Practice News
Be Kind to Yourself
Being kind and caring for yourself should be a priority. In our society, there is a tendency always to push ourselves to be busy or productive and work hard. To look after everyone else and to never say ‘no’. It is exhausting and trying to be creative, to care for family and to work efficiently is impossible if you are not looking after yourself.
So, this Christmas give yourself the present of learning how to care for yourself. Self-care is not selfish. Nor should you feel guilty that you are taking time to self-care. You and others will benefit much more in the longer term. It does not have to be time consuming or expensive. Any activity, thought, feeling, action or attitude that makes you feel good about yourself is self-care. You may want to focus on caring for yourself self physically, mentally, emotionally, socially or professionally.
If you do not know how to care for yourself just imagine what you would do for someone else if you were caring for them. Then apply it to yourself.
Go for a walk, a bike ride, dance to your favourite song, run (Parkrun 9am every Saturday on Marlborough Common). Have an early night and sleep well. Eat your favourite (healthy) food. Have a long, uninterrupted bath.
Take time to reflect, acknowledge your emotions and express them. Be patient with yourself and take the time that you need to recover if you have had difficult times. Think kinder thoughts about yourself.
Choose demands on your time which you enjoy and learn to say ‘no’ to those you feel obligated to do. Start a project or hobby that you have been putting off. Learn something new. Watch a film. Play your favourite music. Sit and read.
Make time to see friends and family whose company you enjoy. A quick chat over coffee, a glass of wine and supper. Bake a cake because you enjoy baking and then invite friends to share it. Buy a cake if you cannot bake. Laugh together.
Balance work and life. Set boundaries. Take your annual leave.
Remind yourself every day that you matter too. When life is difficult your good health and wellbeing will help you to be resilient, to persevere and to make good choices for yourself.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year.
Dr Angela Paddon and the team at The Old School Surgery.
Information for Veterans
Latest Parish Magazine Article
All Change
Lots of changes at The Old School Surgery with three new doctors starting in August.
Dr Hannah Graystone and Dr Julia Hempenstall officially joined me as partners on the 1st of August. There was a lot of paperwork involved to make that happen! Dr Anne Woods has successfully started her new job in Scotland. Dr Omoike has passed all his exams and has finished his training year with us. He is now a fully qualified GP and going to work in the Marlborough Practice. We wish him every success.
Dr Anna Woodman is joining us as our salaried GP and is working on Tuesdays and Fridays. Anna qualified as a GP in 2023 and has been working in Luggershall. She is in the process of training to insert coils which will allow us to continue to provide this service. She has an interest in Medical Education and will be a great asset to the practice.
Dr Chi Chukwudifu is our new third year GP trainee and will be with us for the next year. Like Dr Omoike, he is from Nigeria and plans to continue Dr Omoike’s habit of wearing the colourful traditional clothes on Fridays.
Dr Ravindra is joining us for six months. He is in his second year of GP training. He comes from a surgical background.
Medical students have been allocated to us but will not be starting until January.
Karen Edwards joined the reception team recently and is proving to be a great addition. Sadly, Sarah Barlow, who has been a strong presence in the dispensary is leaving for new adventures in Devon.
We would not be able to train future doctors and GPs if it were not for your continued support. So thank you for enabling us to provide this vital role.
Be well
Dr Angela Paddon and the team at The Old School Surgery.
Dr Anne Woods leaving
Many patients and staff gathered on a very hot afternoon on Friday 19th July 2024 to reluctantly say goodbye to Dr Anne Woods. Dr Julia Hempenstall led our goodbyes with some beautiful words and all best wishes for the future. Dr Anne has returned to Scotland and will be practicing and living in the North West. The Old School Surgery will miss her greatly.
Rethink Mental Illness - Community conversation
We want to hear from you to learn what is important for people to feel part of a community and especially in the context of combating loneliness and isolation. Your feedback will help shape provision and support individuals for Wiltshire residents to help reduce loneliness and isolation within our community. Please click on the link below for further information.
Changing Times at The Old School Surgery
It is with huge sadness that I have to inform you that Dr. Anne Woods is leaving at the end of July. She is returning to Scotland to continue her career. Anne joined the Practice in 2016 and has been an amazing and supportive partner. She has been instrumental in the management side of the Practice, especially her hard work liaising with the other local Practices and the Commissioning Board to establish and manage the Primary Care Network. She has trained future GPs and doctors, performed lots of minor operations and joint injections, inserted hundreds of contraceptive implants and coils, helped thousands of patients and made us all laugh every day with her great sense of humour.
It is with huge excitement and pride that I can inform you that Dr Hannah Graystone and Dr Julia Hempenstall are becoming partners in the Practice. Both Hannah and Julia trained at the Practice over 10 years ago and have worked with us since they completed their training. Hannah and Julia plan to increase the number of clinical sessions that they do so there will be more opportunity to book an appointment with them. We hope to employ a new salaried GP, but other than that very little will change. Hannah is training to do minor surgery, joint injections, and contraceptive implants and both will train as educational supervisors so that the Practice can continue to be involved in teaching future GPs and medical students when I eventually retire.
We all wish Anne happiness and success in the future. She will be missed greatly by everyone.
Dr Angela Paddon and the Staff at the Old School Surgery.
Free Extra Support During Power Cuts
Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks.
Get free extra support during power cuts - register for Priority Services.
What we aim to offer:
- Priority treatment during planned or unplanned power cuts
- Connection to emergency services
- Emergency power supplies
- Safety advice tailored to your needs
- Provisions for your Community
- Peace of mind
Call free on 0800 294 3259 or visit https://www.ssen.co.uk/power-cuts-emergencies/priority-services/priority-services-registration-form/
Hungerford Resource Centre
Hungerford Resource Centre is a purpose built centre providing services for adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, frailty and dementia.
Please click on the link for further information:
https://www.westberks.gov.uk/article/38888/The-Hungerford-Resource-Centre
PPG
PPGs have an important role to play in enabling patients to have a say in the way services are delivered to best meet the needs of the local Community.
A PPG is an opportunity for patients and carers to work with the Practice to:
- Improve local services and quality of care
- Improve communication with patients
- Promote health and wellbeing
- Ensure we remain accountable and responsive to patients needs
Why join our PPG?
As a PPG member you can:
- Suggest ideas for improvements and voice any concerns about how services are organised or managed
- Provide feedback to the Practice about the patient experience
- Help with communication between the Practice and the local population
- Offer practical support to the Surgery
We would love to see you at our next meeting here in the Surgery. If you would like to join us but are unable to come along, we do have a PPG Suggestion Box in the waiting room where you can let us know any ideas or concerns you have, these will be discussed and addressed at the next meeting and will be anonymised.
The Chairperson is Hayley Kane who is happy to be contacted directly if you would like her to raise any points on your behalf – please email hayleykane@hotmail.com
The representative for East Grafton please contact Alison Comyn a.nec@btinternet.com
OUR DOCTOR WRITES
Dr Angela Paddon writes a monthly article covering relevant topics for the local parish magazine.
Please click the links below to read 'Our Doctor Writes'.
DNA APPOINTMENTS
When a patient does not attend a booked appointment, it is known as a 'Did not attend' or a DNA.
Most of our patients know it can sometimes be difficult to book a routine appointment with a GP or Nurse.
One thing that makes this more difficult to overcome is the problem of missed appointments - DNAs.
Patients sometimes have to wait longer than we would like for a routine appointment due to clinics being fully booked, it is at best disappointing when some of those patients do not turn up and have not contacted the practice to cancel the appointment so it can be released to other patients.
Remember, your DNA is another patient's denied appointment and we kindly ask that if you are unable to attend to contact the surgery to cancel so we can offer the appointment to another patient.
STATISTICS
NOVEMBER 2024: NUMBER OF DNA'S: 50 APPOINTMENTS = 10 HOURS 29 MINUTES OF DR/NURSE TIME
OCTOBER 2024: NUMBER OF DNA'S: 75 APPOINTMENTS = 10 HOURS 55 MINUTES OF DR/NURSE TIME
SEPTEMBER 2024: NUMBER OF DNA'S: 43 APPOINTMENTS = 11 HOURS 40 MINUTES OF DR/NURSE TIME
AUGUST 2024: NUMBER OF DNA'S: 19 APPOINTMENTS = 3 HOURS AND 10 MINUTES OF DR/NURSE TIME
JULY 2024: NUMBER OF DNAS: 51 APPOINTMENTS = 13 HOURS OF DR/NURSE TIME
JUNE 2024: NUMBER OF DNAS: 32 APPOINTMENTS = 6 HOURS 30 MINUTES OF DR/NURSE TIME
MAY 2024: NUMBER OF DNAS: 68 APPOINTMENTS = 14 HOURS AND 25 MINUTES OF DR/NURSE TIME
APRIL 2024: NUMBER OF DNAS: 58 APPOINTMENTS = 11 HOURS 10 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
MARCH 2024: NUMBER OF DNAS: 62 APPOINTMENTS = 15 HOURS 40 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
FEBRUARY 2024: NUMBER OF DNAs: 59 APPOINTMENTS = 10 HOURS 45 MINS OF DR/ NURSE TIME
JANUARY 2024 : NUMBER OF DNAS: 38 APPOINTMENTS = 6 HOURS OF DR/NURSE TIME
DECEMBER 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 28 APPOINTMENTS = 5 HOURS/5 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
NOVEMBER 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 46 APPOINTMENTS = 8 HOURS/45 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
OCTOBER 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 49 APPOINTMENTS = 10 HOURS/6 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
SEPTEMBER 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 53 APPOINTMENTS = 13 HOURS/54 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
AUGUST 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 32 APPOINTMENTS = 7 HOURS/20 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
JULY 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 36 APPOINTMENTS = 8 HOURS/5 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME
JUNE 2023 : NUMBER OF DNAs: 33 APPOINTMENTS = 9 HOURS/15 MINS OF DR/NURSE TIME