Newsletter March 2023 

 

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The Patient Participation Group Of The Westbank Practice

A Patient Participation Group (PPG) is a group of people who are patients of the Surgery and want to help it work as well as it can for patients, doctors, and staff. 

The PPG acts as a communication channel to ensure individuals views and wider perceptions are shared. It’s not a forum for complaints, which should go direct to the Practice through usual channels. 

It may not be possible to act on every patient/PPG suggestion, but all feedback is valuable. Working in a spirit of mutual respect, openness and trust, patient’s views will be discussed by the PPG and the Practice and, where appropriate, we will work together on solutions. 

The Westbank PPG is not new but is currently being reinvigorated after the enforced spell of minimal activity due to COVID. A new Chair (David Blount) was appointed in May, new Terms of Reference (ToR) have been adopted and the group membership has expanded. 

Westbank PPG ToR focus on a range of objectives which aim to represent patient’s needs, concerns and interests to the practice. You can find a full copy of the ToR on the Surgery website. 

To achieve our aim the PPG needs to enhance our system of communication with all registered patients in the practice. We will aim to contact you through a quarterly contribution to editions of the Starcross News, Kenton Newsletter and the Exminster Scene. You can contact the PPG Chair David by using our contact form.

We are inviting you to the first of an annual Open Evening (more information on the next page).  Come along to hear about developments at the practice and in turn share your thoughts and ask your questions. 

Kind regards, Westbank Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG)

 

Open Evening 

Tuesday 18th April 2023 at 7PM
at Westbank Healthy Living and Community Care Centre Farm House Rise, Exminster, EX6 8AT

Programme: 

  • David Blount (the Group Chair) introduces the evening. 
  • David launches the Patient Participation Group (PPG) post pandemic. 
  • Dr Toh Wong shares recent success and challenges from a Westbank perspective. 
  • Ben Baker describes the role of the paramedic in a GP setting.
  • Do you know what Social Prescribing is? Amanda Kohn will tell us all about this and some of the other activities Westbank Health Living Centre provide. 
  • The role of the Pharmacist has changed in recent years. Will Farmer tells us how. 
  • Time for your observations and questions. 

The evening will close with the Annual General Meeting (AGM), a short formal requirement of the group. 

 

Flu Vaccinations

There is still time to get your Flu Vaccine! We have a limited number of vaccines left so please get yours today if you are eligible.

You can contact our reception team to get your vaccine booked. 

 

Paramedic Appointments

Our Paramedics support the GPs by providing clinical assessment and treatment for new minor illnesses or injuries. Conditions should have been present for less than 2 weeks and not previously seen by a GP. If you are unsure, then please contact the surgery reception team before booking. 

image of patient being vaccinated

 

image depicting methods of communication

Update Your Contact Details

Do we have your most up-to-date contact details? 
Please inform us of any changes to your personal / contact details including next of kin, email address, phone numbers and house address. This is so that we can keep your medical record up to date with the latest information. 

 

Keeping Well Over Winter, How GP Online Services Can Help 

It’s important to look after yourself, especially over the winter months. The cold weather can be bad for your health, particularly in children, the elderly and for people with long-term health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. There are lots of things you can do to keep you and your family well this winter. 

GP online services are available at Westbank Practice to help people better manage their health this winter. These services enable patients to book an appointment to see the Doctor or Paramedic, order repeat prescriptions and view their medical record including consultations, letters, blood results and immunisation history via their computer, smartphone or tablet at a time that suits them, anywhere, anytime – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

Patients who require repeat prescriptions can request these from the comfort of their own home, rather than venturing out in the cold or wet weather to drop their request off at the Practice. You will also be able to review which medication you should be taking, the dosage and when it should be taken – helping to improve your understanding of your medication. 

If you want to register for GP online services, then please contact us. 

 
 

Our Practice Email Address

  • Requests for information about medical conditions or symptoms are not appropriate for email communication, we please ask patients to use AccuRx on our practice website which makes it easier for you and the healthcare team to communicate. Your GP or relevant clinician can send a message back to you quickly and efficiently without the need for back-and-forth email messages with the admin team. Alternatively, you can phone the Practice.
  • We cannot book appointments via email; you can book an appointment via SystmOnline or by contacting us via phone. 
  • The easiest way to order your prescription is via SystmOnline or the NHS App – please contact us so we can set you up if you do not have access. 

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.