Adult Community Health Services in Bromley - Survey

Do you use adult community health services in Bromley?

The CCG is seeking views from adults who use community health services.   The CCG want to learn more about service users' experiences of using these services.

 

Please be assured that responses to this survey will be anonymous, strictly confidential and will not be attributed to you in any way.

You can reach the survey here.

Heatwave: How to cope in hot weather

Tips for coping in hot weather

• Shut windows and pull down the shades when it is hotter outside. If it's safe, open them for ventilation when it is cooler.
• Avoid the heat: stay out of the sun and don't go out between 11am and 3pm (the hottest part of the day) if you're vulnerable to the effects of heat.
• Keep rooms cool by using shades or reflective material outside the windows. If this isn't possible, use light-coloured curtains and keep them closed (metallic blinds and dark curtains can make the room hotter).
• Have cool baths or showers, and splash yourself with cool water.
• Drink cold drinks regularly, such as water and diluted fruit juice. Avoid excess alcohol, caffeine (tea, coffee and cola) or drinks high in sugar.
• Listen to alerts on the radio, TV and social media about keeping cool. 
• Plan ahead to make sure you have enough supplies, such as food, water and any medications you need.
• Identify the coolest room in the house so you know where to go to keep cool.
• Wear loose, cool clothing, and a hat and sunglasses if you go outdoors.
• Check up on friends, relatives and neighbours who may be less able to look after themselves.

If you're worried about yourself or a vulnerable neighbour, friend or relative, you can contact the local environmental health office at your local authority.

Environmental health workers can visit a home to inspect it for hazards to health, including excess heat. Visit GOV.UK to find your local authority.

 

Eye Care Patient Survey

Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group is reviewing eye care services in Bromley borough to help  improve current services in a way that most benefits patients.

They have asked us to circulate the link to their survey as they would greatly appreciate your feedback. The survey should only take 5 minutes to complete: Bromley Eye Care Survey

Patient feedback

The results of this year's patient survey
 

Feedback has been collated from three main sources:

1.  Comments made on the Friends & Family returns (about 100 per month in total but fewer with suggestions) - access to appointments; communication of delays; in-house phlebotomy.
2. Practice issues discussed by the PPG committee - access to appointments, waiting times, improved communications and the additional suggestion that health education sessions might be well received.
3. Patient survey - 5 questions based on the issues raised

Q1.How can Wickham Park Surgery (WPS) improve access to appointments?
 
Q2.How can WPS improve the uptake of online services such as electronic booking of appointments and requesting of prescriptions?
 
Q.3 This year the practice used texts to invite people to book for flu vaccination and other special clinics such as smoking cessation. Are you happy with us contacting you in this way?
 
Q4. What would you consider the most important information for the practice website to display?
 
Q5. The PPG committee has suggested that education sessions would be well received. Please indicate if you would be interested in sessions on any of the following topics (you may choose more than one): First Aid ; Eating for a healthy heart ; Prostate Cancer; Hormone replacement therapy ; Contraception and sexual health; Dementia; Diabetes; Mental Health; other suggested topic .

As a result of the answers to the patient survey we have suggested the following and will discuss these further at the next meeting of the PPG committee.
Q1.

· Revisit automated phone system with the PPG committee 

· We currently have three patient lines and two additional outgoing lines

 · Consider having a dedicated line for appointments at busy times diverted away from the reception desk

 · Some surgeries timings are already staggered and we may look at more afternoon provision (rooms permitting)

 

Q2.

 · An easy to use guide – which can be handed to patients by reception or emailed to patients who commonly use this means of communicating with the practice.

 · Advertising by text

 · Clearer advertising on website and blog

 

Q3. 87% respondents were happy about this use of texts

· Continue to use texts to communicate with target groups (texts are already used for appointment booking confirmation and reminders and notification of results needing discussion)
· Explore more extensive collection of email addresses and seek permission to use them for communication

Q4. 
· The practice will explore changing our website to maximise information and make it clear and accessible.
· In the meantime we need to better publicise the website as an information resource
· Continue to update regularly
 Q5.
· The practice will consider look into the possibility of providing some education sessions for patients in the autumn.
· We will make information available on Eating for a healthy heart and Prostate cancer and would prioritise these topics as sessions.
 · We feel there are a wide range of alternative providers of first aid courses locally and we can signpost these
 · We will explore with the CCG working with the agencies providing physiotherapy and mental health to the practice population to see if they can help with sessions on exercise for the elderly and mental health.

Care Quality Commission (CQC)

The CQC is the independent regulator of all health and care services in England.


Our surgery is to be inspected on 14th June 2016


As part of the inspection the Inspectors want to know what you think about the care you receive from the surgery.


They have supplied us with a comment box and comment cards and all feedback will be treated confidentially.


If you would like to comment on the surgery, the cards are available in reception between now and the 14th June. Cards should be returned to the comment box and not to reception to keep the process confidential.


Thank you for contributing to our inspection.

Patient Participation group survey

Patient Participation group survey

We are running another brief survey to expand on issues raised by the PPG committee. The survey is only five questions long. It has been emailed to patients who have signed up for the Patient Participation Group; paper copies are available in reception or you can click on this link Wickham Park Patient Survey to help inform changes and developments.

Patient Participation Group membership

We are keen to recruit new members to the patient participation group. If you would like to contribute or be involved please inform reception or email the surgery on BROCCG.WPKSupportGroup@nhs.net  

Premises Update

The surgery building is looking more than usually battered this week after coming off worst in a collision with a lorry last week. The hand rail beside the entrance has had to be removed and we are waiting on their (unenthusiastic and disinterested) insurance to approve necessary repairs to the corner wall of the building.

Please take care along the path to the front door as there is a small drop off into the alleyway.

New premises update for the new financial year:
We have received the following update from the Head of Primary and Community Care at Bromley CCG. 

"I can confirm via our Chief Financial Officer that the investment into your premises remains a priority for the CCG but it has yet to go through the formal approval process. This process rests on a number of things. Firstly, we are awaiting the new guidance from NHS England about the 2016/17 Primary Care Transformation Fund (PCTF). Once this is issued, we then need to give formal approval of Bromley proposed schemes such as yours, but it will need to be linked to our estates strategy to show that any investments support our long term plan for estates in the borough. The final Bromley estates strategy is being worked on currently with NHS Property Services and we should have it ready in mid May. However, it will then need to go through the local Clinical Executive and the SEL Primary Care Joint Committee for formal approval."

We are now 17 years and counting from our original plan to expand and improve the surgery premises. We still have hope.