Health

Surgery secretaries sworn to secrecy

“Can you tell me a bit about the problem?” This question, when asked by doctors’ surgery secretaries, vexes half of you, according to a surgery’s customer feedback survey. But far from being a nosy intrusion, it’s asked so you see the right healthcare worker, says Anthony Cronin, Chair of Munro Patient Group at Munro Medical Centre, Spalding. Mr Cronin said ...

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New supplier takes over domestic abuse service in county

Victims of domestic abuse in South Holland will now be directed towards a new service as of this week. Lincolnshire County Council has recommissioned the service it offers for those experiencing problems at home. The provider of these services across the whole county is now West Lincolnshire Domestic Abuse Service (WLDAS). Referrals to the Service for support will primarily be ...

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New NHS dentist for Spalding and Johnson Hospital dental service returns

Johnson Community Hospital dental surgery will resume full service in 2019, along with a new general practice accepting NHS patients in Spalding. The NHS will be reopening the Johnson Community Hospital NHS Dental service in January 2019 with a new provider. “This will be excellent news for Spalding and district residents,” a statement from Healthwatch Lincolnshire said. The service will ...

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Spalding surgery still needs to improve

A Spalding GP surgery still has to improve after it continues to be rated inadequate by government inspectors. Pennygate Health Centre and lead GP Dr Azmeena Nathu, has 3,460 patients and was inspected in April. The Care Quality Commission inspection came six months after a report rated it inadequate and it was put in special measures with a list of ...

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Hospital Trust still needs to improve – Boston Pilgrim remains “inadequate”

The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has risen to “requires improvement” in the latest inspection. But Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital has still been rated as ‘inadequate’ overall. Trust chief executive Jan Sobieraj said he was pleased the organisation was ‘moving in the right direction.’ The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) report was published Tuesday and it says there have been improvements. ...

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Plan in place to keep children’s ward open at Pilgrim Hospital

Childrens and maternity services will be maintained at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital, the Board of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) has today agreed despite fears staff shortages would lead to closure. Today the ULHT board agreed to move towards an interim model for the services, which sees women and children who present to Pilgrim continuing to be seen and assessed ...

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Events to mark National Carers Week

A series of events are to be held in the area to mark National Carers Week. This year’s national awareness week focuses on helping carers stay healthy and connected and there are three events scheduled through the week organised by the Lincolnshire Carers Service. The first is an awareness stand that’s heading to Spalding’s Market Place between 10am and 2pm ...

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Have a say in your surgery

More people are being encouraged to have a say in their surgeries as part of the current National Patient Participation Awareness Week.   Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) provide a way for patients to help shape the services their local GPs provide. Many are looking for more members of the public to get involved, including those at Sutton Medical Group which ...

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Cash injection to ambulance trust

An extra £9m is to be invested in the East Midlands Ambulance Service. The ambulance trust has agreed terms with the Hardwick Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for the extra funding this year. Hardwick CCG manages the ambulance contract on behalf of 22 other CCGs across the region, including South Lincolnshire. The additional £9m will be heading for investment into clinical ...

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Spalding wellness and welfare activities weekend proves a hit at hall

Almost 400 people took part in wellbeing activites at Ayscoughfee Hall. Two days of calming crafts and relaxing exercises drew 360 visitors to the Spalding venue for the event, organised by South Holland District Council as part of SHout About Wellbeing Week. The events, last Thursday and Saturday (May 17 and 19), were also organised to align with National Mental ...

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MP: ‘Don’t close children’s ward’

Local MP John Hayes says he will oppose any closure of the children’s ward at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital, a decision on the future of which has been delayed until May. A staffing crisis has led to United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT) looking at options on how to run its services from June. Two of the proposals include the temporary closure ...

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Age puts strain on GP surgeries – survey says

A study of Lincolnshire GP surgeries has revealed that there are currently major strains on services right across the county.   One South Lincolnshire surgery said in the National GP Survey: “We have a three-plus week wait for a routine GP appointment. Demand has outstripped our capacity. “All urgent appointments are dealt with on the day, but the standard GP ...

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Free blood pressure checks in Spalding this weekend

An event that could save your life returns to the South Holland Centre this weekend. The Rotary Club of South Holland is holding Know Your Blood Pressure sessions on Saturday. Between 10am and 3pm professionals will be on hand to check your blood pressure for free as part of the campaign launched by Rotary International and the Stroke Association. A ...

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Ambulance crisis is a ‘serious situation’

East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) personnel have been praised in parliament, but the system is stretched and failing, according to MPs. The service, which serves South Holland, as well as the rest of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, and Northamptonshire, was the subject of a Commons debate on Wednesday. Possible solutions suggested included the return of a Lincolnshire Ambulance ...

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Joint approach to research dementia

Dementia patients and their families are being encouraged to get involved in research as all three health trusts and the county council join forces. It is the first time a whole county has promised to get behind the national campaign. By 2025 it is predicted more than a million people will be diagnosed with dementia in the UK. The National ...

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Less clinical, midwife-led birth service hailed success

Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn – one of South Holland’s maternity hospital options – is celebrating the first year of its Midwife-Led Pathway, which included the reintroduction of the Home Birth Service. Launched in February 2017 the Midwife-Led Pathway aimed to provide a less clinical approach for women having low risk pregnancies. A spokesman for the hospital said: “Since ...

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NHS drive to promote equal opportunities

NHS staff from black and ethnic minority backgrounds have been sharing their experiences of working in Lincolnshire at a countywide conference. Anna Kusztyb works across the county for Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), and was among those speaking at the third annual Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) conference on Friday afternoon. The event, which is run in partnership ...

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Repeat prescription shake-up causes concern

From next month, repeat prescriptions must be ordered manually each time they are needed in an attempt by the NHS to reduce waste. From February 1, pharmacies in South Lincolnshire will no longer be able to re-order medication on repeat prescription for patients. Instead, patients must “manage their own repeat prescriptions by requesting items online, or by handing paper copies ...

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‘Inadequate’ Spalding surgery is put in special measures

A Spalding GP practice has been put into special measures after it was rated inadequate by inspectors and patients are said to be “at risk of harm” due to missing systems. Patients at Pennygate Health Centre were deemed to be “at risk of harm” because systems were not in place to keep them safe. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published ...

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Bakkavor Pizza serves up a grand slice of cash for Holbeach Hospital

Holbeach Hospital has been presented with a cheque for £1,200 from Bakkavor Pizza. The money was raised at summertime events. Welly wangers at the Bakkavor Fun Weekend and people who enjoyed pizzas from the company’s mobile oven at the Holbeach Food Festival all contributed. Hospital manager Maxine Winch said: “I would like to thank Bakkavor for their very generous donation; ...

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