Autumn Newsletter 2018

The Lighthouse Medical Practice Patient ForumThe Forum consists of patients of the surgery who work together with the Practicestaff and doctors to help meet and improve the needs of patients.College Road Surgery, 6 College Road, Eastbourne BN21 4HY. 01323 735044Ian Gow Memorial Health Centre, Milfoil Drive, Eastbourne BN23 8BR. 01323 766358www.lighthousepractice.co.uk

Chairman: Gwynne Pickering Editor: Penny Briggs Issue No. 18

We wish all our patients and the Practice Team a Happy and Healthy Autumn

LighthousePatient ForumIn July, Forum members celebrated the greatachievement of having held 100 Patient Forum meetingswith a party at College Road. The guests included pastand present Forum members, GPs and Practice teammembers plus invited guests who have made a bigcontribution to the success of the Forum over the years. Practice Managing Partner, Amanda Sayer, welcomedeveryone attending the Celebration and guests enjoyed alovely buffet and the opportunity to talk with Forum friends.Gwynne Pickering, Forum Chairman, gave a very proudCelebratory Address which is summarised on page 3. Dr TimCaroe thanked everyone for the work of the Forum. ClairePatterson-Snell of the Eastbourne Town Hall Printroom also spoke ontheir printing work for the Forum. A most enjoyable evening was had by all. Dr Simon Eyre, Practice GP at Ian Gow Surgery until 2016, came tothe party and his ‘Thought for theDay’ on page 6 sums up very wellthe spirit of this special evening. The history of the Forum ‘Twelveyears and a Century of Meetings’has been written by MalcomFinnis, a current Forum memberand former Chairman of theForum. This interesting readrecords for this historic milestonethe many achievements bymembers over the years in helpingboth the Practice and the localarea. Chairman Gwynne Pickeringpresented Malcolm with a thankyou award for all his work in writingthe history. If you would like acopy, please ask at Reception.

100th Meeting Celebration26th July 2018

Malcolm Finnis receiving a thank you from Gwynne for writing the History. Bob Marshall looks on.

L to R: Carol Voake, Joyce Pickering, Roger Whelens, Gwynne Pickering, Amanda Sayer.

Pauline Barron and Carol Voake.

In This Edition…Front 100th Meeting CelebrationPage 2 Practice Team News

Pg 2 Patient Forum NewsPg 2 Carers - Front Cover News in Careline Autumn Magazine Pg 4 The Practice - Did You Know?

Pg 5 Where Are They Now?Pg 5 Health Awareness Pg 6 Thought for the Day

L to R: Pauline Barron, Dr Simon Eyre, Sue Evason, Amanda Sayer, Dr. Mark Evason and Claire Carter.

Congratulations to Gwynne Pickering, Forum ChairmanDiabetes UK awarded Gwynne Pickering a‘Campaigning and Influencing Award’ in June inrecognition of his outstanding contribution toDiabetes UK. Congratulations Gwynne!

Flu ClinicsForum members again helped patients prepare atthese busy sessions and were pleased to receivegood feedback comments. Thank you toeveryone who helped at these clinics.

Forum NewsKathryn Anderson of theEastbourne Family Contact Centre (EFCC) Kathryn joined our June meeting and updated us onwhat the EFCC does. One of the aims is to supportfamilies and marriage throughout difficult times. TheEFCC is based locally at Gateway Church and isopen twice a month and provides a safe and neutralplace for families to come and meet. The service enables the provision of three initialsessions followed by nine others over six monthsand a lot of families self-refer to this service.www.eastbournefamilycontactcentre.org.uk

Presentations at Forum Meetings

Lighthouse Practice is Front Cover News inCareLine MagazineAutumn Editionby Pauline Barron, Associate Practitioner and Carers’ LeadCongratulation to Pauline who proudly tells us that theCarers work she leads at the Lighthouse has madethe front cover of the Autumn Edition of the Carelinemagazine with a fantastic article about the work sheand the Practice team are doing for our carers. For the full article please see www.cftc.org.ukA few highlights from the article include:Carer Training – I work closely with my colleagueCharlotte Cook at the Practice, and we haveencouraged all surgery staff to attend internal training,so that we can cascade any new carer-relatedinformation to all staff members. We hope to arrange aCarer Awareness Training session with Care for theCarers soon, and we have carer awareness as anongoing agenda item at our regular monthly Receptionand Nurse meetings. Patient Forum – We have a named Carer Leadwithin our Patient Forum. The Carer Lead also attendsour flu clinics to help spread the word about oursupport for carers and to encourage people to identifyand register themselves with us as a carer. The PatientForum had a young carers focus recently and itsquarterly newsletter will feature an article or informationabout carers in each issue. For example, a recent e-newsletter contained an article about the CRESS card. Posters on doors – For Carers Week, I put noticeson all the doors in the building, rather than confiningthe information to the noticeboards, which may not beseen by as many people.

Practice Team NewsWelcome to Alastair Skinner– Paramedic My name is Ally and I have recently joined the LighthousePractice and will be workingprimarily at the College Roadsite. My background is aParamedic, working for the London AmbulanceService for many years, and most recently as part ofa hospital avoidance team in Hertfordshire.I always wanted to live by the sea and moved toLewes at the start of the summer beginning my rolewith the Lighthouse Practice in August. I work withanother Paramedic, Mark Bunker, and our job is tovisit patients on behalf of the Doctors and report backour findings. I am enjoying the variety of the job - Ilike to learn from feedback from the different Doctors.In the future I wish to become a Prescriber now thatthe law has changed allowing Paramedics to becomeindependent and supplementary Prescribers. I aim tostart the course at the end of next summer. In myspare time I have a young German Shepherd puppywho is rapidly becoming grown up - she keeps mebusy with morning training classes and 6am walks. Ihave 2 cats and recently adopted 3 chickens. Justthis summer I became engaged to my girlfriend Janeand we are getting married next June in Eastbourne.

CarersAutumn 2018

www.cftc.org.ukcharity no. 1074906

Funded by:

careforthecarers

careforthecarers

care4thecarers

IN THIS ISSUE• Share your story of being a carer• Advance Care Planning• How carer-friendly is your GP surgery?• New groups for dementia carers• Association of Carers Talk & Support service

Communication to Patients on Our Practice ChangesPlease keep the Practice up to date with youremail address as well as your mobile and landlinetelephone numbers to enable them to contact youand send updates on the Practice services.

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100th Meeting CelebrationChairman’s Address by Gwynne Pickering

Today marks a very special day in the history ofthe Lighthouse Medical Patients Forum.We arecelebrating our centenary – not in years, I hasten toadd, but in meetings. It has taken us some twelveyears to reach this historic milestone.We have got to this position because of thefoundations laid down by the earlier members of theForum. People like the late Walter James, his workcontinued by Malcolm Finnis, the previous Chairman.We do still have members who have sat on the Forumsince the start and we are grateful for their continuedpresence and support ever since.Today is the appropriate time for us as a Forum topause and reflect on how we have got where we are.It is the time to thank and show our appreciation tothose people who are on fringe of the Forum – whilstyou do not serve on the Committee – without yourassistance we would not have achieved what wehave, and our high standing amongst the otherPatients Forums here in Eastbourne.The undoubted jewel in the Forum's crown is ourquarterly Newsletter which is emailed out to aroundfive thousand patients, and we also print a largenumber for distribution at both sites.The sponsors of our Newsletter are Day LewisPharmacy and without their continued generousfinancial assistance we would be hard pressed toproduce a Newsletter of this quantity. It was with greatpleasure that I invited Rinita Dangol, Chief Pharmacistat Day Lewis in Furnace Road to address us, butunfortunately, she is unable to join us due to ill health.I have asked Rinita to please convey our greatappreciation to her company Chairman.Claire Patterson-Snell is the head printer at the TownHall where our Newsletter is produced. With Claire’sgreat skill, the newsletter always looks so professionaland is a pleasure to read. It was also Claire who wasresponsible for printing the Forum’s history book,copies which you have all now received. I invite Claireto address us.As a Forum we are greatly indebted to our formerChairman, Malcolm Finnis who has laboured awayover the last few months to produce such acomprehensive history of the Forum from day one todate. Thank you, Malcolm. Producing this history costmoney and we would not have done this without the

generous financial sponsorship of Irene Souliotis,Chair of Duvacourt Construction here in Eastbourne. Iinvited Irene to join our celebration as the sponsor ofthe Forum History but unfortunately due to familyreasons she could not attend.After this building was altered some six years ago,there were several bare walls. As a Forum wesuggested to the Practice that perhaps pictures, orphotographs framed, would look very attractive andthis was agreed with considerable enthusiasm.Fortunately for us the Forum met Rodger Whellens,photographer extraordinary at a photographer’sexhibition at the DaVinci Hotel. Our request wasaccepted by Rodger, and as a result the walls havebeen covered by lovely framed photographs which arechanged regularly by him, at no cost to the Forum orPractice. Rodger – our heartfelt thanks andappreciation for your continued interest in theLighthouse Medical Practice and most recently, theIan Gow Practice.Ladies and gentlemen, if you take a liking to any ofthese pictures they can be bought at a very modestcost.By the way, Rodger your photograph of an upside-down flower by the staff rest room has given Amandaa great deal of humorous pleasure. Thank you, Roger.Neither of the Reverend Gentleman who write articlesfor the ‘Thought of the Day’ column could be presenthere today for personal reasons – however the Revd.Michael Cole has sent us this message. “I'm sorry that I can't be with you for this very specialoccasion for the Patients Forum, and I feel honouredto be invited. It has been a real joy to write 'Thoughtfor the Day' for the Newsletter on a few occasionsbecause it reminds us that health isn't just a questionof our physical and emotional wellbeing but also ourspiritual relationship with the Lord. I thank the Lordthat this is honoured in the College Road Surgery andthe Ian Gow Memorial Health Centre. With everyblessing, Michael Cole”.A debate I would very much like to chair is with thetheologians on one side and medical Doctors on theother, on the topic ‘Who is the Most Important –Doctor of the body or Doctor of the soul?’ I am surewe would have a very interesting debate.

“It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”

Mahatma Gandhi

Think! Look Out for Others. Who can you help?Remember to keep an eye on isolated, housebound,elderly, or sick, neighbours, family, or friends during theAutumn and Winter, by making time to telephone or visitthem to make sure they can keep warm and are well.

We would encourage you to use our online and automated telephone service as much as possible.

Did You Know?Presentation of Equipment to the Lighthouse Practice – Dr Andrew Stewart, Executive Partner We would like to say a huge thank you to Medi TechTrust for their generous donation of £10,000 ofmedical equipment to the surgery!The Lighthouse Medical Practice is very grateful tothe Trust, their supporters and all who donate to thisworthy charity which this year chose to supportPrimary Care. We were given new couches for theNurses’ rooms and minor surgery, examination lamps,blood pressure machines for our ambulatory bloodpressure monitoring programme, minor surgicalequipment and weighing scales for the consultingrooms, amongst other items. Dr Andrew Stewart is pictured below (left) at one ofthe presentations for equipment from the Trust which

occurred atboth oursurgeries.Please readmore about theTrust and theirgood works inthe report ‘TellUs What YouNeed’ on their

presentation evening and also on their websitewww.meditechtrust.org which can also be accesseddirectly from the Lighthouse Practice’s website Notice Board.

Flu InoculationsYou can still get your inoculation (free if you are eligible)Please ask at your GP or Nurse appointment.Over 65s will receive the ‘adjuvanted trivalentvaccine’ as studies have shown this vaccine islikely to give better protection against flu to thisage group than any other flu vaccine. 18 to 65-year olds (including pregnant women) willreceive the ‘Quadrivalent flu vaccine’ andchildren aged 2-18 will continue to receive thenasal spray flu vaccine. Delivery dates of the over 65s vaccine are beingstaggered nationwide from September toNovember due to supply problems. There maybe times when we do not have the over 65svaccine in stock, however our last delivery is onthe 2nd November and it is not too late to benefitfrom the flu vaccine at this point as the fluseason does not usually start until December.

Try and imagine what the New National HealthService meant to our parents and grandparentswhen first introduced in July 1948. It was nothingshort of a miracle.It had four principles - free at point of use,available to all, paid for by general taxation, and tobe used responsibly. I can recall hearing storieshow some people were so poor they could notafford to be treated for measles ending with a lifetime of hearing loss and men suffering in agonywith untreated hernias. All of us over a certain agewill have our own family experiences to recall. There was one person mainly responsible forthe introduction of the NHS, Aneurin (Nye)Bevan who regretfully died of cancer in 1960,aged 63. Like many people of that era he leftschool at 14 and spent the next seven yearsworking underground in a South Wales coal mine.As Minister of Health and Housing in the 1945Labour government, he took the boldest politicaldecision despite tremendous opposition, of anyminister in peace time other than going to war.Even in his own party, some wanted the NHS tobe means-tested, or linked to paying insurance,and to be run by councils. Bevan stood firm saying, “Poverty should not be adisability, a disadvantage, wealth should not be anadvantage”. He fought the medical profession, thepress, opposition MPs and members of his ownparty so the NHS could be created. I have beenfriends with many doctors, but it is a well recordedfact that they opposed the NHS all the way -voting 90% in one ballot against its introductionand the Conservative Party voted 21 times inParliament against its creation.Bevan wanted GPs to be salaried staff in thesame way as hospital doctors. Eventually theyagreed to work for the NHS but retained theirindependence to run their own businesses, as stillexists. Successive Governments decided not totamper with the principles of being free to use andpaid for by taxation, and the Bevan conceptremains intact today.In celebrating the 70th anniversary of the NHSwe should salute the memory of those whogave us this Jewel, and pledge that our NHS isgoing to remain free for future generations asmost of us today have enjoyed.

Happy 70thBirthdayby Gwynne Pickering, Chairman

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It is now over fouryears since I retired as

a partner in the Lighthouse Medical Practice and justover two years since I stopped undertaking any locummedical work. What have I been up to since then?Our family has grown rapidly with 8 grandchildren; theoldest is 5 and the latest being born last month with aninth due in February. Providing assistance with themall, together with helping older relatives in ill health, hastaken up a considerable amount of our time but it hasbeen great to enjoy seeing them grow and develop.Ann and I remain very active members of St Elisabeth’sChurch and I have found myself coordinating theChurch’s involvement with Foodbank, acting as ViceChair for the Parochial Church Council as well ashelping with Totz, a group for Mums and young childrenevery Thursday morning between 10 and 12.Ann and I have continued to travel to Uganda. I havespent periods of 2-3 months at Kagando Hospitalproviding clinical input as a visiting Physician. Theyhave been without a resident Physician forapproximately nine years. It is always challenging butvery rewarding seeing so many patients with problemssuch as Tuberculosis, Malaria and HIV together withthe emerging problems of Diabetes, Stroke, HeartDisease and COPD. We have also together visitedMityana on several occasions to support the work ofthe charity Esuubi for which we are trustees –www.esuubi.org.uk. The project supports over 120children in residential care and the education of over400 children so there is always much to keep us busyduring these visits.

I have enjoyed theopportunity to writeduring the time freedup by my retirement. Ihave had three bookspublished. A definitivehistory of NavalSurgeons in the FirstWorld War was two years in preparation and I have afurther History of the Distinguished Service Medal (aNaval Gallantry award) from 1914-1938 awaitingpublication. Some of you may also have read “Let theFruit Grow” which recounts my journey of faithincluding its practical outworking during my timeworking at the LighthouseMedical Practice. Retirement has also left timefor hobbies including birdwatching, my passion forrailways, collecting militarymedals and stamps all of whichwere very much neglectedduring my working life.Despite having a very full life Istill miss the day-to-day contact with you the patientswho were under my care, especially as I had knownmany of you for over 20 Years. However, I amcomforted by the fact that you were all left in verycapable hands when my work in the Practice wascompleted. I remain very grateful for the very fulfillingcareer I was able to enjoy during the 29 years spentworking in the Lighthouse Medical Practice.

Winter Health IssuesSore Throat & Colds are almost always caused by viral infectionsand there is evidence that changes in temperature, such as goingfrom a warm, centrally heated room to the icy outdoors, can alsoaffect the throat. One remedy is to gargle with warm salty water.Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a glass of part-cooled boiled water.It won't heal the infection, but it has anti-inflammatory properties andcan have a soothing effect. An old-fashioned Hot Toddy (honey,lemon and whisky) is a nice way to help relieve symptoms of a cold. Asthma -Cold air is a major trigger of asthma symptoms such aswheezing and shortness of breath. People with asthma should beespecially careful in winter. Top tip: Stay indoors on very cold, windydays. If you do go out, wear a scarf loosely over your nose andmouth. Be extra vigilant about taking your regular medications andkeep reliever inhalers close by.Norovirus - The winter vomiting bug, an extremely infectiousstomach bug which is more common in winter. The illness isunpleasant, but it's usually over within a few days. Top tip: It isimportant to drink plenty of fluids (water and rehydration fluids arebest) to prevent dehydration. Young children and the elderly areespecially at risk.If symptoms are prolonged or severe please contact thePractice, 111 or 999.

Where Are They Now? News of our GPs after leaving the Practice Dr Simon Eyre

Have you heard about FREEWinter Warm Home Checks? They can make a real difference toyour keeping warm this winter.There is a definite link to our healthand the cold. This service is funded by EastSussex County Council andprovided by Osborne Energy.Freephone: 0800 085 1674 or lookat the website, (includes eligibility).www.warmeastsussex.org.uk/services-and-support/winter-home-check-service/

It is Getting Colder… Keep Warm - Eat Well - Get a Flu JabCold weather can be seriously bad foryour health so it’s important to lookafter yourself as the winter approaches.Visit www.NHS.uk/Staywell for sometips to help you and those you care forto stay well.

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Thought for the Day…The Patient’s Forum100th Meeting– Dr Simon Eyre, retired Lighthouse GP

July 26th witnessed the 100th meeting of the LighthouseMedical Practice Patient Forum, which proved to be atruly memorable occasion. Members of the Forum pastand present, staff members and others joined together tocelebrate the success of the Forum in achieving thisnotable milestone.The Forum first met on 28th September 2006 when theclear need to give patients a voice in the running andorganization of the practice was realized. At the time Iwas the Senior Partner in the practice but the greatestcredit for the successful establishment of the Forum lieswith Amanda Sayer, Managing Partner, and the initiativeof the late Professor Walter James whose enthusiasmspurred the group to rapidly become an effectiveorganization. Through the last 12 years the Forum hashugely contributed to the successful running of thePractice through its practical help, advice and support.From the original Forum membership 3 members continueto be active members. During the meeting Gwynne Pickering was able to give anotable speech detailing the history and the successesthat the Forum has enjoyed through the years.So why is the Forum important? It can be very difficult forpatients to be able to effectively have their voice heardwith ideas that may be beneficial for the running of thePractice and for the benefit of other patients. The Forum

provides the best channel for allowing these ideas to beproperly heard and where beneficial to be acted upon. Importantly the Forum also provides a valuableopportunity for patients to give something back to thePractice. In a country where almost uniquely, health careis provided free at the point of delivery, many benefitwithout really appreciating the cost both financially, butalso in terms of the effort required to provide the medicalcare received and the administrative work that happensbehind the scenes to make that care possible. I amreminded of the story of Jesus healing ten men whocame to him with Leprosy. He healed all ten men andinstructed them to go and show the priests that they hadbeen healed but only one of the ten subsequentlyreturned to Jesus to show his gratitude for what hadhappened to him. I know in the past when I have been inreceipt of medical care I have at times easily forgotten toexpress my appreciation of the help that I have received.The Patients Forum provides a golden opportunity forsuch appreciation to be expressed verbally but alsochannelled into practical help for the benefit of all thoseregistered as patients with the Practice.Let us hope that the next 100 gatherings of theforum prove as fruitful in the years ahead as the first100 have been. I myself remain enormously gratefulto all who have been involved and I know that that isthe sentiment shared by all my colleagues whoremain active members of the Lighthouse MedicalPractice.

The Forum thanks Dr Eyre for this article.

If you would like to share a thought for the day in this Newsletter please contact Gwynne Pickering via email:gpickering201@btinternet.com

by Dr Nathan DixonHELP US TO HELP YOU With Christmas coming into view it can often providea challenge in terms of organising medication butwith the increasing use of technology there are nowmany ways of managing your regular medications. Electronic Repeat Prescribing - now used by mostpatients where we send your medications direct toyour Pharmacist saving you from having to collect itand take it over yourself. A recent extension to this isElectronic Repeat Dispensing. This is only suitablefor patients with regular medications that rarelychange and enable you to request these directly fromthe Pharmacist which can be quicker and easier. Weare encouraging patients to sign up for this butappreciate that this may not be suitable for everyone.Electronic Repeat Dispensing works well whenmedications are requested at the appropriate timeand can be inflexible if say you go on regular

holidays and need more flexibility to cover your trip orif the medications change.The traditional methods of requesting prescriptions arealso still in place but Electronic Repeat Dispensingreally does help the Practice and the patients and wewould encourage you to discuss this with our staff andto nominate a Pharmacy of your choice. We do not offer an automatic emergency repeatprescription service. With over 16,000 patients andthe large number of prescription requests we wouldask you order your medication in good time. If patients make urgent prescription requests it takesup significant extra Practice time and will notautomatically be done immediately. We understandthat sometimes we all forget things but the vastmajority of regular medication can be missed for oneor two days with no significant issues . The GPs haveissued staff with a list of medications to help prioritisethose which may be needed urgently, if in doubt theyalways clarify with the GPs.

Managing Your Repeat Medications

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Surgery Information Opening hours: Monday to Friday 8am - 6pmMonday 6.30pm - 8.15pm alternating between

the two sites. Saturdays once a month 8am - 9.30am alternating between sites.College Road Surgery - Tel: 735044

Ian Gow Memorial Health Centre - Tel: 766358Times for Contacting a Doctor

Reception Open 8am - 6pm

After 6.30pm when the Practice isclosed - Call the NHS on 111

(All calls are free)

Between 6pm - 6.30pmWhen the Practice is closed youcan contact a doctor out of hours

call: 03000 242424

Information & Booking Appointments

Practice Website – take a look!Lots of regularly updated information, including aseparate section for teenagers.www.lighthousepractice.co.uk The Practice Booklet 19th EditionAvailable at Reception and on website. Patient Notice BoardHelpful information leaflets (alsoaround the waiting rooms).Practice Facebook

A larger print version of this Newsletter is available on request.Disclaimer notice: Any opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily of the Partners of the Lighthouse,

but we have tried to ensure the information contained is correct. They cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies.

LighthouseVirtual Forum GroupWE NEED YOU!We invite you to join this online group which enablesyou to email feedback on your experience andsuggest improvements to the service offered by theLighthouse and the Eastbourne DGH. Please emailLiz Walke on liz.walke@dsl.pipex.com. Recent comments include: “At short notice, I had to goto the Ian Gow Surgery for a steroid injection for a 'triggerfinger'. Once again I was treated promptly and veryprofessionally by the Doctor and Reception staff alike.”

NHS ANNOUNCES IMPROVEMENTSto Online Patient AccessSo Why Not Sign Up to Access Your Own Summary Medical Records• Access services and information day ornight including your test results

• appointments without telephoning• Order repeat prescriptions instantlyYou need to register for this internet servicewith patient.emisaccess.co.uk/Register You can access this via the Lighthouse websiteon our home page. On registration you will beissued with a unique user identity andpassword for your use only and your medicalrecords cannot be assessed without these. For more information, please see the onlinePatient Access leaflet on the Lighthouse website.

Don’t Delay –Register Today!

We welcome your comments on this Newsletter.Please contact:

Gwynne Pickering (our Chairman) on 01323 640517or email him on: gpickering201@btinternet.com.

LOOKING AFTER THE NHS BUDGET

MISSED APPOINTMENTSGP Nurse

Please don’t be part of these statistics

125 139

AUgUST264

OCTOBER272

OUR AIM0

Think how you can helpbefore missing a GP, Nurse or Hospital

appointment for no good reason

117 124

SEPTEMBER241

116 156

Repeat PrescriptionsOur service is three working days from the time thatyou drop off your prescription to the time it is sent to thePharmacy or printed for you to collect. The Practice arenot contracted to run an emergency prescription service. If you need your prescription urgently please ask at yourPharmacy who can issue emergency medications inmany instances if there is no health risk.

Before calling an ambulance, you can call 111 for advice

We wish to congratulate the Lighthouse Practice on achieving an

‘Outstanding’ Care Quality Commission Rating