Westcroft House Surgery: 01946 820 348
Prescriptions Line: 01946 820 341

Practice Newsletter – SUMMER 2022

Welcome to our new Practice newsletter

SUMMER 2022

Summer is just around the corner, and there have been some changes in the last few months that we wanted to share with you.  New services & some new members of staff at Westcroft House Surgery J  we will update our newsletter every season.

 Practice Manager

The previous Practice Manager, Vivien King left for pastures new back in July 2021 and has just recently retired from working in general practice, we wish her well.  We welcomed a new Practice Manager, Elaine Hurst who has now been in post for nearly 1 year, she has over 20 years’ experience in general practice.

Nursing Team at Westcroft

Rachel Law, Practice Nurse, who specialises in COPD & Asthma & childhood immunisations.
Jen Fraser, Practice Nurse, who specialises in Diabetes & childhood immunisations.
Helen Murdock, Health Care Assistant, who worked previously in a community setting.

Reception / Administration

Louise Lewthwaite & Emma Frost joined Westcroft, they both worked in general practice before joining Westcroft.

 Advanced Nurse Practitioner

We now have a full time Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Westcroft.  Vicki Neale, who has a wealth of experience in general practice.  Vicki can diagnose, prescribe & refer patients.

 GP Registrars

We have a new GP Registrar who joined us a couple of months ago.  Her name is Doctor Julie Walker.  She joins her GP registrar colleague, Dr Ewelina Emilianowicz, who has been resident for some time.

Upcoming Bank Holidays – SURGERY CLOSED

Thursday        2nd June 2022
Friday              3rd June 2022

Community Pharmacy Consultation Service

In some cases – you don’t always need a Doctor’s appointment for minor ailments.  To save you waiting for the next routine appointment, we now have the facility to refer you directly to the Community Pharmacist who will see you and advise the best treatments for ailments.  This referral will mean you will speak or see the Community Pharmacist the same day.  Ask reception for details.

Coming up very soon……………….EConsult

This is a computer / mobile phone app to save you waiting in the telephone queues.  This is a user friendly application.  You simply put in your details and answer a few questions relating to your medical complaint, or if you wish to request a sick note or medical report.  When we receive your request in the surgery, the Doctor will respond to any medical problem, or one of our Administration Team will respond for any sick note or medical reports within a set timescale.  This service will not be for any medical emergency which could be life threatening.  This is due to go live in the next few weeks.  Look out for regular updates in the surgery or on our Facebook page.

Services – do you know what is out there when you may need a little extra?

Support?

Frailty and Ageing Well Team

For our older patients who may have noticed that they are started to struggle, and  May have noticed a dip in physical function, Olwen our practice Care Coordinator & Vicki Johnston a specialist Frailty Physiotherapist maybe able to support you.

 Mental Health Coaches

Anyone can suffer with mental illness, we have Health Coaches who specialise in supporting and coaching patients, helping manage and setting goals.

There is also a Mental Health Coach specific for children as well as adults.

Respiratory Specialist Nurse

Any patients who have Asthma / COPD or Long Covid or Fibrosis who need Help and support managing daily life, helping patients to manage their conditions,  enabling you to keep active and education on these conditions.

Learning Disability Team

We have 2 Learning Disability coaches, who help any patient who has a learning disability

That needs support with their health & wellbeing.

Occupational Therapist

Specialising in well-being and social prescribing. Helping patients who need support &

Advice on practical support getting back into their work setting.

Finally…………………………

Minor Operation Clinic surgery

We restarted our Minor Operation Clinic surgery.  This was suspended because of Covid.

Dr Stevenson has now reinstated this service.

Spirometry testing

Again Covid suspended this service, but we are pleased to have this clinic back fully operational.

COVID 19 Booster –Vaccines

We are not vaccinating in the surgery for Covid 4th boosters.  If you get an invitation to attend for the booster, please call 119 or go online to book directly.

Supporting UKRAINE

All the staff at Westcroft wanted to support the Ukrainian Appeal, which was set up locally by Bart, one of our Paramedics in Copeland.  We managed to donate enough funds to pay for one of the lorry’s which was packed full of goods collected by staff and their family & friends all the way to Poland, to be redistributed to where was need the most.  Well done to everyone to supported and donated to this.  We got a lovely letter sent to us all thanking us for our support, all the way from the President of Association of Ukrainians in Poland, branch Szczecin, hand delivered by Bart our local Paramedic.

Training day – where the surgery will be closed in the afternoon

15th June 2022
14th July 2022