PPG Newsletter - Winter 2024 edition

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The Hub

The hub has been gradually filling up and accommodating many local NHS services.

When visiting please be aware that the main reception on the ground floor provides general reception services for all areas. Priory Gardens Surgery reception is found at the entrance to floor one.

List of all services located at the Hub

Events

Patient-Led Assessments of the Care Environment (PLACE)

PLACE assessments put patient views at the centre of the assessment process, and use information gleaned directly from patient assessors to report

how well a hospital is performing in the areas as sessed – privacy and dignity, cleanliness, food and general building maintenance. It focuses entirely on the care environment and does not cover clinical care provision or staff behaviours.

The assessments are undertaken annually, and results will be reported publicly to help drive improvements in the care environment. The results will show how hospitals are performing nationally.

Most importantly, patients and their representatives will make up at least 50 per cent of the assessment team, which will give them the opportunity to drive developments in the health services they receive locally.

Your PPG have volunteered to assist with this legally required exercise, and have recently visited both Luton and Bedford hospitals.

In return, members have gained valuable knowledge and insight into the running of the hospitals.

Coffee Morning

The PPG hosted a Wellbeing Coffee morning on the 17th June, in the Hub. We had representatives from the Diabetes, AAA screening and Membership groups of Bedfordshire Hospitals, and Community Safety, Housing initiatives and Public health groups of CBC.

In addition ELFT Recovery College, Tibbs Dementia, Houghton Regis Helpers, Healthwatch and Dunstable Citizens Advice were there to meet patients and anyone else who passed by. Visitors and stall holders found the event very good and useful.

PPG members welcomed and assisted visitors.

Prescriptions

Priory Gardens Surgery processes an average 4,500 prescriptions every month.

It is important to order your repeat prescription in good time ideally at least 5 working days before you need them, and you remember that Bank Holidays and Weekends do not count as working days.

What happens when I need a new prescription or the repeat of an existing prescription?

Your prescription journey starts in one of two ways, firstly you may visit the surgery, and your healthcare professional will prescribe something to help with your condition, secondly you may request a repeat prescription using the process on the surgery website.

When your prescription request has been received online by the surgery, the surgery needs up to three days to process this and send it to your chosen pharmacy. Often this process is quicker depending on volumes of requests received on that day.

Once it is received at the surgery your request goes to a qualified health professional usually the Pharmacist who will check your request against your records and if there are no queries, they will then send your prescription to your chosen pharmacy.

What happens once my prescription has been sent to my chosen pharmacy?

Your pharmacy usually receives your prescription electronically and they then need to print off each prescription and prepare it ready for your collection. There may be instances when your pharmacy could be out of stock of one or more items, and they sometimes need to order the item in for next day delivery.

Once the pharmacy has your prescription the length of time it takes to make up your prescription lies with them and may be affected by how busy they are bearing in mind that each pharmacy is potentially dealing with several doctor’s surgeries along with your own. Like all businesses pharmacies are sometimes affected by staff sickness, holidays or other unavoidable absences.

If you have a nominated pharmacy, it usually takes 3 to 5 days before your prescription is ready to collect.

Can I change my nominated pharmacy?

When you log into your Priory Gardens Surgery account online under the Medication section there is a section that you can click on to change your nominated pharmacy.

NHS Screening Programs 

Screening Program	Applicable to
High blood pressure	Adults 40 years and over Every 5 years as part of NHS Health Check
NHS Health Check	Adults 40 to 74 years Every 5 years
Bowel cancer screening	Adults 60 to 74 years Every 2 years
Flu vaccine	Over 65s, pregnant women, at-risk All ages for at-risk Annually
Diabetic eye screening	People with diabetes 12 years and over Annually
Osteoporosis	Postmenopausal women, men at risk Over 50 years Based on risk factors
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening	Men 65 years One-time scan
Prostate cancer	Men Over 50 years On request based on individual risk
Cervical screening	Women 25 to 64 years Every 3 years (25 to 49 years) Every 5 years (50 to 64 years)
Breast screening (mammogram)	Women 50 to 70 years Every 3 years
Ultrasound scans in pregnancy	Pregnant women During pregnancy 10-14 weeks and 18-21 weeks
Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia	Pregnant women During pregnancy Early pregnancy
Newborn Blood Spot	Newborns 5 days after birth Heel prick test
Newborn physical examination	Newborns At birth, 72 hours and at 6-8 weeks
Newborn Hearing	Newborns Shortly after birth, usually before leaving hospital
Eye tests for children	Children 4 to 5 years In school during the reception year

Gaitsmart

Priory Gardens Surgery has been participating in a 12 month pilot program using technology to identify patients who may be at risk of injury from falls. This is part of NHS Healthcheck for patients aged between 40 and 75 and should be invited by the surgery. If you think you are eligible but haven’t been invited, please check with the surgery.

GaitSmart: A Patient's Perspective on Health and Wellbeing

In today's fast-paced world, maintaining health and wellbeing is more crucial than ever. For many, the journey to better health begins with understanding and improving their mobility. This is where GaitSmart steps in, offering a revolutionary approach to gait analysis and personalised exercise plans that empower patients to take control of their health.

Understanding GaitSmart

GaitSmart is a cutting-edge technology that uses sensor-based systems to measure human motion. By providing lab-quality data, GaitSmart helps individuals understand their gait patterns and identify potential issues early on. This proactive approach is key to preventing long-term conditions and maintaining overall wellbeing.

Patient Stories: Real-Life Transformations

For many patients, GaitSmart has been a game-changer. Take, for example, a 63-year-old woman who struggled with an awkward and painful walk. After using GaitSmart, she could monitor her progress visually through detailed reports and follow easy-to-do exercises. The result? She regained her confidence and now enjoys pain-free walking holidays with her family.

Another patient, a 47-year-old woman, found the GaitSmart test process quick and insightful. The recommended exercises were well-explained and easy to follow, helping her prevent injuries and improve her gait. She now recommends GaitSmart to anyone looking to understand their walking patterns and enhance their mobility.

The Importance of Early Detection

One of the standout features of GaitSmart is its ability to detect minor gait issues before they develop into more serious conditions. Regular gait monitoring can identify potential problems early, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. This not only helps in maintaining physical health but also boosts mental wellbeing by reducing the anxiety associated with mobility issues.

Empowering Patients with Personalised Plans

GaitSmart doesn't just stop at identifying issues; it provides personalised exercise plans tailored to each individual's needs. These plans are designed to improve strength, balance, and overall gait quality. For patients recovering from surgeries like hip or knee replacements, GaitSmart offers pre and post-op assessments and exercises to aid in their recovery.

Conclusion

GaitSmart is more than just a gait analysis tool; it's a partner in the journey towards better health and wellbeing. By providing detailed insights and personalised plans, GaitSmart empowers patients to take control of their mobility and live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Whether you're looking to prevent injuries, recover from surgery, or simply improve your walking patterns, GaitSmart offers the support and guidance you need to achieve your health goals.

Anima

Anima is an integrated healthcare platform designed to streamline GP practice workflows by automating tasks like patient triage, document processing, and appointment management. It combines online consultations with productivity tools, integrating with major systems such as EMIS and SystmOne.

What does Anima do for you?

Anima is a communication platform that allows you to seek care from your GP practice. When you have an issue that you want to contact your GP about, you can use Anima to submit your request online, using your NHS login.

How does it work?

Anima helps you quickly get the care you need from your GP practice, and there’s just 3 steps to get started. The on screen information will guide you in registering and logging in. It is only open during normal surgery hours.

• Patient Submits Request: A patient submits a medical or administrative request via Anima's platform.
• System Triage: Anima automatically prioritises the request based on urgency.
• GP Review: The GP receives the request, reviews the details, and decides the next steps.
• Patient Notification: The patient is notified of the GP's response or an appointment.
• Follow-Up: Any necessary follow-up actions, like scheduling tests or providing additional care, are managed.

How to login to Anima?

Patients will be able to access Anima by using their NHS login. This is the same login information that you use to access the NHS app. If you are yet to register for an NHS login, you can do so by heading to the NHS website.

If you do not have an NHS login and do not want one, you can register for Anima without it.

More information about Anima.

Surgery services

Standard information about the surgery provided by the PPG. The information is updated on an ongoing basis.

Healthwatch

Healthwatch held their AGM on the 19th November.

Healthwatch have a watching brief to improve health and social care services in Central Bedfordshire, through education, inspections and reporting.

Your PPG felt it was particularly important to attend this event in Flitwick this year as the Co-Chief Executives of Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Local Medical Committee (LMC) were there to speak about the ‘Challenges, barriers, issues and concerns facing GP Practices; increasing demands on the service and potential industrial action, and how this will affect patients’.

About the Patient Participation Group

We held our Wellbeing Day where we were happy to speak to over 250 of our patients. We would like to know what other type of wellbeing day you would like to take part in?

We were invited by the Bedfordshire Hospital Foundation Trust to participate in their PLACE inspection (Patient Led Assessment of the Care Environment) which happens every year and is a requirement of the NHS and the results are published in the New Year.

We also have been working on a Survey for the surgery to get your view points to enable the surgery to improve their service to you. We will be sending this out by SMS.

Another meeting we have been to was the Annual General Meeting of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire where we met the Local Medical Council CEOs who lead our GPS, there was a very good presentation which we will share with you in our next newsletter.

If you wish to get in touch with us do not hesitate to contact via our email address.

Biographical details of the members of the PPG

Survey

We have been planning with the Surgery to do another online survey, and this should have started by the time this newsletter is published. It is essentially a repeat of the National survey that was done earlier in the year, which however only reached a small fraction of the patients, and even fewer responded.

We would like to build a more reliable picture of patient satisfaction with various aspects of their engagement with the Surgery, that we can use with more confidence to develop surgery processes.

If you have received an SMS asking you to complete this, then please do. It is anonymous, and only takes 5 minutes or so to complete. Be sure to submit your responses at the end! If the link still works, then it’s not too late!

Published: Dec 15, 2024