We are supporting the research being undertaken by the University of Nottingham funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research into Rapid Eczema Trails. 

If you or a family member have eczema and have a few moments to participate with the online research, please contact:

rapideczematrials@nottingham.ac.uk

Our next Wellbeing Walk is on 15th May 2024 – 11:15am from Long Bennington Medical Centre – Please arrive 10 minutes before for registration.

Wellbeing Walks are short walks, run by friendly, specially trained volunteer walk leaders, who are on hand to provide encouragement and support. All walks are free of charge and are open to everyone – you don’t need to preregister, just come along, and join us. The routes start and finish at Long Bennington Medical Centre, and last between 30 and 90 minutes. Don’t worry about your fitness level - walks are over easy terrain and at a steady pace to suit everyone.

The walks can really help to boost your fitness and wellbeing. Almost all of us can manage a stroll, but our walks make it easier to start walking and stay active. It’s almost impossible not to feel good when walking outdoors – it’s a natural mood-booster, and you’ll certainly never be short of good company!

For more information, contact our reception team.

Did you know Lincolnshire’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) programme has helped to facilitate more than 75,000 diagnostic tests across the county? The programme offers patients access to dedicated NHS facilities in the heart of communities, outside of a busy hospital setting. Grantham’s CDC on Gonerby Road, Gonerby Hill Foot, has been open to patients since April 2022, offering calm clinic spaces and free parking.

Through a GP referral Patients can access:

• Plain film X-ray 
• Non-obstetric ultrasound 
• Echocardiogram 
• Diabetic Eye Screening 
• DEXA scanning
• MRI, currently based in a mobile unit at Grantham and District Hospital 
• AAA screening 

Further investment at the former Moy Park site will also see state-of-the-art CT and MRI scanners open for GP's to make patient referrals in mid-March. In addition, the facility will also be offering investigations such as blood testing, ECGs and asthma tests in the future.

All of the GP practices within Lincolnshire are working closely with local pharmacists to support you with certain minor health conditions. It may be more appropriate to have your NHS consultation with a pharmacist instead of the GP practice.

The pharmacist consultation will be confidential. Pharmacists are highly skilled healthcare professionals who have trained in medicines and can give health advice and help you manage your condition. If treatment for symptoms is required, the pharmacist may suggest an over the counter medicine.

If the pharmacist thinks you need to see another healthcare professional, they will help arrange it. With your consent, the pharmacist will ensure your medical record is updated with the outcome of your consultation.

Find out more about how pharmacies can help at:

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions-and-pharmacies/pharmacies/  

Find a pharmacy - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

The NHS has recently sent out texts to young people (or their parents/carers) regarding the MMR vaccine.

The texts states that the patient may not have had one or both MMR vaccines (Measles, Mumps and Rubella). We have received many phone calls about this, and on checking records it has shown that the full course has been received.

If you have received the message from the NHS about the MMR, you can find the information within the patients Red Book or by checking the NHS App. We have over 2,500 patients in the age category that may have received this message, which is causing a few problems with our phone lines!

If the Red Book or the NHS App show that the patient has had 2 doses of MMR (Usually at 13 months and again at 3 years 4 months) then the patient is fully vaccinated.

If you are unable to find this information or believe that the patient is not fully vaccinated, then please do contact our Reception Team between 10:30am and 18:30pm to check the vaccination status.

For more information about the MMR vaccination: MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

We really appreciate your support with this.

General practice in Lincolnshire is not commissioned to assess for suitability, or to prescribe covid-19 antivirals.

From 26 June 2023 patients who test positive for covid and who are eligible for covid treatment (high risk patients) will no longer be contacted automatically.  Digitally identifiable, eligible patients will receive a letter from NHSE in June advising that they should contact local NHS providers if they test positive for covid through a Lateral Flow Test – in Lincolnshire this will be managed through the Clinical Advice Service (CAS) and by the ULHT Covid Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU).

Eligible patients who test positive need to contact 111 for assessment and potential treatment and not to contact their GP

If you have not yet downloaded the NHS App and would like some help or more information about what you can see in the NHS App, our Patient Participation Group will be in the reception area of Long Bennington Medical Centre on Wednesday 13th December from 10am until 12pm to show you.

Come along, explore the NHS App and even enjoy a festive mince pie with a member of the PPG. Your PPG are looking forward to seeing you!

The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster. It also lets you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

We’re now letting you see all the information within your health record automatically. If you are over 16 and have an online account, either through the NHS App or NHS website, you will now be able to see all future notes and health records from your doctor. Some people can already access this feature; this won’t change for you.

This means that you will be able to see notes from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your GP, not from hospitals or other specialists. You will only be able to see information from 31^st October 2023. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won’t need to do anything.

Your doctor may talk to you to discuss test results before you are able to see some of your information on the app. Your doctor may also talk to you before your records access is given to make sure that having access is of benefit to you. There might be some sensitive information on your record, so you should talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.

These changes only apply to people with online accounts. The changes also only apply to personal information about you. If you are a carer and would like to see information about someone you care for, speak to our reception team.

The NHS App, website and other online services are all very secure, so no one is able to access your information except you. You’ll need to make sure you protect your login details. Don’t share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information.

If you do not want to see your health record, please submit an Administration Request through our online AccuRx system and our team will action this for you.

Our PPG was initially formed in 2015 to provide a link between the patients and the GP practice staff of LBMC. A new committee was established in February 2022.

We are constantly striving to provide patients with the highest standard of healthcare and exploring ways to improve and adapt to the needs of our patients. The PPG is there to represent our patients’ voice.

Broadly, the main aims of our PPG are:

• To assist the practice in communicating news and information to patients and help to improve communication between patients and practice staff.
• To provide feedback on patient’s needs, concerns and interests.
• To assist and support the practice in setting up voluntary groups/ and or support within the community.
• To be champions for and represent the needs of patients within the practice and give patients a voice in the organisation of their care.

However, we are not there to provide any medical advice to other patients or deal with personal or medical issues or any individual complaints.

We are looking to expand our group for 2024. The group currently meets once a month at the Medical Centre. If you have an interest in becoming a member, please get in touch with Lisa Smith email: lisa.smith134@googlemail.com. Please include your contact details and Lisa will be happy to arrange an informal chat with you at a suitable time to suit both.

We are experiencing supply issues with one of our Medication providers. This may mean we have to provide you with a paper prescription in order for you to access your medication elsewhere.

We hope for this issue to be resolved ASAP - We thank you for your co-operation and understanding and apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Over the next six weeks we are supporting the University of Nottingham by hosting some second year medical students. The students will be shaddowing one of our regular GP's gaining invaluable General Practice experience. If you have a Doctor's appointment when the students are with us, you will be asked for your consent for the student to be present in your appointment along with the Doctor. If you would prefer for your appointment not to involve a student, please let a member of our reception team know on arrival. Thank you.

Our Annual Flu Clinic is being held on Saturday 7th October here at Long Bennington Medical Centre.

Invites to patients are being sent out this week. Please do book following the link provided or contact our reception team if you have any difficulties using the booking link.

All patients aged over 65 years are being invited to book into the flu clinic, plus any patients aged 18 to 64 years who are in the clinically at risk group. Children will be invited either through their schools or seperately by us for those who are pre-school age.

Thank you

It has been bought to our attention that there are potential phone scammers operating in the Lincolnshire area contacting patients proporting to be their Doctors surgery. If you recieve a phone call (not from our usual 01400 telephone number) please hang up the phone and let us know.

All telephone calls we make to our patients will always come from our 01400 phone number. If you are ever in any doubt, please hang up and call us back on the telephone number on our website.

Due to the popular demand of our Wellbeing Walks, we have put on an additional August walk.

This additional Wellbeing Walk is on 16th August 2023 – 11:15am from Long Bennington Medical Centre – Please arrive 10 minutes before for registration.

Wellbeing Walks are short walks, run by friendly, specially trained volunteer walk leaders, who are on hand to provide encouragement and support. All walks are free of charge and are open to everyone – you don’t need to preregister, just come along, and join us. The routes start and finish at Long Bennington Medical Centre, and last between 30 and 90 minutes. Don’t worry about your fitness level - walks are over easy terrain and at a steady pace to suit everyone.

The walks can really help to boost your fitness and wellbeing. Almost all of us can manage a stroll, but our walks make it easier to start walking and stay active. It’s almost impossible not to feel good when walking outdoors – it’s a natural mood-booster, and you’ll certainly never be short of good company!

We hope you can make this extra walk - it would be great to see you.

Long Bennington Medical Centre are supporting the University of Oxford and London School of Medicine with research into Long COVID. Click the link to take part in the survey tinyurl.com/ykunthye

Long Bennington Medical Centre have not shared any of your information with the Imperial College London and participation in the survery is at the discretion of the patients.

Long Bennington Medical Centre is dedicated to supporting healthcare research. As such, we are collaborating with Imperial College London on a study to investigate the prevalence of social isolation & loneliness. Anyone can be feeling isolated or lonely. We will be sending out an SMS text to patients shortly asking if anyone wishes to participate in the survery to click on the link to the Imperial College survey.

Your voice matters - here is the link to the survey: https://imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bkl7M6SUz5nnzIG

Long Bennington Medical Centre have not shared any of your information with the Imperial College London and participation in the survery is at the discretion of the patients.

After 22 years of service working as a GP at Long Bennington Medical Centre Dr Shauna Longfield has decided to retire. She will be working with us until the 18^th of August.

Dr Peter Watson and Dr Elizabeth Montague will continue to run the partnership and champion our mission to provide quality, patient-focused care, improving the health, wellbeing, and lives of our patients.

We are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Alexander Courtier who will be joining our team from the 15^th of August. He will be working on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays looking after the patients that used to see Dr Longfield.

Dr Longfield wishes to express how lucky she has been to work in the Long Bennington team with great staff. She has felt privileged to help provide care for her patients.  She wanted to share with you all that she will miss both her patients and the team. 

She wishes you all well.

Boots Pharmacy 42-43 High Street in Grantham NG31 6NE. Is open the following hours covering the May Bank Holiday periods:

Monday 1st May - 10:00am to 16:00pm

Monday 8th May - 10:00am to 16:00pm

Monday 29th May - 10:00am to 16:00pm

The NHS across Lincolnshire has introduced a smartphone app, “WaitLess” which is designed to help people choose the least pressured urgent and emergency care services and to understand waiting times better.

The WaitLess app (available on smartphones) combines current waiting time, queue numbers and travel-time at urgent care facilities in the county.  This displayed information helps people make an informed decision about where to seek the fastest treatment for minor illness and injuries. Along with this, the app displays all available pharmacies in the area as an alternative treatment option.

Long Bennington Medical Centre including the dispensary will be closed on Friday 7th April and reopen on Tuesday 11th April for the Easter period. Should you require access to a pharmacy whilst we are closed the local duty opening times are:

National no smoking day is the 8^th March and we are working with Gloji Smokefree who offer FREE telephone/digital support to help you quit smoking in 12 weeks with One You Lincolnshire.

To get started you can book your 1st session using this link: https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/Thrivetribe@kick-it.org.uk/bookings/

Your next poo could save your life.

The NHS bowel cancer screening kit can save your life.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. However, the number of people dying has fallen in recent decades, with earlier diagnosis being the key. Yet still, the latest data shows that almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it.

The NHS bowel cancer screening kit detects signs of cancer before you notice anything wrong. Detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated. So if you're aged 60 to 74 (lowering to 50 by 2025), live in England and registered with a GP practice, you’ll be sent a kit in the post automatically, every two years.

The kit is quick to complete and can be done in the privacy of your own bathroom using the step-by-step instructions on the box. You only need to collect one tiny sample of poo using the plastic stick provided, pop it in the sample bottle and post it for free, to be tested.

If something is found, you will be invited to have further tests, usually at a hospital.

The test works by checking for tiny traces of blood, which may not be visible to the naked eye. Blood in your poo is one of the signs of bowel cancer, but does not always mean cancer. Instead, it could be a sign of piles or polyps (growths in the bowel). Polyps are not cancer but could develop into cancer over time.

So if you’re sent the kit, help yourself by remembering to complete it. Put it by loo. Don't put it off.

For more information: nhs.uk/bowel-screening

Industrial action is planned to take place at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) on Wednesday 11 January 2023, from 00.01 hours to 23.59 hours.

1. Patients should only call 999 if it is a medical or mental health emergency [when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk]
2. Ambulances will still be able to respond in these situations, but this may only be where there is an immediate risk to life.
3. There will be fewer ambulances on the roads during industrial action, with the NHS prioritising those with life-threatening needs. As a result, patients whose conditions are non life-threatening are unlikely to get an ambulance on strike day.
4. During strike days, it is likely 999 call handlers will be very busy. NHS 111 call centres will have fewer staff, with longer call response times expected across the system. As a result, we are urging anyone with a non-urgent care need to first seek help from NHS 111 online.

Industrial action is planned to take place at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) on Wednesday, 21 December 2022 at 06.00 hours to 06.00 hours on Thursday, 22 December 2022.

Action will also take place on Wednesday, 28 December 2022, at 06.00 hours to 06.00 hours on Thursday, 29 December 2022.

Unless it is a category 1 call (immediately life-threatening) then all patients are being encouraged to use alternative transport (if appropriate) on these days.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continue to indicate that there is an out of season increase in scarlet fever and group A strep infections. Cases usually show steepest rises in the new year, but have increased sharply in recent weeks. For the latest information:UKHSA update on scarlet fever and invasive group A strep - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

18^th January 2023 – 11:15am from Long Bennington Medical Centre – Please arrive 10 minutes before for registration.

Wellbeing Walks are short walks, run by friendly, specially trained volunteer walk leaders, who are on hand to provide encouragement and support. All walks are free of charge and are open to everyone – you don’t need to preregister, just come along, and join us. The routes start and finish at Long Bennington Medical Centre, and last between 30 and 90 minutes. Don’t worry about your fitness level - walks are over easy terrain and at a steady pace to suit everyone.

The walks can really help to boost your fitness and wellbeing. Almost all of us can manage a stroll, but our walks make it easier to start walking and stay active. It’s almost impossible not to feel good when walking outdoors – it’s a natural mood-booster, and you’ll certainly never be short of good company!

For more information, contact our reception team.

UPDATE 22.12.21

The NHS in Lincolnshire is asking everyone aged over 18 who is eligible to please come forward and get their Covid-19 booster now - don't delay!

Omicron is a real threat to all of us and getting boosted is the best way to protect you and your family. We’re also urging people who’ve only had one vaccination so far, or possibly none at all, to come forward as quickly as possible. Visit https://lincolnshireccg.nhs.uk/grabajab or call 119 to find out how.

UPDATE 03.02.22

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the NHS. In Lincolnshire, we are working hard to tackle the backlog of patients whose care has been impacted by the pandemic. We need to do this whilst also keeping our patients safe. Please see below a link to the latest update about the referral process.

Waiting for your outpatient appointment during the COVID-19 Pandemic - United Lincolnshire Hospitals (ulh.nhs.uk)

If you have been referred to hospital and are waiting to be seen as an outpatient or inpatient, and your symptoms deteriorate, you should contact the hospital that you have been referred to.

Our GP and Practice Team are working hard to care for you. We are however experiencing staff absences at short notice. This can make it difficult to provide a normal level of service for you including: longer call waiting times, increased turnaround times for prescriptions, and availability of on the day GP appointments.

If you have a minor illness, please consider accessing help in other ways including our local community pharmacies. If you are unable to wait for an appointment and need medical help please use the NHS 111 service or our local Urgent Treatment Centre at Newark.