Flu Vaccines arriving ...

Watch out over the next week as the flu vaccines are arriving in...  contact teh surgery to make an appointment,

Are you housebound then no need to worry, our friendly nursing team will be more than happy to come to your home to make sure that you dont miss out.  All you need to do is contact the practice or get someone to do it for you.  Stay safe this winter and get your flu vaccine...

Gloria's Video from City Hospitals Sunderland

Me myself and I on video speaking from A&E Sunderland  (click on link to see Video)

Understanding why some patients go to A&E when there are other NHS services available is the focus of a special project this week led by the city’s new GP-led health commissioning group, NHS Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It is hoped the work will help understand why patients choose to attend A&E over other services and hopefully identify how best to raise awareness of the other services that are available.

Each year the A&E department in Sunderland sees approximately 92,000 patients, an average of more than 250 patients each day. It is believed a large proportion of these patients could have been treated by other services or self-treated with basic first aid and advice.

Sunderland CCG Chair, Ian Pattison, said: “We are committed to involving patients when planning new health services and developing existing services. We hope this work will provide us with an insight into why patients attend A&E, in some cases inappropriately, and help us identify services that could be provided or better advertised to reduce the demand on A&E.

“A&E is an emergency service that should only be used when people are badly injured or show the symptoms of serious illness.”

“In order to save patients time and inconvenience, and allow accident and emergency staff to concentrate their efforts on those most in need, we need to find out why people are attending A&E when there are a range of other health services that may be more appropriate (including self- care, NHS 111, pharmacists, dentists, GPs, minor injury and illness units/walk-in centres).”

Sunderland CCG is urging the public to consider if the following could be used before attending A&E:

1. A well-stocked medicine cabinet will help you deal with many common illnesses such as coughs, colds and stomach upsets.
2. Call 111 when you need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency. NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Calls are free from landlines and mobile phones.
3. Your local pharmacist is able to give friendly expert advice regarding over the counter medication that can help with a wide range of common conditions without an appointment.
4. GPs offer medical advice, examinations and prescriptions for more persistent health problems. Your GP has your records and knows your medical history, medicines and allergies.
5. Walk-in centres are GP/Nurse led centres at which you do not need an appointment to be seen. You will be seen in priority order by a doctor or experienced nurse. Walk-in centres are open every day of the year.

Sunderland CCG will use the findings from this work to help plan its services over winter – a time when the demand on all services increases

Shingles Vaccine... 70 AND 79 years Young

Well I must say the information we have received on first sight reads different when you actually read it... Its NOT   70 to 79 years young who are eligible BUT only those who are 70  AND  79 years young.. Well what about the 71 - 78 yrs....  Lets see what 2014 brings.

Just for the record, you can get the vaccine even if you have had shingles in the past, that is if your 70 yr or 79 years young..  We have started to call patients in for an appointment however you need not wait for us, make an appointment at reception.

Save a life - give blood

The blood transfusion service will be at the Community Centre Wensleydale Avenue, Penshaw on Tuesday 17th September.  14:00 to 15:45  & 16.30 to 19.00

Please call 0300 1232323 to make an appointment for this session or visit blood.co.uk

Its about caring and sharing so come on you lot, you don't need to keep it all to yourself its good to share.  AND, you will get a drink and biscuit afterwards.