I have been informed by our Practice Manager that the proposals for Same Day GP Care have been postponed for (at least) a year, pending further discussion and consultation.

However I propose that we still discuss this at our Open Meeting on 20/03, so we are in a position to input quickly to any forthcoming consultation.

The background communication on this is at https://www.nwlondonicb.nhs.uk/news/news/update-gp-same-day-access-planning-response-feedback.

We are delighted to share an important update on our efforts to improve healthcare services in North West London. Our latest initiative focuses on Improving Same-Day Access to Primary Care, a crucial step forward in making healthcare more accessible and responsive to your needs.

We recognise the importance of timely access to primary care services. This programme is designed to address the challenges many face in obtaining same-day medical appointments and treatments, ensuring that you receive the care you need, when you need it.

We invite you to learn more about this significant development by visiting our webpage: Improving Same-Day Access to Primary Care. Here, you’ll find information on the changes we’re implementing, the benefits for patients and the community, and how you can access these services.

With just 84.5% f 5-year-olds having had both doses of MMR, vaccination levels are at their lowest since 2010-11. Uptake of other key jabs is also too low.

Guardian report at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/29/parents-in-england-urged-to-ensure-children-get-mmr-vaccine-amid-uptake-drop.

General Practices are busier than ever, so it is important we use the whole team to support patients and provide the right care at the right time.

GP practices work as teams of medical experts and support staff, led by the GPs. There is an increasing range of clinical experts with specialist training who can provide bespoke care to patients, often in the same building as the GPs.

You can find out more by visiting www.nwlondonics.nhs.uk/wearegeneralpractice where there is also a short video to introduce you to some of the different possible team members. It is worth a look.

This insistence on weight loss (and physiotherapy) before a patient is even considered for knee surgery seems to be short-sighted and little short of rationing. It leads only to further health inequalities: the affluent are paying to have the surgery privately but the economically deprived suffering major impacts to their quality of life and ability to work.

NIHR press release at https://www.nihr.ac.uk/news/knee-replacement-surgery-decreased-after-nhs-policies-on-patients-weight-were-introduced-worsening-health-inequalities/30913.

[Thanks to Ewa Siwiec for finding this information]

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/19/the-flu-hunters-trying-to-stop-the-next-pandemic-in-its-tracks