Garstang Medical Centre

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Introducing SCART Club 2021

Do you want to earn prizes, complete activities in five different zones, get free admission to a museum and receive a certificate? Then the SCART Club is for you! SCART Club is Lancashire Library Service’s programme for school-age children which runs throughout the summer holidays. It stands for Science, Culture, Active, Reading, and Technology. Children are invited to come to the library to pick up a free SCART activity card to take away. Get a lanyard and collect all of the pop badges for the different zones as you progress through the scheme! When you sign up to the SCART Club, you’ll also receive a special purple ticket. The Purple ticket grants free admission to Lancashire County Council museums. Please note that visits to museums are currently bookable. Garstang Library will present a certificate to the local school with the highest proportion of pupils completing the scheme. Can you help your school to win? For inspiration and a head start on the challenge, why not request a SCART themed Six of the Best bag, filled with exciting books for each of the zones?

Unable to Visit a Library?

If you are unable to get into one of our libraries, this year we are offering a digital version of SCART Club, where you can take part in activities online, share your reading recommendations, and then collect your prizes from the library at a later date. Join for free today by visiting your local library or at: www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-

and-archives/libraries/reading-journey Mobile Library

For further information of times and stops near you please call Glenys on 07717 543 763 or email garstang.mobile.ml3@

lancashire.gov.uk t: 0300 123 6703 t: 0300 123 6704 (renewals) www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries-andarchives e: garstang.library@lancashire.gov.uk fb: @LancsLibraries Twitter: @LancsLibraries

GARSTANG MEDICAL CENTRE

Appointment System

The Covid pandemic has generated unprecedented pressure on NHS services. Garstang Medical Practice has not been immune to the problems created by these pressures. Understandably, following all the messaging put forward during the pandemic, patients have delayed contacting NHS services and clinical problems have been ‘stored up’ over the course of the pandemic. As a consequence, there is now a huge

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back log of work presenting to general practice. Demand on our appointments is consequently at an unprecedented level. In addition, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of patients with Covid related symptoms seeking our help, including those with ‘Long Covid’ symptoms. We are also seeing a large increase in the number of patients, particularly children, with respiratory type illness. We are also regularly facing work force shortages with staff having to self-isolate which puts additional pressure on our already stretched services. Our clinical staff must make the safety and welfare of our patients our overriding priority. To ensure this we must make sure we are able to provide safe and effective clinical care. We are at a stage now where we feel our workload is such that we are likely to be working beyond a safe level given the realistic constraints of our practice. As such we are going to return to the ‘same day’ access appointment system. This will provide a safe, efficient, and equitable service to our patients. It means that when you need an appointment with a GP or nurse practitioner, you will need to ring on the day; you will not be able to book ahead for a routine appointment. Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Group commission and organise walk-in centre services for all our patients. You can access these services at two local centres; Royal Preston Hospital Walk in Centre and Whitegate Drive Walk in Centre, Blackpool. The walk-in centres can deal with many common problems. When all our same day appointments are fully booked you will be advised to ring back on another day, or to go to a local walk-in centre. We hope signposting patients to walk-in centres proves a positive and efficient way

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for you to access good quality healthcare in a local setting. By doing so, you are helping us to provide robust GP service for groups of patients whose healthcare needs make them more vulnerable. We are confident you will be supportive of our practice as we do our utmost to serve our patients in these challenging times. However, we must unfortunately point out that this support is not universal in our patients. Our staff are doing their very best in very difficult circumstances and verbal abuse, rudeness or an aggressive or demanding manner will not be tolerated to any member of our team. Unfortunately, such behaviour is now being experienced by our staff on a daily basis. It is simply not acceptable. Please show staff the respect they deserve – any problems you may encounter are not their fault. As a reminder, all our telephone calls to reception are recorded. It is important to note that this current situation is not due to a shortage of doctors or nurses. We have more now than we had prior to the pandemic. It is simply down to increased demand at all levels of the NHS. We would also like to remind patients of simple selfcare measures which should be tried prior to accessing our services. Our website has information regarding all of these or you can visit the NHS website www.nhs.uk We hope the above measures are a temporary stage. We are sorry that we are not currently able to offer the routine, prebookable appointments with our doctors and nurse practitioners which our patients have enjoyed for many years. As soon as we feel we are able to reinstate these systems we will do so.

Face Mask Policy

Although face masks are no longer a legal requirement, as a clinical healthcare setting, Garstang Medical Practice has decided that all staff and patients must continue to wear masks within the surgery until further notice. Infection rates of Covid are on the increase, especially in our locality, and we feel it is imperative that we protect our most vulnerable patients and our workforce. This is essential if we are to continue to provide patients with a local primary care service. The Delta variant is highly contagious and has the potential to spread quickly in confined areas. We simply cannot risk acting as a focus for infection. We thank patients for their understanding and co-operation. In the, hopefully unlikely, event that a patient refuses to respect this request, or if a patient is unable to wear a mask on medical grounds, they will need to be seen either in our car port or in a specific room within the Calder Suite.

Covid Testing

As a practice we are experiencing and

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expecting to see a further increase in respiratory illness including coughs, fevers, colds and sore throats as well as Covid cases. If you experience symptoms of Covid such as fever/temperature, new cough, loss of taste or smell, it is still really important to isolate and book a PCR test for Covid online or by ringing 119. This is the case even if you have been vaccinated. Please do not ignore possible symptoms.

Covid Vaccination

We have now completed our Covid vaccination clinics. Thank you to everyone who has supported the programme. We really could not have done it without the amazing volunteers and the whole community. With the increase of the Delta variant in our area it is very important that patients receive both doses of the vaccine as soon as possible once eligible. Please encourage all your family and friends who are eligible, but have not yet had their vaccinations, to please get booked in as soon as possible. Appointments are available throughout the area at the NHS vaccination centres for first doses (anyone aged 18+) and second doses. Please book your appointment at www.nhs. uk or ring 119. There are also a number of walk-in clinics across the area.

Domestic Abuse

With full lockdown restrictions lifting, the likely increase in alcohol consumption may exacerbate incidents of domestic abuse. As we can see more of our family and friends as Covid restrictions continue to lift, you may have noticed some changes in their appearance and/or behaviour. These changes could be a sign that your loved one is experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse. Some of the signs of domestic abuse, such as physical marks, may be easy to identify. Others may be things you can easily explain away or overlook. By knowing the signs of domestic abuse, you could help a friend, colleague or family member. Trust your instincts - if something you’ve seen or heard doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. If you’re worried about someone, you can also find details of the help and support agencies at www.noexcuseforabuse.co.uk

Ask for Angela

Participating premises will display posters in areas such as toilets or internal doors. If you are becoming concerned about someone you are with, you can approach a member of staff and ask for Angela. The staff are trained to respond to this question and provide you with the help and support you require.

The Garstang Medical Practice Team t: 01995 607399 fb: @garstangmedicalpractice www.garstangmedicalpractice.nhs.uk

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