Dementia Help & Support

We have a Dementia Adviser, Pat Strachan who runs clinics in our surgeries on a monthly basis (third Thursday of the month).

Pat can offer help and support to both dementia sufferers and their carers. She has a wealth of experience and access to lots of information networks that can offer advice and help.

If you would like an appointment with Pat please contact the surgery who will book you into her clinic. She is happy to meet you in person or speak over the telephone if you would prefer.

Cambridgeshire Dementia Support Service, Alzheimer’s Society

0333 150 3456

alzheimers.org.uk/about-us/contact-us

Cambridgeshire support includes:

Peer support group sessions for carers and for people with dementia. Opportunity to meet with others, share experience and information facilitated by the Alzheimer’s Society. Currently run virtually – poster attached
Carers Information and Support programme and Live Well Programme. Information programmes run virtually in small groups for: (1) carers supporting someone with a recent diagnosis of dementia (2) carers supporting someone at a more advanced stage of dementia where additional services and key decisions about future care and support may be appropriate (3) someone living with a recent diagnosis of dementia.
Intensive Dementia Support service for carers who are struggling, at risk of being overwhelmed or are trying to cope with a sudden change in situation-leaflet attached
Specialist service for carers coping with symptoms of delirium including infections. Operated in partnership with Caring Together.

alzheimers.org.uk/

facebook.com/alzheimerssocietyuk

twitter.com/alzheimerssoc

Further Resources

Health and Wellbeing Coaching

Social Prescribing

We are fortunate to be able to offer this new service to our patients. Please see information in the attachment below

Our Social Prescriber is Joanne Hutchinson.

What is Social Prescribing?

Health and Well Being Coaching

We are have other new services with our Health & Well Being Coach, Mick Brosnan. Mick can be contacted via reception and will be holding clinics at both Charles Hicks and Roman Gate surgeries.

More information can be seen in the attachments below

Weight Management

Get Healthy!

Patient Walks – Healthy You for 2022!

Want to get out for a walk? Fancy some fresh air? Meet some new people?

Mick Brosnan, our Health and Well Being Coach is leading a walk at Paxton Pits nature reserve on Tuesday 10th May at 10am.

Approx. 3 mile route at a gentle pace, a chance to meet others and exercise.

If you would like to attend, please contact Mick on 07554 683551 or m.brosnan@nhs.net

Healthy Walk Information

Annual Health Review

Happy Birthday!

Don’t forget to book your annual review!

Covid-19 has shown us how much we need to streamline and prioritise our resources. That is why we are implementing a birth-month recall system for most long-term conditions and annual reviews.

As of August 2022, we plan to implement the birth-month recall system. Patients with one or more long-term conditions will receive an invitation to book an appointment just before their birthday month.

To bring all patients in line with their birth month, it may mean that you are asked to attend, even if you have had a review within the last 12 months. We still need you to attend.

THE GOAL
As a result, patients will have to attend fewer appointments as multiple tests and checks can be performed at the same time.

Pre-appointment questionnaires

Additionally, we will be using online questionnaires to collect some information before your appointment with the nursing staff. These will be sent via text message/email or by post if necessary.

Please ensure that we have your up-to-date contact details. Your details can be updated via our website or by emailing the practice at hhcdata.charleshickscentre@nhs.net

What are long term conditions?

The practice already invites certain groups of patients in for an annual review of their conditions.

This includes patients who have:

Respiratory conditions
Diabetes
Hypertension
Dementia
Depression

Kidney disease
Heart disease
Cancer
Arthritis
Epilepsy

What we do
As your GP surgery we play a significant role in managing your long-term condition. We believe in working with you and specialists in the community to provide holistic, personal, and high-quality care.

Long term conditions or chronic diseases are conditions for which there is currently no cure, and that are managed with drugs and other treatments.

All patients with a long-term condition should have an annual review (or ‘health MOT’). This could involve one single appointment or multiple appointments depending on which long term condition(s) you have. If a blood test or blood pressure check is required, you will be booked with a Health Care Assistant, if further checks are needed, these will be booked with either a nurse/GP/Advanced Nurse practitioner depending on the type of consultation you need.

Your medical history and medications will be reviewed at your appointment and together we will consider how we may improve your health/management of your long term condition. This may include health advice, medication changes or referrals to a community service.

Childhood Vaccinations

NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough has created a Guide to Childhood Illnesses for parents and carers across the area.

This guide covers everything parents and carers need to know about important subjects such as vaccinations, common ailments and issues, and where to go for help if your child has a medical issue.

Guide to Childhood Illnesses

We will call you to book your child’s immunisations when they are due. We work on information provide by Child Health please contact us if you don’t hear from us.

If you chose not to have your child vaccinated please let us know. You maybe interested to view the information about vaccinations on the guide below.

If You Choose Not to Vaccinate

Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges.

Examples include the following:

Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
Insurance claim forms
Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
Fit to Fly Letters
DVLA reports
Subject Access Requests
To Whom in May Concern Letters

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. Private work does not take precedence over our routine practice work and therefore will be completed when time allows. Please allow at least four weeks when asking for any private work to be completed.

Please note all ‘To Whom it May Concern Letters’ also attract a fee. These should always be requested from reception and not during a consultation with the Doctor.

Payment in advance is required. This can be by either bank transfer, cash or cheque. Unfortunately, we do not currently accept debit/credit cards.

Travel Vaccinations

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to make an appointment with the practice nurse to discuss your travel arrangements. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America & Antarctica
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to make arrangements as early as possible – at least 8 weeks before you travel. A travel form needs to be completed so that the practice nurse can review your arrangements and plan what is required.

Sometimes these vaccines have to be ordered as they are not necessarily stock vaccines. Often a second appointment is required and this needs to be at least 2 weeks before you travel to allow the vaccines to work.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these will incur a charge to the patient. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

Travel Appointments in the Surgery

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please fill out the form on the link below and bring it to the surgery as soon as you book your holiday.

A member of our travel team will review the form and plan what vaccinations you may require and offer general travel advice.

Travel Questionnaire

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Travel & Covid-19

There is a lot of advice and information on the gov.uk website both in relation to Covid-19 and travel generally.

Please follow the link below

Foreign Travel Advice

NHS.UK Travel Vaccination

If you’re planning to travel outside the UK, you may need to be vaccinated against serious diseases found in other parts of the world. For information please click the link below.

NHS Travel Vaccinations Overview

Coil / IUD Fitting

Preparing to have an Intrauterine Device (Coil) fitted

We are keen to make your clinic visit as straightforward and streamlined as possible.

We will try to insert an IUD / IUS (coil) for you at all our general clinics therefore it is important that you have read all the information and are suitable for the procedure on the day you come. You can also discuss other methods with us as well and ask any questions.

We strongly recommend that you watch the short film below, as it gives you all the information you need about intrauterine methods.

IUD / IUD (Coil)

Below are some useful links to NHS guidance on contraceptive devices to help you to decide which contraception is right for you:

Intrauterine system (IUS)

Intrauterine device (IUD)

Please download & complete this form and bring it with you when you attend the clinic.

Extra Services

Most of our doctors and practice nurses have special interests or skills, allowing us to offer extra services such as Rheumatology (including joint injections), ENT, women’s health and respiratory medicine.

If you think you would benefit from one of these services please discuss it with the Receptionist who will give you the appropriate appointment.

Asthma and Diabetes

Patients with asthma or diabetes may be seen by a doctor or a practice nurse, in a routine appointment, usually by a practice nurse unless there is a problem.

Maternity Care

An antenatal clinic is held weekly at each surgery with a midwife.

Postnatal examinations are carried out by appointment about six weeks after confinement.