keith.williams

With local hospitals coming under continued pressure during the festive break, people are being asked to help stop the spread of bugs and make sure they know where to go when they need help as we enter the new year. Minor injury or complaint? Get WaitLess Dorset has a number of places where you can be treated for urgent, but non-life-threatening conditions and the WaitLess app can help you get seen more quickly. WaitLess displays how many people are currently in each urgent and emergency care setting in Dorset, along with the current wait time and the time it would take [...]

Local NHS services are urging people in Dorset to place wellbeing and good mental health at the top of the list this winter. Winter depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is known to affect people, including those who may not have previously experienced a mental health issue. Dr Karen Kirkham, Assistant Clinical Chair at NHS Dorset CCG, commented: “As a practising doctor, during winter I tend to see an increase in people presenting with symptoms related to Seasonal Affective Disorder, such as low mood and general lethargy. “Be reassured that there are some small self-care measures you can take. Try to [...]

People living in and visiting Dorset are being encouraged to consider simple self-care techniques to better support their own health and wellbeing this winter. Local NHS services are anticipating a seasonal increase in pressures on GP practices and hospitals, with residents more likely to be affected by winter-related illnesses including common coughs and colds, flu and norovirus. Under NHS England advice, GPs are unable to prescribe medicines which can be bought from local pharmacists or supermarkets for a range of minor illnesses, including sore throats cold sores conjunctivitis coughs diarrhoea indigestion heartburn By cutting down on these costs, your local [...]

Dorset based Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network narrowly missed out on top honours at the recent national General Practice Awards, having been shortlisted in the Primary Care Network Newcomer category. The General Practice Awards took place in London at the end of November and recognise excellence in primary care across a number of categories including Community Nurse of the Year, Healthcare Leader of the Year and GP Team of the Year. Primary Care Network Newcomer winner for 2019 was London based NeoHealth Primary Care Network. Dr Andrew Finucane said “Since the Jurassic Coast Primary Care Network was formed we have all [...]

A new online system to help patients get the right care from their GP Surgery – eConsult - has saved nearly 500 appointments at Bridport Medical Centre since being introduced in early November. eConsult is an online system which enables patients to complete a confidential online form which is then sent to their GP who will respond by 6.30pm the following day to offer advice, referral to an alternative service or an appointment if necessary. Forms are triaged by practice staff then results are added to a patient’s medical records and a ‘virtual appointment’ is scheduled with their GP where [...]

With the colder weather conditions and the seasonal increase in slips, trips and falls upon us, NHS services across Dorset are encouraging the public to make appropriate health care choices should they or a loved one sustain a minor injury. Peter Swallow, Emergency Department consultant at Royal Bournemouth Hospital, said: “Patients experiencing a genuine life or limb-threatening injury or illness should typically arrive at A&E by ambulance. If you are well enough to self-present, it could be that your illness or injury could be dealt with more appropriately and often more quickly elsewhere. “Every winter, we see lots of patients suffering [...]

From 1 December 2019, Crescent Surgery in Boscombe will be moving to a new premises a short walk away from the existing site and adjacent to Providence Surgery on Walpole Road. All staff and clinicians will be moving to the new location, and patients that previously attended Crescent Surgery do not need to do anything to continue to receive their normal services. Dr Ni’Man said “For some time we have been operating as a branch surgery of nearby Providence Surgery in order to increase our resilience in the face of ever-increasing demands on general practice and to ensure we can provide [...]

On 2nd September Lifeboat Quay Medical Centre – the new home for staff and patients of Carlisle House Surgery opened its doors thanks to the commitment and dedication of its project partners. An evening event was arranged on 7th November to mark the official opening of Lifeboat Quay Medical Centre, providing an opportunity to recognise those involved in the project and enabling partners within the local community to find out more. Dr Nelms opened the evening which saw attendees from NHS partners including NHS England and NHS Dorset CCG along with other local organisations including the Greendale Construction, Simpson Hilder [...]

Patients registered at Bridport Medical Centre can now get more help with non-clinical problems thanks to the Bridport Health Champions. Bridport Health Champions are volunteers who follow a Social Prescribing approach - a means of improving a patient’s health and wellbeing by linking them with services and groups in their local community that may be of benefit to them. Health Champion Tessa “When people think of healthcare they immediately think ‘clinical’ however there a lots of other factors which can affect a person’s health such as financial issues, housing problems or their environment and personal issues for example the breakdown of [...]