Brunel Medical Practice, Chelston Hall Surgery, Southover Medical Practice and Croft Hall Medical Practice work together as Torquay PCN.

Together, we have been asked by Devon NHS to deliver a one-year pilot offering some patients who need an urgent appointment a face-to-face appointment, with a clinician working in the ‘Urgent Hub’. This appointment might not be at your usual practice but will be arranged for you with your agreement for that day.

This service will be available to patients who are normally fit and well, but who have a health problem which needs to be addressed that day. Patients who have complex needs or long-term health conditions will not be offered an appointment in the ‘Urgent Hub’ but will be cared for by their practice as normal.

The pilot aims to offer continuity to patients with complex or long-term health conditions by freeing up appointments with their Usual GP. Research has shown that continuity of care reduces hospital admissions, the number of medicines that are prescribed and the number of investigations requested. Continuity improves outcomes for patients.

Each practice in the PCN will be offering additional appointments as part of the pilot, which we hope will improve outcomes for our patients. The pilot is due to start on the 9th December 2024.

FAQs

Will this project mean that I can’t see my usual GP?

No, you can still request to see your normal GP and book an appointment as your practice as you do now. Booking a same day appointment with the ‘Urgent Hub’ will be offered to patients where appropriate but may not meet the needs of all patients who may choose to wait for an appointment with their practice.

I have poor mobility and could not travel to another practice further away from where I live?

Appropriate patients will be offered an ‘Urgent Hub’ appointment, but we understand that this might not work for everyone, so your needs and ability to get to the site of the offered appointment will be taken into consideration.

Where is the ‘Urgent Hub’?

Appointments will be available at all four of the practices in the PCN, but patients at all the practices will be able to book them.

Will the doctor working in the ‘Urgent Hub’ be able to see my health record and prescribe medication if I need it?

All clinicians caring for you will have full access to your GP health record and can prescribe medication or arrange a follow-up if needed.

• All external incoming calls
• All external outgoing calls made by practice staff.
• All internal incoming and outgoing calls made by the practice staff.
• Call transfers.

RSV vaccination from September 2024

Macmillan Cancer Support

More information can be found via these links

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-awareness/cervical-screening-awareness-week

Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust is the UK’s leading cervical cancer charity. It provides information and support to anyone affected and campaigns for excellence in cervical cancer treatment, care and prevention. Its national Helpline is free, confidential and on 0808 802 8000

Cervical screening (smear test) | Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust (jostrust.org.uk)

EpiPen Information

Severe allergic reactions, (anaphylaxis), can be life threatening, which is why patients have an emergency adrenaline pen, just in case. Use of this can be lifesaving. Thankfully, these are often rarely needed, but this makes it difficult to remember how to use them and if they are needed, often a friend or relative needs to administer the pen and may not know how to. Therefore, below are some useful links to helpful videos and information.

Usage of EpiPens

The first link below is for a video that shows you how to use an emergency adrenaline pen, (an EpiPen), and can be helpful to show friends and family so that they know how to use one also.

https://www.epipen.co.uk/en-gb/patients/your-epipen/how-to-use-your-epipen

Did you know you can get a free pen to train friends and family how to use one using the following link:-

https://www.epipen.co.uk/en-gb/patients/your-trainer-pen

Please always carry two emergency adrenaline pens with you just in case one was to fail.

Re-ordering of EpiPens

Did you know you can use the following link to set up to receive a text or email to remind you to get a new emergency adrenaline pen, when yours is about to expire. https://www.epipen.co.uk/en-gb/patients/expiry-alert-service

In the UK, each year over 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, most patients with ovarian cancer will receive their diagnosis at late stage. Like all cancers, the earlier ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat, and the greater the chances of survival.

https://targetovariancancer.org.uk/get-involved/ovarian-cancer-awareness-month/ovarian-cancer-awareness-raising-your-digital-toolkit

New shared record system for Devon and Cornwall

A new NHS and social care system has been introduced in Devon and Cornwall to improve the way you receive care.

The Devon and Cornwall Care Record is a secure computer system that brings together information about your health and care and presents it as a single record.

Previously, it was difficult to share information about your health and care between different areas of the system.

Now, healthcare staff can see the details held by GP practices, hospitals and other health and care organisations across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Having a more complete view of your medical history helps healthcare professionals identify problems more effectively and make quicker diagnoses. For instance, they can see which allergies you suffer from, and any treatment and medication you have received.

As well as making treatment safer, the care you receive will be more co-ordinated, giving you a smoother journey through the health system.

It also saves staff the time it takes to find information and spares you the frustration of having to answer the same questions or undergo duplicate or unnecessary tests.

Dr John McCormick, GP and Chief Clinical Information Officer at Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The Devon and Cornwall Care Record has the potential to transform the way we care for patients in our region.

“By enabling information to flow more easily between the organisations that provide services, we will produce a more efficient system and improve the experience for patients.

“For example, it means an oncologist treating a patient for cancer in Plymouth can see the same information as their GP in Callington.”

John Garman, Chief Clinical Information Officer at Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group added: “It’s a common – and justified – grumble from patients that they have to repeat their stories and answer the same questions as they move through the system.

“This programme will go a long way to solving that problem, as well as cutting down on other inefficiencies – like calling patients for tests they’ve already undergone.

“Initially, some organisations will both contribute and use data (including GP practices, acute hospitals and social care providers), while others will just use data.

“However, in time, more and more organisations will come on board, expanding the programme’s reach and impacting the care of increasing numbers of patients.”

Who is involved?

There are more than 760 health and care providers in Devon and Cornwall and, potentially, all of them can participate in the programme.

These organisations include GP practices, NHS hospitals, social care services, mental health services, hospices, community care services and out of hours services. 

If you would like to know if one of your health or social care providers is participating in the programme, you can ask them directly or check the participating organisation list on the Devon and Cornwall Care Record website..

How do we keep your data safe?

Keeping your personal data safe is a key aspect of the Devon and Cornwall Care Record and all required measures are taken to keep information secure and confidential.

Shared care records are subject to UK data protection legislation. They can only be viewed by people involved in your care, and they work under strict codes of conduct.

However, if you would prefer that your information is not shared in this way, you can tell us by filling out the objection form on the data security and privacy page of the website.

Where can you find out more?

For further details, visit the Devon and Cornwall Care Record website at www.devonandcornwallcarerecord.nhs.uk

National Data Opt-out

There have been posts on social media with false information about opting out of sharing your data with the NHS.

Here's what you need to know:

• There is no 30 September deadline for opting out of sharing your data. You can opt out at any time.
• NHS Digital will never sell your data.
• There are strict rules about how NHS can use your data. It's only shared securely and safely.
• Shared data helps the NHS. It has been used to find the first treatment for coronavirus and for vaccine research.

Read NHS Digital's response to the false information about the national data opt-out

There are two types of opt-out options you can sign up for, the National Data Opt Out and Type 1 Opt-out:

National Data Opt Out means that NHS Digital will not share any confidential patient data it holds but will collect data from your GP medical record to use for its own service planning and research purposes. To do the National Data Opt Out, register your preference at https://www.nhs.uk/your-nhs-data-matters/ This was previously known as the Type 2 Opt Out.

Alternatively, you can call 0300 3035678 for more information.

Type 1 Opt Out means NHS Digital will not collect data from your GP practice.  To do the Type 1 Opt Out, click HERE to complete the attached form and return it to us via our reception team or by email chelston.hall@nhs.net

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