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NHS111
NHS111 is currently being rolled out across the country. The new telephone service aims to make it easier for people to access healthcare services when they need medical help fast, but it is not a life threatening situation. Please continue to ring 999 for life threatening situations which require an immediate response.
Are you caring for someone at home or elsewhere?
The term carer refers to someone who looks after a family member or friend in need of help because they are in ill health, frail or have a disability. The help orovided in unpaid. This includes parent carers of disabled and special needs children, people caring for someone with mental health problems or who is substance or alcohol dependent. Children and young people under 18 who undertake caring responsibilities or who are affected by a caring situation as known as Young Carers and have their own support organisation in Surrey. Telephone: 01737 248111
The practice would like to identify patients who are Carers and those who are Cared For to offer support and special arrangements regarding appointments where possible. With your permission, we can also refer Carers to Carers Support in Guildford who an independent voluntary organisation and are not part of Socail Services. They can offer confidential help and support and information on services, benefits, advocacy and support in obtaining services and free newsletters.
Surrey Carer's Break Project
Surrey County Council are piloting a new scheme to provide a flexible break/respite to eligible Carers registered with GP practices who are providing care. The aim is to support unpaid Carers in improving their own health and wellbeing and to support Carers in their caring role.
The Carer may or may not be living at the same address as the Cared for person and may be new to caring, or have been caring for many years. The Carers will spend a significant proportion of their time in providing unpaid support to the Cared for person. The scheme allows for one break per household up to a maximum of £500.00 per financial year.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The CQC is the Government's independent regulator of health and adult social care services. They monitor hospitals, care homes, dentists and domiciliary care services as well as other services to ensure that they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety. If necessary, they take action when standards are not being met.
From April 2013 they will also be regulating GP practices and other primary care services and will inspect practices at least every two years. As part of a practice inspection, the CQC inspectors may ask patients about their experiences of the service and facilities of the practice.
Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
The Villages Medical Centre is a member of Guildford & Waverkey Clinical Commissioning Group whom, from 1/4/13 will be planning and buying hospital, community and mental health services in the Guildford & Waverley area. If you would like to know more, or get involved, please visit www.guildfordandwaverleyccg.nhs.uk
Get Better with using antibiotics
Antiobiotics are important medicines used to treat infections caused by bacteria. They do not help viral infections such as colds and flu. Bacteria can adapt and find ways to survive the effects of an antiobiotic and therefore become resistant to it. Some bacteria that cause infections in hospitals, such as MRSA, are resistant to several antibiotics. Different antibiotics can be used instead, but they may not be as effective and may have more side-effects. Eventually the bacertia will become resistant to them as well. We cannot be sure we will always be able to find new antiobiotics to replace the old ones. In recent years fewer new antiobiotics have been discovered.
We only use antibiotics when it is appropriate to do so because the infection is a bacertial one and not a viral one. Antiobiotics may be life-saving for infections such as meningitis. When an antiobiotic is prescribed, the complete course should be taken in order to get rid of the bacteria completely because, if the course is not completed, some bacteria may be left to develop resistance.
Cold Virus
Unfortunately, no amount of antibiotics will get rid of your cold and the best way to treat most colds or sore throats is to drink plenty of fluids and to rest. Colds can last 2 to 4 weeks and may end with a cough and bringing up phlegm. There are many remedies to ease the symptoms (paracetamol for example) so ask your paharmacist for advice. If the cold lasts for more than 4 weeks, or you become breathless or have chest pains, or already have a chest complant, please make an appointment to see a GP.
It is very common for children to get coughts and cpolds, especially when they go to school and mix with other children. Ask your pharmacist for advice, but if the symptoms persist and you are concerned, please see your GP but please don't expect to be prescribed antiobiotics.
Patient Choice
If you and your GP decide that you need to see a specialist for further treatment, you can choose where to have your treatment from a list of hospitals or clinics.
Pneumonia Vaccination
Are you 65 or over? The Department of Health recommend vaccination for penumonia and other related infections. Most people need to have onky one dose, and it can be given at any time of the year. Please make an appointment with the Practice Nurse.
Summary Care Record (SCR)
The NHS in England is changing the way in which medical records are stored and managed to improve the safety and quality of patient care. SCR will give healthcare staff faster, easier access to reliable information about you to help with your treatment.
Today, records are kept in all the places where you receive care. These organisations can usually only share information from your records by letter, email fax or phone. At times, this can slow down treatment and sometimes information can be lost along the way. Now there will be quicker ways to get important information to the NHS staff treating you, including in an emergency and when you use out-of-hours services when the practice is closed.
At first, your SCR will contain important information about your health, such as details of any allergies, your current repeat prescriptions and whether you have had any bad reaction to medicines. After that, in time, each time you use any NHS health service, with your permission, details about any health problems, summaries of your care and the professionals treating you, may be added to your SCR. As new information is added to your SCR, you can discuss what is being added and how sensitive information is handled.
By law everyone working at the practice, or on our behalf, must respect your confidentiality and keep all information about you secure. There is information about how the NHS Care Record Guarantee for England which says how the NHS Care Records Service will collect, store and allow access to your electronic records. Information on how to obtain a copy was included in the Information Pack which the NHS sent to all patients.
More information is to be found at www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk or telephone 08453 700 750
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