October Newsletter

Issue 4

In this Issue

• Welcome Message from Patient Participation Group Chair Team 
• Message from the Partners 
• Practice Updates & Changes 
• Meet the Team
• What is a Practice Nurse?
• Focus Topic:  Child Immunisations 
• Services for Patients
• Appointments & Surgery Opening Hours including What to Do When We Are Closed

Welcome Message From: Leon Douglas, Jill Ackroyd & Renee Bernstein - Our Patient Participation Group Chair Team

Welcome to Issue 4 of the recently re-launched bi-annual Newsletter of West Hampstead Medical Centre. 

We hope you’ll find it useful and interesting. It’s been produced by a small team of your fellow patients, doctors, and staff at the Medical Centre. Since 2012, we’ve had an active Patient Participation Group (PPG) at West Hampstead Medical Centre (WHMC). 

This group gives patients like you the chance to stay informed about what’s happening at your medical centre. We hold PPG Steering Group Meetings four times a year at the Medical Centre to discuss how the GP practice works, changes in the NHS, and their impact on our patients and carers. We also look to have an open meeting for the wider patient population and to engage a wider range of patients on the most important topics each year. 

If you would like to join the PPG either via the On-line PPG or, if you have the time available, applying to be part of the smaller PPG Steering Group itself, please visit our Patient Participation Group Section

Message from the Partners

We are sure that West Hampstead Medical Centre patients will have read, with some concern, about the BMA’s “Collective Action” program. We support the BMA in their desire to get more funding into General Practice. The last few years have shown a massive increase in the “ask” of General Practice, including significant workload previously undertaken in hospitals now transferred to practices. 

This transfer of workload has not, however, been associated with a proportional increase in funding to provide the necessary appointments. This has resulted in significant pressure for General Practice appointments and with the appointments that do occur increasingly busy, trying to fit everything in asked of us while also attending to Patients’ concerns. Equally we do not think that the answer to under-funding (which already has the potential to negatively impact on the patient experience) is to do anything that further aggravates the situation or negatively impacts on patient care.

Some practices have responded to the current pressure within General Practice by stopping direct booking of appointments and forcing patients to use an online triage system before being considered for an appointment. Such a “Total Triage” model is encouraged by NHS England. It is not, however, without issues, and patients at other practices often report difficulties getting an appointment- particularly if they want to be seen in person. This is not helped by practices often putting a cap on the number of initial online triage slots available. I know from personal experience at the practice I’m registered with how difficult it can be to get help when it is required. 

At WHMC, we have worked hard to maintain direct bookable appointments and maximise the number of appointments available to patients, creating significant capacity. The default appointment type is a face-to-face appointment (although this can be changed to telephone or video consult by the patient provided it is for a suitable problem). There are significant pressures and challenges within the NHS. One of the most highly publicised components of Collective Action is capping the number of daily patient contacts per clinician to 25.  A system that arbitrarily limits the number of appointments or makes it difficult for patients to book them directly is not, we believe the answer to the current challenges in Primary Care. Consequently, we will continue to strive to provide high levels of access and to ensure that patients can book in and see a clinician in-person whenever required. We will also, contrary to standard practice at many practices, not put a cap on the number of eConsult’s patients can submit in a day, allowing access 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  I wanted, therefore, to take this opportunity to confirm to our patients that while we support the BMA’s attempt to get more appropriate levels of funding into General Practice, we will strive to ensure that there is no negative impact on the service and access levels offered to West Hampstead Medical Centre patients.

Dr Benjamin Bromilow (on behalf of the Partners)

Practice Updates & Changes

GP Registrars (Rotating Basis)

West Hampstead Medical Centre is a GP training practice, and we host and provide training for several Registrars each year. Each Registrar will generally stay with the surgery for 6-12 months. 

This is an individual 3-year programme, and we host Registrars from each year group depending on what year they are up to in their training.  You may hear them classified as GPST1, GPST2, and GPST3 placements. The Registrars will have face to face patient clinics during their placements along with supervision, training, and tutorials. Some of our Partners and a few of the Salaried GPs are GP Trainers and are part of the GP Training Programme Scheme. Several of our GP Registrars have subsequently joined the team as Salaried General Practitioners, following the completion of their training. 

Our Trainee Nursing Associate Razan is continuing to hold clinics for patients who require blood pressure checks, foot checks, flu and pneumonia vaccinations, B12 vaccinations or simple dressings, so please do book in to see her if appropriate. She is continuing her joint 2-year University placement which will finish in May 2025.      

For a full list of the team, please see our website. 

Reception & Administrative Team - ‘Behind the Scenes’

The reception and administrative team play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the GP surgery, working tirelessly behind the scenes to keep things running efficiently for patients. 

From managing appointment bookings and processing referrals to handling patient inquiries and coordinating with clinical staff, their attention to detail and dedication helps ensure that patients receive timely care. They also work on important administrative tasks, such as updating patient records, liaising with external healthcare providers, and maintaining confidentiality, all while providing a friendly and helpful first point of contact for everyone who walks through the door. 

Their efforts are the backbone of the surgery, ensuring everything runs seamlessly for both patients and staff.

Meet the Team     

We are pleased to announce that our dedicated team remains unchanged! Each of our staff members are committed to providing you with the best care possible. As always, we appreciate their continued hard work and dedication.

• GPs: full range of clinical problems
• GP Registrars (rotating basis): full range of clinical problems
• Nurses: cervical screening (smear tests), immunisations, dressings, diabetic foot checks, ear checks, asthma checks
• Trainee Nursing Associate: blood pressure checks, foot checks, B12 vaccinations or simple dressings
• Physician Associate: similar workload to GPs but no children under 10 years old
• Clinical Pharmacist: annual medication reviews, diabetes care, asthma reviews, mental health medication reviews
• Mental Health Nurse: new mental health conditions and mental health reviews of existing conditions
• Social Prescriber: social problems, housing issues, isolation issues, community and exercise groups
• Health & Wellbeing Co-Ordinator: supporting patients to improve their mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing. 

We have a photo board in the Reception Foyer with photographs of all the clinical team members. 

The next time you are in, please do take a look!

Sajeda

In this edition, we wanted to focus on the role of our Practice Nurse and what their day looks like.

What is a Practice Nurse? 

A General Practice Nurse is a registered nurse who works autonomously within a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) within a General Practice (GP) and is usually employed directly by the General Practitioners.

Why and how did you become a Practice Nurse? 

I qualified as an adult nurse in 2001 and spent many years working in various hospital settings. While balancing a demanding career and raising a family, I sought a role that would allow me to use my existing skills, work autonomously, promote health and well-being, and maintain a family-friendly schedule. In 2018, I completed an accelerated General Practice Nursing (GPN) graduate diploma funded by NHS England, which opened the door to a new chapter in my career. Since then, I have had the privilege of working in several General Practices across the boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Islington, and Camden.

What did your training involve?

The GPN training programme was condensed into one year, combining university study with hands-on experience in a GP surgery. It was an intense but incredibly rewarding experience. During the training, I gained valuable skills in managing long-term conditions such as asthma, diabetes, COPD, and heart disease. I also learned to administer childhood and travel vaccinations, conduct cervical cancer screenings, provide contraception, and screen for sexually transmitted diseases. The program equipped me with the knowledge to deliver high-quality care in a general practice setting.

Tell us more about your role in the surgery?

I run my own morning and afternoon clinics where I see patients face-to-face for a variety of needs. In addition, I occasionally conduct telephone consultations to discuss cervical screening results or respond to vaccine-related inquiries. I also support the student nurse associates in meeting their learning objectives and ensure I stay updated by attending regular training sessions. My role also involves administrative tasks, such as coding vaccines and maintaining accurate patient records. Additionally, I am responsible for checking and maintaining the emergency drugs and ensuring the oxygen cylinders and defibrillator are in proper working order to be ready for use in any urgent situations.

What does your job look like each day?

Each day, I assess, screen, and treat patients of all ages, from babies to adults, delivering a wide range of nursing care. This includes wound care, immunisations, cervical cytology sampling, and travel vaccinations. I also provide health promotion advice, offering guidance on contraception, weight loss, and smoking cessation, helping patients take control of their health.

What is your favourite part of your job?

I truly enjoy all aspects of my job, but my favourite part is the prevention of ill health through vaccination and screening. Administering vaccinations to both children and adults and conducting smear tests to detect early signs of cervical cancer are incredibly rewarding. I also take pride in promoting patient health by signposting and directing patients to external valuable resources, such as Asthma UK, Diabetes UK, and CNWL Sexual Health.

Focus Topic - Childhood Immunisations & Why Vaccines Matter 

Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect our children against ill health. Since vaccines were introduced in the UK, diseases like smallpox, polio and tetanus that used to kill or disable millions of people are  either gone or are now very rarely seen. Other diseases like diphtheria have also reduced to a low number of cases.

How vaccines work

Vaccines teach your immune system how to create antibodies that protect you from diseases. It's much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often give you lifelong protection.

However, if parents stop vaccinating their children, it will be possible for infectious diseases to quickly spread again.

Measles and mumps are already starting to appear again in England, even though the MMR vaccine is the best possible protection against both diseases. This is serious as measles can lead to life-threatening complications like meningitis, and mumps can cause hearing loss. 

Important fact - If 95% of children receive the MMR vaccine, this would stop measles spreading completely.

Measles

The number of confirmed laboratory measles cases reported in England since 1st January 2024 is 2,526 cases.

The majority (1,544 of 2,526, - 61% of these cases were in children aged 10 years and under), and 32% (808 of 2,526) were in young people and adults aged 15 years and over.

Important fact - Forty-eight percent (1,214 of 2,526) of these cases have been in London. 

Whooping cough

The number of confirmed probable and possible cases of whooping cough in London in 2024 has increased significantly compared with the past five years. IMPORTANT FACT - There have been over 2000 suspected cases since January 2024.

Scarlet fever

The number of scarlet fever cases reported in the first three months of 2024 (January to March) was 12,176. 

This is higher than the average number for the same period over the previous five years, but lower than the high levels recorded during 2023 (January to March) which was 15,933.  IMPORTANT FACT – There were 3,757 less cases in 2024.

National Influenza Campaign - There are different ways to get your children's flu vaccine depending on their age.

• All children aged 2 or 3 years old (born between 1.9.20 and 31.8.22) will get the flu vaccine at their GP surgery.
• Most school-aged children (Reception to Year 11) will get their flu vaccine at school.

If your child misses their vaccination at school or if they are home-schooled, they should be offered  a flu vaccine at a community clinic.

• If your child is 4 years old but has not started school yet, they can get vaccinated at either: 
• A community clinic – if they turned 4 years of age on or before 31 August 2024
• Their GP surgery – if they turned 4 years of age after 31 August 2024
• All children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years with certain long-term health conditions

If your child has a health condition and you're not sure if they're eligible for the flu vaccine, speak to their GP surgery or specialist.

Vaccine safety – Safety is always paramount in vaccine creation. It often takes many years for a vaccine to make it through the trials and tests that it needs to pass for approval.

Missed School Vaccinations

If your child is attending a mainstream school in Camden and has missed their vaccination, you can contact the Camden School Nursing Service to re-arrange. The service supports the borough's immunisation team scheduled on school sites.

Parents can self-refer by using the following contact details, Tel: 020 3317 2304   

Older Children and adults - NHS catch-up campaign 

Did you know that the MMR vaccine can be given at any age. 

If you were born between 1970 and 1990 (you may not have been vaccinated against all 3 infections). 

If you did not have this vaccination as a child, you have only had 1 dose or you're not sure if you've been fully vaccinated, please contact your GP surgery to book an appointment.

Childhood Immunisations

The current schedule is as follows:

Newborn if eligible ‘Referred at Birth to Health Visitors’

•All infants (aged 0 to 12 months) with a parent or grandparent who were born in a country where the annual incidence of TB is 40/100,000 or greater OR living in areas of the UK where the annual incidence of TB is 40/100,000 or greater (Newham is currently the only universal borough in London)

Services for Patients 

There are many self-referral services available to patients, without the need to see a GP first. Some of the available options are listed below. If there is a service you would like to know more about, please visit our website for more information, or ask at Reception.

Clinician Referral Required 

Audiology for Patients 50+ 

Appointments for audiology are now available at several locations. Please let the clinician know your preference. 

Royal Free Hospital, In-Health, Specsavers or Scrivens

Patient Self- Referrals 

Website - Adult Social Care in Camden

Phone: 020 7974 4000, and select option 1
A referral can be sent by family, carers, friends etc. on the person’s behalf. It does not have to be sent from the GP   

Website - Alcohol & Drug Integrated Services

Phone: 020 7485 2722

Website - Ante Natal Care / Maternity Services 

Website - Carers - Camden Carers Support

Phone: 020 7428 8950

Mental Health

• Website - icope 
• Website - IESO Health   
• Website - Camden Mental Health                     

Physiotherapy

Website - Connect Health

Podiatry Services 

If you are aged under 16 or over 60 or have a medical condition that places your feet at risk of ulceration and infection, you can refer yourself by completing the podiatry referral form on their website. 

Sexual Health

For those who have no symptoms and would like to get sent to their home or pick-up a free STI kit please go to the Sexual Health London website.

You can also visit the SH:24 website. 

Stop Smoking Services

Website - Breathe Stop Smoking

Appointments & Surgery Opening Hours

All clinical appointments are automatically available to book as face-to-face, which is the clinicians’ preferred option. There is still the option to book a telephone appointment with a clinician, providing the reason for the appointment does not include the need for a physical examination.

When you call or come to the surgery, please be aware that you can book appointments with our Clinical Pharmacist or one of our Physician Associates for a wide range of medical issues and minor illnesses, rather than waiting for an appointment with a GP. If you are ever unsure which clinician it would be best for you to see, please do discuss with our reception team who should be able to assist and advise you further.

Please note at present, only the GP and PA appointments are bookable online. If none are available at the time of booking or you are trying to book another clinical appointment ie: with a nurse or pharmacist, please book through reception. Each clinician has their own appointment list and our team will try their best to get you seen as soon as they can

Please be aware that if you wish to speak to a specific Clinician or Medical Professional, you may have to wait slightly longer for your appointment.

Learn more about our opening hours

Learn what to do when we are closed

Published: Nov 13, 2024