The Ashfield Medical Centre
Newsletter 2016
www.ashfieldmedicalcentre.nhs.uk
ASHFIELD MEDICAL CENTRE - Our Practice making
Improvements for you 
Since Our recent CQC Inspection in March 2015 we are making some changes to improve our service to
you, especially around the appointment system. We are now offering up to 50+ more appointments weekly.
This is proving a great success with patients being seen by a Clinician on the same day they call or the very
next day if there is no urgency. We would like to thank you for your continued support whilst we make
more improvements in Practice. Please let the receptionist know if you have been having problems getting
an early appointment to see the GP who will look into why this has happened.
Please see our Practice Website for our latest Improvements to you…. www.ashfieldmedicalcentre.nhs.uk
NURSE SPECIALISTS WORKING WITH US - SPECIALIST
DIABETIC NURSE AND SPECIALIST COPD NURSE
We have been very lucky to have gained some support from the Community Diabetes and
COPD Nurse Specialists. These Nurses are both highly trained in Diabetes and COPD and can
offer additional support to patients to help them manage their condition more effectively. If
you are offered an appointment with one of these Nurse Specialist please try to attend or call
the surgery to request a more convenient time for you.
Are You a Carer? We offer an Open Door Service for
you.....If you are please let us know - we may be able to help you
We have an open door policy in practice for our carers. We
would like you to know that we are here to offer you any support that you may need or point
you in the right direction where you can get further support and advice.
We appreciate the hard work that you do looking after and supporting your family friend or relative and
would like to tell you that we are offering an open door service to you, meaning that if you find yourself
in need of immediate support please do not hesitate to call us and we will try our very best to get the
help that you need as quickly as possible. This may be in the form of just someone to talk to ? or
directing you to where you can get support with carers respite, financial matters etc.
Please also remember that ‘Carers UK’ a national support network who can give expert advice
information and support, practical, financial, work and career matters that may help in your day to day
care that you provide. You can contact them on0808 808 7777 or advice@carersuk.org.
They also have a ‘listening ear’ service that they run between the hours of 9.00 am – 7.00 pm Monday
and Tuesdays.
You are not alone. Please call the surgery, or when you next visit us ask for the latest information that
we can offer to support you.
The Ashfield Medical Centre
Newsletter 2016
There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the
site that we hope you will find useful.
FLU VACCINATIONS – still time 
The flu vaccine is available free on the NHS for; pregnant women, children aged 2, 3 and 4, children aged 2
to 18 with a long-term health condition, adults aged 65 and older, people with a serious medical condition
(diabetes, heart problems, chest complaints, breathing difficulties, kidney disease, lowered immunity, liver
disease, previous stroke or TIA, neurological conditions, removal of spleen), healthcare workers or carers,
people living in a residential or nursing home.
Flu is an infectious and common viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It is not the same as the
common cold. Flu is caused by a different group of viruses. Symptoms tend to be more severe and last
longer. You can catch flu all year round but it is especially common in winter which is why it is also known as
“seasonal flu”. PLEASE REMEMBER TO GET YOUR VACCINATION
HOW IS YOUR HEART TODAY - FREE NHS HEALTH CHECK
EVERYONE IS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE, STROKE, DIABETES, KIDNEY
DISEASE, AND SOME FORMS OF DEMENTIA. The good news is that some of these can be prevented.
The NHS Heart Check is part of a national scheme to help prevent the onset of health problems. Everyone
between the ages of 40 and 74 who has not been diagnosed with conditions such as stroke, dementia, heart
disease, diabetes, kidney disease will be invited for a health check every 5 years. The surgery will be
sending invites to those who meet the criteria. If you haven’t received an invite and would like a health
check please do not hesitate to contact the surgery, for more information or to book an appointment with
our PRACTICE NURSE.
BOOKING APPOINTMENTS
Please call the surgery at 8.30 for your appointment – Please call later in the day for any other non-urgent
queries if possible so that patients can get through easily for appointments. Many thanks.
Your Medical Reviews
It is important to keep up with pre scheduled reviews such as Medication reviews, Blood pressure check,
Asthma Review, Stroke, CHD,Diabetic reviews. These are all very important reviews to help our patients
stay healthy. Ignoring your reviews when you are sent a reminder is serious. A medical review is to ensure
that the medication you are taking is still working well, and it is a time where the GP/Practice Nurse may
suggest better options for your illness. A time to ensure you are okay. This is the same for all the other
reviews. Please take your reviews seriously. The reviews are about you. Please Do not ignore your reminders
for your reviews. Thank you.
Is your visit to A & E really an emergency?
If you go to A&E and your ailment is not an emergency it puts extra strain on the staff in A&E and it
makes it very difficult for the doctors and nurses to give the necessary attention to those who really need
it. If you have a sore throat, or need medication refilled or you have a cold or small cut, these ailments can
easily be managed in the Practice. The question that one should ask themselves before considering A & E is
it life threatening? Please help us make A&E work for what it was designed for so that those who really
need the help and service can benefit fully from the service.
A & E is just for EMERGENCIES
Not Anything & Everything…thank you for your support with this..
The Ashfield Medical Centre
Newsletter 2016
Using PC 24 at Kings Mill Hospital (The walk in Centre)
The aim of Walk in Centres like PC 24 at Kings Mill Hospital is for patients to use if they have an urgent
medical need when their usual surgery is closed. If you are ill and you cannot possibly wait until the
Surgery opens the next day then go to PC 24. If you need to see a GP during surgery hours always call the
Practice first and see your GP at the Surgery. PC 24 is for out of hours use only.
Also please remember to Dial 111 (NHS DIRECT) if you need a GP when the surgery is closed, NHS DIRECT
will direct you where to get appropriate treatment.
The Right Place, First Time z card is available from the Practice and also on the Practice
Website.. Please choose the Right Place, First Time for your continuing care.
Beating the winter blues
1. Keep active Research has shown that a daily one-hour walk, in the middle of the day, could be as helpful as light
treatment for coping with the winter blues.
2. Get outside Go outdoors in natural daylight as much as possible, especially at midday and on brighter days. Inside
your home, choose pale colours that reflect light from outside, and sit near windows whenever you can.
3. Keep warm Being cold makes you more depressed. It’s also been shown that staying warm can reduce the winter
blues by half. Keep warm with hot drinks and hot food. Wear warm clothes and shoes and aim to keep your home
between 18C and 21C (or 64F and 70F degrees).
4. Eat healthily A healthy diet will boost your mood, give you more energy and stop you putting on weight over winter.
Balance your craving for carbohydrates, such as pasta and potatoes, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
5. See the light Light therapy can be effective in up to 85% of diagnosed cases. One way to get light therapy at home
in winter is to sit in front of a light box for up to two hours a day. Light boxes give out very bright light that is at least
10 times stronger than ordinary home and office lighting. They’re not available on the NHS and cost around £100 or
more.
6. Take up a new hobby Keeping your mind active with a new interest seems to ward off symptoms of Seasonal
Adjustment Disorder, says Pavlovich. "It could be anything, such as playing bridge, singing, knitting, joining a gym,
keeping a journal or writing a blog. The important thing is that you have something to look forward to and concentrate
on," she adds.
7. See your friends and family It’s been shown that socialising is good for your mental health and helps ward off the
winter blues. Make an effort to keep in touch with people you care about and accept any invitations you get to social
events, even if you only go for a little while. It will really help to lift your spirits – visit NHS Choices for more
information on staying health at any time.
MANY THANKS TO ALL OF OUR PATIENTS AND HAVE A SAFE HAPPY HEALTHY NEW YEAR