Practice News
3 WEEKS UNTIL GO LIVE WEEK!🥳
London Marathon - A Message from Dr Walch
Registrations
More news on our clinical change:
From 1st May we will no longer be able to accept new registrations. This is because our connection to the NHS spine will not be active and any records they send through will not reach us. If anybody wants to register, you can bring/fill in a form but it will not be actioned until after the 20th May.
Thank you again for your patience at this time.
NHS App will be Offline
An update for you all regarding our system changeover. We have been informed that once we Go Live it may take a few days for the NHS App to come back online. Please bare with us and only contact us about this if you continue to have problems with the app after 27th May.
4 WEEKS UNTIL GO LIVE WEEK!🥳
Prescription Cut Off
Important reminder that from the middle of April you will not be able to order your repeat prescriptions electronically. You will need to either phone reception after 11am or put your prescription in the boxes in both entry ways.
From 07/05/2024 to 18/05/2024 you will not be able to order repeat medication. If you are due for your prescription during this time please either order early or ask for a longer supply to last you over this period of time.
This is due to our system change. Any information between the dates above will not be transferred to our new system. Please help us to help you during this time by ensuring you have ordered your prescriptions in plenty of time. We will send reminder messages out to patients.
New Clinical System
In spring this year we will be changing the clinical system we work with, from EMIS Web to SystmOne. This means how your information is shared will be changing and give you better access to your information, and ensure information from other health providers is shared with us faster so that the information we have is accurate and as up to date as possible. Find out more here.
Measles
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, UK Health Security Agency Consultant Medical Epidemiologist said: “The continuing downward trend in the uptake of routine childhood vaccinations is a serious concern. The diseases that these vaccines protect against, such as measles, can be life-changing and even deadly. No parent wants this for their child especially when these diseases are easily preventable.
“We now have a very real risk of measles outbreaks across the country. Please don’t put this off, check now that your children are fully up to date with both their MMR jabs and all their routine vaccines, and do take up the offer as soon as possible if you are contacted by your GP practice or the NHS for your child to catch up”.
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “Measles is a serious but entirely preventable disease.
“The MMR vaccine is proven to be safe for youngsters and offers lifelong protection.
“I’m urging everyone whose child is not yet fully vaccinated to come forward and get them protected as soon as possible”.
Parents and carers can find out more about the different vaccines their child should have and when by visiting www.nhs.uk and searching for ‘NHS vaccinations and when to have them’.
Visit NHS.uk for information about booking your child’s vaccination appointment.
Wellbeing Walks
Bereavement Support sessions
NHS South Yorkshire launches ‘Not in a day’s work’ campaign, backed by South Yorkshire Police
NHS South Yorkshire are supporting health and care staff across the region to put a stop to aggressive and abusive behaviour from patients and members of the public under a new zero tolerance approach and public campaign backed by South Yorkshire Police called #NotInADaysWork.
As reported incidences have increased in recent months, frontline NHS primary care workers such as GP practice, pharmacy, dental and optometrist staff across the region are being offered support and advice from NHS South Yorkshire on reporting such behaviour, and guidance on a process for dealing with it.
Many practices and pharmacies already operate a zero-tolerance approach towards abusive behaviour and will ultimately exercise their right to refuse to see or treat people who are persistently aggressive or abusive.
Dr Zak McMurray, GP and Medical Director for Sheffield at NHS South Yorkshire said: “Unfortunately NHS staff are working in a difficult environment where demand for health services is very high. People get frustrated if they can’t get an appointment and that 3 sometimes leads to anger and unacceptable treatment of the very people who are trying to help them.
“It’s dreadful to see the effect that such bad behaviour can have on staff. Receptionists, nurses, GPs and chemists are among those who have experienced some awful comments and threats, whether that’s face to face, over the phone or on social media. This constant drip feed of negative experiences can sadly result in good people leaving their jobs from the stress it is causing.”
In 2021 NHS Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group, which is now NHS South Yorkshire, conducted a survey of primary care staff and found that 95% had experienced verbal abuse, 52% had experienced intimidation, 34% had experienced threats of violence and 16% had experienced violent behaviour. NHS South Yorkshire say that reports of this type of behaviour have also actually increased since the pandemic.
The main aim of the NHS South Yorkshire zero-tolerance approach and campaign is to show that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated amid the ongoing efforts by primary care staff to increase staff levels and the number of available appointments.
Dr McMurray added: “The vast majority of the public are very respectful and supportive of our staff and we thank them for that. Our relationships with our patients and the public are based on mutual respect and trust and any decision to remove someone from a practice list would be an exceptional and rare event and only taken as a last resort.
“However, our colleagues should never be fearful or anxious about coming to work. Everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect and free from harassment, violence, and abuse which is why we’re sending out a clear message that we will not tolerate any abuse or violence and will take appropriate action to ensure our staff are safe.
“Our staff continue to go above and beyond to provide the best care possible for our patients and deserve to feel safe when they come to work.”
Visit www.southyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/zero-tolerance to find out more
It's important people know there's somewhere to go in inclement weather, to keep warm, have a cuppa and someone to talk to.
Check out the local Welcome Places near you! They are based in buildings such as libraries and family hubs and in voluntary, community and faith sector buildings. Check here for your nearest Welcome Place organisation.
- The remit for these spaces is for residents to have somewhere to go, someone to talk to and access Council and partner services including cost-of-living information in print and digital formats. Many buildings have free WiFi and offer free tea and coffee.
- These spaces can mean a big difference to someone without access to a computer or digital device or speaks a community language. Each organisation is based in the heart of our communities.
The Moor Markets Welcome Place is open 10am-3.30pm with free WiFi. We offer free tea/coffee and a hot breakfast of either teacake/toast Mon-Fri 10am-2.30pm.
Partner organisations deliver service support weekly to clients face-to-face:
- Wednesdays 10am-3pm - Citizens Advice Sheffield Energy Affordability Team offer energy advice and help with energy debt.
- Wednesdays 10.30am-1.30pm – Cost of Living application support.
- Thursdays 1pm-3.30pm Cost of Living application support.
- Alternate Thursdays (14th Dec) Multiply Team offers course sign up information & Household Support Fund direct application help (as Trusted Assessors).
Cost of Living Support
According to the Office for National Statistics, 91% of adults in Great Britain reported an increase in their cost of living in October-November 2022.
Low-income households spend a larger proportion than average on energy and food, so are more affected by price increases. Food bank charities are reporting an increase in demand: the Trussell Trust reported that in April-September 2022, they provided almost 1.3 million emergency food parcels, a third more than in the same period in 2021 and 50% more than pre-pandemic levels.
Sheffield City Council has put together a toolkit you can find following this link Sheffield GOV Cost of Living Support.
Diabetic Retinopathy Needed Less Frequently
COVID Information
For the most up to date information on covid-19 please access the government website:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This provides information about lockdown, shielding, testing and vaccination.
In addition to the information on the government website please find below links to other agencies which may be able to offer help and support:
- A helpline for people bereaved by covid-19 for people to talk to a trained therapist. Free to call on: 0800 048 5224 or refer via website https://listening-ear.co.uk/refer/
- Sheffield City Council have information about local services and support at this link: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/coronavirus-hub/support-for-people
- For information about coronavirus in other languages please visit: https://www.learningenglish.org.uk.