Bye Bye Sarah & Welcome Dr Beirne
As a GP Training Practice we are really privileged to welcome GP Trainees who are in the process of training to become fully fledged GP’s. They bring with them great experience from their training at medical school, but also through extensive hospital based placements and others.
It has been a privilege to have Dr Sarah Whaley with us for the last 6 months but her placement has now come to an end and she moves into a 6 month placement in Palliative Medicine. She will always be welcome at St Wulfstan Surgery and we wish her the best for her very bright future!
In her place we welcome Dr Tom Beirne who will be joining us for 6 months.
A few words from Tom:
“‘I am a GP trainee with an interest in Paediatrics and Acute medicine, I live with my fiance, son and dog and enjoy any activity that involves being outdoors!””
Free Workshops for people with Dementia and their carers: Arts Uplift
Arts and Dementia Warwickshire is a new arts programme for people living with dementia and their carers living in Warwickshire in the community, in In Patient wards and also in care homes. It has been commissioned by Warwickshire County Council. It will be a varied programme for 1.5 years including singing, performance poetry, arts and crafts, dance/movement, storytelling and reminiscence therapy. Alongside this there will be some training for care staff as well.
Please visit Arts Uplift more more details
In South Warwickshire we came across the following activities locally:
Warwick Memory Singers - Weekly on Wednesdays 1.00 pm to 2.30pm. £5 a week, carers go free. Held at Unitarian Chapel, 31 High Street, CV34 4AX. Further information or queries, contact Sarah Riddell 07722 632 242 or at sriddell@armonico.org.uk
Orchestra of the Swan - Held at 14 Rother Street, Stratford upon Avon, CV37 6LU Tel: 01789 267567 Stratford contact Sue Pope to get more information education@orchestraoftheswan.org
Dementia Café at Compton Verney is held at Compton Verney Art Gallery & Park (CV35 9HZ). Every first Tuesday of the month (10.30am - 12.30pm) Tel: 01295 688376 or 07964 683146 (Contact Heather or Paul) More information visit Compton Verney
Online Arts Uplift - Online choir weekly on a Monday from 2pm to 3pm its £5 per couple of £8 per group. Tel: 07946 585978 To join, contact Jenny Davis at jenny@artsuplift.co.uk
Children’s Community Autism Support Service
There are local services available to children, young people (up until their 19th birthday) who are on the neurodevelopmental waiting list for an autism diagnosis, or who have previously received a diagnosis but require support, and their families.
The service can offer low level support, focussing on understanding, communication, sensory integration, processing, behaviour, self-esteem, and daily routines and activities.
Online support groups are held Tuesday 7-8pm and Thursday 1-2pm.
There is also a wealth of other online support materials.
For more information, or to register, please visit Coventry & Warwickshire MIND
Face Masks Are Still Required At the Surgery
Please be advised that whilst COVID restrictions are easing in most settings this week, the guidance for healthcare settings from Public Health England has not changed.
Therefore the use of face masks and social distancing remains in place within the surgery to ensure the safety of our staff and patients.
We thank you all for your understanding.
Transport to Medical Appointments
Did you know there are a number of local services you can access to assist with getting you to and from medical appointments - please click on the links below to find out further information on eligibility and how to book these services.
VASA: The Community Transport Service is a volunteer led service, with volunteer drivers using their own cars, at a small fee, to transport people to medical or social inclusion journeys.
Please visit their website for the most up to date information including eligibility for the service.
Harbury E-Wheels are a free transport service, run by volunteers, using electric cars to reduce carbon emissions. For further information and how to book please click here.
Coventry and Warwickshire Patient Transport Services: transport for those with a medical need that prevents them from using private or public transport. Please click here for further information and how to contact.
If you are aware of any other services available please do let us know by emailing us.
Some Urine Infections Can Now Be Treated By Your Local Pharmacist
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI’s) are common, especially in ladies, and can give symptoms which include burning and stinging on passing urine, passing urine more often or the need to pass urine more immediately. You may also notice your urine appears more cloudy.
These symptoms may often settle by drinking more fluid, but if the symptoms don’t improve then antibiotics maybe required. Normally this requires an appointment with a GP.
But if you are a lady, aged 16-84 years, and not currently taking antibiotics, your Pharmacist at Southam Pharmacy maybe able to dispense you the antibiotic nitrofurantoin which can be taken for 3 days to treat a urine infection, without the need to see a GP. To book an appointment with your pharmacist you can call Southam Pharmacy on 01926 812287.
But if you are more unwell with symptoms of Kidney pain (in back under the ribs), muscle aches, fever (temperature more than 37.8 degrees), chills (rigors), or vomiting then it is still best to see your GP in the first instance.
We're Looking To Recruit a New GP... 👨⚕️👩⚕️
Due to our rapid growth we are looking to recruit a new GP who shares our passion for delivering OUTSTANDING quality care!
Please see advert above - applications close Friday 4th February 2022
Please e-mail: Lindsay.ward@stwulfstansurgery.nhs.uk if you would like to find out more, or if you would like to apply.
Our Computers Are Down - Sorry For Any Inconvenience - RESOLVED
UPDATE: Our systems are now back up and running as normal. Sorry for any inconvenience.
Our computer systems are currently down which is affecting our ability to book appointments today and may lead to some disruption during your appointment today.
Please bear with us while our suppliers work on a fix.
Many thanks for all your patience, we will keep you posted!
Warwickshire County Council highlights support for those experiencing loneliness
Warwickshire County Council wants to ensure that anyone who feels lonely and isolated over the festive period is aware of the relevant organisations that can provide support and help at this time of year.
In the UK it is estimated that there are half a million older people who go at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone. And with the ongoing issues that the pandemic presents, it many limit the opportunities for people to meet up with friends and loved ones.
The council’s Winter Wellness campaign is highlighting how Warwickshire residents can help themselves and each other to stay mentally and physically healthy during the winter months. For more information visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/winterwellness
And the council’s social media channels will be sharing information too. Follow us on Facebook @WarwickshireCountyCouncil, Twitter @Warks_CC, Instagram @bestwarwickshire
Cllr Margaret Bell, Portfolio Holder for Adult Social Care and Health said: “We want to reassure those residents who may be facing a Christmas on their own, that there is support out there for you either at the end of the phone or via a tablet or smartphone. There are so many opportunities to get involved with online groups, learn a new skill via our Adult and Community Learning Team or chat on an online book club about a book you’ve borrowed from one of our libraries on an online book club chat. The opportunities to connect with people is endless. These are just a few of the many opportunities to connect with people."
In addition to the online signposts to help via social media channels, there are also phone-based services that run throughout the year.
Older people can speak to a real person via The Silver Line 0800 4 70 80 90 and Age UK 0800 169 6565, which is open 24/7.
Younger people can access help via ChildLine 0800 1111 and Get Connected, a national helpline for anyone under 25 years of age, 0808 808 4994.
Bereavement – Cruse, 0808 808 1677 and The Good Grief Trust 0800 2600
For more information on learning opportunities visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/acl
Information on Warwickshire Libraries Services can be found on www.warwickshire.gov.uk/libraries
Christmas marks the start of a wide-ranging loneliness and social isolation campaign that will officially launch early next year. The campaign will include recruitment of Social Ambassadors from local communities who will help to spread awareness messages and information offering support and guidance to those in need.
Further information about becoming a Social Ambassador will be launched in the New Year but if you would like to sign up for more information please email newsteam@warwickshire.gov.uk
Missed Appointments Hurt Us All: Please Help Us To Help You
At St Wulfstan Surgery we have very low rates of missed appointments. This is one reason why we are able to offer such a fantastic service. And it is another reason why we are thankful to our wonderful patients who make that possible.
Despite this low rate of missed appointment we have noticed a slight increase in missed appointments recently. This saddens us, because for every missed appointment, we have lost the opportunity to help someone who really needed it. And it is worth noting that missed GP appointments costs the NHS £216m per year.
For that reason, please help us keep our missed appointment rates low by following these tips:
Please book appointments only when you need them. Many conditions such as colds, coughs and sore throats will normally get better given a little more time. In such cases it is often sensible to speak to your pharmacist first.
If you book an appointment and cannot make it, please call reception or use the NHS App or Patient Access to cancel it. This way we can offer the appointment to someone else to give them the help they need.
Please remember that telephone appointments are just as valuable as face to face appointments. And therefore missed telephone appointments count as missed appointments. So if you will be unable to keep your timed telephone appointment please cancel it before hand.
We do record all missed appointments, and if appointments are frequently missed you may be asked to leave the surgery.
Thank you for helping us, to help you!
Happy New Year To All!!
We've had a Reception Refurb!
At St Wulfstan Surgery we thought it was time to refresh the reception area!
Of course the Christmas tree has made an appearance!
We have Removed a pillar from the reception area to make it more open.
A fresh lick of lighter paint.
And some new artwork from local Photographer, James Carro, now graces the walls. A big thank you to James, the artwork is absolutely stunning, so feel free to have a look next time you are in the surgery.
Merry Christmas to our wonderful patients and staff!
Save the Children's Christmas Jumper Day 2021
Staff at St Wulfstan Surgery wore their best Christmas Jumpers to work on 10th December to raise money for Save the Children.
Save the Children support children in over 100 countries to transform their lives. Their ambition is that by 2030:
no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday
all children learn from a quality basic education
violence against children is no longer tolerated.
We are pleased to say we raised £25 for this worthy cause. If you would like to see more of what Save the Children do please visit their website www.savethechildren.org.uk
Christmas Opening Hours
Merry Christmas to All
Please note the following opening hours for the surgery and Southam Pharmacy.
Please ensure to allow plenty of time to order your repeat prescriptions over the Christmas period.
Please also note changes to extended hours - as it is a bank holiday, there will not be a Saturday morning surgery on 1st January. Instead, Dr Viswa will hold a telephone surgery on Saturday 8th January. Our early bird surgery that week will be on Tuesday 4th. These appointments can only be booked in advance.
Surgery Christmas and New Year Opening Hours
Friday 24th December
open as usual
Monday 27th December
closed
Tuesday 28th December
closed
Wednesday 29th December
open as usual
Thursday 30th December
open as usual
Friday 31st December
open as usual
Monday 3rd January
closed
Southam Pharmacy Opening Hours
Friday 24th December
8.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday 25th December & Sunday 26th December
closed
Monday 27th December
closed
Tuesday 28th December
10am - 4pm
Wednesday 29th December
8.30 am - 6.15pm
Thursday 30th December
8.30 am - 6.15pm
Friday 31st December
8.30 am - 5.30pm
Saturday 1st January & Sunday 2nd January
closed
Monday 3rd January
closed
Pharmacies open on Christmas Bank Holidays
Please visit the following link to find the closest pharmacies should you need one over the Christmas period.
Welcome To St Wulfstan, Dr Baker!
We are delighted to welcome Dr Baker to our GP Team!
She will start working with us from next week and she shares our passion for delivering outstanding, high quality care!
Now a few words from Dr Baker:
“Hello, I’m Dr Baker and will be starting at St Wulfstan very shortly, which I’m looking forward to. I have an interest in women’s health and looking to develop this further, whilst at the practice.
On a personal note I enjoy spending time with my 2 children under 5 and exploring all the amazing parks in Warwickshire with them! ”