Practice News
Pension Credit - Are you missing out?
Check your eligibility for Pension Credit at gov.uk/pension-credit or call 0800 99 1234
For more Pension Credit information use this link for the PC - A5 Factsheet.pdf
To see the Pension Credit poster and QR Code use this link PC - A4 General poster 1.pdf
Blood Test Information
All routine blood tests are now by a prebooked appointment only
Appointments at all of the locations; Corby Outpatients, Isebrook Outpatients, North Northants Council Office (Kettering) and Nene Park Outpatients can now be booked online.
www.kgh.nhs.uk/phlebotomy-department-blood-tests
Please be aware appointments at Kettering General Hospital are reserved for patients with hospital request forms, paediatric and specialist blood tests only. To book an appointment please ring 01536 494411 open between 8am — 4pm.
Patients with requests generated by their GP are asked to book at one of our other locations. Please bring any blood test forms with you.
If you are unable to book online please:
To book an appointment at any of our blood tests clinics (except North Northants Council Office) please telephone: 01536 494411 between 8am - 4pm (Monday - Friday).
To book an appointment for North Northants Council Office only, please telephone 01536 494411 between 8am - 4pm or telephone 01536 535600 between 9am - 5pm (Monday - Friday).
Children's Phlebotomy Service (Blood Tests)
All children’s blood tests are now only available as pre-booked appointments.
Please telephone 01536 492694 between 8:00am and 4:00pm (Monday to Friday) to make an appointment for your child’s blood test. This is a central booking point, and the receptionist will ensure that your child is seen at the most suitable phlebotomy location. We are unable to accommodate children who arrive for a blood test without an appointment.
Glucose Tolerance Test appointments
To make an appointment for a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) please telephone 01536 492694 between 9:00am and 4:00pm (Monday - Friday).
The Falls Management Service Team Members
- Have you or somone you know had a fall?
- Are you worried about having a fall?
- Are you concerned about your balance?
Please use the link below to see how to make a falls referral
Enhanced Access
We are excited to announce that from 2nd September 2024 we will be adding Enhanced Access to our services to better meet your health care needs. This is currently being met by Weavers Medical Centre in Kettering.
The aim is to provide you with more flexible options for appointments within Rothwell & Desborough Health Group.
Our goal is to ensure that you have timely access to the care and support you need when you need it . We believe that these changes will make it easier for you to manage your health and well-being.
Enhanced Access appointments will run from 6.30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am – 5pm on Saturdays. This service will be a mixture of face to face and telephone appointments with a clinician.
We will be extending these appointments to include other clinics in the future.
We will keep you up to date when they will be available.
This is an appointment service only via our current triage system
If you have any questions regarding this service please contact reception or complete an online ADMIN form.
Thank you
Domestic Abuse Campaigns
The Euros have started, research has shown that domestic abuse incidents increase by 26% when England play a football match, they increase by 38% when the team loses and increase by 11% the following day, whether they win or lose. (National Centre for Domestic Violence, 2022)
Football-Against-Domestic-Abuse- (002).pdf
Veteran Friendly Practice
We are an Armed Forces vetran fiendly accredited GP Practice.
This means that, as part of the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have a dedicated clinician who has a specialist knowledge of military related health conditions and veteran specific health services. This is important in helping ex-forces to get the best care and treatment.
If you are ex-forces, please let your GP know to help ensure you are getting the best possible care.
For more information please follow this link: https://www.rdhg.co.uk/health-advice
SHARPS BOXES – NEW DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
SHARPS BOXES – NEW DISPOSAL PROCEDURE - The Diabetes Centre no longer take these
Patient are to go to the following website / call council - THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS and sharps bins will be collected from patients home
https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleansing
- Bins
- Commercial and Clinical Waste
- Clinical and hygiene waste
- Scroll to bottom of page – request a collection
- Complete form and a collection date will be given
Alternatively patients can call: 01536 410333
Alcoholics Anonymous helpline
For access to local meetings see the QR Code on this AA Poster
Crisis Cafes
If you find yourself in crisis or need support with your mental health in the evening and/or at the weekend we are here to listen and help you in your time of need.
Mind Cafés have professional mental health workers who can offer you a safe space. Our aim is to support people to reduce any immediate crisis and to safety plan; drawing on strengths, resilience, and coping mechanisms to manage their mental health and wellbeing.
There is no need to call, just drop in to find a safe place with hope and comfort and find your pathway to recovery. Click on the link below or download the poster for a timetable and venues.
New Appointment System
We are introducing a new Appointment System starting 11th September 2023.
To find out more information on why we are making these changes and what you will need to do, please visit our Appointment Page in this link
Type 2 Diabetes Medication Shortage
To all patients with Type 2 Diabetes and using one of the following medications: (GLP1-RAs)
Rybelsus tablets 3mgs , 7 mgs or 14 mgs
Ozempic injections 0.25mgs, 0.5mgs and 1.0 mgs
We have just been informed this morning that due to a global shortage - the alternative GLP1-RAs are no longer available. (Rybelsus)
The advice is now NOT TO PRESCRIBE any of the above GLP1-RAs until at least Mid 2024 due to the Global Shortage of the medications.
This is completely out of our control and we may have to reassess your diabetes control at your next planned review and work with a different treatment plan.
Thank you for your patience. If you have any of the following symptoms; severe uncontrollable thirst, passing urine much more frequently, unintended weight loss please contact the surgery.
Update on Testosterone for HRT
We are writing to inform you that our practice will no longer be supporting the issuing of testosterone for the purposes of HRT. This is because testosterone is not licensed for use in the NHS in the UK.
There has been a ten-fold increase in the prescribing of testosterone for women in the UK over the past seven years. This is partly due to the growing awareness of the symptoms of menopause, but it is also due to the increasing availability of testosterone products on the internet.
However, there is limited evidence to support the use of testosterone for HRT. A recent study by the British Menopause Society found that testosterone did not improve symptoms of menopause any more effectively than placebo.
In addition, there is a need for close and regular biochemical monitoring as well as potential risks including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
For these reasons, we have decided to stop issuing testosterone for the purposes of HRT. If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause, we would be happy to discuss other treatment options with you.
Testosterone being issued for other indications will be unaffected by this position.
Thank you for your understanding
Kind Regards
Dr Anand Pattar
GP Partner
Mask wearing at the practice update
NOTICE FROM THE PARTNERS AT RDGH
Patients will no longer be required to wear a face covering routinely when visiting the surgery but can still choose to do so as a matter of personal choice.
If you are presenting with respiratory symptoms we would like to encourage patients to wear a face covering when entering the building and during their consultation.
KGH Waiting Times
For information on Kettering General Hospital NHS Foundation Trust waiting times, please follow the link below to the NHS My Planned Care webpage or follow the link on our Appointments page.
https://www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk/mids/kettering/
New - Self Care Fact Sheets
The Self Care Forum provides links to fact sheets providing selfcare information for a number of health issues. Go to our Health Advice page for the link and further information.
Data Sharing Changes you should know about
- TYPE 1 - this stops any data going from the practice to NHS Digital.
To opt out of Type 1: complete the form here https://nhs-prod.global.ssl.fastly.net/.../type-1-opt-out... before 23rd August and return it to the surgery. We will then add the information to your medical record.
- NATIONAL DATA - this will allow the data to go to NHS Digital, but stops any data going further than that.
*****IMPORTANT UPDATE TO REGISTER BIRTHS AND DEATHS*****
Organ donation law in England has changed
The Law around organ donation has changed in England. Any decision is still yours to make. Find out more at www.organdonation.nhs.uk