Patient News

Long term conditions (LTCs) are physical health conditions that cannot be cured but can be controlled with lifestyle changes, medication or other treatments. They often have a big impact on person’s life. Over the course of year, our patients, who have already been diagnosed with one of the long term conditions, will receive an invitation from us to have a yearly health check, a discussion appointment and a follow-up appointment. Your clinician, jointly with you, try to identify what is important to you health and wellbeing, set personal goals and decide on actions which will help you to successfully manage your condition. This new approach will launch in October 2023. 

Click for Further Information 

PCN 1W’s Flu Jab Programme will begin soon (dates below). By having the flu vaccination, you will help protect yourself and others from what can be a severe, and sometimes fatal, illness which could lead to hospital treatment. You will also be helping to protect the NHS from coming under pressure this winter. If you are eligible, you will soon be hearing from your registered practice, by text, phone call or letter, about making your appointment for Vaccination at a mutually convenient time. Please try to keep your appointment, if you cannot make it, please let reception know.  

PCN 1W Flu Dates: 

16th September - Everglade Medical Practice 8am - 12pm 

23rd September - Parkview Surgery 8am - 12pm 

23rd September - Watling Burnt Oak 9am - 1pm 

24th September - Watling LR, Stanmoore  9am - 1pm 

30th September - Watling Burnt Oak  9am - 1pm 

1st October - Watling LR, Stanmoore 9am - 1pm

 7th October - Everglade Medical Practice 8am - 12pm 

8th October - Housebound Patients 9am-1pm 

14th October - Parkview Surgery 9am - 1pm 

15th October - Housebound Patients 9am - 1pm

Barnet has been accepted into the UK Network of Age-Friendly Communities - a growing movement led by the World Health Organisation.

An Age-Friendly Community is a place that enables people to age well and live a good later life - somewhere that people can stay living in their homes, take part in activities they value and contribute to their communities for as long as possible.

The Age-Friendly Community initiative in Barnet is being led by Age UK Barnet and supported by Barnet Council.

To kickstart the project, Age UK Barnet is seeking the views of Barnet residents. Age UK is keen to find out what is currently being done well in Barnet and where there is room for improvement. 

The results of this research will help Age UK Barnet to build a strategy to enhance and improve community life in Barnet in areas such as housing, outdoor spaces and social inclusion. 

Take the survey – and win £50!

If you are interested in being involved with the initial research, please complete the survey by the 4 August 2023. Click here or follow the QR code below.

The survey should take around 10 minutes of your time and to thank you for taking part, Barnet residents who complete the survey will have the option of entering a prize draw for a chance to win a £50 gift card.

If you require a paper copy, contact the Age-friendly coordinator Pippa on 07379 331807, or visit your local library.

From 1 July 2023, if you want to make a complaint about GPs, dentists, opticians, and pharmacies in North Central London, you will need to contact North Central London Integrated Care Board instead (NCL ICB) of NHS England.

There are two ways you can make a complaint:

1. You can complain directly to the GP surgery, dental surgery, optician or pharmacy (the provider of the service); or
2. You can complain to NCL ICB as the organisation that paid for the service or care you received. You can do this by:

Telephone: 020 3198 9743

E-mail:nclicb.complaints@nhs.net

Post: North Central London Integrated Care Board

   Complaints Team

      Laycock PDC

      Laycock Street

      London

      N1 1TH

If you have a formal complaint to make, it is always advisable to try and resolve any issues directly with the provider in the first instance. You will still be able to do this after 1 July.

Visit NCL ICB’s website for more information about the changes.

The NHS in North Central London (NCL - Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey) is carrying out a review of musculoskeletal (MSK) healthcare services. We have completed our discovery phase and have developed a Case for Change document setting out the reasons why we need to make changes to the services we provide and detailing proposals for what needs changing.

If you have experience of MSK services as a patient or carer and live in North Central London, we would like to share what we have learnt with you and hear your views via an online engagement forum on 4 July 2023, 4pm to 5pm on Microsoft Teams. Please complete this online survey to receive an invitation https://forms.office.com/e/8WnVPxL42B  (closes 3 July 2023). 

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect the joints, bones, muscles, and include rarer autoimmune diseases as well as back pain. Management of MSK conditions may involving seeing the following healthcare professionals in NHS services: physiotherapists, podiatrists, pain specialists, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, occupational therapists, hand therapists, and orthotists. 

If you cannot make the engagement forum but would still like to be kept updated with the review work that we are undertaking, please also fill out the form above.

If you have any further enquiries or have trouble accessing the online surveys/forms, please email the MSK Review Team at nclicb.msk@nhs.net.

If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, a HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate could save you money.

Each item on an NHS prescription usually costs £9.65. You can buy an HRT PPC for a one-off payment of £19.30 (the cost of two single items).

The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months. 

Check this Link to check your eligibility: NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA.

Supporting people with learning disabilities, families, carers and staff to achieve their best health. 

Wednesday 21st June 2023, 11 am - 4 pm 

Church of St Mary Magdalen—Parish Hall 6 Athenaeum Road, Whetstone N20 9AE 

The day is free, open to all and no booking is required! 

NCL has several guides with advice on unusual symptoms that could be cancer related. Please see the following link s direct you to advice regarding Cancer Symptoms and Screening:

Cancer symptoms and screening – North Central London CCG 

Worried about cancer symptoms during the coronavirus pandemic? - YouTube

This scheme has been set up to support Barnet residents who do not have access to broadband in their home. To benefit from the free of charge 12-month broadband subscription with Community Fibre, successful applicants will be required to provide Direct Debit details as security for the broadband router.   Click here to check it out how to apply.  

https://boostbarnet.org/?p=6803

If they would like to apply but are unable to complete the form, please phone or email reception and ask to be referred to our social prescriber who will be able to help complete the form with you.

Are you interested in how your health centre is run and what services it provides?

We are currently looking for new members to join our Patient Participation Group (also called PPG) here at The Everglade Medical Practice. The PPG is a group of patients who meet with practice staff during the year to discuss how our patients view the practice’s performance and to discuss what plans we put in place to improve our performance. The group is also contacted during the year if specific views are sought on various topics from the group.

It is not an onerous task but allows you to understand better how a GP practice operates and gives you an opportunity to help the practice make improvements.

Our next meeting will held at the Practice (Date and Time TBC). Everyone is welcome to come and join. 

The Everglade Practice are pleased to be partnering with MENTOR360, who are providing patients with a free 6-month subscription to their well-being app. 

What is MENTOR360 

MENTOR360 is a smartphone app that focuses on mental fitness, holistic wellbeing, mindfulness and performance. The content has been composed by leading psychologists and health care professionals. They have created non prescribed, non-diagnosed, bespoke formulas, habits and guides which will improve your mental health, self-awareness and leads you to actionable outcomes. 

MENTOR360 is a safe space for all, free from judgement and discrimination. 

What does it do and why? 

It's easy to sometimes forget who you are, or to recognise what you might be feeling, how you are thinking or even what motivated you to act a certain way. Building your mental fitness starts by getting to know yourself again, it can take time and may require a helping hand.

MENTOR360 helps you become more self-aware, understanding who you are and why you feel the way you do. It is your 'pocket life coach' mentoring you on a journey to finding your formula and build your mental fitness stronger than ever before. 

Through forming new habits, becoming more self-aware, and setting actionable outcomes; you will be performing better with inner confidence, coping with life's stresses. 

How can I download? 

1. Install the App - Head to the App Store on your smartphone (iOS or Android) and search for 'MENTOR360'. You can install the app from there.
2. Once open, you can add this code that will give you access to a free 6- month subscription: NHS-1B9DxIPN
3. If you already have an account, go to your account page and find the “Got a code Section”

Further information 

For further information please visit their website: https://www.mentor360.com/support-for-you/

What is Mentor360 – with Jason Fox and Ally Lagaisse

How to use Mentor 360 with an NHS Code

The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year to protect the nation against the Omicron variant.

As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today.

The best way to get your vaccine is by booking online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119 – please do keep checking availability as appointments are loaded onto the system every day. The website and phoneline are understandably very busy and we thank you for your patience when booking.

The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some sites offer walk-in appointments where no appointment is needed. Please check here for clinics with walk-in availability and their opening hours www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins

GP teams have been asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up maximal capacity to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care. This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.

Scientists are very concerned about the spread of Omicron due to the speed with which it spreads and because two doses do not appear to provide much protection but thankfully, a booster dramatically improves this.That is why the Government has asked the NHS to prioritise boosters over other routine care.

We appreciate your support and understanding – and urge you to come forward for your vaccination as soon as possible.

Following a Government announcement on 29th November, the NHS is developing plans to extend the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme to include everyone aged 18 and over.

12 to 15 year olds will also be offered a second dose of the vaccine and an additional booster will be available for people who are immunosuppressed.

People will become eligible for their booster three months after their second dose (reduced from six months).

For now, all you need to do is wait to be contacted by the NHS. Please help us to help all patients by not contacting your GP practice about your booster or attending vaccination sites.

If you are over 40 or a health and social care worker, and are eligible for your booster, go online to www.nhs.uk or call 119 to book your appointment.

Visit www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins to see all the places you can go for a walk-in appointment.

EMIS Health have received reports from both Patient Access users and people who have never registered for the service, that they have received Covid passport emails purporting to be from Patient Access.

They would like to share the following guidance from Patient Access:

• EMIS Health advise users of Patient Access to check the name and email address of the sender; all emails from Patient Access will come via an email address that ends in @patientaccess.com.
• EMIS Health advise users never to click on any log in links that you receive via email but to visit the site via the address bar of your browser instead so that you know you are on the genuine Patient Access log in page. You can find more information and guidance on our information security page here: https://www.patientaccess.com/security
• EMIS Health strongly advise users to set up their Memorable Word security feature, as well as using biometrics (fingerprint ID) if they use the app.
• Email addresses used to register for Patient Access account are secure. They do not share any data and no data is ever saved or stored on any device you use to access Patient Access.

We are now booking our flu vaccine clinics, please call the practice to book an appointment on one of the following dates.

Saturday 2nd October 

Saturday 9th October 

Monday 25th October

Friday 29th October

If your child is 2 or 3 years old please contact the practice to see if they are eligible for a flu vaccine. All children under 18 will be offered a flu vaccine at school. If they miss there appointment please speak to your child’s school to see when the catch up days are.

The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules. 

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected. 

Read the infection prevention control guidance for further details.

Advice in your region:

England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland

Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms

Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.

Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms

Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.

Testing and tracing

Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.

People at high risk

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

Social distancing and changes to everyday life

Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.

GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support

Government information and advice.

For children in Barnet Schools in Reception to year 7 who have missed their Nasal Flu Spray vaccination at school. 

Silkstream Children’s Centre    
Silkstream Road   
Edgware 
HA8 0DA 

Coppetts Wood Children’s Centre and Coppetts Wood Primary School 
Coppetts Road 
Friern Barnet 
N10 1JS 

By appointment only. To book an appointment please call: 0208-447-3622. 

Dates - Tuesday 15th December 2020  and Tuesday 7th January 2021 

Timings - 2pm to 5pm