Surgery News
Welcome to the team, Tina - October 2024
We would like to introduce our new lead nurse - Tina Hunt
Tina gained her nursing qualification at Plymouth university and over the past years she has worked in orthopeadic nursing, district nursing and practice nursing, she brings to the team a wealth of nursing and leadership experience.
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month - September
Prostate, penile and testicular cancer. I'd rather know the facts.
Respiratory syncytial virus - RSV Vaccine - August 24
RSV infection causes a mild respiratory illness and is considered to contribute significantly to GP consultations, hospital admissions and mortality amongst the elderly.
A one-off vaccine catch-up campaign is being offered for those already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024.
Any patient born between: 1 September 1945 and 31 August 1949 up to and including the day before their 80th birthday is invited to book an appointment.
RSV information via the Government
RSV information via NHS England
Local Careers Meet up Groups Chard and Ilminster - August 24
What does CLICK PCN mean to our patients? - July 24
PCN stands for Primary care network wich is a group of GP practices working closely together, aligned to other health and social care staff and organisatins providing intergrated services to the local population. CLICK links the following practices and covers a cohort of over 50'000 patients!
- Church view medical centre
- The Meadows
- Summervale surgery
- Langport Surgery
- Ariel Heathcare
The vision is to offer a balance between effective and efficient care provision within the local population whilst enabling the delivery of patient-centred care to meet the needs of individuals and the wider community.
- Benefits of PCNs
- The benefits of PCNs and of working at scale include:
- allowing practices to share resources, expertise, and services
- forming an entity that can tender for services
- recruitment and retention of shared staff
- improved integration of services across practices and the wider health and care system
- improved access and proximity of care for patients
- increase in the breadth and range of services available to patients
- enhanced integration between primary care and community services
- sustainability of smaller GP practices (as they can share resources with other practices within their PCN)
- better management of financial pressures and resources
- better management of estates pressures
- opportunities for a collective response to political pressure on service provision
- reduction of health inequalities
- enhanced health and wellbeing of the local population
Head & Neck Cancer Awareness Month - July 24
New Quarterly Newsletter - June 24
See ourQuarterly Newsletter - Summer Edition
Happy Retirement Karen - June 24
It is with mixed emotions that we announce the retirement of our practice nurse, Karen Steer, Karen has been with the surgery for the past 13 years. Her unwavering commitment and exceptional service have been instrumental to Church Views success. Karens compassionate and caring attitude towards patients has made her a surgery favourite amongst our patients both young and old. Karen will be sorely missed by everyone, and whilst we are genuinely sorry to see her go, we wish her all the best in her retirement and thank her for the last 13 years.
For any patients wanting to wish Karen a happy retirement she will be leaving the Surgery August 29th.
Cervical screening awareness month - June 24
Mental health awareness week 2024 - June 24
Somerset Walking Cancer Support Group - May 24
Sun awareness week - Monday 6 May to Sunday 12 May - May 24
April is Testicular Cancer Awareness Month - April 24
Testicular cancer symptoms | Testicular cancer UK
Testicular cancer | how to check testicles | self exam (Testicular Cancer UK)
Phone lines - 2nd April 24
Edited *2pm Phone are now working.
The surgery's phone lines are currently on and off working due to a national technical issue. Engineers are working on the problem and hope to have the phones working as soon as possible. If you have a medical problem you would like to contact us about, please submit a request online: https://engage.gp/10234/#/requesthelp/medicalproblem/start
Our apologies for any inconvenience.
*** Bank Holiday Easter*** - March 24
The surgery is closed for the bank holiday Friday (28th March) and Monday (1st April) . If you need medical advice during this period, the following options are available:
- Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111
- Chard Minor Injury Unit: open seven days a week 8am – 9pm (last patient admitted at 8.30pm).
- Community Pharmacies - please click this link to view their opening hours: https://www.england.nhs.uk/south/info-professional/pharm-info/pharmacy-opening-hours/
- Attend A&E or call 999 for emergencies
Please remember that the dispensary require three working days to process prescription requests. The dispensary will be reopen for medication collections from 8.30am on Tuesday 29th March.
ADVANCE WARNING 3rd & 4th April ROAD CLOSURE- march 24
Please note that Wessex water will be closing Broadway road & Suggs lane on the above dates so access to the surgery will be restricted...you may need to give yourselves a little extra traveling time.
Welcome to the team Dr Andrew Baverstock - Feb 2024
We are pleased to announce that Dr Andrew Baverstock has joined the Church View team.
Andrew will be working at the surgery Wednesday and Friday and is a fantastic addition to our GP team. Andrew graduated from Cambridge university and has worked in general practice throughout Somerset. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Outside of work Andrew can be found plotting his next adventure or training for his first ultra marathon.
Veteran friendly accreditation - January 2024
How to get the most from your GP
- It is important to register with a GP, rather than wait until you need treatment. Visit the NHS website at www.nhs.uk to find details of GP practices in your local area.
- If you’ve recently left the forces, it is important to give your GP the paperwork that your military medical centre gave you, including any medical records. This will help to make sure your military health record transfers to your NHS health record. This will also give your GP information on your health and ensure that any ongoing care and treatment is continued.
- Regardless of when you left the military, tell your GP that you’ve served in the UK Armed Forces. This will help your GP to better understand any military related health conditions that you may have and ensure that you are referred, where appropriate, to dedicated services for veterans.
This includes the specialist mental and physical health services, Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and the Veterans Trauma Network. When using these services, you will be able to speak to people who:
• understand the Armed Forces and military life
• are either from the Armed Forces community or highly experienced in working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families
• will work with you to make sure you get the right type of specialist care, support, and treatment
• work closely with a range of organisations and charities, including military charities, to support your wider health and wellbeing needs. - With your agreement, it can sometimes be helpful for your doctor to refer you to Armed Forces charities, such as SSAFA, the Royal British Legion, Combat Stress or Help for Heroes. They can often offer significant help and support, even if they do not all deliver healthcare.
- You may be worried about sharing information about your time in the Armed Forces. Please note that the NHS is bound by a confidentiality code of practice to ensure GPs, nurses and other people working within the NHS deliver a confidential service bound by law.
Exciting building work - January 2024
If you have visited the surgery recently you may have noticed, we are in the process of having some major work done.
Dispensary is being extended to enable us to work more effectively with the increasing number of dispensing patients.
Recepetion has been reconfigured to allow space for dispensary and we are having another GP consultation room designed.
We want to thank everyone for their understanding during this time but we promise it will be worth it once work is completed.
What is a Health and Wellbeing Coach - October 23
What is a Health and Wellbeing coach?
A health and wellbeing coach works alongside social prescribers providing regular coaching sessions to support patients develop their sklls and confidence to reach their own health and wellbeing goals.
Who is our Health and Wellbeing Coach?
Heidi
What can we offer?
We offer upto 6x 45 minute sessions Face to face or via telephone over a period of 3-6 months.
Who are these sessions for?
These are availible for all patients who feel stuck with some aspect of their lives and want to move themselves forward by setting goals to work towards with support from Heidi our health and wellbeing coach.
This works particualrly well for those living with long term health conditions but can also help people gain self belief, confidence and motivation through the encouragement provided by Heidi.
Heidi can have a longer conversation with patients about non-clinical issues than would be possible with a GP. Heidi can support patients to make positive changes, shift perspectives and reframe their thoughts and feelings beyond their current situation to live happier, healthier lives.
Contact the surgery today and ask for a health coach referal.
Video: The fastest way to sharpen your memory
Menopause new self-referral service- October 23
Somerset Foundation Trust have launched a new service called the Bleeding After Menopause service to rule out / diagnose womb (endometrial cancer).
The service is for women who are:
Registered with a Somerset GP.
Gone through the menopause (Menopause is defined as 12 consecutive months without a period).
Experience unexplained vaginal bleeding or unusual discharge - These symptoms are not normal and should be investigated by a healthcare professional
Please read below information leaflet and checklist on how to refer
Menopause Information leaflet Menopause Check List
Semaglutide (Wegovy) pilot - August 23
You may have seen in the news about the pilot schemes aimed at exploring the weight loss drug Semaglutide (Wegovy). The most recent national update is that it won’t be available in the UK until at least early 2024 at the earliest, so please be aware that the practice cannot offer this to patients for the foreseeable future.
For more information, please visit New drugs pilot to tackle obesity and cut NHS waiting lists - GOV.UK
Thank you.
Private work done by the practice - June 23
If you have private documentation that you would like the GP to complete, please contact reception who will advise you of the process and a charge. Due to the increasing workload of the doctors, reception unfortunately cannot advise of a timeframe for completion. Please contact us as early as possible about private work you would like us to complete and if it is urgent, please let reception know.
Example of private work include:
- firearms applications/renewals
- holiday cancellation forms
- medical or life insurance forms
- letters to a non-healthcare agency eg housing office, school
- DVLA forms
Thank you for your understanding.
Free Low Impact Activity and Movement Sessions - May 23
Chard and Bridgwater libraries are holding free, fun, low impact activity, movement and coordination sessions. The sessions are one hour and will be guided by a professional coach and tailor-made for attendees. They will offer:
- Gentle stretching and flexibility activities
- Activities whilst sitting
- Having a go with Virtual Reality
- Having fun with an Interactive Projector
- Using an Activity Tracker Watch
The sessions at Chard Library, every two weeks on Thursdays and at Bridgwater Library, every two weeks on Mondays.
To book a place email – chalib@somerset.gov.uk
For more information, please visit Free Low Impact Activity and Movement Sessions (somerset.gov.uk)
Private podiatry clinic restarting - May 23
The Medical Centre is pleased to announce the return of the private podiatry clinic at the surgery, run by Podiatrist Elizabeth Hanson.
The clinic has changed to a Friday afternoon and will be held every two months.
The cost of the appointment is £35.00.
Please ring 01460 55300 to make an appointment.
Spring Covid-19 boosters - April 23
People aged 75 years and older, residents in care homes for older people, and those aged 5 years and over with a weakened immune system will be offered a Covid-19 booster vaccine this spring.
The practice is not providing these vaccines, so if you would like to book one, please visit https://www.nhs.uk/.../covid.../book-covid-19-vaccination/ or call 119.
You should be offered an appointment between April and June, with those at highest risk being called in first. You will be invited to have your booster around 6 months from your last dose but you can have it from 3 months.
If you are turning 75 years of age between April and June, you will be called for vaccination during the campaign; you do not have to wait for your birthday.
Extended Access - Somerset activity and sports partnership - April 23
What is it?
This is a health and wellbeing service to provide you with short, medium and longer term strategies to help manage your condition(s) and decrease your risk of further conditions through safe and effective movement programmes in ways that work for you individually.
This service aims to provide support to patients by offering the following services:
- Weight Management
- Mindfulness (coming soon)
- Perimenopause (coming soon)
How do you access it?
We ask you to make contact with the designated leisure provider. (They are qualified, and quality assured) by phone or e mail, who will provide you with the relevant forms you need to complete.
Details below:
hcsouthsomerset@freedom-leisure.co.uk
07710 708870
What happens when you are there?
At your individual 30-minute Health and Wellbeing Appointment in the leisure centre, the Level 3 qualified instructor will discuss your needs and aims for the next four weeks, and you will be given choices of activities, sessions, and classes that you can book onto free of charge. Your instructor will be able to help you make these choices too so that exercise is safe, supported and beneficial for you and you gain enjoyment out of it. We often recommend joining groups to help connect you with others who have come through the same route. You will also receive a Patient Passport to record your key information.
At week four you will have another Health and Wellbeing Appointment Review to discuss the next steps. There may be the chance of an additional four weeks of wellbeing activities at this point.
What happens to your information?
The leisure centre will return your information to your surgery to be included in your patient record. The privacy statement from the leisure centre on your paperwork if you decide to go ahead details exactly how your data is processed.
Covid - 19 Spring Booster - March 2023
Following JCVI Guidance there will be a Spring Booster vaccination from mid-April for the following:
- Age 75 & over
- Age 5-74 with a weakened immune system
- Adult residents in an older persons care home
Patients will receive letters if eligible. You will be able to book an appointment online at Book a coronavirus vaccination or go to a walk-in site - you can find a list of these on the NHS website: Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
The surgery will not be delivering this booster.
Getting Help and Support around the menopause- March 23
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing the menopause and wants help with managing your/their symptoms and to understand how you/they may be affected, please watch this helpful Webinar developed by Dr Kathryn Patrick a local Somerset GP recorded in March 2023.
There is a list of useful resources on the NHS Somerset Menopause Service web page that talks about the menopause service running in Somerset.
If you would like to speak to your primary care team here at your practice about HRT, it will speed things up if you let us know you have watched the webinar and also include your Body Mass Index (BMI) which can be calculated at BMI calculator | Check your BMI - NHS , and Blood Pressure (BP) if possible. Please also complete this symptom checker and bring it to your appointment Menopause Symptom Assessment or use the Balance app and print out a summary.
The surgery needs you! - March 2023
We are recruiting for our patients, to join the patient participation group (PPG). This group helps shape the future of the services you receive in practice. We are keen to found out the opinions of as many patients as possible. We have two option available when you join, to be a member and attend regular meeting or to join via email group only.
If you would like to find out more information please contact reception on 01460 55300 or via email on churchview.mc@nhs.net.
Road closure- march 23
There will a be road closure by the surgery/village hall car park on Monday 13th - Wednesday 15th March due to works by Wessex Water, however they have informed us that access will still be available to the surgery during this time.
Please give yourself extra time to get to appointments on these days in case of any delays.
Thank you.
March 2023 newsletter
Please view our monthly newsletter.
Hormone replacement therapy Pre payment certificates - Feb 2023
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced that women in England will be able to access cheaper Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for menopause through a new Hormone Replacement Therapy prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC).
From 1st April 2023, women who usually pay for their HRT prescriptions will be able to purchase an annual HRT PPC for the cost of two single prescription charges (currently £18.70). The HRT PPC, valid for 12 months, can be used against any listed HRT prescription item(s) licensed for the treatment of menopause.
Once systems are ready, the HRT PPC will be available to purchase through the NHS Business Services Authority website or in person at a pharmacy registered to sell PPCs. Note, women in possession of a HRT PPC will continue to pay for other prescribed medicines that fall outside of the scope of the certificate.
Speak with the Dispensary Team if any further information is required.
Springmead Surgery - Feb 2023
We can confirm that Springmead Surgery in Chard will be closing permanently on Friday 24 February 2023.
Patients do not need to do anything. Care will be automatically transferred to Ariel Healthcare in Chard. We are working closely with Ariel Healthcare to ensure the smooth transfer of care.
Patients should continue to contact Springmead for their healthcare needs, including prescriptions, until it closes.
Patients will be receiving further communications in the coming weeks.
This difficult decision has been taken due to ongoing staff shortages and recruitment problems, an issue that affects the NHS nationally. We would like to thank all the practice staff who are working hard at an extremely challenging time to care for their patients.
If you have any questions about the closure, please contact NHS Somerset’s helpline on 0300 303 6409 or email somicb.providehelpline@nhs.net
The line is open between 10am and 6pm, Monday to Friday, or you can leave a voicemail message with your contact details and someone will respond.
2023 GP Patient survey - Feb 2023
Have your say on the way your local GP services are working
Around 2.4 million people, aged 16 and over, who are registered with a GP practice in England will receive an invitation to take part in Europe’s biggest patient experience survey in early January. The answers we get help the NHS to improve local health services for people like you and your family. It is important that we hear about your experiences even if you haven’t visited your GP practice recently, or if you have filled in a questionnaire before.
The invitations go out mostly by letter to a random selection of people who have been registered with their GP practice for at least 6 months. The survey team at NHS England will follow this up with a text message reminder (where a mobile number is available) alongside further paper questionnaires to encourage as high a response rate as possible.
If you receive a survey, please do take the time to take part. It provides vital information to the NHS to identify what’s working well and what can be improved. It helps to identify inequalities in experience too, as the results can be analysed across different protected characteristics.
Hope Programme for Long COVID -January 2023
The Hope programme is an 8 week course specifically designed to help patients with Long Covid symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness, "brain fog" as well as self-help advice and lifestyle measures to aid recovery. There is also an "Ask the expert" session for patient participation.
Changes to Minor Injury Unit Opening Hours -October 22
Unfortunately, due to ongoing staff shortages, Chard MIU will now have the following opening hours:
Chard MIU: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, 8am – 9pm (closing on Wednesdays and Fridays when there is no X-ray service).
The MIUs at Bridgwater, Frome, Minehead and Glastonbury will be operating as normal, 7 days week between 8am and 9pm.
For minor illnesses, including hay fever, coughs and colds, skin infections as well as aches and pains, patients can speak to a local pharmacist or use the NHS GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service, which offers an appointment within 4 hours for over 40 minor conditions at a local pharmacy of their choice. To use this service, please contact reception on 01460 55300 and we will be happy to make a referral for you.
Patients needing out of hours advice should continue to contact 111, either online at 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111. They are then able to arrange for patients to be seen safely by the service that best meets their healthcare needs.
The MIUs in Burnham-on-Sea and Shepton Mallet are also changing to reduced hours; please see the below article for more details:
Temporary opening hour changes for minor injuries units Somerset NHS Trust Foundation
Did you know you could leave us a review? - June 2022
Did you know you could leave us a google or an NHS review?
If you have had a positive experience with our team why not tell everyone?
Positive reviews from our patients help other patients looking for a GP surgery to feel confident about choosing Church View Medical Centre. wither scan the QR code for the NHS review or click on the link for our Google review: Google Review
Hope Programme for Long Covid Patients - June 2022
NHS England have created the Hope Programme, which has been developed specifically to help people suffering with this condition. The online programme is a free self-management course designed to empower you to discover your strengths and find new ways to cope. Supported by trained facilitators, you can meet others in the same situation and learn new skills that will help you on your journey to feeling better. Nearly 16,000 people across the UK have benefitted from it so far.
Further information about the Hope Programme
Changes to NHS Dental Helpline - May 2022
From Friday 29th April people living in Somerset, wjo are not registered with a dental practice, should call 111 if they require urgent treatment or advice.
Following an initial call with a call handler, the patient may be put through to a dental nurse who will advise on next steps. This could range from general self care to an urgent appointment being booked within 48hours.
People should call 111 if they are suffering from severe dental pain that can not be treated with over the counter medications or if they have a dental infection.
The service will operate 8am - 10pm, 365 days a year.
GP Community Pharmacy Consultation Service (Think Pharmacy)
A new service to help you be seen more quickly via your local pharmacist for treatment of minor conditinos.
We have introduced a new, same day, GP community pharmacy consultation service to help you recieve quality care and support for minor health conditions, more quickly through accessing care via your community pharmacist.
children over 1year of age are also able to be seen by the pharmasist.
How Does the service work?
If you live in Somerset and contact youe GP to discus a minor illness or injury, your GP receptionist may offer you a same day consultation with the pharmasist at your local community pharmacy. Community pharmasists are highly qualified clinicians and can offer medical advice.
During your consultation the pharmasist will take a medical history, asking about symptoms and any current medications, Following the consultation, they will offer you advice and where appropriate an over the counter product, some pharmasists are also able to offer antibiotics.
The pharmasist will make a record of the consultation on your patietn record, your pharmasist may refer you back to the GP if required.
What is concidered a minor illness or injury?
- Ankle, foot, knee, leg or arm strains or sprains
- bites or stings
- coughs or colds
- Eye and ear infections
- hay fever
- headaches
- mouth ulcers and blisters
- rashes
- skin conditions
- sore throat
- urinary tract infections
Dispensary Opening Hours
The dispensary opening hours are 8:30 - 18.30 Monday to Friday. The dispensary phone lines are open 9.00 - 12.00, 14.00 - 17.00 Monday to Friday. Please allow three working days for your medication request to be processed.
NHS Digital GDPR
We are seeing an increase in the number of patients requesting information regarding the use of personal data and patients opting out of their data being shared following the announcements around the new extract process.
Please click on the link to watch a short video on how your information is used:
How the NHS uses your patient data from GP practices to improve health and care
Zero Tolerance Policy
The NHS has a zero tolerance policy of all violence and aggression. This policy is for the protection of all NHS staff, but also for the protection of other patients, their families, visitors, etc. In order to ensure that this zero tolerance approach is adhered to, it is essential to have robust policies and procedures in place. In General Practice, this will need to cover a variety of situations in which incidents could occur. Generally speaking the majority of patients behave in acceptable or manageable ways, however the incidence of excessively aggressive or violent attacks in the GP practice is increasing.
The practice recognises that there can be contributory reasons for patients behaving in difficult or challenging ways, however, where this tips over into aggression or violence, the practice will adopt a zero tolerance approach.
Maternity Services
If you are newly pregnant, you will need to register online for maternity services by completing a self-referral form on the Musgrove Park Hospital website. The form collects basic demographic details alongside basic obstetric and medical history and can be accessed at the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust website. Once a self-referral has been submitted, a midwife will contact you directly to offer early pregnancy advice and to arrange an appointment at a suitable time and place. Alternatively, click this link to scan a QR code to access the form.
NHS England 2021 GP Patient Survey Results
The results of the Annual NHS England 2021 GP Patient Survey have recently been released. Our Annual GP Patient Survey page allows you to access data for practices across the country including the the results for Church View Medical Centre.
The NHS App
The NHS App lets you book GP appointments, order repeat prescriptions and access a range of other healthcare services.
Practice Brochure
SMS Appointment Reminder Service
Our SMS appointment reminder service has been activated for all patients for whom we have a mobile phone number. Patients wishing to OPT OUT need to advise the medical centre by speaking to the reception team.
Are you a Dispensing Patient?
If you live more than one mile from your nearest chemist we are able to dispense your medication. For every item we dispense the medical centre receives a dispensing fee and we are reliant on this income to secure the future of the medical centre. If you are a patient living more than 1 mile from a chemist please consider carefully the ramifications, to patients and to the future of the Medical Centre, of collecting your medication from another outlet or opting to have your medication delivered by an outside agency, with whom we have no connection. Thank you for your consideration.
Request Prescriptions Online
At Church View Medical Centre you can request your repeat prescription online using the Patient Access website. This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's a particularly useful service for busy people who may be short of time. To register for this service, simply visit the surgery and ask about the online booking system. We will provide you with your account within five working days. Please note that prescriptions ordered online will not be received by the Medical Centre until the next working day and will then take 48 hours to be processed ready for you to collect.