Puddletown Surgery Autumn Newsletter 2021

At Puddletown Surgery, our ethos has always been focused on patient centered care and excellent access to the right person at the right time.

Sadly, we are not able to restart open morning surgeries yet, but we will keep this under regular review.

You will now be able to pre-book either telephone or face-to-face appointments by calling the surgery. We will have a mixture of these appointments available to deal with:

• urgent on the day problems • bookable in advance routine appointments

It may be necessary for the reception team to ask you a few questions to ensure we book you the correct appointment type.

We have also increased the number of doctor sessions available each week, to try and continue to provide good access for you.

You also have the option to contact the doctor by using eConsult, available by clicking the button on our website. This allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests, to their own GP electronically and offers around the clock NHS self-help information, signposting to services and a symptom checker.

Please bear with us as I am sure we will not get the balance of appointments right the first time and we may have to change things to try and ensure all patients get the right access at the right time, to the right person.

We do hope to return to open surgeries again in the future.

Thank you so much for your help understanding and support. Clare Stickland Practice Manager.

Missed Appointments We are disappointed to report that in July there were • 5 hours and 20 minutes of missed nurse appointments and • 2 hours 45 minutes of missed GP appointments totalling 8 hours and 5 minutes of missed patient appointments. If you are unable to make your appointment please let us know so that we can allocate it to someone who needs it.

Mask Wearing After 19th July 2021 COVID19 is still with us, and the safety of NHS patients, visitors and staff is our top priority. In line with Government guidance, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering, unless they are exempt, and follow social distancing rules. Our teams will continue to take other infection prevention and control measures to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID19 and other infections in health and care settings. It is important for the public to continue to play their part when visiting NHS and care settings to help protect our staff and patients, particularly those who may be more vulnerable to infections.

Puddletown Surgery Athelhampton Road Puddletown Dorchester Dorset DT2 8FY www.puddletownsurgery.co.uk Tel: 01305 848333

Wellbeing Walks every week. Walking regularly outdoors is known to Puddletown Wellbeing Walks are supported by benefit our physical, emotional, and mental Puddletown Surgery. They are free to join and take no health. Walking and talking come very longer than an hour. naturally together and walking in a group can make us • Where: Puddletown Surgery feel more connected to each other, reducing loneliness • When: Every Wednesday at 10.15am for 10.30am and isolation. It can also improve mood and sleep quality For further information contact Puddletown Surgery on and reduce stress and anxiety. Being in nature or in green 01305 848333. spaces has a positive impact on mental health through We are always looking out for more Walk Leaders too! If being in a natural environment and closer to greenery. you enjoy walking and would like to support others to Wellbeing Walks (formerly Walking for Health) is live happier, healthier lives, volunteering as a Walk England's largest network of free group health walk Leader is a great way to boost your CV, develop your schemes. Run by Ramblers, we're helping all kinds of skills, grow your confidence and meet new people. Get in people lead a more active lifestyle in a friendly, touch with us for find out more. Full training is provided supportive group. We offer over 1,800 free, short walks by Ramblers

Staff News NeighbourCar: We would like to welcome Dr Ashwinee an appeal for drivers from Mike Chainey Deepchard who will be training here as a GP registrar on a full-time basis for the next You all know there are many reasons to be year. She is originally from Mauritius and grateful for living in Dorset. And you all know moved to UK in 2018. She has worked in that a frequent bus service isn’t among them. Imagine Brighton before starting GP training in Ashwinee Dorchester. then how difficult it is for anyone without a car to get to medical appointments. In other recruitment news we have recruited a Care That’s why for 10 years I used to drive for Puddletown Coordinator to support the nursing team. Care coordinators play an important role to proactively NeighbourCar. But I’m 90 now and I’ve been persuaded identify and work with people, including the frail/elderly to give up driving. I still miss the companionship of my and those with long-term conditions, to provide neighbours who I was able to help to get to the surgery coordination and navigation of care and support across or to hospital. It’s a rewarding business, driving for health and care services. They work closely with GPs and NeighbourCar: you build friendships with the people you the practice team, acting as a central point of contact to help ‒ and that includes not only neighbours without ensure appropriate support is made available to them transport but also those, like me now, for whom the and their carers; supporting them to understand and surgery is just too far to walk. manage their condition and ensuring their changing It will cost you no more than your time: your fuel costs needs are addressed. Kate, one of the reception team will be met. But the rewards will be immeasurable. Why and our social prescriber, applied for this post and was not give it a try? successful. The plan is for her to start the care Please ring me on 01305 848352 or drop a note through coordinator role in September, alongside her role of my letterbox at 11-13 High Street, Puddletown? Or tell social prescriber. the surgery receptionist that you’d like to know more We have also supported Lauren, one of the reception about the work of a NeighbourCar driver. Thank you. team, to move across to join the nursing team and train as and Health Care Assistant. She will move over to the nurse team fully in September. As a result of these changes we would like to welcome Kate and Jacqui who will be joining our reception team. Kate Jacqui

General Practice Data for Planning and Research This practice is supporting vital health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information about this see: GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research. Dorset Citizens Advice Your local citizens advice can offer you impartial, confidential, and free advice on a range of issues that you may face which include specialist advice in key areas such as employment, housing, debt and access to benefits. Face to face appointments are available at the surgery to see Gill on a Monday morning. Please call the surgery to book an appointment.

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Puddletown Surgery 2021 Flu Plan Flu vaccination provides the best protection against an unpredictable virus which infects many people and can cause serious illness and death each year. With COVID-19 still in circulation it is important to reduce the number of those becoming ill with flu this winter to help protect them, the NHS and social care services. Research also shows that if you get both flu and COVID-19 at the same time you may be more seriously ill.

Flu vaccination: who should have it this winter and why

Public Health England has updated its guidance for the 2021/22 flu vaccination season. This guidance explains to patients how they can help protect themselves and their children against flu this winter. It includes information for children, eligible adults and pregnant women, and details why it’s very important that people at increased risk from flu, or who care for someone vulnerable, have their free vaccination every year. Please following this link for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flu-vaccination-who-should-have-it-this-winter-and-why

Following the Public Health focus on Flu vaccination we would like to encourage all those that are eligible to have a Flu vaccine as early as possible.

When do the Flu Clinics start? (dates are dependent on vaccine delivery)

For the Over 65s: • Saturday 25th September 2021 from 8.30am • Saturday 2nd October from 8.30am to 12.15pm Frequently

For the Under 65s (at risk patients will be prioritised): Asked • Friday 1st October 3pm to 6.00pm • Saturday 2nd October 12.30 to 2.00pm Questions • Friday 22nd October 3.00 to 6.00pm

How to book your Flu Vaccination appointment:

If you are eligible please telephone Reception on 01305 848333 after 10.30am on any week day to book your appointment or use the link sent to your mobile phone. Details will also be on our website: www.puddletownsurgery.co.uk

We plan to run this year’s Flu Clinic in the same way that we carried out last year’s clinic. Please can we ask that you follow the guidance listed below to help us to run the clinics as smoothly and safely as possible.

What to expect: • You must wear a face covering or mask and loose clothing (ideally short sleeves) that will make it easy to show your arm for vaccination. • You must turn up as close to you allocated time as possible to help us maintain the flow of patients and social distancing. • Please attend alone unless you are a couple, both receiving vaccinations, or you need the assistance of a carer • There will be notices and staff to guide you and reminders to respect social distancing • The doctor or nurse will be wearing PPE. • You will be guided to the exit after your vaccination and we ask that you leave promptly for reasons of safety. • There is no requirement to wait after having the Flu vaccination. • Please DO NOT ATTEND the clinic if you are unwell or develop symptoms of Covid-19.

Please let us know if you do have your vaccine elsewhere and we will record this on your medical record.

Who is eligible for a Flu vaccination? Priority will be given to patients who were shielding or highly vulnerable during the pandemic, in the higher risk groups below: • Those aged 6 months to under 65 years with at risk health conditions • Those aged 65 years and over regardless of health conditions (including those turning 65 by 31.03.2021) • Pregnant women 3

Children aged 2 and 3 on 31st August 2021 - will be vaccinated by the practice in a separate clinic. Please book an appointment when these become available. Dates will be announced on the website.

Home visits are only available for medically housebound patients. We shall offer essential home visits for very frail housebound patients to have their Flu vaccinations at home.

Other eligible groups: • Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals • Carers • Household contacts of those on the NHS Shielded Patient List • Social care and hospice workers employed by registered residential or domiciliary care providers. The eligible group has been expanded this year to include health and social care workers employed through Direct Payment and or Personal Health Budgets, such as personal assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients (available at the surgery you are registered with). • All frontline health and social care workers (Provided by their employer) • Children aged 2 and 3 on 31st August 2021 - will be vaccinated by the practice in a separate clinic. • All children in school years Reception to year 11 (inclusive) - will be given at school. Parents have the option to have their children in ‘at risk’ groups vaccinated at the surgery, should they wish.

For those aged 50-65 years: if you do not qualify in one of the eligible groups above we hope to be able to provide vaccination for you but we have to prioritise vaccine stock for our most vulnerable patients first.

Please ensure we have an up to date mobile number for you as details will be sent by text about availability. If we do not have sufficient vaccine stock you will be able to access, free of charge, a vaccination from other providers such as pharmacies.

Can I have my flu vaccine when I am coming up the surgery for another medical reason? Yes but only if you have an appointment and only if time and vaccine stocks allow on the day. If an eligible patient is already coming to the surgery for a face to face appointment with a GP, Nurse or Health Care Assistant a flu vaccine can potentially be given.

COVID UPDATE

Covid Booster vaccinations

We are currently waiting for guidance on how these vaccinations will be given so will provide an update on our website www.puddletownsurgery.co.uk when we have one.

Covid vaccination Clinic

You will be aware of the huge success of the Covid vaccination programme. In addition to the hours worked at the surgery all staff have being working, alongside colleagues in the Mid Dorset network to run the Vaccination at the Atrium Health Centre.

Our last first dose clinic was held on 19th July 2021. Anyone wanting a first vaccine will now be redirected to the national booking system. As of 16th August 2021, we have vaccinated the following number of Puddletown patients • First Dose 3196 patients or 88% • Second Dose 2891 patients or 79.6%

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