Loneliness Awareness Week
This week is Loneliness Awareness Week, the event happens annually and is hosted by Marmalade Trust.
The campaign aims to reduce the stigma around loneliness and encourage people to talk more openly about it. The campaign aims to reach 18-24 year old’s, we know that young people feel more confident and motivated to take action to help other people who feel lonely rather than doing things to help themselves.
However, we know that loneliness is an issue that can affect us all, young or old, at any point in our lives.
This week, reach out to others, check in on friends and family, help someone who may be feeling lonely, small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Important information regarding the Covid-19 Booster Vaccines
It was announced on Sunday, 12 December 2021, that the NHS will offer a booster vaccination booking to every adult by the end of December in response the Omicron variant.
Please note that you should not contact your GP Practice to book your booster jab, you should use the National Booking Service or call 119. Some vaccination sites may offer a walk-in service but the best way to ensure you get a jab is to make an appointments through the nationals booking service.
General practice is working hard to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, but we are still here for you but the way you access care may be different:
- Face-to-face appointments are available to all patients where there is a clinical need. You will be asked to first discuss your conditions over the phone or online with a member of the healthcare team to assess what would be most appropriate for you and which practice member would best provide it.
- Most common conditions can be assessed and diagnosed by your doctor by telephone or video consultation. They are experienced and skilled in doing this. Using technology like this will help to protect you, your family and loved ones – and GP practice staff from the potential risk of the virus.
- General practice services are extremely busy and are working hard to treat as many patients as possible.
Proof of Medical Exemption – Covid-19 Vaccination
Some individuals are unable to be vaccinated and also, in some cases, tested for medical reasons. You can apply for proof that you have a medical reason why you should not be vaccinated or why you should not be vaccinated and tested.
If you get this proof of medical exemption you’ll be able to use the NHS COVID Pass wherever you need to prove your COVID-19 status within England.
Until 24 December 2021, you can self-certify that you’re medically exempt if you work or volunteer in a care home.
Some businesses in England choose to use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry. Until 24 December, businesses can decide whether to allow in people who self-declare that they’re medically exempt.
From 25 December, if you’re unable to get vaccinated, you’ll have to use the NHS COVID Pass in the same way that people who are fully vaccinated use it.
For full information on the requirements for proof regarding being exempt from Covid-19 vaccination please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-medical-exemptions-proving-you-are-unable-to-get-vaccinated
Clarification on Covid Face Covering Exemption Cards/Certificates
With the new legal requirements regarding face coverings coming into effect in England, we thought it might be useful to explain when and who requires a covid exemption card/certificate.
If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering:
- You do not routinely need to show any written evidence of this
- You do not need to show an exemption card
This means that you do not need to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about your reason for not wearing a face covering.
However, if you feel more comfortable showing something that says you do not have to wear a face covering, this could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or sign. Carrying an exemption card or badge is a personal choice and not required by law.
If you wish to use an exemption card or badge, you can download and print out or show these templates: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
Exemptions from face coverings
In settings where face coverings are required in England, there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear them, so please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances.
Some people are less able to wear face coverings, and the reasons for this may not be visible to others.
This includes (but is not limited to):
- children under the age of 11 (The UK Health and Security Agency does not recommend face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
- people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
- people for whom putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause severe distress
- people speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
- to avoid the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others
- police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public
There are also scenarios when you are permitted to remove a face covering:
- if asked to do so in a bank, building society, or post office for identification
- if asked to do so by shop staff or relevant employees for identification, for assessing health recommendations (for example by a pharmacist) or for age identification purposes, including when buying age restricted products such as alcohol
- in order to take medication
Climate Change
At Weavervale surgery we are committed to lowering our carbon footprint, to reduce our impact on the climate crisis and our environment. This is in line with the NHS plan to be carbon neutral by 2040 with 80% reductions in carbon emissions by 2032 (that’s just 11 years from now!)
Did you know that the NHS is responsible for 4% of the UK’s carbon footprint? In general practice, most of our carbon emissions are associated with prescribing, and in particular the prescribing of inhalers for asthma and COPD.
We all need to play our part. Look out for regular updates over the coming months. Start by only ordering the medication you need, to avoid waste, and order using the NHS app to cut down on travel.
Medical Services and their carbon footprint
Carbon emissions are linked with just about everything, from the food we eat, goods we buy, energy supply, transport, housing, clothes, financial services, health services (visits, procedures, drugs) etc.
There is a carbon cost to manufacturing of medicines, their containers, shipment to warehouses and onwards to pharmacies, and fuel used when patients go to collect their prescription.
We have already started prescribing the salbutamol brand “salamol” instead of Ventolin evohaler or unbranded salbutamol, in-line with advice and guidance from our Cheshire CCG medicines management team (and a national directive). This is because, although the medicine is exactly the same, the gases used to propel the active ingredient cause much less global warming. Blue reliever inhalers make up 70 % of inhalers prescribed.
Dry powder and soft mist inhalers, like the easyhaler range, turbohalers and the Ellipta range, have the lowest carbon footprint of all. We will be looking to talk about this with you at annual checks and medication reviews. Meanwhile, please keep using your existing inhalers to keep well! Changes to your preventer inhalers will only be made with your agreement, and only if your condition is stable and you would be suitable to change.
Some useful websites are:
For asthma, www.asthma.org.uk
For COPD, www.blf.org.uk
For general information, www.greenerpractice.co.uk/new-page-3
Info about inhalers and their carbon footprint, www.greenerpractice.co.uk/inhaler-recycling-1
Worried about breast cancer after the sad news about Sarah Harding?
If you are feeling worried or anxious about breast cancer after the sad news about Sarah Harding, there is support and advice available for you.
Breast Cancer Now have nurses available to answer your questions via their free Helpline 0808 800 6000 or you can find out more about signs and symptoms on their website https://breastcancernow.org/…/signs-symptoms-breast-cancer
You can also find advice at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms/
If you notice any symptoms of breast cancer, such as an unusual lump in your breast or any change in the appearance, feel or shape of your breasts book an appointment to see your GP asap.
The GP will examine you. If they think your symptoms need further assessment, they’ll refer you to a specialist breast cancer clinic.
Migraine Awareness Week
This week is Migraine Awareness Week and aims to raise awareness of the condition and highlight the impact it has to people living with it.
A migraine is usually a moderate or severe headache felt as a throbbing pain on one side of the head. Many people have symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and increased sensitivity to light or sound.
Migraine is a common health condition affecting around one in every five women and around one in every 15 men. They usually begin in early adulthood.
Simple painkillers such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen can be effective for migraine. However, be careful not to take too many painkillers as this could make it harder to treat headaches over time.
You should make an appointment to see your GP if you have frequent migraines (on more than five days a month), even if they can be controlled with medication, as you may benefit from preventative treatment.
More information on migraines can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/migraine/
In this together!
We want to ensure that our GP practices are safe places for everyone – that is our absolute priority and we ask that you do all you can to help us help you. Everybody needs to continue to act carefully and we thank you for your support – we’re #inthistogether. Watch this short film put together by Cheshire CCG featuring Tina Birkby a local Practice Manager and local GP, Dr Judi Price reinforcing the need to continue to stay safe and the ways that people will access general practice for the foreseeable future.
