We want to make patients aware that there are global problems with the availability and supply of a range of medication used to treat ADHD. This is an issue beyond the control of Primary care and pharmacy services.

The supply disruption of these products is caused by a combination of manufacturing issues and an increase in demand to manage ADHD. At present we do not know when these issues are likely to resolve.

Medications affected by the supply issues are:

Methylphenidate:

• Equasym XL^®10, 20 and 30 mg capsules
• Xaggitin XL^®18 and 36 mg prolonged-release tablets
• Concerta XL^®54 mg prolonged-release tablets
• Xenidate XL^®27 mg prolonged-release tablets

       Lisdexamfetamine: 

• Elvanse^®20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 mg capsules
• Elvanse^®Adult 30, 50, and 70 mg capsules

       Guanfacine:

• Intuniv^®1, 2, 3 and 4 mg prolonged-release tablets

If you are affected by these supply issues you would need to contact the service who initiated your medications i.e. the Community Mental Health Team, CAHMS, SAANS or other private providers.

We’ve received some lovely feedback from our Flu and Covid Vaccination Clinics held today at our Rectory Road, Clay Cross, Brooklyn and Ashgate surgeries.

Our dedicated team has put in immense effort in planning and executing these clinics, from vaccine ordering to coordinating appointments and running the clinics smoothly. It’s great to hear that our staff’s hard work has paid off and that their efforts have been recognised.

If you haven’t had your flu vaccine yet, there’s still plenty of time to get booked in at the remainder of our clinics. Details of which can be found on our flu page here https://rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/flu 

Our Covid vaccination invites are in the process of being sent out to all eligible patients registered to our Grangewood, Inkersall, Rectory Road, Ashgate, Holme Hall, Whittington, Clay Cross and Grassmoor surgeries. Please wait for us to contact you to allow our phone lines to stay available for patients who need us with other medical problems.

In line with all other surgeries in the locality, our Brooklyn surgery will only be vaccinating housebound and care home patients. For Brooklyn patients wishing to take up the Autumn Covid Booster you can use the national booking service either via the NHS website, the NHS App or by calling 119. You can use textphone 18001 or the NHS 119 British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter service if you have difficulties communicating or hearing, or if you are a BSL user.

We’re currently running a survey to allow us to better understand your needs and improve access to our services.

We would be really grateful if you could spare 10 minutes to share your opinions with us and take this opportunity to have your say. This information will help us to shape our system into one that we can ensure better suits you, our patients.

To fill in the survey, click here: https://forms.office.com/e/LPN9ZWMY3n if you would prefer to fill in a paper copy, you can pick one up from the reception team at your local surgery.

Whilst some of the demographic questions may feel like standard survey questions such as your gender or the surgery you usually attend, this data is just as important as some of the other questions we’re asking. Understanding the gender and age split in respondents to our survey allows us to start to plan more effective services to meet the needs of different patient groups within our communities.

On 9th September, we were proud to once again host Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY). For over 20 years CRY has been screening young people aged 14 to 35. The programme developed by CRY has created the opportunity to save the young lives of those at risk that are asymptomatic, and appear to be "fit and healthy"

At the event held at our Inkersall practice, 100 appointments were offered and booked, disappointingly 17 people didn't attend their appointment which denies the opportunity for other people to be screened. The team were able to offset this by offering 11 walk-in screenings through recruitment on their Facebook page!

Out of the 89 people screened, 2 onward referrals were made for further investigations, which is 2 lives that have potentially been saved by the screening programme.

The Bethany Mycroft Memorial Fund held stalls as well as tea, coffee and cakes at the event to raise funds for further screening sessions to be put on. They managed to raise around £700.00 which will go directly towards supporting the CRY team in hosting further events.

We are really keen to continue to develop our relationship with both CRY and the Bethany Mycroft Memorial Fund and we would love to host them again next year. If you'd like to try and get screened in the meantime, CRY also host public events throughout the year across the country. You can sign up to be notified when new events are added here ➡️ https://bit.ly/3Pqt8PQ

It’s that time of year again! Flu season is about to begin, and the best way to protect yourself is by getting your flu vaccine early.

We have now started to contact all of our eligible patients to book in for their vaccine, if you wish to have the vaccine and don't have an appointment, there's still time to book.

We have two Saturday clinics available for you to book into:

• Saturday 16^th September – Rectory Road, Ashgate, Clay Cross and Brooklyn
• Saturday 30^th September – Rectory Road, Ashgate, Clay Cross and Brooklyn

As well as various other weekday clinics across all of our sites, details of these can be found on our practice websites.

Book today via:

• Online services such as Airmid or SystmOnline if you're signed up for an account already
• Click the link in your SMS invite (you will only receive an SMS if we have your mobile number on our records)
• At your local practice
• Calling your practice, please help us to help you by only calling if you're unable to book via one of the other methods

You’re eligible for a flu vaccination if you:

• are 65 and over (including those who will be 65 by 31 March 2024)
• have certain health conditions
• are pregnant
• are in long-stay residential care
• receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
• live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Please note, if you book a flu vaccine and you are not eligible, you will be turned away at your appointment

For more eligibility information and FAQS, visit the dedicated Flu page on our website here www.rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/flu 

A reminder that we alongside all other primary care services will be closed on Monday 28th August for the Summer Bank Holiday.

Now is a great time to check if you have enough repeat prescription to last you throughout the Bank Holiday weekend. If not, please submit your request in plenty of time to allow this to be processed.

Whilst our surgeries close, 111.nhs.uk is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year for any advice and support you may need. NHS 111 will be able to assess you and direct you to the most appropriate service for your problem.

Other ways for you to get advice whilst the surgeries are closed:

1. Visit the self-care hub on our website here for adults https://rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/self-care or here for children https://rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/parental-advice
   
   
2. Visit your local pharmacy who can give advice and prescribe certain medications where appropriate.
   
   
3. Visit an Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC). In Derbyshire, our UTCs are located in Buxton, Ilkeston, Ripley and Whitworth Hospital and are open seven days a week, between 8am and 8pm. UTCs can assess sprains, strains, cuts, broken bones, fractures, stings, bites, wound infections, minor head injuries, minor burns, animal bits, minor eye injuries and infections.

We are so excited to be attending the Peak Highland Games on Sunday 27^th August at Matlock Farm Park. 

The Peak Highland Games is a fantastic event for all the family to enjoy! 

Whilst we won't be pulling the Eight Tonne Tractor or participating in the Giant Stone throw, we will be hosting a stall, offering a variety of health and wellbeing advice and observations such as height, weight, BP, grip strength and more. 

Book tickets early to avoid disappointment (arrow emoji) https://matlockfarmpark.digitickets.co.uk/tickets 

In June 2021, the first ever Royal Primary Care Charity Marathon was born. Dr Ruth Bentley and a team of willing volunteers piloted the Royal Primary Care Charity Marathon walk, where they donned their walking boots with plenty of compeed plasters in tow and walked the distance between all 8 of our Chesterfield surgeries and finishing at Chesterfield Royal Hospital covering 28 miles and stopping at each of sites along the way for a well deserved rest!

Last year the challenge extended to our newest practice in Heanor, Derbyshire which added an additional 9 miles, taking the 2022 total trek to a whopping 30 miles.

Now that the teams legs have just about recovered, they're ready to go again for the 2023 trek on Thursday 20th July.

Every year we ask our staff members to nominate charities close to their heart and we draw names from a hat, as always we had some really great charities nominated but the charity we drew for this year's fundraiser is Headway North Derbyshire

Headway is a UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support and information services including: rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social re-integration, community outreach and respite care to survivors and families in their own communities.

On the day, we'll be sharing live updates with the team's progress and checking in with them along the way on our Facebook page so make sure you're following us to get the updates here https://www.facebook.com/royalprimarycare 

Donating is the best way to support the team and you can do that using the following link: bit.ly/44lfROc but if you aren't able to support the team financially, please help us by sharing our page amongst your friends and family to spread the word!

Today, June 1^st 2023, is Narcissistic Abuse Day, one of the lesser talked about awareness days but arguably one of the most important.

According to the ONS, in 2021-2022 across Derbyshire there were 15,945 cases of domestic abuse-related crimes recorded by the police (this includes emotional and physical abuse) and sadly, these are just the crimes that are reported, many cases will go unreported for fear of repercussions.

Because of it’s nature, coercive or narcissistic abuse often goes unnoticed by victims and their families and friends. Unlike physical abuse, narcissistic abuse leaves no physical marks, it is invisible and difficult to prove. Yet, its effects are lasting and just as a damaging as physical abuse.

The Elm Foundation operates across Chesterfield, North East Derbyshire, Bolsover, and parts of Amber Valley and they provide domestic abuse support services across the community irrespective of a person’s age, sex, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or immigration status.

Signs of Narcissistic Abuse:

1. Love-bombing
   "A love bomb is a manipulation technique used most often by narcissists, and even cult leaders, to gain power over someone... They bomb you with affection, excessive attention and gifts to ‘lure you in.’ The intention is to make their victim helpless, vulnerable and indebted to them.” -Jerimya Fox
   
   
2. Gaslighting
   Intentionally distorting reality to make you feel like what you’re seeing or feeling isn’t real. Examples of Gaslighting may look like this:
   
   "You're crazy, that never happened"
   "I never said that"
   "It's All In Your Head"
   
   
3. Ignoring Boundaries
   "The first thing to remember about narcissists is they need to be in control and they also need to be right. Boundaries get in the way of both things. They can’t control the narrative if you’ve put a roadblock in their way. When you set a boundary, they see it as you questioning what they’re doing. How dare you question them! They’re always right! And then they just bulldoze straight through the boundary like it was tissue paper." -Love with Intelligence
   
   
4. Character Assassination
   A classic Narcissistic Abuse tactic that does exactly what it says on the tin. Deliberate exaggeration or manipulation of facts to present an untrue picture of the victim which can leave you feeling isolated, misunderstood, and unfairly judged.
   
   
5. Accusations
   Accusations can be used by an abuser to manipulate you into doing what they want. "When you’re in a relationship with a narcissistic abuser, you may be accused of lying, stealing, cheating, or other negative behaviors. Being wrongfully accused can put you on the defensive, which can help deflect from the behaviors and actions of an abuser." -Talk Space
   
   
6. Emotional Blackmail
   Emotional Blackmail is a manipulative tool, using your weaknesses, secrets or vulnerabilities against you to get what they want from you. Emotional Blackmail can look like this:
   
   "If you leave me, I'll kill myself"
   "You'll never see the kids again"
   "If you actually cared about me, you would do..."
   
   
7. Projecting
   "Narcissists can’t accept responsibility for anything that goes wrong. So if something isn’t working, and they want control over the situation, they literally put their feelings on you. Since narcissists live in fantasy worlds, they refuse to see their own faults and failures, which means the blame that would usually be placed on them is projected onto their victims" -Reach Out Recovery

If you recognise any of these signs in a relationship that you’re in and you need help see here: https://www.theelmfoundation.org.uk/adults/

If you recognise any of these signs in a relationship that somebody you know is in see here: https://www.theelmfoundation.org.uk/adults/i-know-someone-who-needs-help/

We see you
We hear you
We believe you

We hope you all had a lovely bank holiday weekend. As always, our team is working hard to answer your calls and reading through your online requests as quickly as we can.

We welcome the Government's announcement that they are planning to re-direct millions of pounds of funding to primary care so that patients can get appointments more quickly. We are looking forward to being able to utilise this funding to ease the 8am rush for an appointment.

These funds will be shared across 6,500 GP practices in the UK, so it will take some time to flow through to us - we ask you to be patient with us while we develop our plans and await this funding. We will add our access recovery plans to the RPC website and social media platforms and keep you updated on our intended improvements.  

Like many parts of the NHS, general practice is under intense pressure where demand is greater than capacity, and this is exacerbated by an aging population. Most of those over 70 live with one or more long-term condition and have five times more GP appointments on average than teenagers. This was recognised in 2019 in the NHS long term plan; however, the pandemic has intensified the demand more so than anticipated. Patient contacts with primary care have grown faster than demographic pressures, at between 20% and 40%. Administrative tasks have also increased by 50% since 2019 – in short, we have never been busier.

 The NHSE plans to seek recovery through:

1. Empowering patients to manage their own health including using the NHS App, self-referral pathways and through more services offered from community pharmacy. This will relieve pressure on general practice.
2. Implement Modern General Practice Access to tackle the 8am rush, provide rapid assessment and response, and avoid asking patients to ring back another day to book an appointment.
3. Build capacity to deliver more appointments from more staff than ever before and add flexibility to the types of staff recruited and how they are deployed.
4. Cut bureaucracy and reduce the workload across primary and secondary care, and the burden of medical evidence requests so practices have more time to meet the clinical needs of their patients.

We appreciate navigating healthcare can be difficult, we hope that we are able to put in place plans to assist our local communities in accessing our services much more easily and help navigate access to the right care at the right time.  We thank you for your patience - please keep up to date via our website and social media.

After 6 months of training, last Sunday (16^th April) ANP Mel Baker-Hunt and GP Dr Ruth Bentley completed the Manchester Marathon.

Mel crossed the line at 03:58:04 earning a Marathon Personal Best and Ruth crossed the line at 04:45:53, a fantastic time for a Marathon debut!

A total of 52.4 miles ran and £689 raised for Weston Park, which is an amazing achievement. Team RPC are incredibly proud of Mel & Ruth.

Here's a message from Mel:

"Manchester marathon was booked in an impulsive moment in 2022…

What followed was 6 months of incremental long, slow runs in rain, wind, hail, ice and snow. My aim was always to get a sub-4 finish time, but secretly, I didn’t feel it was possible.

The decision was made to run for charity after one of my good friends and colleagues was given a devastating diagnosis late last year, and who has been receiving life-prolonging treatment at Weston park hospital since.

The day started well and I was storming along for the first (downhill) 8-10 miles, well ahead of the 4hr pacers. The next couple of hours passed in a bit of a blur of just focusing on one mile at a time, and sticking with the group of people around me. I knew at this point I was still well on for my target time. Then, with just 5 miles to go, the battle really began. My legs were tired and my pace was dropping off. At mile 22, to my absolute despair, the 4hr pacer passed me. I knew I had to make a last-ditch effort to speed up if I still wanted to be under the 4hr mark.

I managed to hang on the back of their group until the end and crossed the line in 3:58:04…tears flowed! I could barely walk, and sitting down without face-planting was another emotional achievement

Thanks for all the amazing messages of support…also to everyone who’s donated to the fundraiser."

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar that is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of prayer, reflection, community and fasting. The exact dates of Ramadan change every year as the Islamic calendar is based on the cycles of the Moon. This year, Ramadan will begin in on Wednesday 22 March and will end on Friday 21 April.

During this time, some of our Muslim colleagues and patients will fast each day from sunrise to sunset, meaning no food or liquids can be consumed during these hours. It's common to have one morning meal before the fast begins at dawn, known as Suhoor, and one meal after sunset to break the fast, known as Iftar. Fasting doesn't apply to children, pregnant women, elderly people and those who are ill or travelling.

Whilst fasting is physically hard and will leave most Muslims with lower levels of energy during Ramadan, it can also be very taxing spiritually. Some Muslims choose to worship for a significant portion of the night meaning they may also be sleep deprived. Ramadan is a mark of devoting yourself to your faith and takes significant strength from those participating. The Muslim Network have released some guidance to help those taking part:

• Remember to continue to take prescribed medicines during Ramadan, but checking with GPs if the doses need to be adjusted or the timings need to be changed.
• If you have diabetes, speak to your GP or diabetes nurse about the safest way to fast. There is an exemption for people with diabetes, especially if for those on insulin, or who have any medical complications.
• Attend medical appointments: All medical appointment booked during Ramadan should be attended, as normal. If you need to adjust the time of your appointment, please contact the relevant healthcare organisation to do so.
• The British Islamic Medical Association advises that if you become unwell during Ramadan, you should stop fasting and seek medical advice. You can do this by visiting 111.nhs.uk or if you don’t have access to the internet, by calling 111 or your practice directly.

After a close friend received a recent terminal cancer diagnosis, in a moment of madness Advanced Nurse Practitioner Mel Baker-Hunt and Dr Ruth Bentley made the decision to run the 2023 Manchester Marathon to raise funds for Weston Park hospital who provide have been able to provide life extending treatment.

This will be Dr Bentley's first ever marathon and she will be running alongside our resident marathon runner and Active Healthy Lives Champion ANP Mel Baker-Hunt.

Weston Park do a fantastic job caring for people from our area, and we don't think that they get the recognition or support they deserve for this. Mel & Ruth would love to raise £500 and we will be carrying out other events over the course of the year to try and achieve this.

Please donate what you can. Every £1 makes a difference. If you aren't able to donate, please help us by sharing this post to get the message far and wide!

Follow their JustGiving page for updates here https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/royal-primary-care-chesterfield-weston-park

In a new ‘Help Us, Help You’ campaign that is the first of its kind nationally, NHS England is encouraging people who have been sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit to complete the test.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK, and detecting it at the earliest stage makes you up to nine times more likely to be successfully treated. But, almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening test in England last year did not go on to complete it. Just a tiny sample detects signs of cancer before you notice anything wrong. The test is simple to complete and can be done in the privacy of your own bathroom.

Anyone aged 60 to 74, who lives in England and is registered with a GP practice will be sent a test in the post automatically, every two years. NHS England is also extending this to include all 50 to 59 year-olds by 2025. So, the NHS is asking anyone who is sent a bowel cancer screening test to remember to complete it. Put it by the loo. Don’t put it off. Your next poo could save your life.

Visit https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer-screening/ for more information

Looking for some sun and want to get away on a last minute holiday? Make sure you know the vaccination requirements (if any) for the area you're travelling to.

Our nursing team offer a full travel advice and immunisation service. If you are travelling abroad and require immunisations to travel, please contact the surgery 6-8 weeks before your journey. Vaccines need time to take effect and some may require a course over several weeks.

For information about which vaccinations you may require or generic travel health advice, visit our Travel Health & Advice page here

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has launched their new loneliness campaign activity as part of the Better Health - Every Mind Matters campaign.

The campaign primarily aims to reach 16-34 year olds by continuing to encourage them to ‘Lift Someone Out of Loneliness’, knowing that this will likely help their own feelings of loneliness. This is based on recent research that shows that people in this demographic are at higher risk of feeling lonely compared to other age groups, but less likely to seek advice and support.

If you’re feeling lonely this winter, search ‘Every Mind Matters; for support and advice or go to https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/.

Did you know together, we can end cervical cancer?

This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week,and we’re supporting Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust to raise awareness of cervical cancer, and how one day we can make it a thing of the past! The HPV vaccination and cervical screening can help stop cervical cancer. We want to encourage uptake and share the facts to help you reduce your risk of cervical cancer. 

You can play your part too. Get involved, show support on social media, tell your friends, go for screening. Join the campaign: www.jostrust.org.uk/ccpw 

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity. It provides information and support to anyone affected and campaigns for excellence in cervical cancer treatment, care and prevention. Its national Helpline is free, confidential and on 0808 802 800

Derbyshire County Council have launched their Grab a Cab project to aid Derbyshire county residents in getting to important vaccination and screening appointments.

If you have an upcoming appointment for a vaccination or to take part in NHS screening you can request a pre-paid taxi to and from your vaccination or screening appointment. 

The free transport offer will cover the following prearranged health appointments:

• the following vaccination appointments - COVID-19, flu, shingles, PPV (Pneumococcal) and other NHS provided vaccinations
• abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) screening
• cervical cancer screening
• bowel cancer screening
• diabetic eye screening

The service is available to all Derbyshire County Council residents regardless of age. For more information call 01629 536173 (Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm) or visit the Derbyshire County Council website here: https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/social-health/health-and-wellbeing/health-protection/support-getting-to-appointments/support-getting-to-vaccination-and-screening-appointments.aspx

We are currently seeing a higher than usual request for appointments for coughs, chest infections and common respiratory illnesses. Some of these conditions may require input from a clinician but they can mostly be treated at home with some simple self-care steps.

We appreciate that it can be difficult to know when to seek help so we wanted to share with you a really useful video from GP Dr Sophie. In this video, Dr Sophie talks you through the common symptoms, how long you should expect them to last and the signs to look out for and when to seek advice from a clinician. Dr Sophie also talks about why we don’t always prescribe antibiotics.

Watch, share and save the video for future reference. Whilst respiratory illnesses are more common in Winter, they can occur at any time of year.

Having children can be stressful enough as it is but it's even more stressful when they become unwell.  

All children become ill from time to time and most illnesses can pass as quickly as they came. Many viruses and infections pass on their own and can be treated with normal over the counter medications to relieve symptoms, but some may require medical attention or intervention such as antibiotics. 

Knowing when to seek medical advice can be confusing, which is why we've collated some parent information sheets on our website to help inform you about your childs illness, what you can expect and when you should look to seek advice 

Visit the parental advice page at: www.rpcclaycross.co.uk/parental-advice

Exciting news! The Christmas edition of our Royal Primary Care patient newsletter is now live. In this month’s edition: 

• A Christmas Message 
• Christmas Opening Hours 
• Winter Pressures Announcement 
• Group A Strep Update 
• Couch2Kilos Programme 
• Dangers of Frozen Water 
• Respiratory Conditions in Winter 
• Shingles and Older Adult Vaccinations 
• PPG Update 

Download the newsletter from our website here 
 
If you have something you’d like us to feature or if you have any feedback you’d like to give us about the newsletter, get in touch with us. We’d love to hear what you think and get involved. 

Those with respiratory conditions are one of the most affected groups in the colder months, and lead to people needing to seek additional support from healthcare during winter. However, there is lots of simple ways people can support themselves and reduce their symptoms as well as staying healthy over this period.

Here are some tips and hints to support you over this winter.

Keeping Warm and Staying Active

Lung conditions can be sensitive to the effects of cold weather. You might become more short of breath and cough more as a result. It's important to be aware of this and make some small changes to prevent these symptoms worsening.

• If out and about
  • Using a scarf around the nose/ mouth can warm up the air which prevents the cold air irritating your airways, triggering coughing or even triggering an asthma attack
  • Wear layers of clothes to keep warm
  • If its icy think about places you can exercise indoors such as supermarkets or shopping centres.
  • Use your inhaler medication (bronchodilators) half an hour before leaving the house, especially if the cold weather usually makes you wheezy or breathless. Make sure you carry your medication with you at all times.
• At home
  • Ideal room temperature is around 21 degrees in the living room and 18 in the bedroom.
  • During really cold weather, wear warmer night clothes. This is again something too many people don’t do, forgetting that their body temperature drops as they sleep.
  • Staying active and doing some exercise can be extremely helpful, by keeping the blood circulating and the body warm. Appropriate exercise is generally good for strengthening lung health at any time of year – if you have a lung condition, your doctor will be able to advise you of a suitable level of exercise for you.

Staying warm has become an increasing concern all over the UK with the cost of living being at an all-time high. There is support available, don't suffer in silence

• Derbyshire County Councils have given grants to communities to support 'warm spaces' with the aim to provide a warm refuge for residents and their families struggling to heat their homes. See if there is a venue near you.
• Community Action Derby also provide support and information for a range of cost-of-living related issues people may face over the next few months.

Keeping Healthy and Staying Healthy

• Take advantage of the vaccinations you are entitled to, it's never too late, so book now if you haven't already.
  • Flu
  • Covid
  • Pneumococcal
  • Shingles (over 70's)
• Avoid people with coughs, colds or Covid-19. If possible, it would be sensible to wear masks in crowded and enclosed spaces.
• Hands, face, space! This is a great rule to apply during winter, make sure you wash your hands well to avoid all those winter bugs.
• If you have a respiratory condition and smoke, you can help yourself by stopping smoking. People who smoke are five times more likely to get flu and twice as likely to get pneumonia. Quitting smoking is one of the best ways to prevent developing viral infections. There is plenty of help and support available in Derby and Derbyshire.
• If you have a respiratory condition, you will have developed a personalised respiratory action plan with your health care provider, sometime called a RAP. This is a useful document and will tell you what to do if your condition worsens. Your RAP should be updated every year during your annual condition review.
• Attend your annual condition review to discuss your condition with a healthcare professional.
• Use your medication as prescribed - It's important to understand how to use the medications as this will help control respiratory conditions. The pharmacy is a great place to get support and advice over the winter. A pharmacist can provide lots of additional services such as a review of new medication prescribed (NMS Service). To find out more about what pharmacy services are available visit nhs.uk or visit your local pharmacy.
• Make sure you have enough of your regular medicines at home. If you have 'rescue packs' make sure you have these in stock, and they are in date.

Across the UK, General practice is facing monumental pressures and demand. The workload for practices has escalated with the highest level of GP appointment bookings ever recorded this winter. GPs are seeing more patients than ever before. 

Likewise, Royal Primary Care is currently experiencing an unprecedented demand for appointments and our services which is putting a significant strain on our systems and staff as we try to meet the needs and expectations of our patients.

How can you help?

1. Please only call the surgery before 10.30 if you require an urgent/same day appointment. For routine appointments and all other appointments, please call after 10.30 to allow those most in need to be able to get through on our telephone lines. Please note calling before this time does not guarantee you a same day appointment, our call handlers will assess your problem using a triage tool built by our clinicians to ensure those most clinically unwell are offered appointments. You may be directed to self-care, an alternate service or advised to ring back at a different time or book on-line a routine appointment.
   
   
2. Sign up to one or more of our online services platforms. There are a variety of platforms that you can use depending on what you require. We’ve put together a handy guide on our website here: https://www.rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/online-services to help you choose which platform best suits your personal needs as a patient. You can use more than one if you like – it's what works best for you.By using our online services you’re allowing patients who don’t have online access to be able to get through on our telephone lines to access the care they need.
   
   
3. Use the resource hub on our website which we regularly update with information about how to look after your own health (https://www.rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/self-care ) and your children’s health (https://www.rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/parental-advice), as well as a dedicated area to Strep A (https://www.rpc-brooklyn.co.uk/group-a-strep) including information for red flag signs to look out for and when to seek advice and who from. By looking after yourself and taking preventative measures to keep yourself fit and well this winter, you can help to reduce the pressure on the NHS at its busiest time of year.
   
   
4. Be kind to the practice staff. In every corner of our organisation we have staff members working incredibly hard to keep our services running as safely and effectively as possible in unprecedented circumstances. We understand that being unwell can be frustrating and even more so if we’re not able to offer you an appointment. Please know that we have a zero-tolerance policy in place and any form of verbal abuse, swearing, aggressive or threatening behaviour towards our staff is not acceptable and will be escalated as appropriate.
   
   
5. Use the NHS111 online tool to help you decide on the appropriate services to contact, if required a call back from one of their handlers can be arranged. NHS111 can book appointments directly with your GP so please do not duplicate contact.

Thank you in anticipation of your support and understanding in this matter.

Friday December 23^rd – Open as Usual

Saturday December 24^th – Saturday Clinic*

Sunday December 25^th – Closed

Monday 26^th December – Closed

Tuesday 27^th December – Closed

Wednesday 28^th December – Open as Usual

Thursday 29^th December – Open as Usual

Friday 30^th December – Open as Usual

Saturday 31^st December – Saturday Clinic*

Sunday 1^st January – Closed

Monday 2^nd January – Closed

Tuesday 3^rd January – Open as Usual

Please see our Opening Times page for your local surgeries usual opening hours

*Prebooked appointments only as part of the enhanced access to Primary Care

Our top tips for a healthy and happy Christmas:

• Please order any repeat prescriptions you require in time to ensure you have adequate provision over the Christmas and New Year period
• Be prepared for common health problems by keeping a well-stocked medicine cabinet at home. Speak to your pharmacist if you're not sure what you need.
• Use NHS 111 if you need medical help but it’s not an emergency. NHS 111 offers an online service at nhs.uk or you can call them by dialling 111.
• Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations if eligible

Group A strep is a common winter illness and is responsible for a number of childhood infections such as tonsillitis, pharyngitis, scarlet fever and impetigo.

This winter the rates of Group A strep illness are much higher than usual and we are seeing extremely high demand for advice.

It is very important to remember that the vast majority of children with Group A strep illness do not require assessment by a clinician or treatment. To help us identify the children that do need assessment our senior clinical team has developed a screening tool based on the FeverPAIN scoring system https://www.rpcchesterfield.co.uk/group-a-strep. Our call handlers will use this tool to identify those children that do need assessment. You will be asked specific questions about your childs illness and the answers will determine if advice is for self care and watchful waiting, telephone review or face to face assessment.

All our staff are doing the very best they can with limited resources – please be kind

The mobile version of SystmOnline is no longer being updated but does have a new, exciting replacement - Airmid.

Airmid has many of the same functions as SystmOnline as well as some new and innovative features that we think will really transform how you can manage your health, appointments, prescriptions and much more.

Signing up to Airmid is easy and simple. If you're already signed up for SystmOnline, you can use the same login credentials to login to Airmid. If you don't have a SystmOnline account, you can login to Airmid by creating an NHS Login. If you've ever used the NHS App or the NHS COVID app, for example to access your COVID vaccination status, you'll already have an account which you can use to login to Airmid.

Airmid is also compatible with Face ID which is really useful if you're like us and prone to forgetting your passwords.

There's lots of other great features that we'll be sharing with you in the upcoming weeks to allow you to get to grips with the platform and it's many great features.

If you're not signed up for online services and have a mobile device or tablet, why not sign up today to be able to book appointments with both our clinical and nursing teams without the need to call the surgery.

For more information about Airmid or our other digital platforms, see here: https://www.rpcchesterfield.co.uk/online-services

Looking for a new years resolution? Why not kick start 2023 with a healthy and sustainable way to drop the kilos!

When we think of exercise often our first thought goes to cardio, but it's equally as important to keep your muscles and bones strong. Having strong bones reduces your risk of osteoperosis, fractures, and falls, especially as you age. Strength training is crucial for bone development.

Couch2Kilos is a free strength challenge designed to help EVERY women get stronger in 6-weeks.

With four levels Couch2Kilos is suitable for women of all abilities from just starting out to those who are already active.

It is totally flexible, you can do it anytime, from anywhere, at the gym or home and on any device. You can start with zero equipment and work up the levels and learn how use a variety of weights.

For more information visit www.herspirit.co.uk/couch-2-kilos

For the last post in our #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth series, we’re focusing on Breast Screening.

Breast Screening is one of the three cancer screening programmes in England. About 1 in 8 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. If it’s detected early, treatment is more successful and there’s a good chance of recovery. Breast screening is offered to anyone aged 50-70 who are registered with a GP as female. You’ll first be invited for screening within three years of your 50th birthday. You may be eligible for breast screening before the age of 50 if you have a very high risk of developing breast cancer.

If you have not been invited for breast screening by the time you are 53 and think you should have been, contact your local breast screening service using the breast screening services location finder here: https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Breast-screening-services/LocationSearch/325

So, what happens at a screening appointment? Breast screening uses an x-ray test called a mammogram that can spot cancers when they’re too small to see or feel. A mammographer will place the breast onto an X-ray machine, it will be squeezed between 2 pieces of plastic to keep it still while the X-rays are taken. The x-ray takes a couple of seconds, but the whole process should take no longer than 30 minutes.

Sadly, between April 2020 and March 2021, there was a 44.1% decrease in the number of people who were screened for breast cancer in England, compared to the previous financial year.

When we look at our own patient population, in July 2022 only 30% of eligible Royal Primary Care patients attended their screening appointment. Whilst we aren’t responsible for inviting patients, we are dedicated to ensuring all eligible take part in the relevant screening programmes. Our back office team work really hard to monitor the participation figures and contact our patients who don’t respond to screening invites.

If you’re overdue your breast screening, book your appointment today. It may just save your life.

Information provided by NHS England, NHS Digital and Royal Primary Care.

Today, we’re sharing information about how to check your breasts as part of our #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth campaign.

The NHS encourage checking your breasts at least once a month.

Start by standing in front of a mirror, placing your hands on your hip ensuring you can see both breasts at the same time.  Look at the size, shape, and contour of breasts and check for any visual changes.

Raise your arm above your head and check your armpits for any lumps or swellings, especially around where your lymph nodes sit (in the lower armpit). Feel from the top to the bottom of the breast, moving across from the inside of the breast all the way into your armpit area. Repeat on the opposite side. You can also do this laying down if you find this more comfortable. Some people prefer to do this in the bath or shower with a wet soapy hand.

If you notice any lumps, or changes in size, colour or texture, don't hesitate to book an appointment.

In the next installation of our #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth series, we're sharing information from Breast Cancer Now & Cancer Research UK about who's at risk and the symptoms to look out for 

The first symptom of breast cancer most people notice is a lump in their breast or some thickening. 

Breast symptoms to look out for: 

• A new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit 
• A change in size, shape or feel of your breast 
• Skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin 
• Fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breast feeding 
• Changes in the position of the nipple 
• A new onset of breast or nipple pain 

What are the risk factors of developing breast cancer? 

Whilst breast cancer can affect anybody, there are a few categories that can put people at higher risk of developing breast cancer. These risk categories are: 

• Being overweight or obese 
• Being on the contraceptive pill or hormone replace therapy (HRT) 
• Age (Most breast cancers occur in women over 50) 
• Family history and inherited genes  

For more information on risk factos, see here: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/risks-causes/risk-factors  

This month, we'll be focusing on Breast Cancer in line with the #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth campaign 

Breast cancer is when abnormal cells in the breast begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way and eventually form a growth (tumour). It starts in the breast tissue, most commonly in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast.  

There is a common misconception that breast cancer can only affect women, and it is more common in women, it can also affect men. 

Around 55,500 women and around 370 men are diagnosed in the UK each year. 1 in 7 women in the UK develop breast cancer during their lifetime and it is more common in older women. Breast cancer risk can be affected by age, family history and lifestyle factors such as obesity and smoking. 

15 out of 100 (15%) of all newly diagnosed cancers in the UK are breast cancer. 

Remember to Touch, Look and Check 

Touch your breasts, can you feel anything new or unusual? Look for changes, does anything look different? Check any changes with your GP  

Our conclusive post in our #ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth series is potentially the most important, and it comes from one of our patients David who has kindly agreed to share his Prostate Cancer story to get the conversation started and raise awareness.

David’s story is frank and forthright and highlights the importance of early intervention

Prostate Cancer: One Patient’s experience
Written by RPC Patient David

"Sometimes we’re daft, us men. We’re full of bravado much of the time but when it comes to our health and dealing with things that aren’t quite right we put it off time and time again, dismissing symptoms as ‘just one of those things’ or ‘it’ll be better next week’.

I was like that when, in my early 60s, I realised I was having to pee more frequently, often in the middle of the night. I ignored it until one night, as I tiptoed to the bathroom, out of the darkness from the other side of the bed a voice said, “When are you going to do something about that?” I’d been rumbled.

An appointment was made with my doctor. I explained what was happening and he nodded, said “I see…”  and asked me to ‘drop ‘em’. An examination was needed, an internal examination requiring the use of a latex glove and some gel - you get the picture…

A blood sample was taken and sent off for a PSA test. PSA = Prostate Specific Antigen. It’s an indication that all may not be well ‘down below’, in that area that men are strangely reluctant to talk about, even amongst themselves.

We met again and my doctor said the test results were ‘borderline’ but to be on the safe side he was going to refer me to the Oncology Department at The Royal Hospital where further tests took place and a biopsy (sample) of my prostate was taken. This involves a camera and probe being inserted up your back passage to snip off a few bits of prostate for laboratory analysis. It takes a few minutes, is just a minor discomfort and you’re able to go home within a couple of hours. If ever you’re advised to have one, DO IT gentlemen, it may save your life.

The biopsy confirmed I had prostate cancer. I remember the moment we were told, that voice from the other side of the bed had accompanied me and her hand squeezed mine tighter as the news sunk in. We looked at each other and her eyes moistened. “We’ll deal with this.” I reassured her.

 I was put on ‘watchful waiting’ or ‘active surveillance’ with regular tests and checks to monitor the speed at which my cancer was growing until the day, many months later, I was told it had turned ‘aggressive’, it was time for action.

The choice was simple and stark: surgery or radiotherapy. I opted for surgery; whip out my prostate I thought, problem solved. It’s not as simple as that, there is much to be considered but that’s how my mind worked at the time.

I met the surgeon who would do the job and it was explained how, using a Da Vinci machine, he intended to carry out a remote controlled key-hole operation. I signed the forms and attended for a pre-op assessment. That’s when it all went a bit ‘belly up’. I’d had an ECG and it indicated I had a heart problem. This was news to me, I’d never had any heart issues at all, ever, not a single one but because of what had been discovered surgery was ruled out as my heart was considered unable to cope. Though something of a thunderbolt from the blue, I was greatly relieved this had been discovered but it had thrown a very large spanner in the works. It meant that my options were reduced; radiotherapy was now the only way forward.

That was almost 10 years ago. My final session of radiotherapy was on my 65 birthday and I shall be 73 in a couple of months.

Regular PSA checks have monitored the effectiveness of my treatment. I am pleased to report that the most recent test results just last week showed a level of 0.16, well within the 0 > 3.0 range considered acceptable.

Awareness of prostate cancer has increased gradually and spasmodically over the years. The recent death of TV news presenter Bill Turnbull briefly shone the spotlight on it but it shouldn’t be allowed to fade.

If you are experiencing symptoms, or if you know someone who is, either do something about it or be that persuasive voice from the other side of the bed. Doing nothing would be daft, wouldn’t it?"

Stoptober is back, calling on smokers in England to join more than 2.5 million others who have made a quit attempt with the campaign since it launched a decade ago in 2012. Nearly 6 million adults in England still smoke, and it remains the single biggest behavioural cause of preventable death, with 64,000 deaths a year.

This year's Stoptober mass quit attempt is as important as ever, with quitting being one of the best things a smoker can do for their health. That’s why this year’s Stoptober campaign is encouraging smokers to join the thousands of others who are giving quitting a go for the month of October – making it to 28 days smoke free means you’re five times as likely to quit for good. Quitting will allow you to start moving better, breathe more easily - and give you more money to spend.

Quitting with others, together with the range of support offered, means that Stoptober can trigger resolve and boost confidence, motivation and readiness, making smokers realise that they are stronger and better prepared than they think and setting them up for long term success.

Stoptober offers a range of free quitting tools including: the NHS Quit Smoking app, Facebook messenger bot, Stoptober Facebook online communities, daily emails and SMS, and an online Personal Quit Plan tool.  It provides information and advice on proven quitting methods - expert support from local Stop Smoking Services and the range of stop smoking aids, including further information on how vaping can help you quit. Just search ‘Stoptober’ for more information.

From 1^st October Royal Primary Care will be working with our local network practices to provide enhanced access to primary care services.

As a Royal Primary Care patient you will be able to book routine appointments from Monday to Friday from 07.00-08.00, 18.30-20.00 and Saturday's from 09:00-17:00 in addition to our usual Monday-Friday appointment capacity. The Enhanced Access Service aims to make it easier for patients to get routine appointment with a GP or other health professional by providing additional appointment times in the early mornings, evenings and on Saturdays. 

These appointments may be delivered in house at one of our surgeries or offered at other local practices. Appointments will be bookable through the usual surgery channels in house at Royal Primary Care

Royal Primary Care Brooklyn would like to say a huge thank you to all of our patients who brought a daffodil pin from us for the Great Daffodil Appeal. Through buying and wearing your daffodil, you've helped Marie Curie to support everyone in the UK through all aspects of dying, death and bereavement – and fight for a world where everyone gets the care and support they need at the end of their lives. Collectively we've raised £35.61 for this fantastic cause.

Asthma is a condition that affects over 8 million people in the UK. Though this condition is chronic with no real cure, there are ways of reducing symptoms and control the disease to enable people with asthma to enjoy a normal.

We want to ensure the asthma services available in Derby and Derbyshire for children and young people are as accessible as possible and the best they can be for its users. Therefore, we would be grateful if you could share your experiences of the asthma service so we can identify which areas need improvement. We have created a survey that covers various topic to help us understand what we are doing right and what we need to build on including, where to find information, what resources are available, urgent medical advice and more.

While the service is for Children and young people, we are open to all thoughts and opinions of those who have used the service including, parents, carers, guardians etc.

Please click on the following link to fill out the asthma survey and have your say https://bit.ly/3zMjnEM

In the next instalment of our #ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth series we're sharing information from Prostate Cancer UK about who's at risk.

In the UK, about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. We don't know exactly what causes prostate cancer but there are some things that may mean you are more likely to get it – these are called risk factors. There are three main risk factors for getting prostate cancer, which are things you can't change. These are:

• getting older – it mainly affects men aged 50 or over

• having a family history of prostate cancer

• being black

Check your risk today via the Prostate Cancer UK risk checker here: https://prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker

If you fall in to any of the at risk categories above and are concerned, please book in with one of our clinicians.

Today we’re continuing our #ProstateCancerAwarenessMonth series.

So what is the prostate?

The prostate is a small gland about the size of a walnut. It is divided into 2 lobes and surrounded by an outer layer called the capsule. It sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra. The prostate’s main job is to help make semen – the fluid that carries sperm.

Men, non-binary people who were assigned male at birth and trans woman all have a prostate as the prostate is not removed during genital reconstructive surgery.

The most common prostate problems are an enlarged prostate, prostatitis or prostate cancer.

Problems with your prostate are usually symptomized with changes when you urinate, such as;
- Needing to urinate more often than usual, especially at night difficulty starting to urinate
- Straining or taking a long time to finish urinating
- A weak flow when you urinate
- A feeling that your bladder hasn’t emptied properly
- A sudden need to urinate – you may sometimes leak urine before you get to the toilet
- Dribbling urine after you finish urinating.

If you have any of these symptoms or concerns, please book in to see a clinician

Information from Prostate Cancer UK and Cancer Research

Royal Primary Care will be closed on the 19th September to allow respects to be paid to Her Majesty and commemorate Her reign, while marking the final day of the period of national mourning.

This month we are supporting Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.

Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. In the UK alone roughly 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Unlike bowel cancer, breast cancer and cervical cancer there is currently no routine screening in the UK for prostate cancer which is why it’s really important that people with a prostate know the symptoms to look out for.

Throughout the month we’ll be sharing lots of resources and information to help educate our patients and community.

Keep your eyes peeled for our upcoming Prostate Cancer Awareness Month posts.

In recent months, we've seen an increase in patients attending their appointment with more than one problem. We strive to deal with each medical problem to the highest standard and this proves very difficult if our clinicians are asked to deal with a number of problems in one appointment slot.

If you need to discuss more than one problem, please request a double appointment when booking to allow our clinical team more time to deal with multiple issues.

If you've booked a single appointment and need to discuss more than one problem, please don't be offended if the clinician asks you to book another appointment to discuss your other concerns. We know that it can feel frustrating, especially if you've been waiting for an appointment but our clinicians need to be given the appropriate amount of time to deal with your problems safely and effectively without needing to rush.

When a clinic runs even 5 minutes behind, there is a knock-on effect on the clinic for the rest of the day that leads to further delays for patients waiting for their appointment.

We would really appreciate your support and understanding in this matter to enable us to provide a better service for our patients

Derbyshire County Council and the Department for Education are working together once again to provide county wide Holiday Activities and Food Programmes from Monday 25th July – Friday 2nd September.

Find free summer experiences for children in Derbyshire! Developed especially for children eligible for free school meals, with healthy and delicious food provided at every activity – all for free.

Clubs will run on average for 4 hours a day and each day children can enjoy a fun-packed programme filled with a wide range of sports and games, arts and crafts, cookery, dance and music. Programmes will vary depending on the type and location of each local club.

If you can't get out this summer, why not try the activity packs which include lots of fun things to do and make, with all the things you need! To register your interest for a pack, visit the website and click the ‘Activity Pack’ link. The website also has lots of great ideas to keep kids of all ages entertained. With hundreds of downloadable games, activities and links to videos that you and your family can enjoy at any time and in any weather. Interested? Book now or find out more here: www.itsaboutmederbyshire.co.uk