for an operation or other treatment

· A follow-up from your hospital team

 

and you have a query about what is happening, please contact the Patient Helpdesk on 0800 048 5800.

 

Only call the practice if your condition has genuinely deteriorated, when you will be reviewed by one of the clinical team and appropriate action can be taken in regard to your care.

Changes to sick notes:

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) have made legislative changes from Friday 17 December 2021: self-certification for sickness will be extended from 7 to 28 days for people accessing Statutory Sick Pay, and there will be no requirement for a fit note to access other benefits.
 
Updated 29/12/21

Changes to prescription charge medical exemption certification

 
 
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has temporarily suspended the re-certification requirement for existing prescription charge medical exemption certificates. NHS Business Services Authority (BSA) will contact patients with existing medical exemptions that are due to expire between 16 December and 26 January and supply a new certificate extending their exemption for a further six months.
 
Updated 29/12/21

Minor Injury an Urgent Treatment Centres

There are a number of Minor Injury Units (MIU) and Urgent Treatment Centres (UTC) across the county that can treat a range of minor illnesses and injuries such as sprains and strains, broken bones, minor burns and scalds, minor head and eye injuries, bites and stings. 

No appointment required, opening hours over the Christmas and New Year period are as follows: 

 

Peterborough Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC), Peterborough City Hospital, Edith Cavell Campus, Bretton Gate, Peterborough PE3 9GZ.

Mon – Sun: 8am – 8pm. Including Christmas Day and Bank Holidays 

 

 Ely MIU, Princess of Wales Hospital, Lynn Road, Ely, CB6 1DN

Mon – Fri: 8.30am-6pm (x-ray xxxxx)
Sat and Sun: 8.30am - 6pm (x-ray 1pm - 5pm)

Christmas Day: Closed
Bank Holidays: 8.30am – 6pm (X-ray 1pm - 5pm)

Doddington Minor Injury Unit, Benwick Rd, Doddington, March PE15 0UG

Mon to Fri: 8.30am - 6pm (x-ray 9am - 5pm)
Sat and Sun: 9am – 5pm (no x-ray)
Christmas Day: Closed

New Years Day: Closed

Bank Holidays: 9am - 5pm

Wisbech Minor Injury Unit, North Cambs Hospital, The Park, Wisbech, PE13 3AB 

Mon – Fri: 8.30am - 6pm
Sat and Sun: Closed
Christmas Day: Closed
Bank Holidays: Closed

Pharmacy Opening Times over Xmas and New Year

Please click the link below to find the opening times of pharmacies within Cambridgeshire

https://www.england.nhs.uk/east-of-england/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2021/12/pharmacy-opening-xmas-ny-21-22-cambridgeshire-peterborough.pdf

Update December 21st 2021

As cases of the Omicron variant rise, we have had to make the decision to close the surgery doors. This does not mean that we are closed, or that we have no staff within the building, it means we have a more controlled environment allowing us to screen patients prior to entry thus reducing the risk to our vulnerable patients and hardworking team.

Members of our reception team will be answering the door to screen patients prior to entry, we will limit the numbers of patients within the waiting room to 8, so we ask that you arrive no more than 5 minutes before your appointment so we can avoid having to ask you to wait outside.

GP's and Advanced Nurse Practitioners will continue to operate a triage first service, bringing you in for an assessment if they feel it is clinically necessary. Our Nurses and Healthcare Assistants will also operate as normal but this allows us to screen their patients for covid symptoms prior to entry to ensure the safety of them and you, their patient.

I would like to remind you to be kind to our staff, they are all working exceptionally hard and also have to change their working ways to support these changes.

Support Your Surgery!

The British Medical Association (BMA) are calling on the UK Government to provide the funding and commitment needed to urgently increase the number of GPs, practice nurses and other practice staff and to improve the premises in which they work.
 
 
 
This will help GP practices in England to meet the growing needs of people in our communities, providing the care we and our families need.
 
 
 
Support your surgery and sign the petition today! 🩺 https://e-activist.com/page/88027/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=website

Physiotherapy self-referral

You can now self-refer quickly and easily using the new online self-referral portal, follow the link below to access:
 

The PEGASUS Scheme

 
Pegasus is a free service for people who can find it hard to
communicate with the police,
 
• Patient fills out a form with name, address and preferable way of communication
• Police will keep the details safe on a secure database
• Once registered you will receive a ‘Pegasus’ card
• You will be given a unique ‘Pegasus’ PIN. This number will be printed on
the back of the card.
 
You can contact the police by phone, online and in person just like before but -
 
Someone who has registered can just say ‘Pegasus’ & give
their name or PIN
Police will look at your details on their database and will quickly be able to understand your individual needs
 
You can use this for both emergency and non-emergency calls and texts to the police (Emergency text: 18000
Non-emergency text: 18001 101)
 
 
updated 9/9/21

Fitness to Drive

During COVID many drivers' licences have expired. The DVLA initially gave extensions so that drivers could continue to drive and work. For many drivers however, this extension is coming to an end. Some Drivers are now being told by the DVLA to ask their GP if they are “fit to drive” so that they can continue to drive under Section 88 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (RTA 1988). The DVLA has produced a leaflet which explains RTA 1988.

GPs are not qualified, trained or indemnified to advise patients whether or not they are fit to drive. In normal circumstances a practice may provide a factual report for the DVLA so that their expert medical advisers will decide upon fitness. If a GP were to provide an opinion that their patient was ‘fit to drive', and then an accident were to occur, the GP may be liable. This would not be covered by the NHS Clinical Negligence Scheme for General Practice, as this is not NHS work.

Are you aged 70- 79?

 
 
Did you know you are eligible for a Shingles Vaccination?
 
Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is a painful skin rash caused by the reactivation of the chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus) in people who have previously had chickenpox.
 
It begins with a burning sensation in the skin, followed by a rash of very painful fluid-filled blisters that can then burst and turn into sores before healing. Often an area on just one side of the body is affected, usually the chest but sometimes the head, face and eye.
 
The one-off vaccine contains a weakened chickenpox virus (varicella-zoster virus). It's similar, but not identical to, the chickenpox vaccine.
 
It does not guarantee you will not get shingles, but it will reduce your chances.
 
If you do get shingles, the vaccine will likely make the symptoms milder and the illness shorter. You'll also be less likely to get shingles complications, such as post-herpetic neuralgia.
 
Call us today to book or for more information visit:

HGV Medicals

We do offer appointments for these but, unfortunately, they do take up valuable GP appointments and are rather more costly than private companies.

You can self-refer on 0800 779 7023 or visit www.d4medicals.com. Appointments are available at Peterborough or King's Lynn. These medicals require an eye test.

The fees are published on the above website. Of note, there are other private firms other than the one listed above.

 

The current charge for HGV medical and report is £133 +VAT

The Peterborough Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) has now relocated to Peterborough City Hospital

The UTC (which will also include the GP out of hours service) is located next to the Emergency Department on the hospital site and continues to cover the full range of injuries and illnesses with access to diagnostics, such as x-rays and scans.

 

Opening hours will remain the same (8am - 8pm, 7 days a week).

NHS 111 can book an appointment for patients at the UTC if required by their healthcare concern or they can walk in.

 

added 01/07/21

General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR)

Patient data collected from general practice is needed to support a wide variety of research and analysis to help run and improve health and care services.

NHS Digital will collect:

  • data about diagnoses, symptoms, observations, test results, medications, allergies, immunisations, referrals, recalls and appointments, including information about physical, mental and sexual health
  • data on sex, ethnicity and sexual orientation
  • data about staff who have treated patients

NHS Digital does not collect:

  • name and address (except for postcode, protected in a unique coded form)
  • written notes (free text), such as the details of conversations with doctors and nurses
  • images, letters and documents  
  • coded data that is not needed due to its age - for example medication, referral and appointment data that is over 10 years old
  • coded data that GPs are not permitted to share by law - for example certain codes about IVF treatment, and certain information about gender re-assignment

This data will be shared from 1 July 2021.

Data may be shared from the GP medical records about:

  • any living patient registered at a GP practice in England when the collection started - this includes children and adults
  • any patient who died after 1 July 2021, and was previously registered at a GP practice in England when the data collection started

If you don’t want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both. These opt-outs are different and they are explained in more detail below. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option.

NWAngliaFT and DrDoctor

 

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust (Peterborough, Stamford and Hinchingbrooke Hospitals) has partnered with DrDoctor to launch a new digital system that will make it easier for patients to manage their outpatient appointment.

As part of the new system, NWAngliaFT has introduced text message reminders* and a secure online portal, where patients can view information about their appointment.

Once online you will be able to:

· Request to change or cancel your appointment (coming soon)
· View and download your appointment letters (currently only available for patients under the care of Gastroenterology, Medical Oncology, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology or Trauma & Orthopaedics)
· View location information, including google maps and floor plans
· View important clinic information, this may include leaflets and videos
· Add your appointment to your personal calendar

*Please make sure you have updated your mobile number with the surgery.

You may receive a text message from NWAngliaFT notifying you of appointment with a link to the online patient portal, where you can find out more information. The text will be delivered from a +44 mobile number, stating it is from North West Anglia NHS Trust.

Changes to medication via Secondary Care

Currently many appointments with our local hospitals are conducted over the phone, some of these may result in changes to current or the addition of new medication. 

We ask that our patients are aware these changes will not happen instantly. The surgery will need to await correspondence (for both routine and urgent medication amendmants) from the hospital before any changes to medication are made, and this can take several weeks. 
 
We suggest that if you attend a hospital appointment and you are given the option to collect a prescription from the hospital pharmacy whilst you are there, that you choose to do so.  This will result in changes to your treatment being started more promptly than waiting for your GP to receive your clinic letter.
 
Whilst we know waiting for correspondence from the hospital can be frustrating it is essential in allowing us to prescribe safely under the guidance of our secondary care colleagues and ultimately will result in better care to you, our patients.

Guide to Independent Living

The Cambridgeshire Guide to Independent Living contains a host of useful information about staying independent, safe and well in Cambridgeshire as well as listings of all care homes, nursing homes and home care providers in the wider area.

 https://www.carechoices.co.uk/publication/cambridgeshire-guide-to-independent-living/

Find my NHS number

Did you know you can find out your NHS number online?

Visit: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/find-nhs-number/ to receive an instant text message with your NHS number on.

If you have no mobile number recorded with us then you will have the option to receive your number in the post.

Healthy You!

Now more than ever is an important time to lose weight and keep healthy.

Commissioned and funded by Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, Healthy You provides free weight management support to residents across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. Healthy You offer a choice of programmes to patients who wish to lose weight and you could be eligible for a 12 week referral to any of the options listed below if you are aged over 16 with a Body Mass Index above 25.

Option 1 – Referral to Healthy You Weight Management groups

Option 2 - Referral to Slimming World

Option 3 – Referral to Wellness that Works (formerly Weight Watchers)

To be eligible for a Slimming World or Wellness that Works referral you cannot have been a paying member of either program in the 12 weeks prior to the point of referral.

If you have the motivation to learn how to lose weight and maintain a healthier weight you can self-refer by calling Healthy you on 0333 005 0093, text Healthyu to 60777 or visit the website at www.healthyyou.org.uk

Mental Health Services

All mental health services currently remain open, however due to capacity available whilst dealing with the challenges of the pandemic, there may be delays to planned, non-urgent appointments and referrals. Support available includes:

  • For wellbeing support patients can contact the Lifeline Helpline 11am-11pm on 0808 808 2121.
  • Please continue to call PCMH staff for advice and support around the management of mental health in primary care. 
  • Patients can self-refer to the Psychological Wellbeing Service if they require therapy here
  • Crisis services are running as normal, and patients can contact the First Response Service by calling 111 and selecting option 2 (in Wisbech call 111, select option 1 and ask to be put through to FRS).
  • For details of other support available within the community please visit www.keep-your-head.com

Updated 26/01/21

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

NHS Friends and Family

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.

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

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

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

🦻Hearing Aid Maintenance Centre

Chatteris Library

2 Furrowfields Road
Chatteris
PE16 6DY

2nd Friday of every month from 12th March 2021- by appointment only

To book an appointment please call 01223 416141 or email enquiries@cambridgeshirehearinghelp.org.uk