Wyndham House Surgery

Autumn Actions

Normally at this time of year I write an article about the value of vaccination and encourage patients to come for their Flu vaccine.  As a result of the pandemic, I no longer feel the need to explain the enormous value of vaccines. However, I do need to double down on my plea for everyone eligible to have two vaccines this autumn.

The Flu vaccine is probably more important than it has been for many years.  We have experienced very little influenza in the last 2 years and this means we lack some of our inherent immunity.  The strategy in the pandemic was all about protecting hospitals so that they were able to admit those who were seriously ill with Covid as well as sick patients with other conditions.  At the moment our hospitals find themselves under immense pressure with a reduction in the number of beds available, ambulances having difficulties getting patients in, and community health and social care services facing problems getting them out.  These pressures are currently most evident in West Devon however it would not take much to tip the balance in the East. Another Covid variant and/or an outbreak of flu presents a very serious risk. Hospitals would be under pressure greater than that seen during the pandemic. Be in no doubt, the health service faces a winter of trepidation.  On the plus side some of the protective behaviours we learnt have become ingrained.  We distance ourselves in queues and when we have upper respiratory infections, we are much better at reducing the risks of onward transmission.

Covid boosters and this year’s Flu vaccine will be offered from the surgery, initially to those over 65 years old and those with chronic disease.  When these are complete, those over 50 years old will be invited. We will be calling patients in cohorts via text and email (with letters to those who use neither of these).  All eligible patients will need to come twice. It will not matter in which order you have the vaccines; it just matters that you have both.  It is likely that our first Flu clinic will be at the end of September and that Covid clinics will run regularly on Wednesday afternoons. We are, however, dependent on when central supplies are delivered.

So, three important actions for this Autumn. One, get a flu vaccine – those eligible from the surgery, and others from a pharmacy.  Two, come when called for your Covid booster and three, please ensure the surgery has your up-to-date contact details.

Anthony O’Brien

Wyndham House Surgery

The Friends of Wyndham House was set up in 1991 and supports multiple projects that you will be familiar with: the Bertie delivery service, the Keep Fit and Balance Classes, the New Parents & Baby Group, the Memory Café, the Film Club, Tai Chi sessions, Befriender links and Digital Social Prescribing. This month we are promoting membership of the Friends via our website and Facebook page.  Joining as a member does not bring any commitment to do anything, but it will link you into regular communication about all the services I have listed above. Linking is the first step to participating and then contributing, and I think there is now more understanding than we have had for many years that contributing into communities is a very positive feedback loop. So please contact friendsofwyndhamhousesurgery@gmail.com if you would like to become a member and encourage your friends and relatives to do so too. There is certainly plenty of opportunity to resource any ideas that new members may bring. If you want to play a more active role then the Committee are currently looking to recruit a new Trustee. Information about this can be found on the surgery website.

So, a call to arms.  The NHS vaccine programme is enormously impressive and required a lot of help from volunteers. However, the truth is that the vast majority of people who stepped forward in the last 12 months were never utilised. Some of you reading this will have been on at least one NHS volunteer list, or will have relatives who were willing to train as vaccinators or marshals.  Now the emergency is over, the less glamorous but equally necessary on-going support for our elderly, and those who are vulnerable and isolated, is still there. All the activities the Friends support will be of benefit to everyone at some point.  So, contribute now, become a member, and help shape what you would like in the future.

We are very pleased to announce that the New Parents Support Group, which was suspended due to the Covid restrictions, is now in a position to re-commence

“All the lonely people.  Where do they all come from?”

Eleanor Rigby, Lennon & McCartney

Defining loneliness is difficult. The feeling of being on your own is subjective and we are all prone to short term variations in mood during which we have a more negative interpretation of our circumstances. However, research clearly shows that we underestimate how real, how prevalent and how significant true loneliness is.

According to Age UK, more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. The fact that such loneliness affects health is not surprising.  However, the size of the affect is shocking. Loneliness is a predictor of the use of Accident and Emergency services and raises the risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death. Poor social relationships are associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. These are similar to the increased risks associated with smoking.

The chances of being lonely do not differ because of age – loneliness is similarly common at all ages. However, the circumstances which increase the risk of loneliness do differ by age. For example, leaving education is a commonly vulnerable time for younger people whereas the death of a loved one, and the onset of illness and disability are more often times of vulnerability for older people. Surprisingly recent research has shown that almost one in four students are lonely most or all of the time. Social media means young adults are more connected but this does not counter their feelings of isolation; sometimes it sadly perpetuates them.

Social activities are an essential component of successful approaches to tackling loneliness. Communities that are welcoming, attractive, feel safe and have amenities for all residents can help prevent people from becoming lonely. I think we are very lucky to live and work in such communities. The Friends of Wyndham House support a lot of local groups, the Room4U in Silverton is increasing the number of events it hosts and the SCENE booklet (on our website + copies at the surgery) is a reference library of regular activities.  So, there are opportunities; however lonely people find it hard to reach out. There is a stigma surrounding loneliness, and older people tend not to ask for help because they have too much pride. This requires people in the community to recognise that people are lonely and to invite them along, encourage them to join in. This requires compassion, empathy and understanding.  However, it could all start with a friendly smile, a simple ‘Hello, How are you?’, maybe to the person sitting beside you the next time you are in the surgery waiting room.

Anthony O’Brien

Wyndham House Surgery

At the end of this document there is excellent guidance regarding different symptoms and actions required

Those who qualify for a Flu vaccine (all adults > 65 years old) and those < 65 years with at risk conditions (Cardiovascular, Respiratory Disease and Diabetes) the next Flu Clinic will be on Saturday morning 31st October 2020 – text and email invites going out very shortly.  Clinics will run according to alphabet division of slots as we ran for the > 65 yr patients.

(published 13/10/2020)

Follow this link for a guide to parents regarding Covid symptoms and swabbing

There is also an excellent symptom checker to help everyone distinguisj between Flu, Cold and Covid symptms

We have a new registrar Dr Craig Lunt. Dr Lunt will be working with us through his final period of training and will be at the Surgery Monday, Tuesday & Friday all day, and Wednesday & Thursday mornings until the end of March. From April onward Dr Lunt will not be here on a Tuesday.  He will be on parental leave between June & November returning to us at the start of December.

Online contact with the surgery

Recently, most patient contact with GPs has been by phone or online. This has been a necessary consequence of the Covid-19 restrictions and helped the surgery to reduce footfall in the waiting room. However, not everyone is comfortable or familiar with remote consultations. Equally, there is a need to access other online arrangements from shopping to booking an eye test. Our Digital Social Prescriber – Joan Povey – is happy to make arrangements to guide people in the use of the internet and social media. Just let the staff at the surgery know and Joan will contact you.

National Patient Survey 2020

Our thanks to all of our patients who responded to the survey, and were very complimentary about us.

Click here to access the full survey

The eConsult system is a great source of information and advice about common symptoms as well as another route to contact your GP. If you need to send us a photo this is the best route to use

Telephone consulting is more difficult for both patient and doctor so here are a few tips that can help us help you:

If there is a particular time of day that is easier for you to speak on the phone please let us know when you book the appointment.

If you have more than one problem to discuss please mention this at the beginning of the consultation.

If you need to speak to a GP about a non-clinical matter eg updating sick note, please, if possible, use the eConsultation option via our website.

If you are happy to use your mobile phone for a video consultation let us know when booking your appointment.

We encourage all our patients to see their own GP whenever possible as the continuity this produces enhances the clinical care we can give.  This is even more important with telephone consulting.  Our reception team will ask each patient when booking who they normally see and if they are happy to wait until that GP is next available; we encourage everyone to do so.  Of course, if you need to speak to a GP on the same day we will ensure this is the case.

Currently the system is working very well.  We are seeing all the patients that need to be examined or require blood tests. Referrals to the hospital are continuing normally. The waiting time to see a GP or nurse is the same as before Covid.