HSJ – Patient Safety Awards Shortlist

HSJ – Patient Safety Awards Shortlist

The Health Services Journal (HSJ), Patient Safety Awards took place on 20 September 2021 at Manchester Central, celebrating 159 finalists driving quality improvement in patient safety.

We are very proud to say that our GP federation ‘Primary Care Knowsley’ was shortlisted for 2 awards this year!

The awards included:

  • Best use of Integrated Care and Partnership Working in Patient Safety Award
  • Primary Care Initiative of the Year

 

Knowsley in particular has a high Asthma mortality rate. Primary Care Knowsley in partnership with Liverpool Heart & Chest, Hospital, Astra Zeneca, LUH, Innovation Agency and UCL Partners decided to initiate a project to help tackle this issue titled: Proactive management of Asthma in primary care for patients in Knowsley.

The asthma project took place between October 2020 and July 2021, throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. During this time:

  • 747 patients we’re reviewed
  • 565 face to face consultations took place
  • 71 telephone consultations took place
  • 42 patients we’re referred for diagnostics
  • 221 patients had a step up change to treatment
  • 7 patients had a step down change to treatment
  • 45 device changes took place

 

Clinical leads on this project were Hassan Argomandkhah (Primary Care Knowsley) & Hassan Burhan (LUH), so huge thanks to them both and all other team members involved in the project!

To view our shortlist certificates please click below:

PS Awards 21_Certificates_Finalists_ALL_100

PS Awards 21_Certificates_Finalists_ALL_02

Blood Test Tube Supply Issues

Blood Test Tube Supply Issues

There is currently a global shortage of blood tubes used for taking blood tests, which is having a significant impact on the services we deliver.

 

Anyone who needs a blood test for urgent health problems will still get one. However, where it’s safe to do so, your clinician may ask you to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.

 

If you are booked in for a blood test or are waiting for one, your GP practice is reviewing all requests to find out if it needs to be taken urgently, or if your test can wait until there are sufficient blood bottles available.

 

Given the nature of the shortage, they may not be able to give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, you will get a test. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused.

 

NHS England advised phlebotomy clinics to cancel all non urgent blood test appointments up until 17th September 2021. This is being reviewed on a daily basis and we will provide further updates as the situation develops. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

International Nurse Day 2021

International Nurse Day 2021

International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world every May 12, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth. 

Florence Nightingale (1820-1910), known as “The Lady With the Lamp,” was a British nurse, social reformer and statistician best known as the founder of modern nursing. Her experiences as a nurse during the Crimean War were foundational in her views about sanitation. She established St. Thomas’ Hospital and the Nightingale Training School for Nurses in 1860. Her efforts to reform healthcare greatly influenced the quality of care in the 19 and 20 centuries.

Nursing staff working through the pandemic have shattered the stereotypes of nursing. The world has seen first-hand the fundamental role nursing plays in patient safety. To celebrate Nurses Day 2021 we have collated biographies of our nursing staff at Aston Healthcare to celebrate the amazing work they do on a daily basis. 

Carita

I wanted to be a nurse from the age of 3yrs old and so as I approach my 64th birthday I am proud to say that is what I am.

I started training in Plymouth in 1975 in the last year of a pilot modular training scheme by the GNC which would later become Project 2000. It was 12 modules, each 12 weeks long with an exam at the end of each module that you had to pass and a day in the school of nursing a week. It was fun comparing my training with my best friend who was training in London. I did loads more than she did as she had to compete with so many medical students.

I qualified in 1978 and my specialities were in A & E and ITU until I became a practice nurse in Suffolk in 1989. It continued my love of treating all age groups and different problems and fitted in well with family life.

One of my highlights was being chosen as a First Responder at the 2012 London Olympics where I worked with a fabulous team in the basketball arena. It was a tremendous experience. More recently I am proud to have been part of the wonderful team in Kirkby delivering Covid-19 vaccines to the people of Knowsley.

I have had a wonderful career, worked with amazing colleagues, had fabulous patients and feel blessed every morning I get up to go to work that I am still able to do a job I love so much.

Jayne (Nurse Lead)

I qualified as a registered nurse in 2019 and working in general practice before my training, I knew that this nursing pathway was for me. Health promotion is something that I am passionate about, anything can can help improve our longterm health and primary care is where this can be focused.

I am an ambassador for a campaign to promote exercise and strong belief in that this can be achieved by keeping moving, dancing in the kitchen or karate class – all good!

It took me until I reached 30 to make a move back to studying and I’ve not stopped since! Education and knowledge is key for me, it opened up a new world and now led me to head back to university to study advanced practice to become and advanced nurse practitioner which will allow me to offer more care and support for our patients and community.

Mental Health Awareness Week

Mental Health Awareness Week

Since 1949, the Mental Health Foundation has been the UK’s leading charity for mental health. For the past 21 years the Foundation has hosted ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’ with this year’s theme focusing on nature and the impact that this has had on us a nation, especially over the last twelve months.

 

The week is an opportunity for people to talk about all aspects of mental health, with a focus on providing help and advice for those in need. For more information on this year’s event and how you can get involved, click here. 

 

The Mental Health Foundation are also running a 30 day challenge called ‘Take Action Get Active’ and are challenging us to complete 30 minutes of exercise a day.. this could be a walk, jog, run or fitness workout- anything you can think of really! To register for the challenge click here: https://taga.givepenny.com/sign-up.html

 

For more information please visit their website below:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

 

Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month

Stress Awareness Month – April 2021

https://www.stress.org.uk/

 

It has been and continues to be an incredibly stressful time in life. The Mental health Foundation found 74% of UK adults have felt so stressed at some point over the last year they felt overwhelmed or unable to cope. So why not take the opportunity to take part in The Stress Management Society 30 day challenge during April (or any month for that matter!)

 

Our clinical director and GP Dr Amir has created this video which shares the causes, triggers and tips / advice on how we can manage stress. Please watch below:

The Stress Management Society is encouraging us to take part in a 30 day challenge recommending we pick one action each day for our physical and emotional wellbeing.

 

It takes 30 days to turn actions into habits.

 

Take a look at the 30 day challenge hints and tips .pdf for ideas on what to try or why not come up with your own using the 30 day challenge calendar-2021.pdf

 

You may want to start by taking the individual stress test to get personalised recommendations on how to manage stress at this time.

 

There is also a range of useful mental health and self-help audio guides for you to access online that can be found by clicking here.

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

covid-19 vaccination card

The practice is receiving  a high volume of requests from patients wishing to access proof of their COVID-19 vaccination course, which is expected due to second vaccination doses now well underway. We have created the following article to help our patients access this information without the need to call the surgery.

 

To access your proof of vaccination, this is available to all patients via the NHS App – this is separate to NHS Test & Trace App.

We are encouraging all patients to download the NHS app, which enables you to access details of immunisations such as the Covid-19 vaccination, as well as offering health advice and allowing patients to order repeat prescriptions. Reistering with the NHS app is quick and simple. All you need to provide is :

  • Your name or NHS number
  • Date of Birth
  • Postcode
  • Email
  • Mobile Number

You will need a working mobile with signal as you will receive a security code via text message to confirm its you. You dont need anything from us to register! Please click this link to download the NHS App https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/nhs-app/

We would like to reassure all our patients that vaccination cards (pictured above) are not vital. If you have been vaccinated, all the details are contained on your medical records.

If you have lost or misplaced your card then you do not need to worry. Vaccination cards are not an official proof of vaccination and we will not provide additional copies of these cards to patients.

Healthwatch Knowsley – COVID-19 Vaccine Survey

Healthwatch Knowsley – COVID-19 Vaccine Survey

Healthwatch Knowsley are keen to understand your thoughts about the COVID-19 Vaccine.

 

The team at Healthwatch Knowsley are trying to capture local attitudes towards the vaccine and also how you have accessed or found the information available to you on the vaccine. We would really appreciate your input by completing the survey, which can accessed by clicking here

Tell us your COVID experiences on the vaccination process and accessing information

The Government COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan aims to vaccinate tens of millions of people and what you have to say will also be important to the Knowsley health and care system running our local programme to know how the vaccine programme is working.

Have you had your vaccine, waiting to receive yours or do you have queries which make you unsure? Healthwatch Knowsley want to know more about your attitude towards the vaccination process and also how you have been accessing information relating to the vaccine and local roll out.

You can access the survey by clicking here.

Access to Healthcare this Easter

Access to Healthcare this Easter

Our GP practice is closed for the Easter Bank Holiday on Good Friday 2nd April 2021 and Easter Monday 5th April 2021. 

We hope you don’t need the NHS this Easter, but if you do, make sure you choose the right care for your needs.

This year, with the additional pressures of COVID-19, we want to ease overall pressure on our services and ensure you get the right care at the right time. If you think you need health care services, always think 111 first.

Before the bank holiday weekend, make sure you order enough medication from your GP practice or service provider.

To find the best care for you, here:

Click here for Coronavirus advice and guidance.

Content provided by Knowsley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), for more information please visit https://www.knowsleyccg.nhs.uk/

National Day of Reflection 2021

National Day of Reflection 2021

Since the first lockdown began in 2020, hundreds of thousands of people have died. Too many lives have been cut short and millions have been bereaved.

Behind the statistics and whatever the cause, every death has been devastating for the people left behind.

Join us on 23 March, the first anniversary of the first UK lockdown, for a National Day of Reflection to reflect on our collective loss, support those who’ve been bereaved, and hope for a brighter future.

There are still tough times ahead, as the death toll continues to rise. This annual day will give us all time to pause and think about this unprecedented loss we’re facing, and support each other through grief in the years to come.

Our practice will be holding a minutes silence at 12pm noon. People are also being encouraged to stand at their doorstep at 8pm with candles, phones or torches to signify a “beacon of remembrance”.

 

Content provided by Marie Curie, for more information on this national day of reflection please visit https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/day-of-reflection