Winter 2015Edition 1(January)

Pinfold Medical PracticeNewsletter

Pinfold Lane, Butterknowle, Bishop Auckland DL13 5NXTel: 01388 718230 Fax: 01388 718645

www.pinfoldmedical.co.ukSurgery Consulting Hours

By Appointment Only1 patient 1 appointment

Appointments are in 10 minute slots, if you need more time, please ask our

Receptionist when booking your appointment.

Monday8.30am – 11.30am3.00pm – 7.00pmTuesday8.30am – 11.30am2.00pm – 4.00pmWednesday8.30am – 11.30am3.00pm – 5.30pmThursday8.30am – 11.30am2.00pm – 4.00pmFriday8.30am – 11.30am3.30pm – 5.00pm

The practice is closed Weekends and Bank Holidays

Reception Opening Hours

Monday8.15am – 6.30pmTuesday8.15am – 4.45pmWednesday8.15am – 6.30pmThursday8.15am – 4.45pmFriday8.15am – 5.45pm

Closed Weekends and Bank Holidays

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the first edition of our Practice Newsletter, which I hope you will find informative in keeping you up to date with what is happening at the practice and in primary care. We aim to publish seasonal newsletters.

There are many changes in the NHS as a result of the challenges and pressures it faces in providing a modern health care system but nonetheless, it remains the best health care system in the world. Primary Care is the frontline of the NHS and by providing the best possible health care service we strive to protect the NHS for future generations. I believe this must be a joint endeavour on the part of patients and staff alike.

We hope that you will find the contents of our newsletters informative and would welcome any relevant comments, suggestions or contributions. We would also encourage you to join our vPRG (virtual Patient Participation Group) – just log on to our website and follow the link. For those readers who would prefer not to use the internet you can use one of our feedback forms that are available in the practice entrance lobby, write to or telephone us at the practice. There are patient surveys that you can take part in – either via our website or by using the survey forms/kiosk located in the practice entrance lobby.

The Partners

Healthwatch County Durham

Healthwatch County Durham (HWCD) is the consumer champion for local health and social care provision. They listen to you to find out what you think of the health and social care services you come across. They speak up for you with those who provided health and social care services. They advise you on how to get the best health and social care for you and your family.Members of the public are invited to drop in sessions, to talk to HWCD staff. We want to hear of people’s experiences and help them get the best from local health and social care provision.Barnard Castle 2nd Monday B/C Library

of every month The Witham10am – 12pm 3 Horsemarket, B/C

Bishop Auckland 3rd Friday B/A LibraryOf every month Town Hall10am – 11.30am Market Place, B/A

Dispensary Opening Hours & Services

Monday8.30am – 12.30pm2.00pm – 6.30pmTuesday8.30am – 12.30pm2.00pm – 4.45pmWednesday8.30am – 12.30pm2.00pm – 6.15pmThursday8.30am – 12.30pm2.00pm – 4.45pmFriday8.30am – 12.30pm2.00pm – 5.45pm

The Dispensary CLOSES daily between 12.30pm – 2.00pm.Please give staff 2 working days’ notice for repeat prescriptions.

You can order your repeat prescription by:-

Signing up to e-ordering (register with Reception Desk first)

Faxing or posting your repeat prescription form

Dropping in your repeat prescription form at the Dispensary.

The practice is closed Weekends and Bank Holidays.

On Line Appointment Booking and Repeat Prescription OrderingPatients aged 16 years and over only – not available to children under 16 years of

age.You will need to register first at the practice – please ask our Receptionist to help you do this.

Once registered you will be able to:

Book an appointment on-line Request a **repeat prescription on-line Change your address and telephone/mobile details on-line Register (new patients) on-line

** Please note this is for repeats only. Acute or one-of medicines are not available on on-line requesting. You will need to make an appointment to see your doctor to request such medicines. This is in the best interests of the patient.

Once registered, you can access any of the on-line services above using the practice website.

RSVP Surgery Transport Scheme

What is the RSVP Surgery Transport Scheme?RSVP GP Car Scheme transports patients who are unable to travel by conventional means due to temporary or permanent accessibility problems or are unable to travel by any other form of public transport. All drivers of the GP car scheme are volunteers who, using their own cars, generously give their time for the benefit of patients in need. There is a suggested journey donation of £3.00 per return journey. The transport is from the patient’s home to the doctor’s surgery and back, only.How to use the serviceShould you wish to make use of the service, please tell the GP receptionist when you are booking your appointment. She will then pass your details to the volunteer driver who will get in touch with you and finalise arrangements. Please give as much notice as possible to the driver. Please pay the driver directly on collection from your home, at the beginning of the journey.I would like to become a volunteer driver, what do I need to do?Please get in touch with RSVP Northeast on Tel: 0191 389 1155 and they will take you through the sign up process. The practice does not do this.

Emergencies & Out of Hours cover

In the event of a heart attack, collapse, severe

difficulty breathing or other medical emergency, please

dial 999.

The out of hour’s service is available for patients needing medical advice or help when the surgery is closed and the matter cannot wait until the surgery re-opens. You can either ring our number and a recorded message will give you further instructions or call

NHS 111.

Virtual Patient Participation Group (vPRG)

A PRG is a group of volunteer patients who are involved in shaping the health service at the practice. We are therefore looking for a representative group of volunteer patients across the practice population. Please log on to our website and pick up the link ‘Join our Patient Group’. The forum is not to be used as a complaints mechanism as the practice runs a separate complaints system.

NHS 111 Service

What is the NHS 111 service? NHS 111 is a telephone service introduced to make it easier for you to access

local health services when you have an urgent need. If you need to contact the NHS for urgent care, there are only three numbers to

know: 999 for life threatening emergencies, your GP surgery or 111 When you call 111 you will be assessed, given advice and directed to the most

appropriate local service that can help you best – that could be an out-of-hours doctor, walk-in centre or urgent care centre, community nurse, emergency dentist or late opening chemist.

NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.How does it work? Calling 111 will get you through to a team of fully trained call advisers, who are

supported by experienced nurses. They will ask you questions to assess your symptoms and give you healthcare

advice you need or direct you to the right local service. Where possible, they will book you an appointment or transfer you directly to

the people you need to speak to. If they think you need an ambulance, one will be arranged immediately.When do you use the service?You should call 111 if: You need medical help fast but it is not a 999 emergency You don’t know who to call for medical help or you don’t have a GP to call You think you need to go to A&E or another NHS urgent care service You require health information or reassurance about what to do next

See the pretty snowflakesFalling from the sky;

On the wall and housetopsSoft and thick they lie.

On the window ledges,On the branches bare;

Now how fast they gather,Filling all the air.

Look into the garden,Where the grass was

green;Covered by the

snowflakes,Not a blade is seen.

Now the bare black bushesAll look soft and white,

Every twig is laden,What a pretty sight!

(Scottish Poetry Selection)

Additional clinics and services at the practice

Health VisitorHolds a morning clinic every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the monthCHD ClinicOur specialist CHD nurse holds a monthly clinic on Thursday afternoonsDiabetic Foot Health ClinicOur specialist diabetes podiatrist holds a clinic every other month on Tuesday morningsCounsellor ClinicWeekly Friday afternoon clinicsPhysiotherapy ClinicWeekly Tuesday afternoon clinicsMinor Injuries ServiceDaily appointments with doctor or practice nurse.

Flu vaccinations – for patients aged 18 years and over who suffer from asthma or other respiratory condition, diabetes, heart disease and carers. If you are not sure, please ask your doctor or nurse.Childhood flu vaccinations – for children aged 2 to 4 years of age. Shingles vaccinations – for adults aged 70, 78 & 79 years of age.NHS Health checks – for adults aged 40 to 74 years of age with no pre - existing medical condition. Once every five year check.Pneumococcal vaccinations – aged 65 years & over with a diagnosis of asthma or other respiratory condition, diabetes, heart disease, renal or liver disease.New - Stop Smoking Advisor Service

Smoking cessation courses are now available at the surgery for our patients. The clinics are held every week:

Wednesday 3.00pm – 6.00pmFridays 4.00pm – 5.30pm

The clinics are run by a qualified Smoking Cessation Advisor and Dispenser. If you would like help to give up smoking, then please book your first appointment with our Receptionist (follow up appointments will be booked for you by the Smoking Cessation Advisor).

DNAs survey.

Did Not Attends are patients who book an appointment then don’t attend and don’t contact the practice to either cancel or re-arrange the appointment. This is a big problem for both the practice and other patients – we could have used these appointment slots for other patients. Year 2010 = 451 Year 2013 = 676Year 2011 = 521 Year 2014 = 622 an increase of 72.5% in five years! Year 2012 = 566 Please ring the practice if you don’t need your appointment.

Science Museum. Brought to Life: Exploring the History of (Nursing) Medicine.

A bandaging class at Tredegar House, 1906.

(Credits:Wellcome Library, London.)

Nursing is one of the oldest medical occupations, but nurses only obtained professional status in the late 1800s. Nursing attendants are mentioned in all the classical texts, but could have been anyone, male or female. Male nurses were constantly used for public duties such as in prisons, asylums or the armed forces, but their history is little known.

Women’s opportunities for nursing outside the home were limited. In medieval Europe nuns nursed in convent infirmaries under the control of Catholic Church authorities. In Europe religious nursing orders such as the famous Augustinian Sisters were the only model for public nursing until the 1800s.

Changes in nursing started with the hospital and prison reformers of the late 1700s. New training for nurses became available, notably at the Deaconess Institute at Kaiserworth in Germany (1836), which influenced Florence Nightingale. Nightingale reorganized army hospital nursing during the Crimean War (1853-56) and helped promote nursing as a more respectable profession for young women. The first ‘Nightingale nurses’ began training in 1860 and spread throughout the UK and the British Empire. Nightingale also revolutionised future hospital design.

Established in 1863, the International Red Cross was another international force in nurse training. European governments set up their own training programmes and the International Red Cross carried reformed nursing across the world. Professional organisations followed fast in the late 1800s. By 1930 professional nursing associations existed in 35 countries. In England the Royal College of Nursing was founded in 1916, but professional control was not given to the General Nursing Council until 1919. After the First World War, in which nurses served on the front line, a State Nursing Registry was set up which guaranteed a minimum level of training for all nurses.

Since 1945 nurse training has been extended with different specialties. There has been a rise in male nursing, and male nurses play a full part in previously all-female nursing associations.

This edition we feature …

10 myths about flu and the flu vaccine

1. Having flu is just like having a heavy cold

A bad bout of flu is much worse than a heavy cold. Flu symptoms come on suddenly and sometimes severely. They include fever, chills, headaches and aching muscles, as well as a cough and sore throat. You're likely to spend two or three days in bed. If you get complications caused by flu, you could become seriously ill and have to go to hospital.

2. Having the flu vaccine gives you flu

No, it doesn't. The injected flu vaccine that is given to adults contains inactivated flu viruses, so it can't give you flu. Your arm may feel a bit sore where you were injected, and some people get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, but other reactions are very rare.

Read more about how the injected flu vaccine works.

The children's flu nasal spray vaccine contains live but weakened flu viruses that will not give your child flu.

Read more about how the children's flu vaccine works.

3. Flu can be treated with antibiotics

No, it can't. Viruses cause flu, and antibiotics only work against bacteria. You may be prescribed antiviral medicines to treat your flu. Antivirals do not cure flu, but they can make you less infectious to others and reduce the length of time you may be ill. To be effective, antivirals have to be given within a day or two of your symptoms appearing. A bacterial infection may occur as a result of having the flu, in which case you may be given antibiotics.

Find out more about why antibiotics won't work against flu.

4. Once you've had the flu vaccine, you're protected for life

No, you aren't. The viruses that cause flu can change every year, so you need a vaccination each year that matches the new viruses. The vaccine usually provides protection for the duration of the flu season that year.

Read more about what's in this winter's flu vaccine.

5. I'm pregnant, so I shouldn't have the flu jab because it will affect my baby

You should have the vaccine whatever stage of pregnancy you are in. If you're pregnant, you could get very ill if you get flu, which could also be bad for your baby. Having the jab can also protect your baby against flu after they're born and during the early months of life.

Read more about the flu jab in pregnancy

6. The flu jab won't protect me against swine flu

Yes, it will. This year's flu vaccine protects against three different flu viruses, including the H1N1 swine flu virus. This is because the virus is expected to be circulating this year.

7. Children can't have the flu vaccine

Children over the age of six months who are "at risk" of serious illness if they catch the flu are eligible for a flu vaccine on the NHS. The flu vaccine is generally given to children aged 6 months to 2 years as an injection, and as a nasal spray for children aged 2 to 18 years.

Children at risk from flu include those with a pre-existing illness such as a respiratory or neurological condition, or children who are having treatment such as chemotherapy.

The nasal spray flu vaccine is also recommended on the NHS for all healthy two, three and four-year-old children.

Eventually, the vaccination programme will be extended so that all children aged from 6 months to 16 years are able to have the flu vaccine.

Read more about which children can have the flu vaccine.

8. I've had the flu already this autumn, so I don't need the vaccination this year

You do need it if you're in one of the risk groups. As flu is caused by several viruses, you will only be protected by the immunity you developed naturally against one of them. You could go on to catch another strain, so it's recommended you have the jab even if you've recently had flu. Also, what you thought was flu could have been something else.

9. If I missed having the flu jab in October, it's too late to have it later in the year

No, it's not too late. It's better to have the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available, but it's always worth getting vaccinated before flu comes around. Since we don't know when flu will strike, the sooner you have the vaccine the better.

(The practice flu vaccination programme continues through to March 2015).

10. Vitamin C can prevent flu

No, it can't. Many people think that taking daily vitamin C supplements will stop them getting flu, but there's no evidence to prove this.

Read the answers to some common questions about flu and the flu vaccine.

(The above article is courtesy of NHS Choices www.nhs.uk )