THE TARKSFIETD NEWSVOLUME II, NUMBER 4

In Bedfordshire. almost30.000 people - 8% of the

communiry bascd Multi-disciplinary Footcare Team.

mental health needs of these

APRIL,2018

Larksfield Surgery, Arlesey Road,

Stotfold, Hitchin, HertfordshireSGs 4HB

Phone for Appointments:

01462732244 (Option 1)

Phone for Test Results:

01462732200 (Option 2)

Fax 01462832715Test results are usuallyavailable seven working daysfollowing submission of yoursample. Since the telephonesare very busy in the earlymorning, please telephone fortest results (eg blood, urine,x-ray, swabs) between 10 am-12pm or 3.00pm-5.00pm eachworking day. The receptionistwill be able to give the result,which has been reporled on bythe clinician involved in yourcare.

To ensure confidentiality, weonly release results to thepatient, unless alternativearrangements have beenagreed in writing.

Monday: 8.00-1 3.00 14,0G'l 8.00Tuesday/:Friday: 8.00-18.00Saturday/Sunday: Closed

Extended Hours Surgeries takeplace from: 07.00 - 08.00 onWednesday or Thursday (notevery week). Extended hoursappointments must be pre-booked.

lf you need to contact a Doctorin an emergency, when thepractice is closed at evenings,weekends and publici bankholidays please ring NHS 111.

The NHS 1'11 service will stillcontinue to give healthcareadvice and information 24hours a day.

Chair: John StreetVice Chair: Afthur Castle

Clerk: Sue TurgooseLarksfield News Editor:

Gerry AmiasOr any other Committee

member atppg.larksfield@nhs. net

BEDFORDSHIRE CCG SECURES T5OO,OOO TOBOOST THE HEALTH OF DIABETES PATIENTS

BE D F ORD SHIRE adultpopulation,areknownto This team. brings togetherClinical Commissionins have diabetes (slightly below podiatrists, highly skilled

Group (BCCG) haI fl:::l ]l_.]9*.. of 8.7Vo), specialist nurses. and diabetes

,".rr.d rpp.o*i-ul"iy l"T}':*'::::1:h-:l:"'u"' *:::::^ *:::,-"i:::u'f,O.Smillion additional tnls rlgure ls se. Io rlse' expertlse results In raster

funds for improving _..^r_!_a^o'?^^,,alil,:.",.^_r,::- [:S]::t or-rootr'rlcers' and

diabetes healthcare for fltli'l:^j:"1:,.,31-,tlT]l_1 deteriorating and requiringthe second year runnins, ::1i::T^I' :i'^";

'-'^:.:" ":: emersency i'ospital treatment.

following a successful bfi ::i':'lf "rr*""f.j"lTin1lJ rhe funding will also be

to NHS England (NHSE). t..uur. people with diabetes used to support GP practices.

The NHSE Diabetes are at higher risk of having a The CCG's GP ClinicalTransformational Funds rvill stroke, heart trouble, sight loss Lead for Diabetes. Drallow the CCG to fully or amputation, and are more ShashidharPonnala said: "GPimplement three improve- likely to end up in hospital. surgery staff are workirrgment programmes dev'eloped Benenrs'".jxd".:ll.l1,*:1 :Ln:'J, ,#illo"lii,.'.?"r,"ilin Bedfordshire in the past additional s60 places.for iordiabetes,andover 90yoof

il:ffi l"f ir".}; Hl'I;': iillrr# :p;*.f,ffi, i#;,1t[{i*,1-T;#?,5which cover: giving patientrStructured educarion for and confiden": t. _:.]f.l]llrq_: io .nrur" diabetes patients get

diabete-s patients to help them their diabetes and stay in i[.i, unnrut health check-ipslook after themselves. better health. io help them keep well.

l

Specialist foot care t.T, j: The CCG plans to build on The CCG is also offeringreduce amputations due to the positive iesults from the care plan training for practicepoorly rnanaged diabetes. 2olil18 investment in nurses and additional

Treatment targets so that diabetes care which has specialist diabetes nurses. Wenrore patients with type 2 already seen foot amputations aiso know that people can finddiabetes have blood sugar fall by llYoandfeweihospital it difficult to ;tay motivatedtests, blood pressure checks admissions caused by diabetic and may become depressed. soatrd help to reduce their foot disease, thanks to a part iime psychoiogist willcholesterol level. intervention by the be employed io sup[ort the

f^I'TrHearing Clinicavailable hereWe now run a dedicated hearing ctinicat this surgery for all patients over 55with a hearing loss. The clinic cansupply NHS Digital Hearing Aids,if required.

Please ask reception to book you ahearing appointment.

Alternatively, callOSOO O27 5lO2to find out more about NHS hearingcare and how you can access thisservice locally.

GAR PARKINGTHE surgery has noticed a number of parents parkingin our car park around school opening and closingtimes. We would like to apologise to our patients whomay have struggled to find a parking space. We havespoken with Etonbury School who are dealing with theproblem.

PUTNOE WALK.IN GENTRENEW OPENING HOURS

AS from 1't April, 2018; Monday to Friday 8.00am -6.00pm; Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holidays 8.00 -5.0Opm.

DOGTOR SKINNER RETURNSA WELCOME return to Doctor Skinner who will bereturning from maternity leave on 18th June,2018.

REMINDER ON HOW TOGET ONLINE VERSION

SOME people missed how to get the online version ofThe LarksJield News so here is a quick reminder. Firstly,in the address bar of your browser type in the addressof the surgery website which ishttps://larksfieldsurgery.gpsurgery.net. Once there,hover the curser over Patient Participation Group, clickon PPG Newsletters, then click on the issue you want.

The Larksfield News Bulletin is published by the Larksfield

Surgery Patient Participation Group and any views expressed

in it are the views of the Patient Participation Group and not

of Larksfield Surgery or any of the Partners or staff ofLarksfield Surgery.

WOULD YOU LIKE TOJOIN THE PPGGOMMITTEE?

IT'S NOW two years since the present team cametogether to form the current PPG committee. We worktogether well and do our best to keep Larksfieldpatients informed about changes or additions to servicesat the practice. We also let you know about variousNHS services, seminars or presentations that may be ofinterest to our patients, in the wider local area.

One of the objectives of the PPG is to make themembership of our committee as representative of the localpopulation as possible. For example, we would like to see

members representing all age groups. We have tenmembers at the present time, but would like to see someyounger patients joining us, perhaps some young parents,who might bring new ideas to the committee.

If this interests you, please email ppg.larksfield@nhs.netand request a PPG Application Form.

John Street - PPG Chair

LARKSFIELD PPGANNUAL GENERAL

MEETINGWE would like to invite any patient of the Larksfieldpractice to come along to our AGM which will be heldat the surgery on Thursday, June l4th * 5.45pm. Itwill be a good opportunity for patients to see how thePPG operates and what we are trying to achieve. ThePPG is a group of Larksfield patient volunteers whosupport the practice by representing fellow patients'views and concerns. Please come along if you are able.

NEW MODULAR THEATRE TO ALLOWESSENTIAL UPGRADE OF EXIST!NG

OPERATING ROOMSBEDFORD Hospital NHS Trust's surgical teams havecompleted their first operating lists in a new modulartheatre that will enable refurbishment of the pre-existing theatre complex. Raised above the mainentrance, the new innovative, state-of-the-art theatremakes good use of the estate.It allows the undertakingof more complex surgery than the hospital's currentmobile theatre.

NEW SERVICE AIMS TO KEEP FRAILOLDER PEOPLE OUT OF HOSPITAL

A NEW service is now in place at the Lister hospitalthat means frail older people brought in to the hospital'semergency department, frequently by ambulance, arenow referred quickly for assessment by a specialist,consultant-led multidisciplinary team.

In many cases, these individuals may not need to beadmitted and with the right care put in place, can returnhome safely. Where patients do get moved to an inpatientbed, the multi-disciplinary team works with their wardcolleagues to ensure that a patient's stay in hospital is nolonger than required. This is because people who are olderand frail are at much greater risk of falls when in hospitaland their overall mobility can deteriorate more quickly,