‘*Flu Vaccines* – As some may be aware, we have started booking patients in for flu vaccines in September. Can we please ask that you only contact the surgery if we have tried to contact you via telephone or text message. To book an appointment please submit a request via AskMyGP or by calling the surgery between 10am & 12pm and pressing option 9 on the phones. If you have not yet received communications regarding being booked in, please be patient. Our staff are working as quickly as they can to contact all patients who are eligible and will be in contact as soon as they can. Thank you for your patience and understanding’.
Category: Practice News
Dementia Safeguarding Scheme
Dementia Safeguarding Scheme (Herbert Protocol) | Avon and Somerset Police
The Dementia Safeguarding Scheme (Herbert Protocol) is a national scheme encouraging carers, family and friends to provide useful information which can be used in the event of a vulnerable person going missing.
Low Calorie Diet Programme
The NHS Low Calorie Diet Programme flyer for practice websites 25.5.22
Panorama
June Newsletter 2022
Blister Packs
Many of our community pharmacy colleagues are struggling with workload along with a shortage of pharmacists, and as a result, many have had to reduce the amount of blister packs (dosset boxes) they supply to patients.
Blister packs are not funded by the NHS and there is no legal obligation for pharmacies to offer this service.
Although the surgery issues your prescription we cannot influence the packaging offered by the pharmacy. If you find that you are affected by this change, you will need to remember to request your own prescriptions via your surgery. The easiest and safest way is to use the NHS app on a smartphone or iPad if you have one.
May 2022 Newsletter
Changes to Somerset NHS Dental Helpline
Menopause Webinar
Dr Kathryn Patrick, who specialises in women’s health, will be hosting a webinar on 16 May at 7pm about the menopause and HRT.
To register for the event please click on this link –
HRT
Update for women taking, or considering taking, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – 04/05/2022
I’m sure many of you have seen lots of information in the news regarding HRT shortages across the country, as well as a recent documentary on Channel 4 hosted by Davina McCall. This has caused a significant increase in demand in recent days for consultations at the surgery about these issues.
We would like you to consider the following:
- If you are interested in discussing the menopause, or starting HRT, one of our GPs, Dr Kathryn Patrick, will be running a Menopause/HRT Webinar for women to find out more information at 7pm on Monday 16th May. We would ask that, rather than requesting an appointment, you simply pop a request on askmyGP asking for registration information for her webinar. Dr Patrick has run this webinar many times in the past and has proven incredibly helpful to many women. Do spread the word!
- If you are worried about running out of HRT, please do not contact the practice until you have 2 weeks remaining. This will ensure that we don’t unnecessarily disrupt supply chains
- If you cannot obtain your HRT prescription due to stock shortages, please make contact via askmyGP clearly stating what dose of medication you are taking (e.g. if you taking a oestrogen gel pump – tell us how many pumps you are using). This will help us to make decisions for an appropriate alternative.
- The government is limiting HRT prescriptions to 3 months maximum only to try to alleviate pressures on stock supply. Please do not ask us for quantities greater than 3 months supply. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/three-month-limit-for-three-hrt-products-to-ensure-continued-access
Thanks for your support.
Buttercross Health Centre.