Lloyds Pharmacy Closure
Lloyds Pharmacy in Sainsburys Stoke will be closing permanently from 02/09/2022. You can use the NHS App 📱 to change your nominated pharmacy or our patients can visit https://www.online-consult.co.uk/org/trent-vale-medical-practice/start/14/24 💻 and inform us of your preferred new pharmacy.
Chest X-ray Requests
If you have had a Chest X-ray requested by the GP since 11/04/2022 we have been informed you must now book this yourself. Please see the available walk-in clinics for Chest X-rays. The clinic at the Royal Stoke is currently closed and we will let you know when this changes. There are exceptions for patients who require transport or a hoist please let the GP know if they request one for you that these are required.
Give Blood
Appointments are available now at some centres and they especially need more O negative and B negative donations. www.blood.co.uk
This completely free guide is to help and support people looking for care and support across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire. It contains useful information about accessing social care, funding care, staying independent, moving to a care home etc.
25/2/22 NHS Guidance received
'Living with Covid'
NHS Organisations Living with Covid Guidance
The document above has been received today.
Whilst 'general' restrictions end, they do not for NHS organisations and staff.
This means we are still bound by social distancing, masks and the requirement to test and work from home with covid infection.
I'm sure you will understand that this is necessary and desirable to protect our vulnerable patients.
We will continue to 'tweak' our appointment system, but will continue with the 'alternative' methods of contact and communication such as accurx text messaging, online enquiry and video and telephone consulting for now.
Targeted Lung Health Checks
If you smoke or have ever smoked, you are aged 55 -74 and registered with a Stoke on Trent GP then you are invited to attend a #NHSLungHealthCheck with one of the @UHNM_NHS specialist respiratory nurses. The appointment will take approximately 20 minutes where you will be asked some question about your general health, family history and lifestyle.
To book an appointment please call 01782 671554 or fill out this short form www.uhnm.nhs.uk/our-services/lung-health-checks/request-an-appointment/
Living Well - help to stop smoking
If you currently smoke there is a free local service which can help you stop. If you fill in a form HERE living well will get in touch with the best service for you.
Face coverings must still be worn inside the surgery
Important information about how covid-19 vaccinations administered outside of the UK are transcribed into your NHS medical record automatically can be found here
Fake Patient Access Emails
We are aware of a number of emails that have been sent falsely claiming to be from Patient Access.
This is not a communication that has been sent by Patient Access – all emails from Patient access will come via an @patientaccess.com email address.
They are looking into the emails, but in the meantime would advise that you never click on links to login via email and visit the site via the address bar of your browser instead.
They also strongly advise setting up your Memorable Word feature, to protect against attacks such as these. We also advise using biometrics (fingerprint ID) if you use the app.
Healthy Teen Minds Crisis Tools
A scoping report commissioned by Health Education England identified children and young people’s (CYP) mental health as an area where training can help develop confidence, knowledge, and skills.
Unsure about how you can best help a young person going through a mental health crisis?
Health Education England are delighted to announce with colleagues at Healthy Teen Minds the launch of Mental Health Crisis ‘bitesize’ online resources at https://crisistools.org.uk/register/
The Crisis Tools learning sits on a new publicly open website at www.crisistools.org.uk and presented in video and text format. The four Crisis Tools learning content covers:
- What we need you to know? Outlines key challenges and strategies that individuals need to know before they begin their interaction with a young person in crisis at https://crisistools.org.uk/training/what-you-need-to-know/
- How to start the conversation Features practical tips to help set up for success and build trust when supporting a young person in-person, over the phone or online at https://crisistools.org.uk/training/how-to-start-the-conversation/
- So you want to talk about risk? Explores the risk conversation from a young person’s perspective, including how to get the conversation back on track when things go wrong and practical approaches at https://crisistools.org.uk/training/so-you-want-to-talk-about-risk/
- How to wrap things up. Covers key tips and strategies to help end a conversation in a collaborative way that feels safe for everyone at https://crisistools.org.uk/training/how-to-wrap-things-up/
Who is the resource for?
- Individuals working in other health and care settings such as primary care, urgent and emergency care
- Mental health staff who may encounter young people in a crisis, this will include a multi-disciplinary staff group incl. non-clinical roles
- Students and learners who will work and are working with young people
- Families and carers
Leading up to World Mental Health Day on 7 October 2021, you can also join the Healthy Teen Minds online Crisis Tools celebration event.
The NHS needs data about the patients it treats in order to plan and deliver its services and to ensure that care and treatment provided is safe and effective. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by collecting patient data that can be used to do this. For example patient data can help the NHS to:
- monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of care
- plan how to deliver better health and care services
- prevent the spread of infectious diseases
- identify new treatments and medicines through health research
GP practices already share patient data for these purposes, but this new data collection will be more efficient and effective.
NHS Digital will not share your name or where you live. Any other data that could directly identify you, for example your NHS number, General Practice Local Patient Number, full postcode and date of birth, is replaced with unique codes which are produced by de-identification software before the data is shared with NHS Digital.
COVID-19 Vaccine Status Requests
From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from:
- The NHS App which you can download from app stores
- The NHS website nhs.uk
- 119 - by requesting a paper letter
You will need to register to use the online services, if you have not already. It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified.
If you cannot access the online services, and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and have had your second dose more than five working days ago. It may take up to seven working days for the letter to arrive.
This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. Please do not contact the practice about your COVID-19 vaccination status unless you have been advised to by the 119 service.
When you're planning your travel, you should check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is enough time to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status before you are due to travel.
Online Consultations
If you have a routine (non-urgent) problem you can leave a message for our GP's using Online Consult. Once you have left your message this will be viewed and appropriate action will be taken for example giving you a GP or nurse appointment.
Organ Donation
As you may know on the 20th of May this year the law regarding organ donation changed to an "opt-out" system. This means that everyone will be considered an organ donor unless they specifically opt-out. To register your decision or find more info please visit https://www.organdonation.nhs.uk/ or call 0300 123 23 23.
Social Prescribing
Social Prescribing Leaflet
Please see the above leaflet for information on the new social prescribing scheme. If you think it's something that could help you please speak to one of our GP's who can make a referral for you.
Cervical Screening
Bowel Screening
Easy Guide Bowel Cancer Screening
Reducing Risk Bowel Cancer Booklet
Fit Notes (Self Certifications)
Self-Certification is a way to prove that you were ill or injured and need to take time off work to recover. Not all employers ask their employees to self-certify on their return - a fit note is usually enough to prove you were unwell.
https://www.uppinghamsurgery.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SC2-Form.pdf
New service for patients
The NHS has introduced a new service for people who are more at risk of an unplanned hospital admission in an emergency situation and who would benefit from more tailored, active support from their GP surgery. We believe personal care planning could help improve your health and wellbeing, as well as help to reduce the risk of unplanned hospital admissions
For more information about this service please speak to your registered Doctor.