Summer 2006

The Experts Patient Programme is a FREE course delivered by two trained volunteers who have a long-term condition themselves.  For 2.5 hours per week for 6 consecutive weeks you will develop new skills and rediscover existing ones.

Some topics covered in the course:

Techniques to help you manage fatigue and pain and the emotional changes brought about by your condition.
How to plan for the future and get most out of life.
Devlop skills to avoid fear, anger, frustration and depression.
Communicate more effectively with friends and health care professionals.
How to take care of your health—looking at diet, exercising and relaxation.

People living with a long-term condition experience similar day-to-day problems.  With the understanding of people facing these similar problems and within a supportive environment, you will redevelop existing skills, share common experiences, and feel more able to take
control.

How would I qualify?

Anyone over the age of 18 with a long-term health condition, no matter what it is, which is impairing their daily life.

What to do now?

If you think you may be interested or would like more information, please contact Chris Paisley on 01452 891480 or email chris.paisley@glos.nhs.uk.

08454 220 220

The Health Community in Gloucestershire is experiencing a £50 million black hole.  There are huge pressures to make immediate savings and this will have implications on health service staff with redundancies amongst both clinical and non-clinical staff.  There will be considerable reconfiguration of services and waiting lists for outpatient appointments and inpatient care are likely to extend to the maximum allowed under Government guidelines.

We will be asked in General Practice to keep a downward pressure on costs and this will mean making sure that each prescription and each referral to secondary care is appropriate, necessary and as cost effective as possible. By doing this we cannot stop a reduction in services, but we can try and limit the impact on us all.

We are currently making plans as to how the Practice would continue to function should we have an outbreak of Pandemic Flu in the future.  One particular area we have been looking at is how we could communicate information to a large number of patients as quickly as possible.  If you are familiar with e-mail and would be happy for us to communicate with you in this way, please let us have your  e-mail address.

If you are aged 65 and over, the Department of Health recommends you are vaccinated against  pneumococcal disease. This disease is caused by bacteria which usually lives harmlessly in the back of many people’s throats.  However, it can invade other parts of the body and cause serious illnesses such as pneumonia, septicaemia and meningitis. 

A Pneumococcal vaccination, which is only required to be given once, can help prevent the disease and can be given at any time of the year.  Telephone the surgery to make an appointment with the Practice Nurse for your vaccination.

Two linked Day Courses

Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th Oct 2006
10am to 4pm
Fee: £20 (per day)

Venue: South Cerney Surgery

For further information or to book places
Tel: 01559 371993

These courses are subsidised by the Phoenix Charitable Trust – reg. charity number 1010378

Are you a carer?  Do you need further information or support from services which are available in your  area?

Carers can be people who look after a relative or friend who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness including mental illness.  The word carer in this context does not mean a care worker who is paid to provide care as part of a contract of employment.  We would also like to know if you are a parent of a disabled child or a  young carer (i.e. under the age of 18) who has caring responsibilities for another family member who is either unwell (from either mental or physical illness) or disabled.

If you need further information, please contact Liz Hicks who will do her best to help you or look on www.carers.gov.uk & www.carersuk.org