From the 1st of April 2023 the Department of Health and Social Care are increasing NHS prescription Charges.

For information on purchasing pre-payment certificates head to the NHS website here.

If you purchase a prepayment certificate before the 1st of April 2023 it will be charged at the old rate.

HRT prepayment certificates will only be available to purchase from the 1st of April 2023.

Would you like to have a laugh and make new friends, combined with some easy chair-based exercises to improve strength and muscle balance?

Sessions take place at The White Hart, Alton, ST10 4AQ.

Once a month on Tuesdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm.

If you are interested, please speak to Reception who will put you in contact with our Health and Wellbeing Coordinator.

‘One Health and Care’ is a new integrated care record for individuals registered at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent GP practices that brings data together from the different organisations involved in health and social care.

Completely confidential and secure, it’s designed to help doctors, nurses and other registered health and social care professionals directly involved in your care to make better, safer decisions.

The information that they will be able to see includes:

• Your name, date of birth, sex, address, telephone number, NHS number
• The name of your GP Practice and GP
• Medications, allergies, ongoing and historic conditions, immunisations and diagnoses
• Test results, hospital referrals, admissions, discharges and clinics attended
• Social and mental health information and care plans

For more information on how the system works watch the video or head to the website here.

To ensure everyone has access to the NHS services they need it is important to know what options are available for you to suit your condition.

When you’re feeling ill with a minor illness like a cold or sore throat, or have picked up a minor injury, do you know how to treat the symptoms at home?

Self Care aims to empower us to know how to recognise symptoms, know how to treat them as soon they appear using over-the-counter medicines, and when to get more advice from a pharmacist or NHS 111.

There are also many benefits from visiting your local pharmacist. With no need to book an apointment and no waiting times you can see a clinician with expertise in minor ailments and treatments. This allows for quick and easy access to appropriate treatment and guidance on how to use it!

 If you are unsure of your symptoms or the help you need NHS 111 is a fast and easy way to get the right help, whatever the time. You can also use the NHS Symptom Checker online to find out when and where you can get help. 

To find out more information about the health services available to you in North Staffordshire head to the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group website. 

From the 20^th of May 2020 all adults in England will be considered to have agreed to donate their organs and tissues when they die. Individuals still have the option to ‘opt out’ if they do not wish to be a registered organ donor. The change in law will apply to adults over 18 who are not in an excluded group.

Your family will still be involved and your faith, beliefs and culture will continue to be respected in making a final decision. It’s important to tell your family about your choice so they can support your decision. You should also tell them if you change your decision in the future to ensure your decision is

honoured.

You can opt in, opt out, change your recorded decision and find out more information on the NHS Organ Donor website.

Would you like to learn how to better manage your mental health and develop coping strategies?

Living Life to The Full is an excellent, and free, course available from the North Staffordshire Social Inclusion & Recovery Service.

You will be able to learn all about mindfulness and good mental health practice in an easy to understand format.

Its free to take part and you can join in from the comfort of your own home via a smartphone, tablet or video enabled PC. 

for more information or to book on the next course call 01538 387111 or send an email to northstaffs.communitysupport@rethink.org.

All Pathology run community phlebotomy clinics have been converted to bookable only appointments to support social distancing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

University Hospitals North Midlands have developed a web based community phlebotomy booking system which will allow patients to book blood tests online at their chosen location.

The system will provide a text confirmation of date, time and venue once the appointment has been successfully booked.

Click here for quick and easy access to the booking system.

The existing appointment line number 01782 674242 will be retained for those patients who do not have internet or mobile phone access; phone line operators will be able to book appointments on the electronic system on behalf of these patients.

You may have heard in the media about a data collection programme being undertaken by NHS Digital. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) is a more efficient and secure system of data collection which aims to support health and care planning and research.

Our practice will continue to share data with NHS Digital. If you would like more information on how and what data is shared head to the NHS Digital website. There is also information on this page for those wishing to opt out.

Due to increasing concern from patients and GP practices, data sharing with NHS Digital under the new directions has been paused, providing more time for patients to review the changes ahead of any future data collections.

The My Planned Care website gives you advice and support while you wait and helps you to prepare for your hospital consultation, treatment, or surgery. This includes giving you information about waiting times at your hospital and other supporting and local services while you wait.

Trading Standards have announced that cases of doorstep crimes are on the rise due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Fake and dangerous; hand sanitisers, face masks and swabbing kits being sold online and door to door.
• Charity collections supposedly helping the vulnerable.
• Fake text messages claiming to be from the Government issuing the individual with a fake payout or fine for leaving their home. Neither are genuine – ignore and delete them.

Remember:

• DO NOT click on links within emails or text messages.
• Apply the ‘hover test’ to emails to check their actual origin.
• Look carefully at spelling and grammar – poor spelling and bad grammar is unlikely from a genuine company.
• Apply the usual processes when making changes or payments COVID-19 testing kits are only offered by the NHS.
• There is currently (as at May 2020) no vaccine or cure for COVID-19.
• Be aware of overpriced or fake goods such as, hand sanitiser or PPE.

Two women die every day from cervical cancer in England. Yet it is one of the most preventable cancers and getting screened can help stop it before it starts.

Women and people with a cervix aged 25-64 are eligible for screening. You will be invited for routine screening every three years if you are aged 25-49, and every five years if you are aged 50-64. Those registered as male will need to request an appointment from their GP or a local sexual health clinic.

Encourage those you love to get screened if they are overdue a test. You can call the surgery to book an appointment or to discuss any concerns you may have with a member of our team.

Living with dementia at any time brings challenges and Coronavirus is making daily life much harder. If you need support and advice, Alzheimer's Society is continuing to help those in need.

 The Dementia Connect Support Line can be used to contact trained advisors, for guidance and wellbeing calls on 03331503456.

You can also find a range of guidance on different issues over on their website.

Dementia Talking Point is an online community where anyone affected by dementia can find support from others in similar situations.

Help people in isolation stay in touch and support those affected by dementia.

Whether you’re choosing to give up smoking for health reasons, financial motivations or to protect the health of close family around you, Everyone Health can offer a helping hand.

There are two FREE programmes available:

• The 12 week stop smoking programme for over 50s is for 50+ tobacco smokers living within Staffordshire.

• A  12 week service for pregnant ladies and their partners, led by a specialist, stop smoking in pregnancy, midwife, who is able to provide advice and guidance throughout the pregnancy.

Both services include FREE weekly telephone support, as well as a tailored programme of FREE nicotine replacement products and medication, where suitable. 24 hour support and motivation is also available via a smoking cessation app.

To find out more about the service and options available, call 03330 050095 or email eh.staff@nhs.net.

You can also find more information on their website.

Are you age 50+ living in Stoke-on-Trent / North Staffs?

Has Covid 19 affected your experience of…

•Being present with your loved one at the end of their life?

•Grieving for your loss?

•Making arrangements for (or attending) a funeral?

•Coping after a death?

You don’t need to be alone with your grief.

Through online Help Point zoom meetings trained volunteers will welcome you and support you to safely from your own home.

For more information and meeting dates please contact:

bhpoint@bjf.org.uk Tel: 07507 408372 / 07770 016978

Keele University have developed a new app to help you manage your health conditions from your smart phone. 

Using interactive quizzes and information resources, the app downloads updates to help patients with asthma, COPD, diabetes and back pain.

You can download the app for Android devices here, or for IOS devices here.