Our dispensary is experiencing a higher than usual demand for prescription requests.  This is impacting on our normal turnaround time. There is also the nationwide shortage of medicines that all pharmacies and chemists are experiencing. 

We are therefore introducing a seven day turnaround for the collection of prescriptions. This is still a quicker turnaround that the High Street and also internet providers. We have also been working weekends and evenings in order to reduce the backlog and to try ensure that when we do receive supplies we can fulfill the prescription for you as soon as we are able.

We would appreciate your patience and cooperation to help us by ordering your medication as soon as possible or a bit earlier than normal. We need a little extra time to get the items ready for your normal collection so that you dont run out.  Thank you.

We have had many patients recently who have told us they have heard a rumour that we will be closing the Nafferton branch. We'd like to re-assure all patients that there is no truth in this, we recognise that the Nafferton branch and its excellent staff provide a vital service for our patients who live in Nafferton and the surrounding areas. We have recently moved the dispensing of medicines to the Driffield surgery but patients can still collect their medicines from Nafferton should they wish the same way they always have.

We are recruiting

We currently have the following roles at the Surgery:

• Dispensary manager 
• Nurse - specialising in long term conditions
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Administration Care Coordinator
• Care Coordinator 

Dispensary Manager role click HERE

If you would like to know more, please visit NHS Jobs website, or contact the Practice for an informal chat. 

 The NHS Constitution states that Research is a core function of the NHS. Clinical Research is a major driver of innovation and central to NHS practice for maintaining and developing high standards of patient care. Ultimately, clinical research means patients get access to new treatments, interventions and medicines. Investment in research means better, more cost effective care for patients.

                              What are the benefits of GP practices taking part in research?

• It offers patients access to new treatments
• It brings new dimension to practice and added skills to those involved
• It provides national gold standard training for research
• It offers mentorship and support to those involved in research within practice

                                        How can you help and take part?

                               There are various ways a patient can become involved in studies

• A doctor or nurse may talk to you about a particular study and ask whether you would be interested in participating
• You may be sent information through the post if we feel you may be a suitable participant

You are under no obligation to participate in any research project

Your care and your relationship with your doctor will not be affected in any way if you decided not to take part in a research study

Research we are currently participating in:

ITCHINESS 

Investigating the safety of a medicinal cream with an active substance vs a medicinal cream without an active substance in those with itchiness and kidney disease.

ACCESS - PD

Creating a registry of patients with Parkinson's disease and following their progress over time to improve our understanding of the disease.

Coming soon:

Predict - PD

A study that aims to improve the identification of those at risk of Parkinson's disease before symptoms develop.

We do hope that if applicable you would be willing to take part.

Some patients have contacted us with concerns after being invited to take part in a research study for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Many people develop a reduction in kidney function as part of the normal ageing process and these days this is known as Chronic Kidney Disease. This does not usually cause any symptoms and patients are typically unaware of any problems.

GPs are encouraged to record an electronic code in the medical record for any patients who meet the criteria for Chronic Kidney Disease. This helps with blood monitoring, offering of blood pressure checks and is also important information for when we are prescribing medications. Chronic kidney disease is a common condition and, in most cases, is not a cause for alarm. Patients with progressive deterioration in kidney function or where they are other medical concerns, are always contacted by the practice to discuss further management.

Many patients with Chronic Kidney Disease will already be having regular checks because they have associated conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. An annual blood pressure check and blood test to check on kidney function is recommended unless you have been given different information specific to your circumstances.

We extend our sincere apologies to any patients who have been concerned about the health of their kidneys after receiving the research invitation. You do not need to take any further action but additional patient information about Chronic Kidney Disease is available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/

Parents are often advised by schools and other agencies to contact the surgery for referrals for assessment of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). 

Referral pathways vary throughout the country but in East Riding of Yorkshire GPs are UNABLE to refer children and young people for assessment of suspected ASD or ADHD. 

The Hull and East Riding Neurodiversity Service accepts referrals from named professionals for ASD and ADHD assessments. The professionals which can refer to this service are Health Visitors, Portage workers, Speech and language therapists, Paediatricians, Educational psychologists and SENCOs. GPs are not included in this list and thus cannot refer to this service. 

The paediatric service will not accept referrals from GPs for assessment of suspected ASD. Referral to community paediatricians will only be accepted for assessment of developmental delay or physical disability. 

We can provide advice and support to parents and families including referrals to the children’s social prescribing team. However, if a referral for assessment is wanted we strongly advise you to contact your school SENCO and, where there are concerns about educational progress, to ask if an educational psychology assessment would be beneficial. 

For parents with concerns about behavioural difficulties, the Early Help and Prevention Service is the first port of call and the service can be contacted on 01482 391700 or at www.eastriding.gov.uk/living/children-and-families/early-help-and-prevention/ 

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) provides help for children and young people experiencing mental health difficulties. Parents can self-refer via the Contact Point on 01482 303688. 

CAMHS also provide an Eating Disorder Service and self-referral is available via 01482 347886 

Prescribing

We are only able to prescribe medications for ADHD under a shared-care agreement with an NHS specialist.  Such medications must be initiated by the specialist and monitored until the child is stable before we can take over prescribing. Responsibility for prescribing and monitoring of the child will be returned to the specialist on safety grounds if there is a change in the child’s clinical condition  

We are not able to enter into shared-care agreements with private clinics or other qualified providers because there is no guarantee of continued specialist follow-up of the child. Medications initiated by private or other qualified providers must continue to be prescribed by them unless care is taken over by an NHS specialist clinic. 

Antidepressant medications are not licensed for young people under the age of 18 and must be prescribed on an ongoing basis by a specialist in all cases. 

Dear Patients, 

Please be aware that the practice will be closed from 12 pm on the following dates for staff training. This training is supported by our Integrated Care Board and provides time for essential training to provide our patients with high standards of care. 

Thursday 19th October 2023
Tuesday 21st November 2023
Thursday 14th March 2024

Thank you

To our patients

We are now over a full year into our new appointment system and so far it is achieving our aim of getting the right patients to the right clinician in the right time frame.

Since starting our new system we are pleased to say that we have seen a reduction in the number of patients we are having to direct to the urgent care centres.

We are aware that their are a few who are unhappy with the length of wait for routine appointments and we want to explain this further - our appointments are triaged by a doctor based on clinical need, this to allow those with more urgent conditions to be seen first. Unwell children will be seen much quicker than a request for contraception or a discussion around normal results for example.

We also want to take this opportunity to highlight the enormous strain we (and general practice as a whole) are under. The UK has a decreasing number of doctors and an increasing population. Ourselves and our staff are working extraordinarily hard to provide the best service we can.

Unfortunately we are still receiving a lot of negativity towards our wonderful and highly skilled Advanced Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Pharmacists - these are clinicians with years of experience who are expert at managing a large range of conditions. Please do not abuse them, without these clinicians most GP surgeries would no longer exist, they are in high demand and may go elsewhere.

Similarly we are struggling to retain admin, dispensary and reception staff due to the abuse they are receiving from patients. Our staff are doing their very best and do not deserve to be in a position where they feel they have no choice but to leave their job due to abuse.

Let’s keep our local GP services going, no one wants them to be forced to close. Please do your bit to make it easier for us to deliver the great care we went into medicine to provide.