🌸 Spring is here, and so is our latest newsletter! 🌸

We're excited to share the Spring edition of our newsletter with all of you. It's a quick read, packed with important updates and health tips from our GP practice! 🌞

📬 What's it about this time?
🩺 Advertising our new diabetic groups: Join us for group reviews and get support from others with the same condition.
💊 Antibiotic resistance awareness: Learn how to protect yourself in the best way.
🤝 Our patient participation group: Get involved and make a difference in our practice.
😣 "Are you in pain?": Discover why pain meds might not be the answer and explore alternative solutions.

Kidney Care UK has launched the Bloody Amazing Kidneys campaign to help identify those at risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and encourage testing. Too many people are diagnosed when their kidneys are already damaged. We aim to identify CKD sooner, allowing individuals to take steps to prolong kidney health and avoid dialysis or transplant.

Use the Kidney Health Checker to find out your risk level. If at higher risk, make an appointment with your GP. If at lower risk, learn more about kidney health.

Kidney Health Checker: https://kidneycareuk.org/kidney-health-checker/

Click here for more information on the different stages of kidney disease

Welcome Dr. Sathanandan to Our Practice!

We are thrilled to introduce Dr. Sathanandan to our team! With a deep passion for teaching and a postgraduate certificate in medical education, he brings a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to our community.

Dr. Sathanandan enjoys collaborating with both doctors and students, and his commitment to patient care is already evident, despite being new to GP practice. We are confident that his dedication and energy will greatly benefit our practice and the patients we serve.

We know we've been a lot this year... New clinical system, New phone system, New booking system... even a few new staff too

Thank you all so much for your understanding and patience while the staff learnt all these new things too

We're also hoping for no more big changes... but who knows what the year will bring

As our new total triage system is working so well, we no longer need to restrict when you order your prescriptions. You can now order them at any point within our opening hours (08:00-18:30).

As a reminder, You can order an item from your repeat medication list in the following ways:

• Online, using the NHS app
• By telephone, by calling 0114 2398686 and choosing option 2 
• Hand written request, using the B-side of your last prescription

Prescriptions can be sent directly to the chemist of your choice electronically so there is no need to pick it up from us, but we can issue a paper copy for you to collect if you request this.

Daylight is a digital treatment that helps you understand where anxiety comes from, what makes it worse, and how to reduce it for good. In just 10minutes per day, Daylight teaches you effective techniques to help take back control from feelings of worry and anxiety — all from the privacy of your own phone, at no cost. Tens of thousands of people have used Daylight in the UK.

The following instructions will help you sign up and begin your journey to worrying less:

1. Visit trydaylight.com/nhs on desktop or mobile to register
2. Download the 'Daylight -Worry Less' mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store
3. Sign in on the app and get instant access to digital treatment for anxiety

A wonderful new service in our area:

"In 2024-25, our musicians, Sophie and Nick, will be out on the road delivering monthly Music To Your Door sessions in Sheffield. We have full DBS and Public Liability Insurance. A Music To Your Door session usually lasts between 20 and 30 minutes and takes place in an outside location at your home - typically the doorstep or the garden. We can come inside, if appropriate, and always maintain a Covid-safe practice to reduce risk to everyone. We bring guitars, percussion instruments and our voices. We have a wide range of familiar songs and also bring simple instruments so that people can join in if they would like to. We also provide a soothing musical atmosphere to help you relax. www.districtmusicians.org TO ACCESS THIS FREE SERVICE PLEASE VISIT www.districtmusicians.org OR CALL 07747113039"

We’ve listened to our patients and fully understand the frustrations you have trying to contact the surgery between 8-10am each day. So, from Monday 7th October you no longer need to do this. Please head to our website, click on the link for Accurx and complete the form required. Clinical issues will be triaged by a GP and admin related issues dealt with by admin staff. You can complete this form anytime between 7.30am - 6pm Monday - Friday. We sincerely hope this makes access to our service much easier but all feedback is appreciated. This is a new procedure to us, as well as our patients so please bear with us if we have any teething issues.

Contact us about your request (accurx.nhs.uk)

Weston Park Cancer Charity is bringing cancer support services to our community for the first time ever. The Big Purple Bus offers one to one support for anyone affected by cancer from their friendly, supportive Healthcare Professionals and advisors. They can offer emotional, financial, practical support and advice.

They have a qualified welfare advisor at specific locations who can offer support and practical advice if you are affected by cancer.

Most importantly, they offer friendly faces and a welcoming environment - no question is too big or small for the Big Purple Bus Team.

The bus will be at Manor Park Centre, S2 1WE every Monday between 9am-12pm & Springs Leisure Centre, East Bank Road, S2 2AL every Monday between 12.30pm-3pm.

For more information, call 0114 553 3330 or visit the website here

For more information please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-lung-cancer-screening-roll-out-to-detect-cancer-sooner

From September 2024, pregnant women can have a free vaccine from week 28 of each pregnancy to protect their babies against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-maternal-vaccination OR speak to your midwife, maternity service or GP practice.

RSV can cause pneumonia which can be serious. We will invite you for your free vaccination if:

• You turn 75 years of age on or after the 1st September 2024
• You are already aged 75-79 years old on 1st September 2024

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccination-for-older-adults OR speak to your practice nurse, GP or health team.

Looking for a quick STI check-up?

Chlamydia and gonorrhoea self-screening kits are now available at the clinic at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

There's no need to make an appointment, and you won't have to see a member of staff when you arrive. Just call in during the regular opening hours, complete one of the kits, and leave it at the collection point.

You will be contacted with your results when they are available.

As part of this walk-in service they can also offer a routine blood test for HIV and syphilis every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday during clinic hours. They recommend having a blood test as part of a full sexual health check-up.

#sexualhealth #STIs #STIScreening #sheffield

There are now more ways than ever to prevent HIV. This includes PrEP, a pill that is taken by someone who is HIV negative before and after sex to protect themselves from HIV.

Answer a few questions at startswithme.org.uk/prep-tool to check if PrEP is right for you.

To find out more about accessing PrEP in Sheffield visit bit.ly/SHSPrEP or call them on 0114 226 8888

#itstartswithme #hivprevention

Aged 18 or under?

Their Youth Clinic is open Monday's and Thursday's from 2-6pm offering free and confidential sexual health and contraception support.
No need to make an appointment - just call in

For more info visit http://bit.ly/SHSYouthClinic

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.

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.

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

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).

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. 

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.