This winter, because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the NHS has the largest flu vaccination programme ever with vaccinations now being offered to those aged 50 to 64 years old.

Who is the programme being extended to?

Vaccinations are continuing to be offered to those in priority groups (such as those with long term health conditions), but there is now sufficient vaccine available to offer it to all those aged 50 to 64 years old regardless of whether they have a long-term health condition.

Why has the flu vaccination programme been extended?

The flu virus kills thousands of people every year and hospitalises tens of thousands more. The aim of the programme is to protect those most at risk from flu (such as older people, pregnant women and those with long term health conditions). This winter, with COVID-19 in
circulation, the programme is being extended to those aged 50 and over because this is the age at which hospitalisations for COVID-19 start to increase.

It is important to prevent flu in this group, to protect these people from serious illness and reduce hospitalisations from flu. Also,  research shows that if you get both flu and COVID-19 at the same time you may be more seriously ill.

So vaccination is especially important this winter.

What should I do?

If you are aged 50 to 64 years old (including those who turn 50 by 31 March 2021) then during January you will be invited to attend your GP surgery for the vaccine or you may contact any pharmacy offering NHS flu vaccinations.

If you have a long-term health condition that puts you more at risk from flu, you are in one of the priority groups who should not delay getting the vaccine.

Visit www.nhs.uk/flujab to check the type of health conditions that this includes.

Which flu vaccine will I be offered?

There are several types of flu vaccine available, including an additional one this winter that has been used in the USA for several years. There are vaccines that have low-egg content and egg-free vaccines. The injectable flu vaccines do not contain live viruses.

None of the flu vaccines can give you flu.

Click on the links to see if you are eligible to get involved, if eligible you may also get texts or information posted to you from the Practice: –

Psychological Impact of Covid 

www.germdefence.org/index.html?src=C84036 

NEON TRIAL  – Mental Health

RAPTOR – Covid-19

PRINCIPLE – Covid-19

PROMISE (HEADSPACE) – Meditation https://universityofsussex.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eDrcNT50o0Dp6Bv

MOODBOOSTER – Depression

APEX 1 – Low risk Asthma exacerbations (on hold throughout Covid)

APEX 2 – High risk Asthma exacerbations (on hold throughout Covid)

ACTIVE BRAINS – cognitive decline in older people

CONDOR – finger prick testing for infections in care homes

FOR-ME – (feasibility searches for study team)

Covid 19 Vaccine Survey

PINCER PROTECT – IT based intervention to reduce hazardous prescribing

Convalescent Serology Surveillance – 3 blood samples need for C-19 positive patients

CATHETER II – prophylactic catheter wash-outs

ICTA Flyer V.2 13 07 20 Trans Gender research

Format of Patient Education for different sociodemographic groups – T2D questionnaires

https://www.nhs.uk/sign-up-to-be-contacted-for-research

If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you.

You are an unpaid carer if you support a family member or friend who is ill, disabled, elderly, has poor mental health or misuses substances. You are a Young Carer if you are under 18 in this role. The support you offer may be emotional or include shopping, cooking, dealing with medication, or attend medical appointments with the person you care for.  The person you care for could live with you, in their own home, or even in residential care.

It is important that you let your medical practice know that you look after someone.  You can be added to the practice ‘carer register’ and gain to access to information and support, this includes access to a named Carer Champion.

A Carer Champion is a staff member at your practice who support carers. They are the key point of contact and the ‘voice’ for carers.

Diana Stocks is Forest Medical’s Carer Champion.

As a carer, you are also entitled to an annual flu vaccine and a health check.

You are also entitled to a Carers Assessment, you would need to contact the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub for this (details below).

Nottinghamshire Carers Association

Nottinghamshire Carers Association works with schools, health and social care professionals to raise awareness of Carers .

https://nottinghamshirecarers.co.uk/

We are supporting organisations to identify Carers and Young Carers and offer the best support possible. Contact Nottinghamshire Carers Association on info@nottinghamshirecarers.co.uk

Nottinghamshire Carers Hub

Carers Trust East Midlands provides timely, personalised information and support for Carers via the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub to make caring for a loved one easier.

Contact Nottinghamshire Carers Hub on:

0115 824 8824 Lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am until 5pm You can speak to an experienced support worker who will provide a personalised service that meets your individual needs.

email: hub@carerstrustem.org

web: www.carerstrustem.org/hub

Nottinghamshire County Council support for Carers

https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/adult-social-care/carers/support-for-carers

If you get regular or repeat prescriptions, you could save time by switching to electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD).

eRD sends your prescriptions electronically from your GP surgery to a pharmacy of your choice. It’s easy to use and you don’t need a computer or electronic device. Ask your GP or pharmacist to set it up for you.

eRD allows your GP to prescribe your regular medicines for up to a year. It’s reliable, secure and confidential. Your regular prescriptions are stored securely on the NHS database, so they’ll be ready at the pharmacy each time you need them.

Using eRD you can:

• save time by avoiding unnecessary trips or calls to your GP every time you need to order a repeat prescription

• order or cancel your repeat prescriptions online (if your GP practice offers this service)

• pick up your repeat prescriptions directly from your pharmacy without having to visit your GP

• spend less time waiting for your prescription in the pharmacy or GP practice

• save paper – you won’t need a paper prescription to collect your medicine from the pharmacy

For more information about eRD and how it works, ask at your GP surgery or pharmacy

Notts NHS App – Personal Health and Care Record

Access your Health and Care Record securely online

Forest Medical is pleased to offer our patients a new online service that gives you secure access to your Health and Care Record wherever you are and whenever you need it. It is designed to improve your patient experience and give you access to NHS services and information. It is a bit like online banking, but instead you can use it to manage your health.

All your data is stored securely.

This free service is provided in partnership with the NHS App and Patients Know Best (PKB). It is part of our promise and on-going commitment to give you more choice and control over your care.

Features you will be able to access in time as part of this service include:

● view GP letters and appointments
● see your GP Record, certain test results, details of any allergies and current or previous medications
● consultations virtually via a questionnaire, video, voice or secure messaging
● the ability to self-monitor, track symptoms and test results
● virtually access care plans to help manage your care safely at home
● a library of local information resources to help manage your condition(s)
● easily share your health data with family, carers or any health and care professionals anywhere if you choose. This can be important in emergencies.
● attach medical and fitness devices to pull information into your app without having to re-enter your information

Want to know more?

To find out more about your Notts NHS App – Personal Health and Care Record or to understand how your data is protected, click here to be redirected to the Notts NHS App website.

You may also like to read some Frequently Asked Questions.

Patients Know Best Privacy Notice

• Patients Know Best (PKB) is a system that provides you and the people supporting your care (if you choose to) with information about your health and care. It also means you can communicate securely with those involved in your care in any various NHS and social care settings. It is a personal health and care record which you can access on your computer, smartphone, tablet or any device that has an internet connection.
• In order to provide you with information about your care and support you by delivering the best possible service, the practice will share data with Patients Know Best in order for you to be able to access and view it. The data which is shared with Patients Know Best will be things like demographics (name, address, DoB and NHS number) as well as information such as medications and appointments, this allows you to view the key information about yourself and share (if you choose to) with others such as family, carers or other health professionals.
• The system operates for your benefit and is a patient-owned medical records and communication system, which enables you to allow others to discuss your health and treatment. This can include medical staff, friends, family and anyone with an email address involved in your health care, such as a social worker or carer. Your information will not be shared with people (i.e. family, carers) unless you have asked for it to be shared with them, and, will not be shared with health and care professionals involved in your care if you have chosen for it not to be.
• You can at any time change who has access to your records. This may have an impact on the services or care you receive, but the practice will be able to explain this in greater detail.
• Patients Know Best is covered by the Data Protection Act and operates within strict NHS security standards.

Inclusion Criteria
 Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study;
 Participant is willing to comply with all trial procedures;
 Onset of symptoms of possible COVID-19 in the community (continuous cough and/or high temperature) within 7 days of inclusion;
 Patients aged ≥50-64 years with any of the following listed comorbidities:
 Known weakened immune system due to a serious illness or medication (e.g. chemotherapy);
 Known heart disease and/ or hypertension;
 Known asthma or lung disease;
 Known diabetes not treated with insulin;
 Known mild hepatic impairment;
 Known stroke or neurological problem;
OR
 Patients aged ≥65 with or without comorbidity

Exclusion Criteria
 Pregnancy;
 Breastfeeding;
 Known severe hepatic impairment;
 Known severe renal impairment;
 Known porphyria;
 Type 1 diabetes or insulin dependent Type 2 Diabetes mellitus ;
 Known G6PD deficiency;
 Known myasthenia gravis;
 Known severe psoriasis;
 Known severe neurological disorders (especially those with a history of epilepsy—may lower seizure threshold);
 Previous adverse reaction to, or currently taking, hydroxychloroquine;
 Patients taking the following drugs: penicillamine, amiodarone, ciclosporin, chloroquine
 Known retinal disease;
 Judgement of the recruiting clinician deems ineligible.

PARTICIPANTS INFORMATION LEAFLET

Please contact Nicola, the Practice Manager, if you believe you are eligible for this study

The following unwanted items have been to donated to Rosemary Street Health Centre and are available for our patients to borrow for however long they need them:

• Four wheel walker with perching seat
• Indoor assisted wheelchair with underlying commode facility
• Two wooden under the armpit crutches
• One metal elbow support crutch

We only ask that the items are returned in the same condition when no longer needed, in order to offer them to other patients.

If you presently have any unwanted aids please donate them ad I will update the list

Thank you

Nicola

Practice Manager

This year our team took part in our biggest fundraising event to date.

A group of us entered “It’s a Knockout Challenge” on 4th July at Loughborough.

In order to do so we needed to raise £700.00 for the Rainbows Hospice which provides an invaluable service for terminally ill children in our area.

And thanks to all our supporters generosity we raised a whopping £1046.70

We are amazed and grateful for all your support and would like to share a few memories of the day the Rosemary Street Rebels took on much more than we could chew but still had an amazing fun time:

No one can predict whether we will get severe weather this year but it is best to be prepared!

In the event of severe weather, the latest information about local services can be found at www.mansfield.gov.uk/severeweather

You will also find links to useful information from partner organisations.  From keeping your house warm, to protecting yourself from common ailments.  Find out how to stay healthy this winter at www.nhs.uk/staywell

Help is available to owners ad private renters with long term conditions that could worsen if they live in a cold property.

The Warm Hones on Prescription programme can provide advice (and grants for owner occupiers only) for those on low incomes who meet certain financial and health criteria.

For more details you can call the council’s Private Sector Housing Service on 01623 463212 or email adminpsh@mansfield.gov.uk

But what about those people with no home?

If you see someone who appears to be homeless please contact Framework Street Outreach 24 hour hotline on 0800 066 5356, to ensure they are offered the appropriate support.

You can volunteer at a winter shelter by emailing homelessenquiries@mansfield.gov.uk

There are lots of charities and groups already helping and if you would like to help or volunteer, or even donate food, clothing or money please also email homelessenquiries@mansfield.gov.uk or call 01623 463121

Many of you may have noticed that all staff at Forest Medical are looking very festive.  Rather than opting for the one “Christmas Jumper Day for Children in Need” we will be raising money with our festive outfits throughout the whole month.  Another Forest Medical fundraising initiative!

We are also doing very well with our Mansfield Homeless Shoe Box Appeal again this year.  Already we have over 30 parcels stacked up awaiting collection and I would like to thank our patients for their generosity and compassion once again.

The winter months are very hard for the homeless but it is also hard for vulnerable, isolated and frail people.  That is why we are opening our doors at Oak Tree Lane Surgery on Christmas Day and Boxing Day this year from 9am to 12pm and are inviting anyone that would normally spend the festive season alone, to join us for some company and cheer.

We will be providing hot and cold drinks, cakes, crackers and a game of Bingo.  Should anyone wish to donate prizes for our games or a small gift to pass on to our visitors it would be very much appreciated.

Oak Tree Lane Surgery strives to help members of the community that are most vulnerable which is why I am proud to announce that we have made great steps in becoming Dementia Friendly there.

Our Dementia Friendly signage and Dementia Friendly area was officially opened by the Oak Tree Lane District Cllr Vaughan Hopewell, Valentina Lazarevic promoting Join Dementia Research and Martin Wright representing the Health Scrutiny Committee Nottinghamshire on Thursday 22nd November 2018.  This was only made possible by the hard work and commitment of our Patient Participation Group members.

Patient Participation Groups are a way of getting a patients’ voice heard.  We discuss Research within the Practice; improvements that can be made around the buildings, improvements that can be made for patient access, content of the Forest Medical Newsletter, service development within our area and many more topics.

The minutes of our most recent meeting, information on the PPG Networking Event and the Winter Newsletter can be found here –

Minutes of PPG meeting of Forest Medical at RSHC on 08th Nov 2018

PPG Networking Event Flyer 11.12.18 Final Version

PPG Event Programme 11.12.18

ForestMedicalWinter2018issue31

Our Patient Particiation Group also raises money to purchase items based on real patient suggestions.

Recently, the PPG funds paid for bariatric waiting area chairs to enable more comfort for some of our patients.

A patient had explained to one of our Nursing staff that it was not possible to sit in the normal chairs when waiting as they were too low for the frail and elderly.

Hence our purchase was a direct result of us listening to the patient voice!!

So for now, unless you will be visiting me at Oak Tree Lane Surgery for a few festivities on Christmas Day, I would like to wish you all a…

Nicola Ryan

Practice Manager