Patient News

Support to keep you well at home

Remote Monitoring Service  

Frimley Health and Care is helping residents with long term health conditions to live their lives with confidence from the comfort of their own home.  

The remote monitoring service enables people to regularly share their health readings, such as their symptoms and blood pressure, with a Digital Health Team.  This team of healthcare professionals can spot any changes and offer clinical advice and further support when needed.  

In the past we had to wait for you to tell your care professional that you need help.  Now, professionals can combine their clinical expertise with the information in your shared care record to proactively offer help such as remote monitoring.  

For more information on how we use your information visit https://www.frimleyhealthandcare.org.uk/about-us/connected-care/

There are two ways people can make a complaint about GPs, dentists, opticians or pharmacies:

o They can complain to the healthcare provider: this is the organisation where they received the NHS service, for example a GP practice, a dental practice, a community pharmacy or an optometry practice or

o They can complain to the commissioner of the service: this is the organisation that paid for the service or care they received.

After 1 July 2023 if people want to make a complaint about primary care services to the commissioner, the way to do this is changing. Rather than contacting NHS England, people will contact the Complaints team via new contact details below:

South East Complaints Hub

NHS Frimley ICB

Aldershot Centre for Health

Hospital Hill 

Aldershot 

Hampshire 

GU11 1AY

Phone number: 0300 561 0290 

Email address: frimleyicb.southeastcomplaints@nhs.net

As each email received is so important to the team, an acknowledgement to all complaints will be sent as soon as possible.

Information governance regulations mean that the emails sent to the old email address after 1 July, cannot be automatically forwarded and the inbox will not be accessible. People will therefore receive an automatic response, asking them to resend their email to the new address.

Members of the public with ongoing complaints received after 1 July 2022 will receive a letter from NHS England informing them that the Complaints team based in the South East Complaints Hub, hosted by NHS Frimley ICB will now be handling their complaint with confirmation of their case handler. We would like to reassure you that the current team and case handler will remain the same as the staff move organisation.

Members of the public will still be able to make a complaint to the provider. This is NOT changing. There is also no change for people wishing to make a complaint for specialised services, health and justice, screening and immunisations and Continuing Healthcare.

Masks In Practice 

Due to the current situation regarding many viruses including flu and covid in circulation we are respectfully asking all patients to currently wear a mask when coming into the surgery for any reason.

We appreciate your cooperation at this time in keeping everyone, including surgery staff, safe. 

children born between 01/09/17 and 01/09/19 who are missing one or both of their MMR vaccinations:

https://greathollandspractice.nhs.uk/docs/K81094/measles.pdf

If you’re experiencing #domesticabuse, @RefugeCharity has lots of information to help and support you, with a quick exit button if you need to hide what you’re looking at hurriedly. https://refuge.org.uk

The National Domestic Abuse Helpline offers support if you are experiencing domestic abuse. Domestic abuse includes coercive control, financial and verbal abuse, as well as violent behaviour. @RefugeCharity
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk

If you’re at risk of #violence, knowing how to make a silent 999 call might help save your life. When connected to 999, press “55” so they know the call isn’t accidental. https://www.met.police.uk/contact/how-to-make-a-silent-999-call/

You can find Home Office advice on getting support if you’re experiencing domestic abuse, available in Arabic, Bengali, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Pashto, Punjabi, Somali, Turkish, and Urdu https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk...advice-other-languages/advice-other-languages

Vision and Values 

Our vision statement is:

“To promote a friendly family practice striving to provide the highest standard of health care. 

We aim to promote the health and well-being of the local population by providing accessible, high quality medical care to people of all ages. 

Great Hollands Medical Practice is committed to providing services that will exceed the expectations of our patients, aims to reduce inequalities and results in a a successful and profitable practice.”

Our values:

Working together for our patients

Demonstrating a commitment to quality of care

Ensuring compassion is central to all that we do

The BBC has done some #research about how cold weather affects your body. #Cold weather makes serious conditions like heart attack and stroke more likely. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-63602501

@BritishGas has some advice on the most efficient ways to keep your #home #warm in winter. https://www.britishgas.co.uk/the-source/beat-the-weather/warm-home-winter.html

@metoffice offers advice on ways to keep your home #warm in winter. This helpful article also links to some of the #support you could receive to help with the #costofliving. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/warnings-and-advice/seasonal-advice/your-home/keeping-your-home-warm-in-winter

Heating Force offers some extra tips on how to keep the heat inside your #house, including some easy, affordable tips you might not yet have thought about. #winter https://heatingforce.co.uk/blog/keep-house-warm-winter/

@guardian has a host of tips using everyday items that are already available in your home to help you stay #warm for no additional cost. #costofliving https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...-to-stay-warm-without-whacking-up-the-heating

If you were born before 26th September 1956, you are eligible for the #Winter Fuel payment to help with your fuel bills. Following the link will also show you other payments you might be entitled to. #costofliving https://www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment

If you receive certain #benefits or #Support for Mortgage Interest, you may receive an additional payment if the weather is very cold. You can find out more here. https://www.gov.uk/cold-weather-payment

This year @asda have said that they will provide a #meal for children for £1 I their cafes, with no minimum adult spend. This is available 7 days a week and may help some families.
https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/children-can-eat-for-just-1-at-asda

If #money worries are stopping you from taking your #children out for the day, there are some fantastic free activities you can try. From free museums to days out in the woods, there is something for everyone. #costofliving
https://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/hub/things-to-do/free-family-days-out

Small spaces heat up faster and children #LOVE an adventure. Consider making a blanket fort with your children when it is chilly. You’ll stay warmer and the #children will have a lot of fun. #costofliving https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Blanket-Fort

With #recipes and meal plans aimed at ensuring a family can eat for under £1 per person per day, Pat’s food has costed meal plans for #families at under £30 per week. #costofliving https://www.patsfood.org

People in the UK are receiving #support over the #winter to help with the cost of energy. What you will receive and how you will receive it depends on how you get the energy to power your home. #costofliving https://www.gov.uk/guidance/getting-the-energy-bills-support-scheme-discount

Free school meals
Some children can receive free school meals. If you haven’t checked whether you are entitled to them, you can find out more here. #FSM
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals

We are very pleased to announce the introduction of a new system called Klinik for our online consultation provision across Bracknell & District Primary Care Network. This is an online service for appointments and administration for on the day urgent, non-urgent medical advice, long term condition management and enquiries. This therefore makes it possible for patients to contact us from a computer, smartphone or tablet through our practice website rather than relying solely on the phone.

Based on the information confidentially provided by the user, clinical enquiries are reviewed by a clinician and are then routed to the appropriate team within the surgery, or patients are advised by the system to call emergency services where necessary. Ideally, but not essentially, you should use your NHS App log in to access the system, meaning you won’t have to enter your personal details each time you want to ask us something. This service is open for online submissions between 8am and 4pm Monday to Friday and we aim to review all clinical enquiries, prioritised by urgency, on the same working day although we may not contact you the same day. From 4pm to 6:30pm you can continue to access the surgery by telephone.

For further information on how to access Klinik please visit: Patient FAQs (klinikhealthcaresolutions.com) where there is also the opportunity to provide feedback directly to the provider. 

With demand for medical advice and appointments continuing to be very high, we are always seeking innovations and new ways of working to provide the best service we can to our patients. We thank you for your understanding and patience during times of change, and ask for your continued kindness and respect to all our staff.

Thank you 

As of 1st October 2022, the extended hours and enhanced access services, which up until now have been delivered separately, will combine into one Enhanced Access Service, commissioned by our PCN, Bracknell & District and available to all patients within Waterfield Practice, Binfield Practice, Easthampstead Surgery, Great Hollands Surgery and Sandhurst Group practice.  

For the time being, the service will continue to be subcontracted to the current provider, Berkshire Primary Care (BPC), and from the existing site, Boundary House Surgery, Bracknell, within the hours of 6.30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and 0900 to 1700 on Saturdays.  

We ask our patients to please take note that the new enhanced access service will not be running on Sunday, which is a change to the current provision. However, we will be working in partnership with BPC to develop additional clinics in line with national NHS campaigns and our population health insights, such as cancer screening, health checks and women’s menopause support clinics. Full details and prior notice of these clinics will be given to patients.  

The Enhanced Access Service offers our patients the same primary care services, such as GP face to face and telephone consultations, nurse, phlebotomy and healthcare assistant appointments, to meet our patient’s healthcare needs. Please ask our patient services staff when you call the practice for an appointment about the Enhanced Access Service should an appointment out of core practice hours (0800 to 1830), be more convenient to you. 
 

Frimley Health has launched a new electronic patient record system that is affecting the Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments at Wexham Park and Frimley Park Hospitals. Safety remains paramount, so please be patient with the staff. Waiting times are likely to be longer than usual. 

Unless it’s an emergency remember there are lots of alternatives for you to make use of:

• Visit your local pharmacy
• During the day contact your GP practice via online consultation or phone
• Contact NHS 111 online, www.111.nhs.uk or dial 111. If you are calling NHS 111, please be patient. NHS 111 may advise you to contact your GP or its out-of-hours service or attend the Bracknell Minor Injuries Unit.
• For minor injuries, such as sprains and strains, suspected broken limbs, or minor head injuries, visit the Minor Injury Unit at Brants Bridge in Bracknell or the High Wycombe Urgent Care Centre – open 8 am-8 pm 7 days a week.

Anyone with a life-threatening condition should call 999. Help us to help you by seeking alternatives to A&E where it is safe to do so.

Our COVID vaccinations are being offered with other surgeries via Berkshire Primary Care at Waitrose Sports and Leisure Centre, Willoughby Road, Bracknell RG12 8FP 

Please watch the news section on this website for details of any national eligibility changes or walk-in availability. 

If you wish to ring and book you can do so by calling Berkshire Primary Care on 01344 233300 and select option 1.

Covid Booster and Flu Update 2022:

Text messages and phone calls have started for those aged 65+ inviting them for their Covid and Flu vaccinations.

Currently patients over 70 can book any date from 12th September.

Patients aged 65 and over will be approximately 4 to 6 weeks after this date.

Patients under 50-65 will receive an invite in due course.

Patients who are at clinical risk should receive an invite in the next 14 days to book

Should you not receive an invitation and are 70 and over please call 01344 233300 to book

We would encourage patients to have both COVID & Flu vaccinations together.

All vaccinations will be at Waitrose Sports and Leisure Centre, Willoughby Road, Bracknell RG12 8FB

A minimum of 91 days must have elapsed between Covid vaccination, and patients should be at least 28 days clear of a positive Covid result or symptoms prior to vaccination.

Welcome to Great Hollands Practice's new WEBSITE, we hope you will find it informative, useful and we welcome your feedback about it. We will try to keep it up to date as possible with surgery changes such as new patient services available to you, Covid changes and vaccine news and latest news.

If you feel in urgent need of help with your #mentalhealth you can find out how to access support here. #NHS https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/

The winter months can seem long and dark, and for many people, this leads to feeling low. #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder affects around 2 million people in the UK, and @metoffice has some advice on how to keep it in check. https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weathe...ice/health-wellbeing/winter-and-mental-health

You can reduce the effect of #SeasonalAffectiveDisorder and improve your mental health by taking some simple steps such as making sure you get enough daylight and enough exercise during the winter. #NHS https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/

INFECTION CONTROL ANNUAL STATEMENT 2023- 2024

Purpose

The annual statement will be generated each year in January.

It will summarise:

• Any infection transmission incidents and action taken (these will be reported in accordance with our Significant Event procedure).
• The annual infection control audit summary and actions undertaken
• Control risk assessments undertaken
• Details of staff training (both as part of induction and annual training) with regards to infection prevention & control
• Details of infection control advise to patients
• Any review and update of policies, procedures and guidelines.

Background:

Great Hollands Practice Lead for Infection Prevention/Control is Dr Kanchan Arora who is supported by David Jones (Practice Manager).

This team keep updated with infection prevention & control practices and share necessary information with staff and patients throughout the year.

Significant events:

In the past year January- December 2023 there has been 0 significant events documented regarding infection prevention & control. Previous years reports are available from Practice Manager.

Audits:

An internal Infection Control Audit is undertaken by the Practice Manager Annually and more recently in October 2023. No significant issues were identified. 

An external Audit was undertaken in early January 2017 by the local CCG Infection Control Nurse and findings/action taken are available from Practice Manager.

Full copies of the reports are available from the Practice Manager.

Risk Assessments:

Regular risk assessments are undertaken to minimise the risk of infection and to ensure the safety of patients and staff. The following risk assessments related to infection prevention & control have been completed in the past year and appropriate actions have been taken:

Legionella risk Assessments are regularly undertaken by the Health Centre Management team.

Cleaning Audits are regularly undertaken by the Health Centre Management team

Cleaning spot checks by the Practice are undertaken regularly and appropriate action taken by reporting problems to the Health Centre Management. Health Centre Management have taken action in response to our reports.

Copies of these risk assessments are available from the Practice Manager or Health Centre Management.

CV19 Pandemic 

A number of extra risk assessments and checks have been undertaken in preparation for, and during the Pandemic. These include Workplace Audit in conjunction with CCG and Premises checks focussed on infection control. We have also held a meeting with local CCG Infection Control Lead and CCG managers have inspected the premises to ensure safety of patients and staff working in the premises. Action and monitoring is ongoing to keep patients safe. 

Staff training:

Staff have undertaken appropriate training and updates

Infection Control Advice to Patients:

Patients are encouraged to use the alcohol hand gel/sanitiser dispensers that are available throughout the Health Centre.

There are various leaflets available in the Health Centre on infection control issues such as the importance of immunisation. 

Policies, procedures and guidelines.

Documents related to infection prevention & control are reviewed in line with national and local guidance changes and are updated annually (or sooner in the event of new guidance).

A copy of this statement is uploaded to our website for all patients to see. 

18/12/2023 DJ/PM

The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules.

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.

Read the infection prevention control guidance for further details.

Advice in your region:

England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland

Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms

Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.

Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms

Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.

Testing and tracing

Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.

People at high risk

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

Social distancing and changes to everyday life

Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.

GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support

Government information and advice.