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Health
Better Healthcare in Bucks
Proposed changes to Health Service in Buckinghamshire
You may already be aware of the above public consultation document which is being issued by NHS organisations in Buckinghamshire, outlining options for the future provision of health services within the county. The public consultation period runs from January 16th – April 16th 2012, during which time a number of public events are being organised. A copy of the consultation document and details of these events can be obtained by telephoning 01494 552256 or by email to betterhealthcareinbucks@buckinghamshire.nhs.uk . The consultation document can also be found on the website at www.buckinghamshire.nhs.uk/bhib/
Buckinghamshire Public Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is independent and made up of elected members of Buckinghamshire County Council and the four District Councils within the county. Its role is to act as a lever to improve the health of local people with a specific role in consultation on changes to local health services. During the consultation period, members of the Committee will be questioning the NHS as to the reasons behind the proposals and listening to the views of patients and organisations. The Committee will report its findings back to the NHS.
The Committee would warmly welcome any views you may have on the proposed changes. You can do this by writing to us at Public Health Overview and Scrutiny, Buckinghamshire County Council, Room G9, County Offices, Walton Street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 1UA or by email to scrutiny@buckscc.gov.uk by 20 March 2012.
If you are responding directly to the Better Healthcare in Bucks consultation, it would be very helpful if you could send us a copy of your response. All responses will be treated in confidence and will help to inform the formal response from the Committee to the NHS.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Lin Hazell, County Councillor
Chairman, Public Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee
lhazell@buckscc.gov.uk
www.buckscc.gov.uk
Tel: 01296 382783
Mimi's Mission - Massive Thanks and....a slight change of plan!
To everyone who has worked so hard and supported Mimi's Mission since we commenced fundraising in September 2011, I'm keen to update you all about our progress. As many of you are aware it was hoped that Mimi would be able to have Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) - a complex operation in which a neurosurgeon identifies and cuts some of the nerve fibres that come from the muscles and enter the spinal cord - later this year at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. For multiple reasons, and not without significant disappointment for friends and family, we have recently been informed that Frenchay are not in a position to operate on Mimi. NICE guidelines here in the UK mean that only a small selection of children can have this operation and sadly Mimi's condition has recently deteriorated and she no longer meets this criteria.
We're off to St Louis, Missouri....This news was only given to us in recent weeks, however, we are extremely relieved that St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, which has been at the forefront of developing less invasive surgical techniques for SDR, has been able to find an opening for Mimi NEXT MONTH, in March 2012! Dr TS Park at St Louis, who is reknowned internationally in this field and has performed over 2000 SDR operations and is extremely optimistic in his prognosis. We have high hopes for the following potential improvements in Mimi's flexbility including permanently reducing her spasticity; improving her sitting and standing postures; making transitions between postures easier and faster; improving her balance and level of comfort; enabling her to walk with a walker in all environments (which she can’t do at present), She may even have a chance to walk with crutches – wow!
£34,000 Raised to-date.....We will be flying with to St Louis in the first week of March and expect the operation to take place shortly after 7th March. Obviously the extra cost of flying to and staying for over a month in the US has been unplanned, but the immense fundraising efforts of kind friends and community-members in and around Wendover means that a total of £34,000 has been raised to-date and more than covers the short-term cost of the operation, equipment and physiotherapy. What a wonderful achievement - thank you to everyone who has been so generous with their time and resources.
Next Steps.....The next few months will be an immense challenge for Mimi and her family. The operation is only be the beginning of the journey to enable Mimi to gain more flexibility and independence. In order to ensure that operation is a success Mimi will require intense specialist physiotherapy, costing at least a further £20,000 over two years, including several weekly trips to hydrotherapy facilities and other rehabilitation services. Friends and family connected with Mimi's Mission will continue to be working hard to raise these funds and we will continue to require your support, donations, ideas and commitment in the coming months. If you would like to know more about Mimi's Mission, would like to make offers of assistance please contact the Treasurer of Mimi's Mission, Matt Ryan FCCA Managing Director, Numbers, 32 High Street, Wendoever, Bucks, HP22 6EA. Bank account in the name of Mimi’s Mission is at Lloyds Bank, sort code 30 90 38. Account Number 38230968
With thanks, Nici Simpson (Mimi's Mother)
News from Wendover Health Centre
Our website
A wealth of information about Wendover Health Centre, and material on health, lifestyle and common diseases including flu is available at: www.westongrove.com
Wendover Health Centre
Dr Anna Milward
Dr Anna Milward will be going on holiday then maternity leave for six months from mid-March. Dr Andrew Jackson will cover her work from mid-May onwards.
Appointments with doctors and nurses
Thank you for your support while we work to improve the appointments system at Wendover. In order to make the best use of appointments please consider the following:
- Many patients find that they can get the information they need from reliable on line sources. We recommend the NHS Choices and Patient UK websites: you can find them by typing the name into a search engine such as Google. Both of these sites carry useful information on common conditions, NHS Choices also has a symptom checker and carries news about topical health concerns. Our own website (www.westongrove.com) carries a wealth of health information and links to other useful websites.
- Healthy adults and children can usually fight off conditions such as coughs, colds, flu, and diarrhoea and vomiting without the need for prescribed medicines such as antibiotics. Give supportive treatment such as paracetamol for flu and extra fluids for stomach upsets: specific advice can be found on the websites mentioned above.
- To speak to a nurse you can call NHS Direct (0845 4647); they will ask you about your symptoms, provide health advice, and indicate if you should seek an appointment at the surgery.
If you decide that you do need urgent attention from the surgery, please call us as soon as possible on 01296-623452. The receptionist may offer you an appointment with a nurse, or a call back by one of the doctors or nurses on duty. Many problems can be dealt with over the phone, but if necessary arrangements will be made for you to be seen on the same day.
If your problem is urgent please do not ask for a call back from your own doctor (unless they happen to be on duty that day).
If your problem is not urgent you will be offered a routine appointment with the doctor or nurse of your choice. We aim to offer appointments within a week, but regrettably sometimes the wait is longer, especially if you want to see a specific doctor or nurse.
Telephone calls for non-urgent matters are usually best reserved for follow up after an earlier consultation; your doctor will often indicate when a follow up telephone consultation is suitable.
