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Don’t ignore your cervical screening invite
Cervical Screening is carried out to check the health of your cervix, it is not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
All women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You’ll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment.
The test itself should take less than 5 minutes and is usually done by a female nurse or doctor. This video explains what happens during your screening.
You can also find more information and support at https://www.jostrust.org.uk/
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Carers Event
Here are a few photos from our Carers Health and Wellbeing Event earlier this month.
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It’s time to talk about loneliness
We all get lonely. Its time to talk about it.
Whether its your regular barista, the friendly dog on your walk, or the shopkeeper down the road, everyday moments of connection matter. They allow us to make connections, feel happier and less lonely.
You can find information and support if you are feeling lonely at https://www.marmaladetrust.org/law
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Are you a carer looking for advice or support?
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
If you are a carer and need advice and support, you can find information at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/introduction-to-care-and-support/
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When anxiety becomes an issue
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Weeks theme is ‘anxiety’. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all but sometimes I can get out of control and become a mental health problem.
You can find out more about anxiety and what help is available at:
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Do you know your rights as a carer?
Approximately 6.5 million people in the UK are carers, looking after a parent, partner, child or friend. A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health problem or who needs extra help as they grow older.
Carer’s Rights Day aims to help ensure carers are aware of their rights, they know where to get help and support and to raise awareness of the needs of carers.
For more information and support visit https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/carers-rights-day and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/support-and-benefits-for-carers/
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Children and Young People’s Health and Wellbeing in Staffordshire
Staffordshire Emotional Health and Wellbeing Service is here to support children and young people from 5 to 18, with their mental health. Find out more on the action for children website.
Action for children also run the Blues Programme, which gives young people, aged 13 – 19, the tools to look after their emotional wellbeing. Over 6 weeks it teaches emotional resilience, and reduces low mood and anxious thoughts. Find out more about ‘The Blues Programme’.
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999 Service Launched in British Sign Language
An official 999 service has now been launched in British Sign Language.
Using a dedicated smartphone APP or the 999 BSL website, callers will be connected to a 999 call handler via a BSL interpreter.
The service can be accessed at 999bsl.co.uk – you can also download the iOS or Android app there.
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Access to GP Surgeries
Further to the recent bulletin we sent out on behalf of the East Staffordshire District Patient Engagement Group, regarding access to GP Surgeries, we have an update regarding our Practice and access to the Health Centre in Monk St.
Discussions have been held with the surgery around re opening the doors and no longer monitoring patients who come in to surgery. However, the issues we are faced with include:
- The makeup of the building and only having one waiting room for 2 different surgeries, isn’t conducive to allowing patients to enter without being monitored.
- The building and rooms are also used by other external health services such as Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Family Health & Wellbeing Service who have their own patient list which require a proper social distancing waiting area.
- There is no guarantee that patients coming into the building are not symptomatic and this therefore risks the whole building being shut down for deep clean etc as has happened in the past. This is the reasoning behind the questions that are asked prior to the patients entering the building.
The Practice has sought external health advice on the topic and below is a summary of the advice given:
As discussed as the waiting room is shared between patients of the two surgeries, plus those of several other providers, it would be difficult in practice to control the numbers using the waiting room and to maintain social distancing between them.
Currently access is controlled and numbers in the waiting room limited by patients using the external intercom. In the case of the non-GP surgery providers, the provider concerned meets them at the front door and takes them directly into the clinical room. There are no suitable alternative means of access that may be used by patients and no additional internal space that may be used as a waiting area. The potential exposure of vulnerable persons and potential contamination of the premises from uncontrolled access to the waiting room should also be considered.
In this instance it is recommended that the only practicable measure to ensure social distancing whilst current restrictions are in place is to continue controlling access by patients using the external intercom and being met at the front entrance door.
Our advice is still to space seating in waiting rooms to enable social distancing unless persons are in the same household until further advice has been given by the government.
We appreciate that the above will not be what patients want to hear but we must take on board the advice being given and support the Practice that for now the current system will have to be kept in place.
We will continue to work with the Practice and keep you informed of any further developments. Meanwhile can we please remind people to be understanding and not take their frustrations out on the staff, especially the receptionists who are the first point of contact.
Thanking you for your assistance
Chair, Deputy Chair and Secretary Tutbury Practice Patient Forum
21st June 2021