THE TARDIS TIMES The latest news from The Tardis Surgery
JULY 2019 ISSUE
In this issue: ello and welcome to the cover up with a latest edition of loose clothing, The Tardis Times. You a hat and sun- Is it your birthday in August? H may not recognise my face so I’ll glasses.
introduce myself, I’m Susan Tardis Surgery on the pulse with digital care. Pyatt, I’m the Practice Manager We always here at The Tardis Surgery. welcome feed- Meet Team Tardis: back from our patients. If you Cheadle’s answer to Doctor It’s been a real scorching start to have something to say about the Who, Dr Kevin Upton. the summer (finally!). As lovely care you receive from us, please as the sunshine can be, the heat fill in a slip from reception and Meet Team Tardis: can be harmful. Make sure to put it in our comments/ Our Advanced Nurse keep hydrated by drinking suggestions box situated in the Practitioner, Amanda Bickle. plenty of water, avoid excess porch as you enter the surgery. alcohol, stay out of the sun and Or you can write directly to me. Tardis Top Tips: Living well keep your house cool—closing I’d love to hear from you. with depression. curtains and blinds can help. Of course, if you do go out in the Introducing the Tardis heat, wear sunscreen and Susan Pyatt jargon buster.
Spotlight on: Your home First CALLING ALL PATIENTS WITH BIRTHDAYS IN AUGUST Aid kit. In an effort to streamline care one condition, all rele- and reduce the number of ap- vant conditions will be pointments you need to attend, reviewed in one appointment. THANK YOU: we have changed the way we re- All of us at call patients with long-term con- Patients will receive a reminder the Surgery ditions. by text or letter. Please call the wish to say a Surgery on 01538 753771. huge thanks Patients will now be recalled to to Moonyeen attend reviews in their birth We appreciate some patients Thorley who month for the following: asthma will have had their review recent- stepped down and COPD, diabetes, chronic ly, however, to ensure the new as Chair of our Patient heart disease and atrial fibrilla- system can work smoothly we Participation Group in March. tion, stroke, chronic kidney dis- would ask all to still attend their Moonyeen has volunteered ease, mental illness and hyperten- birthday review. tirelessly for the Surgery and sion. For patients with more than we are very grateful for her dedication. She will continue If you are overdue your smear test please supporting the PPG as a contact us at the Surgery. For more info on member going forward. cervical screening visit www.jostrust.org.uk.
The Tardis Surgery Appointments: 01538 753771 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH Prescriptions: 01538 751415 www.tardissurgery.co.uk Fax: 01538 752557 TIME TRAVEL: HELP US HELP YOU! Have you ever spotted our cabinet Missed appointments: On average of curious medical 105 patients each month fail to instruments from attend their appointment. PLEASE times gone by in let us know if you are unable to our Waiting Room? attend and, if possible, give us 24 hours’ notice. How many do you recognise? Blood tests: Patients can attend Meir Health Centre Take a look next following a request from the time you visit us. It Surgery. We hold a bookable can be found next blood clinic on Tuesday mornings to the Reception at the Surgery for elderly and less desk beside a host mobile patients and patients of leaflets offering struggling to get to Meir. advice on a range of illnesses and Test results: It is your ailments. responsibility to contact the Surgery (after 2.00pm) for results.
Details change: Please inform us The Tardis Surgery is now on Facebook. if your details change. Search for @TheTardisSurgery. Give us a Like! Travel advice: Please book an appointment with a Practice TARDIS TEAM ON THE PULSE WITH DIGITAL CARE Nurse well in advance of your travel date. Travel vaccination The Tardis Surgery has been continues to develop its request forms can be downloaded named a Staffordshire Digital presence on social media with from our website. Please note, Health Champion after the aim of talking to the wider there is a fee for certain vaccina- embracing technology to patient community. tions and malaria tablet prescrip- provide the best possible care tions. The Surgery is a registered for patients. Technology fan Dr Kevin Upton Yellow Fever Centre. Please call us said: “Simple technology can for details. Health chiefs at Staffordshire make a huge difference to the and Stoke-on-Trent STP praised way we, as a surgery, Private fees: Not all GP admin the Surgery’s commitment to communicate with and support work is covered on the NHS. A list of charges is on display in developing the care it can offer our patients. From using apps to Reception. digitally by providing technolo- monitor and manage long-term gy enabled care services (TECS). conditions and using social media to engage with patients, Earlier in the year, Tardis to exploring the practicalities of nurses Jodie Spragg and Tonya providing video consultations. Davis were named as the area’s first Digital Nurse Champions. “We strive to be a forward- Both will now help the Surgery thinking practice providing the BEST FOOT FORWARD: The provide TECS going forward. best possible healthcare for our Tardis Surgery / South patients and embracing the Moorlands Leisure Centre The Tardis already encourages very latest in technology will Walking for Health group is patients to book appointments help us go one step further.” going from strength to and order repeat prescriptions strength. We’ll be announcing via the Patient Access app and To find out more about the dates of the latest walks uses the Flo text messaging registering for online in the next few weeks. All are service to give patients the services and the Flo welcome for a gentle stroll opportunity to monitor their service speak to around town followed by tea, own health. The Surgery Reception. coffee and biscuits.
The Tardis Surgery Appointments: 01538 753771 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH Prescriptions: 01538 751415 www.tardissurgery.co.uk Fax: 01538 752557 MEET TEAM TARDIS…Dr Kevin Upton
Role at the Surgery: Senior GP Partner.
Time at the Tardis: 25 years!
Likes: Lots of things! Music (classical, jazz, Northern Soul, indie - all sorts!). I enjoy photography, bird watching, travel and walking. I like to set myself challenges.
Dislikes: Nothing.
Interesting fact: I am a twin! I have a twin sister called Karen who was born 20 minutes before me.
s a GP at The Tardis Surgery “I worked 136 hours a week but I Dr Kevin Upton is Cheadle’s very much enjoyed it, there was lots A very own Doctor Who. of learning and team work,” he recalls: “I did plastics, neuro and This Time Lord, however, prefers orthopaedics but A&E was always walking to time travel and is my favourite department.” unlikely to regenerate any time soon having clocked up a quarter of Moving to Stoke to continue plastic a century serving the town from the surgery training, he then worked in Queen Street practice. Paediatrics at Macclesfield Hospital – where he was the Paediatric rep And here’s a secret: he’s not even a on the Junior Doctor Committee – true Doctor Who fan. “I watch and Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Doctor Who but I’m not obsessed Crewe’s Leighton Hospital before with it,” he laughs, explaining where moving into General Practice. the Surgery’s name originates: “A former GP and I chose the name. General Practice, he says, has seen After we extended the Surgery a its share of changes in the 25 years patient said “Oh, it’s like the Tardis! he’s worked in Cheadle with much Much bigger on the inside!”. That more paperwork behind the scenes was it; we thought it would give the and continuous targets to reach. Surgery personality.” “Chronic disease management Hampshire born and bred Dr Upton takes up a much bigger part of the knew at age 11 he wanted to be a job than it used to,” he adds: doctor. “Medical records are a lot more com- prehensive too. For example, when I “I’ve always had a fascination with began in General Practice if some- the human body and how it one had straightforward tonsillitis it works,” he explains, adding that would get recorded, by hand, simply while there are no other medics in as tonsillitis. Now there is a template his family his mother has been a of several pages which needs to member of the British Red Cross be completed. Society for more than 50 years. “At its heart, General Practice is After graduating from Birmingham about preventing disease, keeping University he started his career in people healthy and enjoying good hospital practice – working at quality of life and relieving pain and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, suffering both physically and Birmingham, in medicine and then mentally... Birmingham Accident Hospital as House Surgeon Team 1. Continued overleaf...
The Tardis Surgery Appointments: 01538 753771 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH Prescriptions: 01538 751415 www.tardissurgery.co.uk Fax: 01538 752557 “I enjoy all aspects of my job and I fascinating seeing patients I knew southerner turned Stokie (sort of) feel privileged to do it. Elderly care, as babies now bringing their own has real affection for the place he contraception, sexual health, child babies to see me. I love seeing calls home and the fellow Stafford- health, minor surgery, minor patients out and about, although I shire folk he calls both patients and injuries, addiction recovery. All of it. can’t always remember names!” friends. Dermoscopy interests me a lot – using a special microscope to Dr Upton’s active role in the “I found Birmingham more friendly diagnose and monitor skin lesions.” community extends beyond the than Hampshire and Staffordshire practice. He’s a member of Team more friendly than Birmingham. I Beyond the Surgery walls, Dr Upton Cheadle – “I’m very keen to see the like the people here; really friendly worked on Cheadle Hospital’s long- High Street rejuvenated” – and is and considerate people.” term care ward until its closure. Branch Secretary of the Stafford- He also worked in elderly care at shire Moorlands arm of CAMRA (the With his familiar, friendly and oft Haywood Hospital and at One Campaign for Real Ale). heard laugh, he’s quick to turn on Recovery in Stoke, supporting the comedian act when asked how patients recovering from drug He describes himself as “keen on long he’s been at the Surgery: and alcohol addiction. All this is walking” but that doesn’t quite cut “Well,” he says, looking at his very in addition to his role as a Senior it. So far this year he's walked more complicated watch: “About six hours Partner at The Tardis Surgery. than 2000 miles. He recently added so far today! No, I’ve been here 25 to this walking from Wolverhamp- years now. By far the longest time Living within the community he ton’s Molineux stadium to Stoke I’ve stayed in one job.” cares for has its advantages, he City’s Bet 365 ground for the says: “It’s useful to know what is Dougie Mac. He’s also made it his Perhaps another 25 years is a little going on in the community, you can mission to ensure each of the public optimistic, but hopefully this see how it impacts patients. I love footpaths in and around Cheadle particular Time Lord’s regeneration being a family doctor and find it are explored at least once a year. isn’t on the cards for a little while yet. Too many miles left to tread, It’s certainly clear the very southern anyway.
MEET TEAM TARDIS…Amanda Bickle
What does your role entail? I What do you enjoy about your mainly deal with urgent problems, job? Trying to help people stay well such as minor ailments/ injuries, and supporting our elderly acute wound care, chest infections, community. asthma and COPD exacerbations Role at the Surgery: Advanced and acute back pain. I can Have you always worked in a Nurse Practitioner. prescribe but only within my primary care setting? I have been specialist areas. I can’t issue Fit a nurse for 32 years and worked in Time at the Tardis: Almost a Notes or manage mental health a variety of settings—paediatrics, year. illnesses. I can request certain x- elderly care, practice nursing. I was rays and advise on numerous an Occupational Health Nurse for Likes: I love watching movies, common female and male health the Ministry of Defence. I am a I’m a huge Marvel and Disney problems. If I am unsure I consult qualified District Nurse and teach- fan. I love spending time with one of our GPs. er, working in a community setting family. I like to visit new places for more than 27 years. and having lived in Scotland I Our Reception team can tell you if I enjoy visiting friends there. can help you. Please just ask them, Why did you want to get into it could mean you are seen sooner. nursing? I always wanted to be a nurse, I never knew why, but I Dislikes: Rudeness. When it would be more appropri- wanted to help people. I started ate and more useful for a patient doing voluntary work in an elderly Interesting fact: I am a Queens to see you rather than a GP? For care home at the age of 11. I was Nurse, a title awarded to com- acute chesty coughs, insect/dog/ accepted into training at 19 and munity nurses who go above and human bites, Dementia concerns, never looked back, it is one of the beyond to improve the care and continence issues and elderly care hardest but most rewarding services delivered to patients in reviews. careers. the community.
The Tardis Surgery 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH Appointments: 01538 753771 www.tardissurgery.co.uk Prescriptions: 01538 751415
DID YOU KNOW… you DON’T KNOW YOUR INPATIENT FROM can book appointments YOUR OUTPATIENT? online, request repeat prescriptions and receive The NHS can be terrible for jargon! Acronyms text reminders from the abbreviations and technical terms aplenty. At Surgery? Ask our Recep- The Tardis Surgery we do our best to avoid tion team for a form. using jargon with patients but sometimes we forget.
We know this can cause confusion, especially if you don’t feel confident in asking us to clarify what we mean. Please ask!
Our Patient Participation Group will be creating a glossary of medical terms often used our clinicians. This will live in the Waiting Room and will be made by and for patients. Keep your eyes peeled!
TARDIS TOP TIPS... Stay connected: While withdrawing completely is probably all you want to do, it’s not the best option. Try a balance – hold back from unneces- ...LIVING WELL WITH DEPRESSION sary social contact (train yourself to say ‘no’) but try to reach out to people you trust. Depression affects more people basic exercise in your living room than you’d realise for many is a step forward. However, allow If you have pets: reasons. In fact, how you feel yourself an occasional duvet day. While nothing can doesn’t always have a reason. It replace human just happens, to people of all If you’re taking medication / Contact, animals can ages from all walks of life. having therapy: Work with be brilliant friends. whoever prescribed it to make it Living with depression can be a work for you. No one treatment Continue to do activities you've lonely experience. It’s certainly fixes everyone, unfortunately, but enjoyed in the past: This is a tough not something you can “snap out there are always other options. one because you can’t force your- of” but sometimes the things that self to have fun. If you’re struggling help the most are the hardest to do. Batch cooking / eating small but with motivation try and work often: Keeping yourself properly around the problem. For example, if Here are some suggestions, from fed and watered when you have you enjoy reading but are lacking a patient, which may help make the depression is hard, especially when concentration try listening to a difficult days a little less difficult. you’re on your own. Batch cooking, podcast or audiobook. saving leftovers and eating small Talk to the Tardis: Remaining but often can help when you don’t Take things one step at a time: silent is how mental illnesses have energy to make a full meal. Recovery is not a race, nor is it become unmanageable. Speak to linear or ever moving forward. the Surgery if you’re struggling. The Get stuff done: Depression can team will listen and will point you make us feel like doing nothing at Remember you’re not on your in the right direction. all but there are times when things own: Because you’re really not. really need to be done. Don’t Being told “we will do this together” Go for a walk…but allow yourself underestimate the power of a to-do is not just words. Let people help. occasional duvet days: If you pock- list and having a routine. Even if eted £1 for every time you only tick off one thing a day, someone said “exercise is great for it’s all progress. depression” you’d be very rich. When getting out of bed feels like Set realistic goals: Start small – the most overwhelming thing in the having a shower, brushing your world such advice can feel a tad teeth, texting a friend, briefly patronising but it’s true. Going for stepping out of your house – and a five minute walk or even doing go from there.
The Tardis Surgery Appointments: 01538 753771 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH Prescriptions: 01538 751415 www.tardissurgery.co.uk Fax: 01538 752557 SPOTLIGHT ON... Surgery opening hours:
Monday: 8.00am to 6.00pm Some people live Tuesday: 7.00am to 6.00pm Wednesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm more in 20 years Your home First Aid kit Thursday: 7.00am to 1.00pm than others do in Friday: 8.00am to 6.00pm
With the school summer holidays 80. It's not the Reception opening hours: just around the corner, it’s the time that matters, ideal time to check your home First Aid kit is tip-top. Monday: 8.00am to 6.00pm it's the person. Tuesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm A basic First Aid kit may contain: Wednesday: 8.00am to 6.00pm Thursday: 8.00pm to 1.00pm The Tenth Doctor - plasters in a variety of sizes Friday: 8.00am to 6.00pm (David Tennant) and shapes - small, medium and large sterile gauze dressings DON’T FORGET: When The Tardis Surgery is closed call 111 - at least 2 sterile eye dressings if you urgently need medical help/advice but it is not life - triangular bandages threatening. If you need emergency medical treatment when - crêpe rolled bandages someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk, you - safety pins - disposable sterile gloves must call 999 - do not wait for the Surgery to open. - tweezers - scissors General Practitioners - alcohol-free cleansing wipes We have two partners, - sticky tape Dr Upton and Dr Kaur, - thermometer (preferably and two regular doctors digital) who complete the team. - skin rash cream, such as hydro- cortisone Dr Kevin S Upton MB, ChB, DCH, DSFRH (Birmingham 1986) - cream or spray to relieve insect bites and stings Dr Simranjeet Kaur MBBS, Nmrcgp, DFFP (Mysore 1999) - antiseptic cream - painkillers such as paracetamol Dr Day MB BCH (University of Wales 1997) (or infant paracetamol for children), aspirin (not to be Dr Shevlin MB, ChB, DIPOBS, MRCGP (Cardiff 1968) given to children under 16), ibuprofen We aim to use these doctors to cover all sessions. We only use locum - cough medicine doctors to cover holidays or sickness when unable to use regular GPs. - antihistamine cream or tablets - distilled water for cleaning Nurse Prescriber wounds Amanda Bickle has triage training and is an independent prescriber. - eye wash and eye bath General Practice Nurses Your kit should be locked and Jodie Spragg, Tonya Davis and Paulette Upton are our Practice kept in a cool, dry place out of Nurses. Jodie’s areas of specialities are diabetes, asthma and COPD. the reach of children. Paulette’s area of speciality is family planning.
It may also be useful to keep a Healthcare Support Worker basic First Aid manual. Diane Bostock
Medicines should be checked Non clinical team often to make sure they're within Practice Manager: Susan Pyatt their use-by dates. Deputy Practice Manager: Carol Burnett
First Aid supplies can be bought from Dispensary: Tammy, Sara and Charlotte are in charge of our repeat independent high street chemists, Boots, Superdrug and supermarkets. prescribing and dispensing. B&M also stock a wide range of healthcare supplies. Reception: Bryn, Julie, Leanne, Mandy, Margaret, Maria, Nicola and Sylvia.
The Tardis Surgery Appointments: 01538 753771 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH Prescriptions: 01538 751415 www.tardissurgery.co.uk Fax: 01538 752557