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APRIL 2017 - We are aware that patients are currently experiencing difficulties in accessing GP appointments; this is due to ongoing sickness.

 

We are making every effort to increase availability by engaging locum GPs where possible and ask you to bear with us during this difficult time.

 

We are also aware that this has affected the availability of online appointments for which we apologise. We have made changes which will hopefully have rectified this problem going forward.

Change of Training GPs 

 Dr Sarah Shooter has now completed her GP Training and will be leaving us on Friday 24th November. We wish her well in her future career. 

As we are a training practice it means we will be welcoming a new GP Registrar in her place. This training is an essential part of the Doctors transition from Hospital to General Practice. 

Dr Gemma Brierley will join us on Monday 28th November for continuation of her training.

MESSAGE FROM THE DOCTORS

The Doctors have requested that our reception staff ask you for a brief reason for your appointment, including when booking online.  This is to assist you in accessing the most appropriate service.  They will also ask you for your preferred contact number.  We do appreciate the difficulties patients face in the current climate when all our available appointments have been taken.  We would kindly ask you to consider other options recommended such as GP appointments at the extended hours service at Bath Street, Widnes walk-in centre, your local pharmacy and Bath Street Wellbeing Centre for family planning and sexual health.  The receptionists will have details regarding these servcies.  I would remind you that we provide 4 extended hours clinics each week on Monday and Wednesday until 8.30 in the evening. You can also access a range of services including booking appointments online.

YOUR GP CARES - see links included on the main page (see below) 

We usually close the last Thursday afternoon of every month for staff training.

We can provide a chaperone, hearing loop or interpreter services.  If you need any of these services please advise the receptionist when booking your appointment.

How to access Bereavement Support

The loss of a loved one can be traumatic at any time but, during the Coronavirus pandemic, it is particularly difficult.

Changes have had to be made to some services, including end of life and palliative care as well as funeral arrangements. This has made it harder for people to be with or say goodbye to a loved one in the way they may want to.

The pandemic has meant we are apart from our usual support network so you may not be able to seek comfort from friends and family as you would normally. However, it is more important than ever to reach out to family and friends and talk to them about how you feel.

There are also a range of support services available both nationally and locally which can help. View Home - NHS Cheshire and Merseyside or happyoksad.warrington.gov.uk to find out more.

Advice on coping with bereavement

DO

  • Try talking about your feelings to a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor – you could also contact a support organisation. View Home - NHS Cheshire and Merseyside or happyoksad.warrington.gov.uk for information on the range of organisations that can help.
  • Visit nhs.uk to try the 6 ways to feel happier, which are simple lifestyle changes to help you feel more in control and able to cope.
  • Visit https://kindtoyourmind.org/, a Cheshire and Merseyside website which features a range of useful resources to help you through. If you are looking for tips, advice, apps or even online courses to help with your mental wellbeing – there is something here for you!
  • Visit nhs.uk if you're struggling to sleep to find out useful advice on how to get to sleep.
  • Consider peer support, where people use their experiences to help each other. Find out more about peer support on the Mind website (www.mind.org.uk)
  • Listen to free mental wellbeing audio guides.
  • Search and download relaxation and mindfulness apps or online community apps from the NHS Apps library.

DON’T

  • Do not try to do everything at once – set small targets that you can easily achieve.
  • Do not focus on the things you cannot change – focus your time and energy into helping yourself feel better.
  • Try not to tell yourself that you're alone – most people feel grief after a loss and support is available.
  • Try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve grief – these can all contribute to poor mental health.

REMEMBER

There are no rules, grief and loss is individual and a normal reaction, please take care of ‘you’ and when you can’t ask for help.

 

Happy? Ok? Sad?

www.happyoksad.org.uk is a mental health site, for people who live or work in Warrington. The site is relevant to people whether they have a mental health problem or not, as it includes:

  • simple things we can all do to look after our mental wellbeing

  • symptoms of common mental health problems
  • services that can offer information, advice, support or treatment
  • support available if someone can't cope and needs help right now
  • how to access free mental health and wellbeing training and resources. Several of the website’s pages are age-related, to make it easier for people to find the information most relevant to them. There’s also a page for front line workers, with details of free resources.

     

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