News & Events
Are you recovering from Long COVID?
Online access to GP health records
From November 2023 all patients in our network who are over 16 will be able to view notes and health records. This includes notes from GP surgery appointments, test results, medications, and letters we receive from hospitals. These can be viewed online via the NHS App, NHS website, SystmOnline or the Airmid app. If you don't want your record to be available online, please speak with the Reception or Patient Services team at your surgery. For more, please visit our information web page here>>
What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?
SAD is a kind of seasonal depression triggered by shorter daylight hours and worsening weather. It impacts one in twenty people every year in the UK. Those who experience SAD often:
- lose interest in everyday activities or hobbies
- find it hard to stay connected with family and friends
- feel anxious or irritable or struggle to go outside
Sound familiar? Then you could be experiencing SAD.
With the clocks going back this weekend and the sun setting earlier, we want to help you care for yourself or someone else experiencing SAD. Healthwatch England have helpful information about SAD and how you can manage it on their website here>>
New parent’s guide to keeping children and young people healthy this school year
As the new school year begins, children, teenagers and their parents prepare for new schedules, homework, friends, and activities. But the autumn also brings common illnesses that can keep children and teenagers away from their classmates and studies.
Parents can help to slow the spread of seasonal illnesses and avoid unnecessary absences. This article from the UK Health and Security Agency (UKHSA) covers the role of healthy hygiene habits, vaccination, spotting the symptoms of common illnesses, and how to make informed decisions on whether a sick student is well enough to attend school or college.
Find out more by visiting the UK.GOV website here>>
Vaccine administration for those living with housebound patients
The Crane Valley PCN team are working tirelessly to reach housebound patients and administer their Winter Flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines as soon as possible. However, when our healthcare team visit a housebound patient, they do not offer vaccines to those living with them unless they are also housebound. We ask those who can to receive them at their GP surgery or local vaccination centre. Vaccine supplies are limited, as is our healthcare professional’s time. We must ensure that all eligible housebound patients receive their booster without delays, as they are amongst the most vulnerable. Thank you for your understanding and patience, and be assured that we are dedicated to doing everything we can to protect our community’s health.
Autumn COVID-19 Booster Vaccination Update
Autumn COVID booster vaccination arrangements
Following the recent decision by the DHSC to bring forward the COVID Booster vaccination programme, the Crane Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) programme plans are for housebound patients and residents in older adult care homes to be offered flu and COVID vaccinations from mid-September, which aligns with expected flu vaccination supplies. The PCN Care Co-ordinators will contact residential care homes to offer appointments to those patients, while the GP practices in our network will contact their housebound patients directly.
All other eligible groups will be offered appointments at drive-through COVID vaccination clinics to be held at the PCN Vaccination Centre on weekday evenings from week commencing Monday 11th September.
We will offer the same booking procedure as previous seasons, in that patients with a mobile phone registered with their practice will be sent an SMS text message with details of how to request an appointment using an online booking form.
We are currently mobilising the necessary staff to support these clinic arrangements, and this website will be updated again when these are finalised and appointments are available to request.
Keep an eye on our Community Vaccination information page for the latest details>>
Integrated Adult Pan Dorset Advocacy Service now available
SWAN (South West Advocacy Network) is a leading independent advocacy charity – providing advocacy services throughout the south west and bordering counties since 1999. SWAN now offers an Advocacy Service across the county of Dorset.
This integrated adult advocacy service includes statutory and generic advocacy elements including:
- Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy including Safeguarding Advocacy, Litigation Friend and Relevant Persons Representative
- Independent Mental Health Advocacy
- Care Act Advocacy
- General / Generic advocacy
- Continuing Healthcare Advocacy
- Advocacy for parents during care proceedings
- Carers Advocacy
For more information, please follow this link to download and view a leaflet which sets out the advocacy services that they currently offer across Pan Dorset.
Bridgit - the quick and easy online support tool
People who regularly look after a family member or friend can now explore resources to support them using an online tool known as Bridgit. It's quick and easy way for carers or cared for people to learn about health conditions, get personal advice and find local events and services.
Brought to you by Dorset Council, Bridgit allows people to explore free well-being, employment, finance and care advice and events, local and national support services and training opportunities. People can also build their own ‘self-care plan’. It’s all available any time of day and without registering first.
While registering as a carer unlocks more support, a listening ear, offers and discounts, we recognise people can be worried about requesting outside help. With Bridgit, people can discover the resources first, then sign up for more support if they choose to, and this can include an online carer’s assessment.
Designed by carers and care experts, Bridgit resources are tailored to the busy and often stressful lives of people who regularly care for others. It is also designed to be user-friendly, with simple navigation and a clean layout so people can explore comfortably, even with limited digital skills.
Visit www.bridgit.care/support/dorset to access the Bridgit tool. People who prefer not to, or cannot go online, can call Carer Support Dorset on 0800 368 8349 to discover the free support and help available.
The NHS at 75
5 July 2023 marks 75 years of the National Health Service. Treating 1.3 million people a day in England, the NHS touches all our lives. The PCN and the GP Practices in our network are proud to be a small part supporting the people in our local community to obtain, regain and maintain a healthy quality of life.
Read more about the NHS and how its met the health and wellbeing needs of successive generations>>
Important Notice - Verwood Pharmacy situated at Lake Road Surgery, Verwood, will be closing on Sunday 25th June 2023.
More information about this closure is available on our website by following this link>>
The information has been provided by the NHS South West and provides details of how you can nominate a new pharmacy to receive your prescription.
Verwood Pharmacy in Station Road and Morrison’s Pharmacy in Chiltern Drive remain open and are happy to continue providing your pharmaceutical needs should you wish to transfer there.
Digital home kidney health testing service
GP Practices in the network are introducing a new service which allows people to carry out a urine test at home with a smartphone and a simple urine test kit, which will be sent to their home address.
The Minuteful Kidney service has been commissioned by NHS Dorset to improve the uptake of recommended urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) testing for people living with diabetes and/or patients living with hypertension.
The service allows people who wish to do so to complete essential screening tests without needing to come into the Practice. For anyone who does not wish to use the new service, your GP will continue to manage your care within the Practice.
Patients self test using the kit and the Minuteful Kidney app, which guides them through the process. Test results are seamlessly imported to the patient record in SystmOne via a secure NHS messaging protocol.
Improving Access to GP services
Enhanced Access is an NHS term for offering additional appointments in Primary Care.
The Crane Valley PCN website
If you access GP services in Cranborne, Ferndown, Verwood, or West Moors, you may not know about the Crane Valley Primary Care Network (PCN) and its role in delivering accessible local healthcare.
The Crane Valley PCN is a group of 4 local GP practices (The Barcellos Family Practice, The Cranborne Practice, Verwood Surgery and West Moors Group Practice). Whilst each practice has its own identity, through the PCN, these practices work together to build on existing primary care provisions to improve patient access to NHS services cost-effectively.
Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme
The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a free programme for those at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
If you're at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible to join your free local Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. This programme can support you to improve your diet, get more physically active and lose weight (where appropriate) to reduce your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
The first thing you need to do is find out if you are at risk of developing the condition. You can do this by using the Diabetes UK risk tool below. You'll be asked a series of questions to identify if you are at a low, moderate or high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Make sure to have a tape measure handy as you'll need to measure your waist. You'll be invited to sign up to your free local Healthier You service if you're at moderate or high risk.
