Welcome to Norma and Julia
We would like to welcome Norma and Julia who have recently joined our Reception Team.
Welcome Dr Claire Dobson
Some of you will have already met Dr Claire Dobson who was our GP Registrar (trainee) last year. We are very pleased to say that Dr Dobson has now qualified and is going to be working at the surgery as a GP Retainer from the beginning of September. Dr Dobson will be working all day Wednesday and all day Friday.
Farmers Market
A Farmers Market is held in the staff car park of the practice on the 4th Saturday each month. On sale is fresh local produce including meat, fish, vegetables, bread, cakes, soup, honey and more.
Minor Illness Clinics
One of our Practice Nurses, Sarah Bush, holds a Minor Illness Clinic on a Thursday and Friday morning. Sarah can see you if you have a minor illness or problems such as cough, sore throats, earache, urinary problems etc. Sarah is not able to prescribe independently but will get a prescription if required at the time of your appointment. Sarah cannot see children under 2 years of age.
Hearing Aid Batteries
Due to very
popular demand we now have a supply of Hearing Aid Batteries at the surgery. For more information please ask at reception.
Volunteer Drivers
If you have some spare time on your hands and are interested in becoming a driver with our Volunteer Group please contact Zena Wilson on 9078744.
Flu Clinics
(NOT SWINE FLU)
Flu Clinics are being held at the surgery alphabetically by surname this year. If you are over 65 or are in one of the at risk groups and your surname begins A-K please attend on Saturday 10th October and for surnames beginning L-Z please attend on Saturday 17th October both dates between the hours of 8.30 – 11.30 a.m. and 12.00 – 3.00 pm. No appointment is necessary as these are open clinics.
Do you suffer from a chronic health condition that’s getting you down?
A free 6 session course will be starting at this surgery on Wed 11th November a.m. These courses are delivered by people who understand because they have long term conditions too. Arthritis Care is working in partnership with NHS Bristol and South Glos.
Please pass this information on to anyone you know with arthritis, diabetes, asthma, MS, ME, Parkinson’s disease or any other long term (chronic) condition. Please ask at reception for more information.
Do you have any out of date dressings and/or medications?
If you have and they are no more than 15 month’s out of date please bring them into the surgery; we will arrange for them to be collected by Intercare for use in 3rd world countries. If you would like more information about this please visit the Intercare website www.intercare.org.uk
4yP Practice – Sexual Health Services Young People can trust
We are now registered as a 4yP Practice and can help young people with things such as contraceptive advice & supplies; testing & treatment for sexually transmitted diseases (STIs); pregnancy testing & advice. For more information please ask at reception or you can access the 4yP website on www.4yP/bristol.co.uk
HPV Vaccination programme
The surgery has been involved in vaccinating 12-13 and 17-18 year old young women as part of the national HPV vaccination campaign. The next part of the vaccination programme is as follows :
- Girls in school years 8, 10 and 11 (date of birth between 1 September 1993 and 31 August 1997) will receive vaccinations through the school nurses, with the practice providing any vaccinations that were missed at school.
- Girls aged 16-18 (school years 12 and 13) (date of birth between 1 September 1991 and 31 August 1993) will receive all vaccinations through the surgery.
- Girls in school year 9 (date of birth between 1 September 1995 and 31 August 1996) who didn’t receive 1 or more HPV vaccination under the 08/09 campaign can still receive vaccinations if they request it. These can be provided by the school nurses.
Putting a healthy heart into Westbury on Trym
The open land next to the Primary Care Centre were once a “conygre” or rabbit warren during the medieval period when the land was enclosed by the Monastery walls which surrounded what is now Holy Trinity Parish Church. The land had been derelict for many years when the Practice acquired it and we are now creating a wildlife meadow to enhance the environment and for the enjoyment of the community.
Avon Wildlife Trust has carried out a survey of the area and they have advised us on its development. They found varied grasses with false oat grass, cock’s-foot and Yorkshire fog predominating. Common ragwort is the dominant herb, but others are present including hemp agrimony, creeping thistle, meadow buttercup and cut-leaved crane’s-bill. There are some fruit trees and plants from the former allotments, such as lavender and sage, which are of benefit to invertebrates such as bees. The site is an important refuge for invertebrates such as grasshoppers and butterflies including skippers and meadow brown. The area is home to slow worms, birds and small mammals, and a source of blackberries for the local humans. We are proceeding slowly to avoid damaging the existing flora and fauna.
So far we have constructed new footpaths from the car park to the Village Hall and the Parish Church, repaired the stone wall by the church yard, planted a square of yews and some native trees by the path and cut back the hedge by the foot path from the Mouse pub to the Church. The lower part of the site was disturbed during the building works so we have planted native bulbs and seeded it with a wildflower mix which is starting to establish. We are fighting the horse-radish which is a virulent weed!
Our next steps are to replace the railings and gate at the top of the site, to plant a native hedge by the garden fence adjacent to the car park, and to plant more bulbs. As years go by we will gradually reduce the area of brambles and encourage more diversity. If you would like to take part in this project, perhaps to commemorate an event or a loved person, you can sponsor a bird nesting box for £10, a tree for £20, and a bench with plaque for £80. Please contact Jackie Nightingale at the PCC if you would like to contribute. | 
