Byhowbeck
Barton Family Practice News – October 2023
It was great to see several patients from Barton at the Parkrun held at the Rosliston Forestry Reserve on Saturday the 16th of September 2023. Several members of the practice team also took part. Everyone seems to have enjoyed the experience. Participants were from a wide age range – from young children to pensioners, and levels of fitness – from the athletic to the less fit, and even included some dogs. I would highly recommend taking part. Anyone can join, and you do not need to run – you can walk if you prefer. I strongly recommend exercise to everyone, and if group activities are not your thing, then at least try to increase your activity levels, and consider regular walks. Find something that suits you, and which you enjoy. No amount of exercise is too little, and all exercise is good for us.
There is a new covid kid on the block, known as BA.2.86, which is doing the rounds and is causing concern because it has many mutations, which makes it difficult to predict how transmissible and severe its effects will be. This is the reason the autumn/winter vaccination programme was brought forward to September, after an initial proposal to delay the flu and covid vaccinations till October. The Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England are aiming to get as many eligible people vaccinated as quickly as possible, preferably before the 31st of October. If you have not been invited already, please book your COVID-19 vaccination online (using NHS.uk), via the NHS App or by calling 119.
Did you know that losing a significant amount of weight in the early years after diagnosis can reverse or remit type 2 diabetes? The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme is a treatment available for some people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity, or who are overweight. Have you been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the last 6 years? Are you living with obesity or overweight and are aged 18-65? You may be eligible to join the NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme. Research trials have shown that a programme including a 3-month specially formulated ‘soup and shake’ diet followed by healthy lifestyle support helped people living with type 2 diabetes and obesity, or overweight, to lose over 10kg in weight, improve their blood sugar levels, reduce diabetes-related medication and, in almost half of participants, put their type 2 diabetes into remission. To find out more and to access the service, please contact Sister Rose Bain or Claire Stamp at the surgery.
Best wishes from the team at BFP.
Byhowbeck
Have you been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in the last 6 years?
You can also download a copy of the The NHS Type 2 Diabetes Path to Remission Programme information booklet.
Byhowbeck
Don’t ignore your cervical screening invite
Cervical Screening is carried out to check the health of your cervix, it is not a test for cancer, it’s a test to help prevent cancer.
All women and people with a cervix aged 25 – 64 should go for regular cervical screening. You’ll get a letter in the post inviting you to make an appointment.
The test itself should take less than 5 minutes and is usually done by a female nurse or doctor. This video explains what happens during your screening.
You can also find more information and support at https://www.jostrust.org.uk/
Byhowbeck
Barton Family Practice News – July/August 2023
It is clear from speaking to patients that there is still a significant degree of misunderstanding about triage. Not understanding the process causes mistrust and dissatisfaction, so a further explanation is important. Put simply, triage is the system used to prioritise clinical needs, i.e., the way we decide how serious your condition may be, and how urgently, and by whom you should be treated or advised. There are 3 steps in the triage process. The first involves the collection of information by the receptionist. In the second stage, the on-call doctor uses this information, in conjunction with other things like your age and medical history, to decide what the matter could be. The third and final stage is when the doctor decides what to do about the problem, and details like who, where and when to arrange your care. Triage needs all three steps, which is why refusing to give any detail makes the process impossible. And why do we need triage? Well, there are a limited number of appointments each day, and these need to be used wisely. The more serious and urgent problems should obviously be dealt with first, and less clinically urgent ones, later. I am sure everyone can see the logic for this. Otherwise, it is first come, first served, which risks harm coming to some patients whose care is delayed by less serious problems taking priority.
Having said that, you can assist the process, and indicate your preferences in the following ways:
- Let the receptionist know if you feel your problem is urgent or routine.
- If you prefer a particular clinician.
- Prefer a face-to-face or telephone consultation.
The on-call doctor will take your preferences into account, but there may be times when it is not possible to fulfil your request, such as your problem may potentially be serious, not routine as you thought, or your preferred clinician may be unavailable.
Summer is here. Please take care of your skin, and use sunscreens, cover up and stay in the shade, particularly if you are at higher risk of developing skin cancer, such as, children, people with light skin, those with numerous moles or freckles, the immunocompromised, a personal or family history of skin cancer or work outdoors. Sunscreens should be at least sun protection factor (SPF) 15 and applied liberally. It is important to avoid prolonged exposure to strong sunlight, which peaks between 11am and 3 pm from March to October. Getting a suntan increases the risk of skin cancer.
Have a great summer. From us all at Barton Family Practice.
Byhowbeck
It’s time to talk about loneliness
We all get lonely. Its time to talk about it.
Whether its your regular barista, the friendly dog on your walk, or the shopkeeper down the road, everyday moments of connection matter. They allow us to make connections, feel happier and less lonely.
You can find information and support if you are feeling lonely at https://www.marmaladetrust.org/law
Byhowbeck
Are you a carer looking for advice or support?
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
If you are a carer and need advice and support, you can find information at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/introduction-to-care-and-support/
Byhowbeck
May Bank Holiday Closure
We will be closed on Monday 29th May 2023 for the May Bank Holiday.
If during this time you require medical advice or treatment you can:
Visit your pharmacy. Your local pharmacy can provide confidential, expert advice and treatment for a range of common illnesses and complaints. Opening times for local Pharmacies can be downloaded or you can visit NHS Choices.
Access NHS 111. To access the service online simply visit https://111.nhs.uk/ and enter your age, sex, postcode and main symptom, and then you will be guided through a series of questions about your health problems.
To access the service via phone, simply dial 111 from any mobile or landline free of charge and you will be put through to an operator who will run through a few questions regarding your health problem in order to get you the right care.
A&E or 999. For a genuine medical emergency including; loss of consciousness, acute confused state and fits that are not stopping, persistent and or/severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that cannot be stopped call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Byhowbeck
Barton Family Practice News – June 2023
We were flooded on the night of Thursday the 11th of May. The surgery has been flooded several times since we moved to the new building in 2007, but this was by far the worst. Most of the floods have been caused by leaks in the apartments and facilities above the surgery. This time, over 1/2 of the surgery was made unusable and unsafe by the flood. We were fortunate in not having to shut the surgery completely and were still able to provide a service to our patients. We would like to thank the Barton under Needwood Fire Service for responding so promptly, controlling the leak, advising about safety, and helping to start the clear-up. Thank you to Tippers for stepping in with the prompt deployment of dehumidifiers, ESREM Ltd for giving an early assessment of the electrics and Norclean for immediately getting the cleaning underway. A big thank you also to the whole Practice Team who reacted so well to the crisis and rallied and responded fantastically to keep the service going for our patients. A truly collective team effort.
And now, something completely different. Here are some tips for a successful consultation. Please mention your main concern first. Remember that your GP will usually only have 10 minutes for the whole consultation, including writing up your notes. Usually, you can only realistically hope to address one problem per consultation, but if you think that more than one problem could be important, then please say at the start of the consultation that you have several issues. This will enable the GP to work with you to decide on priorities. Try to avoid coming with a lengthy list of problems or saying “Doctor, one more thing” at the end of a consultation. This way, we can do our best to address pressing concerns and important health issues, in the limited time available.
We have some fresh staff joining us at Barton. Mrs. Karen Aucock is starting mid-May as an ANP (Advanced Nurse Practitioner). She will be seeing patients independently, much in the same way a GP does, and will be working 4 days a week. She brings a wealth of experience, having been an ANP at a practice in Stafford for 8 years. We are thrilled that she is joining us. Also joining us at the end of May is Dr. Chika Igwe-Omoke, who will be working 3 days a week as a GP. She comes fresh from GP training in Lincolnshire. We hope both joiners have an enjoyable and fulfilling time at Barton.
Best wishes from Team Barton.
Byhowbeck
When anxiety becomes an issue
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Weeks theme is ‘anxiety’. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all but sometimes I can get out of control and become a mental health problem.
You can find out more about anxiety and what help is available at: