Out of Area Registrations Now Accepted

You can now register with St Wulfstan Surgery, even if you live outside of our practice area.

Anyone can register, irrespective of where you live, and have full access to our services. But please be aware that we will not be able to conduct home visits if you live outside of our practice area.

We believe in proving high quality, friendly, respectful and efficient care to all of our patients. And we are proud that we were ranked number 68 (top 1%) of all practices in England by the GP Patient Survey 2022.

To register please click the button below, or the ‘Join Us’ button in the top right of our website.

Welcome!

 
 

Flu & COVID Vaccine Update 2022

As we approach flu vaccine season we just wanted to update you all on Flu and COVID vaccinations this Autumn & Winter.


Flu Vaccines

We will begin our flu vaccinations at the end of September and invites will be sent once we have our supply of vaccine and our clinic times are confirmed. Eligible patients will receive invitations via text message in due course.


COVID Vaccine Boosters

This year we will be able to offer eligible patients a COVID Booster vaccine at the same time as their flu vaccine at the surgery. Eligible patients will receive invitations via text message in due course. COVID Booster vaccines will also be offered via Southam Clinic, but Flu vaccines cannot be given at the same time at Southam Clinic, and your flu vaccine will need to be booked at the surgery separately.

Therefore for your COVID Booster you will have 2 options:

  1. Wait for your invite from the surgery and have your Flu and COVID Booster vaccinations together - due to start end of September

  2. Book a COVID Booster only at Southam Clinic by calling 01926 962 718, but you will need to book your Flu vaccine separately at the surgery


Once our clinic dates are confirmed we will begin sending invites later this month and we will also issue updates via our website.


Who is Eligible for the Flu and COVID Booster Vaccines?

  • Adults aged 50 and over

  • Adults 18+ Who have certain health conditions, including

    • Asthma (requiring daily inhalers), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

    • Chronic heart disease such as heart failure

    • Chronic kidney disease

    • Chronic liver disease

    • Diabetes

    • Parkinson’s Disease, Motor Neuron disease, Multiple Sclerosis

    • a significant learning disability

    • Problems with your spleen (e.g. splenectomy)

    • Being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)

    • Weakened immune system (e.g. HIV, AIDS)

  • 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 with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

  • are frontline health workers

  • are social care workers who cannot get the vaccine through an occupational health scheme at work


Yours Gratefully, by Dr Olaleye

Please read on for a reflection from our very own Dr Olaleye, about feeling grateful.

Yours Gratefully, by Dr Olaleye

I read with utter amazement the good reviews we have received at St Wulfstan surgery and nothing but gratitude wells up inside me. I am fully appreciative to be working with a great team of people with a united purpose. I am truly grateful to see how the work we do is received within the community. It fills my heart with joy when I hear about the changes that happen because someone from our team took time to listen or sort out a problem on the phone.

This article is about being Grateful.

Being Grateful is a habit that encourages positive emotion, it builds up our emotional wellness and resilience. Just as we build on our physical health through exercise, eating healthy, sleeping well, and avoiding harmful substances. It is important to create habits that build our emotional and mental health. A heart full of gratitude is good medicine to the soul.

Some studies show that a tendency towards positivity increases our resilience.

It is not unusual for negative emotions or feelings to creep up when we begin to feel grateful.

These can be quite strong and overwhelming. However, if you can worry, you can meditate.

You can choose to turn worry thoughts into opportunities to meditate on things you are grateful for.

Here are 4 good reasons why:

- Gratitude helps reduce the overwhelming feelings of negativity around you.

- Gratitude helps with problem solving as your brain is more receptive towards solutions.

- Gratitude is contagious, so you get to be surrounded by people who enhance your positivity.

- Gratitude helps adopt an abundant mindset.

Why don't you start your gratitude journal today, perhaps just before you sleep or once you wake up.

I am truly grateful to be a part of an excellent hardworking team at St Wulfstan surgery.

Yours Sincerely,

Dr Jaiye Olaleye.

August Bank Holiday Arrangements

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND

 

St Wulfstan Surgery will be closed on Monday 29th August and will re-open Tuesday 30th August 8:30am.

 IF YOU HAVE A LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCY, PLEASE CALL 999 IMMEDIATELY

 

If you have an urgent medical problem whilst we are closed

Please call 111

 

Please call the surgery on 01926 810939 for further information on what to do if you need help when we are closed.

 

If you need a repeat prescription, you can order it online or when we re-open.

 

Asda Pharmacy is open from 10:00 – 4:00pm.  They are located in the Asda store: Chesterton Drive, Leamington Spa, CV31 1YD (01926 459010)

More Support for Long COVID

There is support out there for anyone suffering symptoms of Long COVID.

The organisers of this Hope Course have been in touch and told us the following:

“Our successful free programme for People with Long Covid starts again on September 14th.

People can find out more and sign up at: https://www.hopecwr.h4c.org.uk/, they do not have to be referred. The 8 week course can be handled at your own pace and in your own time, though we provide support and opportunities to meet others in the same circumstances.”
— Hope Courses

St Wulfstan Surgery or Southam Clinic - Please Check Your Appointment Location

We are delighted to now be offering additional appointments from our Branch Surgery at Southam Clinic. Many of you may recall Southam Clinic as the site where you had your COVID vaccine. These clinics are running really well, but we are still noticing some patients booking appointments for Southam Clinic but turning up to St Wulfstan Surgery.

It’s always worth checking your booking or appointment reminder text message as it will state whether your appointment is booked for St Wulfstan Surgery or for Southam Clinic. If in doubt, don’t hesitate to speak to our Reception Team.

Please see the map below for the location of Southam Clinic.

 

Welcome Grace, Our New Social Prescriber!

At St Wulfstan Surgery we are lucky to work with a great team of Social Prescribing Link Workers, who are skilled at linking patients to local services to help improve the social health and wellbeing of our patients. We are happy to welcome Grace as our latest addition to that team.

If you think you may benefit from the help of our Team, please feel free to email we.connect@nhs.net

Now a few words from Grace:

“Hello, my name is Grace and I am a Social Prescribing Link Worker for the East PCN. Alongside my role I am training to be a Counsellor/ Psychotherapist. I am hugely passionate about the well-being of our patients and their mental health. I aim to help and support each patient by working together in a positive, forward-thinking motion to find the best possible outcome or solution. As a person I am caring and compassionate and always aim to bring a positive and uplifting energy. I look forward to working with St Wulfstan Surgery and please do say hello if I’m around. ”
— Grace Cowell

Welcome Grace!

Welcome Dr Lawrence-Smith, Farewell Dr Beirne

At St Wulfstan Surgery we are a GP Training practice, and as such we have been very fortunate to have had Dr Beirne work with us for the last 6 months. He is moving on to complete his next phase of training and we would like to thank him for all of his hard work - he has been a great asset!

And now we would like to welcome our next GP Trainee, Dr Hannah Lawrence-Smith. She brings with her some great hospital experience, and she joins us as a final year trainee, which means she will be with us for the next 12 months. Welcome Hannah!

Thank you Dr Beirne & Best of Luck

 

Learning Disability and Cervical Screening Week

The week of the 23rd June 2022 marked both Learning Disability Week and Cervical Screening Awareness week. Across the NHS, local partnerships are working together to find ways that cervical screening can be made more accessible for people with a learning disability. In the short film below, Jodie explains how she attended her first cervical screening appointment after her GP practice made the right adjustments to make her feel more comfortable and confident. We want to ensure that more patients like Jodie come forward to attend their cervical screening appointment, so if there is anything we can do in readiness for your cervical screening appointment please do get in touch and let us know.

Help us to help you....

It is no secret that we are an ever-evolving GP Practice, with new patients joining us each day. As our ethos reflects, our philosophy is to provide caring, compassionate and high-quality care to each and every single one of our patients.

Part of that is making our service accessible for those that need it, when they need it – we offer both telephone and face to face appointments, and we are also trialling the ‘E-Consult’ feature on our website for less urgent requests. But quite concerningly, we are having an increasing number of appointments being booked for things that are not necessary. The time of our clinicians is very valuable, and we want to make sure that their time is utilised optimally. Therefore, we would just like to gently remind all patients that if you have an administrative request or query, this should not be channelled through our GP appointments.

If you would like to request a private letter, you may do this via our website or by dropping the paperwork in to our reception team who will pass it on to our Admin Team to process. Should you wish to check the status of an ongoing request, please kindly note that these requests can take up to 21 days to be fulfilled. In the event that this timeframe has elapsed, please contact the Admin Team on 01926 810939 and we will do our very best to help you. To check the status of an existing referral, you can contact your chosen hospital on the booking line telephone numbers below;

  • Warwick Hospital – 01926 600036

  • University Hospital of Coventry & Warwickshire / Rugby St Cross Hospital - 0800 252060

    We are very fortunate to have so many NHS services at our disposal for a range of different ailments. The below list is not exhaustive, but hopefully it can help give some more information regarding the help that is available to you should you need to be seen.

  • 💊 Self-Care (Sore throat, Hangover, Cough, Grazes, Small cuts) : A large range of common illnesses and injuries can be treated at home simply with over the counter medicines and plenty of rest.

  • ⚕️Pharmacy (Diarrhoea, Earache, Painful cough, Sticky eye, Teething, Rashes) : Pharmacists can advise and treat a range of symptoms. This can avoid unnecessary trips to your GP or A&E department and no appointments are needed.

  • 🧑‍⚕️GP (Arthritis, Asthma, Back pain, Vomiting, Stomach ache) : GP’s and nurses have excellent understanding of general health issues and can deal with a whole range of health problems.

  • 🏥 Minor Injuries (Cuts, Spains, Strains, Bruises, Itchy rash, Minor burns) : Minor Injury Units provide non-urgent services for a range of conditions. They are usually led by nurses and an appointment is not necessary.

  • 🚑 A&E/999 (Severe bleeding, Breathing difficulties, Severe chest pain, Loss of consciousness) : These are best used in an emergency for serious life-threatening situations.

  • ☎️ NHS 111: This is available 24/7 and can provide advice and guidance for non-life threatening emergencies. https://111.nhs.uk/

  • 🖥️ NHS Website: You can also access health advice and guidance through the NHS website. https://www.nhs.uk/

And once again, a massive thank you to our wonderful patients. We are so grateful for your immeasurable support and couldn’t do what we do without you!

An Update on Masks At the Surgery

In response to recent changes in national guidelines on the use of face masks in GP Surgeries we have updated our guidance on using face masks in the surgery.

  • It is not mandatory for patients to wear face masks at the surgery.

  • People are still welcome to wear face masks if they wish.

  • Our GP’s and Nurses will still be wearing masks during consultations.

  • If you are currently experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, then it is requested you let our Reception team know BEFORE you arrive and arrangements will be made to see you safely which may include a car park assessment, or assessment in a specific COVID-19 ‘HOT’ clinic.

  • It remains very important that anyone experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 avoid entering the reception area.

According to NHS.uk, symptoms of COVID-19 infection include:

  • a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

  • a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours

  • a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

  • shortness of breath

  • feeling tired or exhausted

  • an aching body

  • a headache

  • a sore throat

  • a blocked or runny nose

  • loss of appetite

  • diarrhoea

  • feeling sick or being sick

Mens Health Awareness 2022

To men everywhere becoming healthier and happier! Following “Mens Health Week”, which ran from the 13th - 19th June, why not take 5 minutes to give your mind and body an MOT?

Men’s Health Forum have created a brilliant guide to giving yourself a health MOT at home. This includes:

  • 🫀 Checking your pulse

  • 🩸 Assessing your blood pressure

  • ⚖️ Watching your weight

  • ⚠️ Looking out for warning signs such as new, continuous coughs, unexplained lumps, breathing difficulties, moles changing shape or texture, new pains, changes to your bowel habits or blood where it shouldn't be

  • 🍆 Identifying erectile issues

  • 🍒 Checking your testicles

  • 🌊 Checking how much you pee - peeing more often (and sometimes less easily) can be a possible sign of diabetes or prostate cancer

  • 🧠 Looking after your brain - how are you feeling, honestly?

You can find out more about the D.I.Y Man MOT at: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/diy-man-mot

The ‘Can Do’ Challenge

The ‘Can Do’ challenge is a great mindfulness technique for all genders to take part in! The five ways to wellbeing are five things we can all do that are scientifically proven to help us feel better. Try taking part in the CAN DO Challenge by choosing a different way to wellbeing each day of the week. Every day, a different way. The five ways are:

  • Connect - connect with other people (eg. call an old friend you haven't since before lockdown)

  • (Be) Active - move your body (eg. go for a run/walk/swim/dance/etc)

  • Notice - take notice of the environment around you (eg. turn off your phone for an hour)

  • Discover - learn something new (eg. read a book you haven't read before)

  • Offer (or give) - do something for someone else (eg. volunteer for a local community group)

Have you attended your diabetic eye screening appointment?

The Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire diabetic eye screening service are encouraging those living with diabetes to attend their diabetic eye screening appointment. It is vital that you get an annual check for diabetic retinopathy. This condition can lead to sight loss if not detected early and treated. Standard intervals between screening are yearly, and for patients aged 12 and over the screening process is free of charge.

What can I expect from my appointment?

Your history
Your details will be checked and confirmed before the screening test begins.
Testing Visual Acuity
In other words, a test is carried out to see how good your sight is. If you wear glasses, please take them to your appointment.
Dilation Drops
These eye drops make your pupils larger to ensure the images that are captured are clear. The eye drops can cause blurriness and sensitivity to light for up to 6 hours – do not drive in this time.
Photographing the eye
 An advanced camera system is used to photograph different areas of the back of your eye.
Grading your eyes
The images of your eyes will be assessed after your appointment.
Results
You will usually receive your results 4 - 6 weeks after the appointment.

To book your appointment, please call the Arden, Herefordshire and Worcestershire diabetic eye screening service on 0333 456 7670.

Job Alert: Receptionist Needed!

We are recruiting for a part time receptionist to join our friendly team due to our rapid expansion.

The successful candidate will work as part of team delivering our front of house services, this includes opening and closing, booking appointments, processing repeat prescriptions and samples. We are looking for a new recruit to join us, working 18.5 hours a week.

For further information and how to apply please click here

Closing date is Friday 29th July 2022.

Staying safe in the sun this summer

Sun safety is always in season, but particularly now that the temperatures are soaring and the sun is at its most intense, its vital that we know how to protect ourselves from the suns warm rays whilst enjoying them. Whether you are topping up your tan in your garden, or venturing to warmer climates abroad for your summer break, allow us to refresh your knowledge surrounding sun safety

“My general advice is that sunscreen is not an alternative to shade and clothing. Sunscreen should be factor 35 or above and also have a UVA rating of at least 4 or 5 stars, keep babies out of the sun, and sunscreen should be reapplied every two hours or after swimming – 2 tablespoons is enough to cover your whole body.” Dr Bakewell – GP at St Wulfstan Surgery

In the UK, the peak of the heat tends to be between 11am and 3:00pm, so this would be the best time to seek regular refuge in the shade. Just 10 minutes of strong sunshine is all it takes to burn pale skin! Always keep babies and toddlers in the shade when possible.

Our choice of clothing can also help protect our skin against sun damage, so try to opt for wide brimmed hats, long sleeved tops and long skirts or trousers. And although most of us choose them to complete our outfit of the day, your sunglasses prevent any damage to your eyes from the bright sun – so don’t forget them if you’re heading out! Sunglasses with good quality lenses that filter out the UV are essential, those with an EU CE Mark are proven to offer safe protection.

The NHS website advises that you should take extra care in the sun if you:

• have pale, white or light brown skin

• have freckles or red or fair hair

• tend to burn rather than tan

• have many moles

• have skin problems relating to a medical condition

• are only exposed to intense sun occasionally (for example, while on holiday)

• are in a hot country where the sun is particularly intense

• have a family history of skin cancer

It goes without saying that increasing our fluid intake will help prevent dehydration and overheating, having a refillable bottle of water on your person is a handy way of ensuring that you’re keeping yourself hydrated throughout the day! You can find more helpful advice on sun safety by visiting the following trusted websites:

https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/sun-awareness/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/sunscreen-and-sun-safety/

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/seasonal-health/heatwave-how-to-cope-in-hot-weather/