Lambourn Surgery Patient Participation Group Newsletter, June 2021

9 June 2021

Vaccination Success

I would like to open this newsletter with a big thank you on behalf of patients to the staff and volunteers who contributed to the amazing Vaccination Centre at Newbury Racecourse. More than 60,000 vaccinations have been administered in just 5 months. Virtually all Lambourn surgery staff have contributed, including some familiar past clinical staff, and more than 25 of our patients have been amongst the lay volunteers who have shown fantastic generosity of spirit and time to make this venture a role model for GP led services. This has led the PPG to start discussions with the Surgery Management Team on how we may use volunteers in the future to support services. Volunteers are routinely used at hospitals and other surgeries to alleviate pressure on clinical staff to allow them to concentrate on the tasks they are uniquely qualified for. It is early days, but I hope to have further news soon.

Surgery Services

As the pressure of Covid starts to ease, inevitably patients are looking for services at the surgery to return to “normal”. The pandemic forced doctors and admin staff to introduce new procedures, e.g., triage via the website and remote consultations, and this has enabled the efficacy of such processes to be tested. Interestingly, whilst some of these changes have been welcomed by patients and some are not suitable or available for others, this period of learning has also shown that some of these changes are also unsustainable for the surgery team. The post pandemic model for practice operations will not happen immediately and the PPG have been asked to contribute to the validation of any changes from a patient perspective. In the meantime, the surgery continues to wait for clear national guidance on things such as resumption of “by-request” face to face consultations and the relaxation of the current infection control measures. Current demand for consultations is running at approximately 150% of pre-pandemic levels. Please continue to bear with the hard-working team and remain courteous, sadly there are daily examples of abusive behaviour towards surgery staff. However, please do continue to request an appointment (via the website, or by telephone if you do not have internet access) if you have any concerns about your health. Your doctor will arrange the most appropriate appointment for you to address your concern.

Clinical Pharmacist

I have spoken previously about the West Berkshire Rural Primary Care Network (PCN) where Lambourn together with Hungerford, Kintbury and Wooton Hill Surgeries are sharing resources to provide a wider range of services. I am therefore pleased to share the appointment of Sai Jammigumpula as the Clinical Pharmacist for the PCN.

Clinical pharmacists are increasingly working as part of general practice teams. They are highly qualified experts in medicines and can help people in a range of ways. This includes carrying out structured medication reviews for patients with ongoing health problems and improving patient safety, outcomes and value through a person-centred approach.

There are currently over 1000 Clinical Pharmacists working in NHS England and it can only benefit our community that we now have one.

Sai is able to consult re some minor illness, skin complaints, asthma and hypertension (high blood pressure). He is also a prescriber, so can prescribe for these conditions. He will also undertake long term condition reviews for asthma and hypertension. His role also includes carrying out medication reviews, reauthorising medication on repeat prescription, and completing audits on medication safety. This eases workload on other clinical staff.

You can contact the PPG via email; ppgchairpersonlambourn@gmail.com or in writing via the surgery office (Bockhampton Road, Lambourn, RG17 8PS) addressed to the Chair of the PPG.

Alan Breadmore, Chair, Lambourn Surgery PPG