Influenza Vaccination Clinic
This Saturday sees the first of our Influenza Vaccination clinics. Please be aware that our dispensary will be closed and you will be unable to collect your medication. The dispensary will be open as normal on Monday morning.
If you are attending one of our flu clinics please come to the front door to let us know you have arrived and you will be called when it is your appointment time. We will be operating a one way system throughout the building. You will come in through the main entrance and exit at the side of the building. Staff will be on hand to direct you through the building.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this difficult time.
SATURDAY MORNING CLINCS
Please be aware that as our Saturday morning clinics are for pre-bookable appointments our telephones lines will not be open on a Saturday morning. If you require urgent medical assistance, please call NHS 111. Thank you.
AYTON AND SNAINTON MEDICAL PRACTICE
The last few months have been a time of enormous change for all of us at the practice, shifting over a weekend to a total phone access system as advised by NHS England and updating our protocols daily as guidance has changed. We are proud of how all our staff have accepted these changes and adapted over the weeks as guidance has been changed again and again. We are grateful for how all our patients have been understanding of the difficult situation we are working in.
As the world is starting to return to normal we are also now returning to normal in that we are offering all our usual services. However we have to do this in a safe way and it is likely that it will be a long time before we are able to allow patients to book face to face appointments directly. As you can imagine the demand for appointments is increasing even beyond usual levels and we are no longer able to routinely offer same day appointments as we did during lockdown! We have a few new things in place to try to help manage this demand.
We have some new healthcare workers who can see patients with specific problems. Becky, one of our nurses, is training to be an advanced clinical practitioner and she is able to see patients with simple health problems such as urine infections. We also have two first contact physios, Jackie and Pete. They are able to see adults with a wide range of musculoskeletal problems such as joint injuries or back pain.
We also now have another way of contacting us that can be used any time of day - digital access which can be used for clinical or administrative queries. This is accessed via the practice website. You will be guided through a few of questions related to your query. Queries submitted before 2pm will receive a response that day. If submitted after 2pm we will respond the following day. This can used for medication queries, new health concerns or follow up of chronic problems. You may receive a response containing a treatment plan suggestion, a request for further information or a request for you to book an appointment with an appropriate clinician. It is extremely helpful if you can answer all the questions about your query as fully as possible. We are then more likely to able to deal with your issue without needing you to book an appointment.
Over the coming months you may see us using text messages more for communicating with you. We are already using it regularly to request photos of skin problems and home blood pressure readings. We are looking to use texts more to feedback on actions following an appointment, to inform you that requests from hospital appointments have been carried out or to ask you to book review appointments. You will be able to respond once to a text message so if you would like a phone call to discuss any matter further that can easily be arranged. Please ensure that we have up to date contact details for you.
If you have had blood tests or scans it is possible to check your results on your online medical record, please speak to reception if you require your access details. Alongside the result there will be a comment from the GP explaining what if anything is abnormal and what needs to be done.
Our receptionists will continue to be available during usual surgery times if you do not have internet access or prefer to contact us by phone but it is likely that they will ask you for a few more details about your health issue to ensure that your problem is dealt with by the right person at the right time. If you prefer not to share details this is still ok but you should be aware that our receptionists are bound by the same level of confidentiality as our doctors and nurses.
I do hope that you will bear with us as we cope with high demand for our services whilst trying to implement these changes that we hope will ensure patients can continue to access our services easily in the months to come.
Coronavirus - Useful Links
Please scroll down our home page to read our latest guidance.
Spring Newsletter 2020
Click here to view our recent newsletter.
Help fight COVID-19 - Trial
The NHS is trying to recruit patients to a trial for those with symptoms of COVID-19. If you are eligible, please contact https://www.phctrials.ox.ac.uk/principle-trial or contact reception on 01723 863100 and ask to speak to our Practice Research Nurse, Amanda Winterflood.
Click here to view the poster.
Advice for Parents
Click here for advice.
Click here for the fact sheet for children.
NHS Diabetes Advice Helpline
NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched a new helpline in response to disruption to normal diabetes services due to the COVID-19 pandemic and response.
The service is for adults living with diabetes who use insulin to manage their condition and require immediate clinical advice.
Whether you or a member of your household have caught the virus, or routine care has been disrupted, the helpline is available for immediate clinical advice to help you understand how to effectively manage their diabetes.
You can access NHS Diabetes Advice via Diabetes UK’s support line on 0345 123 2399 Monday-Friday from 9am-6pm.
Domestic Abuse
You are not alone.
For information on support click here or at gov.uk.domestic-abuse
For Basic Safety Planning click here or visit https://www.idas.org.uk/our-services/domestic-abuse/safety-plan/?fbclid=IwAR1X2PfqwTGxEpuxbbLfnOiCUBhW1TEfhsUEU-zDTKbQB4RBG0aGcNIW3FM
Suicide Prevention
#TalkSuicide is a suicide prevention campaign. If you’re feeling suicidal and need urgent help, or if you’re worried about someone you know, help is available from the services below:
Samaritans Call 116 123
C.A.L.M (for men, 5pm-12am) Call 0800 585 858
Papyrus Call 0800 068 4242
Visit https://talksuicide.co.uk/ to take the 20 minute training.
Advice from Macmillan
Click here to view the leaflet from Macmillan
Bereavement Information
For relatives of anyone that has died in hospital - Harrogate District Hospital Bereavement booklet
For relatives of those have died at home - Harrogate and District Community Bereavement booklet
To view the booklets click the link below
https://www.hdft.nhs.uk/coronavirus/additional-information-for-families-carers-of-loved-ones-who-have-died/
and then click on 'Information for families and carers of loved ones who have died either in our hospital or at home'
Press Release
Please click here to read a press release from North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group
Letter of Information from NHS
Please click here to view an open letter to patients from the NHS.
Struggling because of COVID-19?
Follow this link to the Goverment website https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support
Village Support
Click here to view a list of village support groups.
Doorstep Deliveries
On behalf of Morrison's please click the link below for more information about Doorstep Deliveries
https://my.morrisons.com/doorstep-deliveries/
Scarborough Council Support
Click here to read the volunteer service coordination arrangements within the Scarborough Borough Council Boundaries. Click here to view the leaflet.
Mental Health Support
For advice and tips for maintaining mental wellbeing for everybody click https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
Help for children and young people to find mental health support in the county click https://www.thegoto.org.uk/
OR
BUZZ US is a confidential text messaging service for young people in North Yorkshire aged 11-18. The service allows young people the opportunity to message a wellbeing worker for support, signposting information or advice around mental health and wellbeing. Some of the main reasons young people text BUZZ US are around: anxiety, bullying, self-harm, eating problems, self-esteem and stress. Young people can text 07520 631168, a wellbeing worker is on duty Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4.30pm (excluding bank holidays). Outside of these hours, a bounce back text will be sent, signposting young people to emergency services and CAMHS crisis if they need immediate support in the meantime. We aim to reply to all messages within one working day; however this service is not for young people in crisis.
Click here and here to view the posters
Requests for Certification of Absence and High Risk Patients
Click here to download a letter.
Requests for an isolation note
Click here to request an isolation note