Patient participation group

Preventative medicine and healthy lifestyle

Larkside practice, Luton 12.12.2013Dr S. Maroju, GP

Preventative medicine and role of patients

• NHS health checks for those in eligible category

• Annual checks for chronic diseases

• Screening tests i.e cervical smears tests, Fob Kits, breast cancer screening for those at risk groups.

• Immunisation for children and elderly per new DOH guidance.

• Leaflets in the surgery display board, surgery website, healthcare professionals.

• Recall letters sent from surgery

• Letters sent from responsible health care centres.

• DNA letters sent to patients from our surgery.

Healthy life style promotionPatients as population• Smoking is harmful

especially during pregnancy, close to people with respiratory conditions.

• Alcohol intake should be in moderation

• Maintaining health BMI 20-24.9

• Aim for active exercises • Active Luton to be started

Healthcare professionals• At every possible

opportunity when appropriate discuss healthy life style measures and promote them.

• For those people who are unsure, promote active intervention measures and encourage them by sign- posting to appropriate advisory lines i.e referrals by gps.

What we are actively working on….Clinicians• Gps and nurses are more

involved in holistic care and able to give more time for most patients.

• Prescription on the day for urgent/48hours for routine as per practice policy

Management• Improving access on

telephone bookings for patients.

• Registering patients mobile numbers for text alerts.

• Online ordering of routine prescriptions

• Improve general access for patients who work i.e Saturday prebooked appointments.

Websites for patients accesswww.larkside.gpsurgery.net: opening hours, services, minor

surgery clinics, mother and baby clinics, phlebotomy, midwife clinics, AAA screening clinic, counselling services.

• Is A&E really for you-youtube video• Outside GP hours call 111 advice line• NHS videos for common conditions like tonsillitis, UTI,

Thrush, Shingles.www.patient.co.uk-patients information on general conditions www.nhs.uk -NHS Choices your health, your choiceswww.carersuk.org -for Carers supportwww.ageuk.org.uk- age concern

Discussion with PPG• Comments• Excellent presentation with useful

information for patients.• Helps patients to understand what to

expect from the practice and why we ask them to have certain checks and tests.

• Group all agreed that text messaging for patients with mobile phones was a good idea.

• Group all agreed that online repeat prescriptions was a good idea.

• Good advertising of current and new services in as many formats as possible.

• Older patients may find it difficult to arrange appointments because they don’t want to be a bother.

• Lack of buses to Churchfield. Could PPG organise petition?

• Suggestions• Could patients have more information on

what happens to their blood tests and how the results are processed?

• Patients could sign up for email copies of the practice quarterly newsletter

• A screen for calling patients rather than the GP/nurse coming out to call patients

• Saturday blood tests for working patients (not currently possible as no courier service from L&D)

• Private areas in reception for patients to discuss personal information with reception

• Ticket booking system for patients waiting in the morning for reception to open

• Could text messages remind patients to cancel appointments if not needed so that someone else can use them

Thank you all