Cases of vomiting and diarrhoea have increased nationally over the last few weeks. For advice on how to treat vomiting and diarrhoea yourself at home please see the NHS guidance here.

Dear Patients,

We are experiencing an increasing number of patients coming into the Practice following an accident and subsequent injury.  Unfortunately the Practice does not have the equipment to deal with such injuries, for example we do not have an x-ray machine, suturing equipment, or able to safely manage any form of head trauma.

We fully understand there may be reluctance to attend an Urgent Treatment Centre but we ask you to understand our limitations as a General Practice.

For urgent medical care, please visit one of the Urgent Care Centres located within the region:

• Chesterfield Royal Hospital: Chesterfield Road, Chesterfield, S44 5BL
• Rotherham Hospital: Moorgate Road, Rotherham, S60 2UD
• Northern General Hospital: Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU
• Ripley Hospital: Sandham Lane, Ripley, DE5 3HE
• Derby Urgent Treatment Centre: Entrance C, Osmaston Road, Derby, DE1 2GD
• Buxton Hospital: London Road, Buxton, SK17 9NJ

Thank you for your understanding.

Abdul Aziz, Practice Manager.

The Integrated Care Board for Derby and Derbyshire is aiming for this drug to be available to those eligible later in the year but is paused whilst they set up local clinics across the region.  Please do not contact your GP if you think you are eligible as it will not be available in Derby and Derbyshire until later in the year.

Tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro, mimics gut hormones released by the body after eating, telling the brain you are full and slowing down the time it takes the stomach to empty.

There are clear rules about which patients can get Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) from Primary Care.  Eligible groups will be phased, the initial priority criteria is you must have a BMI (Body Mass Index) of 40 plus* and 4 or more of the following diagnosed health conditions:

✓ type 2 diabetes

✓ high blood pressure

✓ heart disease

✓ obstructive sleep apnoea

✓ abnormal blood fats (dyslipidaemia)

(* A lower BMI threshold is used for people from South Asian, Chinese, other Asian, Middle Eastern, Black African or African-Caribbean ethnic backgrounds.)

Tirzepatide will not be accessible to everyone who wishes to use it. People with the highest health risks and who meet the clinical criteria will be prioritised.  Access to Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) will be phased in gradually to make sure Primary Care services are not overwhelmed and can manage the extra demand safely.  The local NHS in Derby and Derbyshire is aiming for it to be available to people who are eligible later in the year, and this is being organised by the Integrated Care Board which has the responsibility.

If you are worried about your weight and do not meet the initial priority criteria, you can self-refer to the weight management scheme available at Live Life Better Derbyshire.  Further information can be found here.

Our Practice is now pleased to offer a Coil and Implanon (implant) fitting, removal, and replacement service to our patients.

The LARCs clinics will take place in the Practice on Friday's, 1.30pm-3.30pm.  The clinics will be with Dr Handscombe (a visiting female GP Partner from Moss Valley Medical Practice) and, depending upon the appointment type, also one of our own female Healthcare Assistants.

To book an appointment, or to find out further information about this new service, please speak to a member of our Reception Team.

For further information about Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs), please click here.

Members of our clinical and non-clinical staff took some brief time out of their busy working day to show our Practice is committed to recognising and supporting carers in our local community by signing the Carer Pledge for GP Practices.

We are working closely with Derbyshire All-Age Carers Support Service (DAACSS) to improve and promote carer support service to those who need it most.  Do you need:

• To register as a carer at our Practice?
• Need support/advice for services to support you?
• Need referring to Derbyshire All-Age Carers Support Service (DAACSS)?
• Would like an appointment at our next Carer Support Day?

If so, please contact a member of our Community Team via our Reception and we will help.  We are very keen to identify younger carers as support is available to carers who are aged 5 years+.

If you live with Parkinson's disease, or know someone who does, Killamarsh Active are offering a boxing exercise class which improves strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular health.

The sessions take place every Tuesday, 2.00-2.45pm, and costs £5.35p for those living with Parkinsons.  Their carer(s), can join in for free!

Free tea and coffee are available afterwards.

For further information about keeping active, please look here.

The NHS has launched a new crisis helpline on 111, giving patients another way to get urgent help if struggling with their mental health.  Just call 111, and press 2.

For further information about this new NHS service, please read here.

Additionally, further information on supportive services during a mental health crisis or emergency can be found here.

Statement from the Practice Manager:

We have seen a significant rise in requests for ASD / ADHD referrals and this increase in demand is being replicated across the country.  As a consequence, this has placed a huge demand on the various private and public neuro-developmental services.

This message is intended to describe some of the waiting times patients should expect once we have submitted referrals to such organisations.  It is important for all to understand that this Practice does not have any control over the waiting lists, nor are we able to influence their prioritisation of their workload.

Colds are caused by viruses and easily spread to other people.  A person remains infectious until all their symptoms have gone, and this usually takes 1-2 weeks.  Colds are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading a cold:

• wash your hands often with warm water and soap;
• use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze, and bin used tissues as quickly as possible;
• do not share towels or household items (like cups) with someone who has a cold;
• do not touch your eyes or nose in cause you have come into contact with the virus as it can infect the body this way;
• stay fit and healthy.

To help you get better more quickly:

• get plenty of rest and sleep.  If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.;
• drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is OK) to avoid dehydration;
• adults can gargle with salt water to soothe a sore throat. 

Further NHS information and guidance can be found here.

For various circumstances a patient may require a supporting medical form or letter to be completed by one of our GPs.  Depending upon the provider's deadline of the document, may we ask patients to allow a maximum 4-week turnaround for this to be completed within the Practice due to the number of requests we receive.

Once the document is ready for collection we will contact the patient directly.

Thank you for your co-operation.

If you have a Learning Disability and are aged 14 years or over, you are eligible for an Annual Health Check.

Please contact our Reception Team to book an appointment.

As a Practice, we welcome all feedback - both positive and negative -  on our patients' experiences in the Practice.  Below are the different ways patients can submit their feedback to us:

1. either going to the NHS Friends and Family form on our website's homepage or completing a paper form in the Practice and posting it in the box to the left of our Reception desk;
2. leaving a review via the NHS website here;
3. if you have a Google account click here and then search for 'Killamarsh Medical Practice;
4. join our Patient Participation Group (PPG) and attend meetings in the Practice with members of our Management Team.

Patient feedback is imperative to the future of our Practice as it is key in us knowing:

1. where we can improve;
2. where we can celebrate our achievements.

Please let us know what you think ... our patients are our priority.

Today members of staff at Killamarsh Medical Practice took time out of their busy working day to acknowledge and celebrate Nicola Parker's 20th anniversary of working at the Practice.

Nicola, one of our Healthcare Assistants, is not only well-loved and respected by all members of staff but also by many of our patients.  Dr Strachan paid a heartwarming tribute to Nicola not only acknowledging her healthcare work, but also her friendship and a long-standing supportive colleague to many in the Practice.

Nicola said "I started at Killamarsh Medical Practice in 2003 as a part-time Healthcare Assistant when my youngest son started school full-time. As the years progressed my hours increased and I have been full-time for the last 7 years.

I am fortunate to work with some wonderful colleagues that I can also call my good friends who certainly make coming to work a pleasure and, without them, I think getting through the pandemic and my personally challenging times would have been a lot harder. So thank you to my colleagues for that!

I enjoy coming to work every day as I enjoy meeting and helping our lovely patients and also taking their blood!

Over the years my role has evolved from taking bloods, blood pressures and ECGs, to doing lots of other things including spirometry, health checks, podiatry (as part of the diabetic reviews) and vaccinations.  Recently I have taken on a new role recently of Infection Prevention and Control Lead with the help of the Senior Practice Nurse.

I hope to be here for many years to come!"

Thank you Nicola for everything you are and do for us.

During hot weather it is important to take extra care of ourselves and others.  Some top tips are:

• Keep out of the heat if you can: if you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11.00am and 3.00pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
• Cool yourself down: have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
• Keep your living space cool: close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.

For further NHS advice on how to cope during hot weather, please click here.

Did you know we have a Community News noticeboard specifically for events in Killamarsh and the local area?  It can be found on the left-hand side as you enter the Practice.  If you have an event you would like to publicise, please hand the information to a member of our Reception Team.

Whilst visiting our Practice, please also take the time to look at our Waiting Room noticeboards and information stand (to the right of our Front Desk) as they contain a lot of useful information relating to not only local and healthcare services, but also a specific topic such as 'Loneliness' and 'carer support'.

We would like to raise awareness regarding these two medical infections following a rise in cases nationally.  Please watch this YouTube video for further information as to what to look our for in children.

Please also see the NHS guidance here regarding how to treat a sore throat yourself.