February 2023 Newsletter

A request from Practice Staff

In recent weeks, our front-line staff have been on the receiving end of increasing frustration from patients demanding to be seen urgently, very often these requests are for routine matters. As a practice which prides itself on continuity of care, our access for routine appointments is currently within 7 days.

It i becoming a regular occurrence that our hard-working team of care navigators are on the receiving end of rude, aggressive, and forceful language that leaves them feeling frightened, unappreciated, and inferior.

Whilst we appreciate that most of our patients show a mutual respect and appreciation towards our staff, there is a minority whose words and actions overshadow this to such an extent that it is impacting on our ability to retain our workforce.

Our staff are here to help you and to make sure that you get the right treatment from the right person. We respectfully ask that his behaviour stops, immediately. The practice has a zero tolerance to rude and aggressive behaviour and will take immediate action with any patient who does not follow the practice code of conduct.

A simple please and thank you go a long way in making our staff feel valued for the difference they are making to people’s lives.

Greenway Patient Participation Group (PPG)

What we done in 2022

We (the PPG) give our opinions to the practice regarding their services and we may be able to inform and influence their decisions.
We have quarterly meetings. We meet in person and via a Zoom link.
We have successfully recruited new members to our PPG but we welcome new patients to provide representation of the Greenway patient community
We put up a display and were in reception to talk with patients at the annual Flu Days.
We update PPG leaflets and proof read and review leaflets and communication from the practice.
We provide feedback on how communication can be improved and be made more accessible to patients.
We contribute to the Practice newsletter about PPG activities.
Greenway PPG is represented at the County wide PPG Forum. This gives us an opportunity to learn about and share good practice from other PPG’s.

We are NHS patients and we appreciate the NHS and rely on it which is why we give the support we can to protect and save it.

For further information or if you are interested in joining us please contact us

Self Care

Friends of Blaise promotes and supports the conservation and improvement of the Blaise Castle Estate. We represent the concerns of the local community, work to improve their enjoyment of the facilities, and encourage proper management by Bristol City Council of the Estate’s woodland and parkland. We run a wide range of conservation-type activities throughout the year.

Tel: 07932 943941

Find information about Friends of Blaise

Research

The Immune Defence Study

This is a new study looking at preventing upper respiratory tract infections. There is some evidence that using nasal sprays, or alternatively reducing stress and increasing exercise, could help people’s immune defences, reducing the number of people getting infections and the severity of the illness.

The ID study is trialling these interventions to find out if they reduce the number of infections. Eligible patients must be an adult and have a history of respiratory tract infection in the past year and either have an underlying health condition or be over 65 years old. They will also need to have access to the internet.

Patients have been invited to take part in the study through letters.

If you think you may be eligible and would like to take part, but haven’t received an invitation letter, please contact your GP. Participants will be asked to complete monthly questionnaires for 12 months, and more detailed questionnaires at 3, 6 and 12 months about any infections and about their general health.

Care Navigation

Our Care Navigators are likely to be your first point of contact if you phone or visit the practice. Care Navigators are not just 'receptionists' and have a number of different roles. The Care Navigator role is to actively listen, to signpost people to sources of help, advocacy, and support, and to help people play an active role in managing their own health.

To assist this process please provide our care navigators with as much information as possible to ensure you see or speak to the right person at the right time for the right advice and care.

Pharmacy

As some of you may have seen, the pharmacy located in the building has now successfully been taken over by Greenway Pharmacy, this is an independently owned pharmacy.

The staff that worked for Lloyds Pharmacy prior to the change of ownership, have transitioned to work for Greenway Pharmacy. As with any change in business ownership, there have been some disturbances that were beyond their control.

Prepayment scheme for HRT to start in April 2023

A new scheme is due to be launched in April 2023 to enable women to save on the cost of HRT treatment. A single annual prepayment of £18.70 will cover the cost of all HRT prescriptions via a prepayment certificate. Details of how to purchase this will follow but will likely provide patients with significantly reduced prescription charges.

Published: Mar 1, 2023