Practice News
Newsletters
NHS 111 offering Mental Health Support for the first time
Millions of patients experiencing a mental health crisis can now benefit from support through 111 services. People of all ages, including children, who are in crisis or concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the mental health option 2 and speak to a trained mental health professional 24/7.
Call handlers can guide patients with next steps such organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternatives services, such as crisis cafés or safe havens which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to A&E or a hospital admission.
NHS Talking Therapy Services are also available for people who need help with other mental conditions such as anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and PTSD and anyone can refer themselves online via NHS.uk or by contacting their GP.
11/2024
New Blood Taking Clinic In Danetre Outpatients Department
We are very excited to announce that Danetre Outpatients have a new blood taking clinic, which will be for all patients unable to have their bloods taken at their GP surgeries, or for any patients of clinics within the hospital that require their patients to have bloods taken.
The clinic will originally run for 5 weeks to ascertain popularity and hopefully if all proceeds as hoped will become a regular clinic. The details are as follows :
Frequency: Every Tuesday and Thursday (apart from week of 16 September)
Time:08:30 to 13:20
Start Date: Tuesday 10 September
How to Book an Appointment
Appointments can be made either via telephone or online - please see details below :
BTU Appointment line:
The phone line booking number is 01604 523303 and is open from 09:00 - 12:00
Appointments can be made online via:
Use the link to book a BTU appointment at Northampton General Hospital www.swiftqueue.co.uk/northampton.php
& select 'Danetre Hospital Adults'
NHS App Help Drop-In Sessions
19/08/2024
CQC Inspection
We are pleased to inform you that Abbey House Medical Practice continues to be rated as Outstanding. We are proud to have achieved this CQC rating for the second time, one of only 5% of GP practices in the country to have done this! We would like to thank our fantastic team for their loyalty and hard work in providing a high standard of care to our local community, an also to our patients for their continued support.
06/2024
Dr. Alastair Craig
It is with deep sadness that the partners of Abbey House Medical Practice would like to inform our patients of the recent death of Dr. Alastair Craig who died at home after a long illness.
As many of you will remember he was an integral part of the practice for many years and patients & the wider General Practice team benefitted from his medical knowledge and wisdom.
He was especially interested in diabetes care and training new GPs - many of them staying at the practice after their initial training with him.
Our thoughts at this difficult time are with his wife Dr. Patti Gardiner ( who of course was a partner here as well ) and their children Ben and Julia.
There is a book of condolence at Abbey House Surgery that will be available for patients to sign until the end of Friday 23rd February.
12/02/2024
Update To Our Appointment System
We are in the process of updating our new appointment system which will go live on 25th September 2023.
Between 11th & 24th September we will have no pre-bookable appointments for GPs, Registrars and Clinical Assessment Team whilst our systems are being updated, you will also be unable to make online bookings.
If you require an appointment during this period please phone in or call into one of our surgeries to book an appointment on the day you would like to be seen.
We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding.
13/09/23
NGH Discharge Medicine Helpline
The discharge medicine helpline supports patient who have questions about medicines given to them during their stay on a hospital ward at Northampton General Hospital.
Patients can call the free helpline on 01604 544504. Open 10am - 4pm, Monday - Friday, (excluding bank holidays).
09/05/23
Hayfever
Anti-histamines and nasal sprays for the management of hayfever symptoms are not routinely prescribed and should be purchased over the counter from pharmacies and shops.
For some useful tips on how to manage your hayfever symptoms please visit -
04/05/23
Communication with the Practice
As you may be aware, three of our long-standing GPs have retired recently and we've been struggling to find permanent replacements for them. The current shortage of GPs is well known and recruitment has been an issue not only for us, but for practices nationally. We're also recruiting for additional staff members and have had some substantial staff sickness. We sincerely apologise to our patients who have struggled to get in contact with us and would like to reassure you that we are currently working hard to improve our appointment availability and telephone answering times.
We would also like to confirm that you can continue to contact us in person and via our website as well as by telephone. We do have a call back function on our telephone if there is a queue, which calls you back when you are at the front of the queue to save you waiting on the phone. Any initial issues with this system should now have been ironed out.
Thank you for your continued support.
21/04/23
Stress Awareness, 1st – 30th April
Stress Awareness Month takes place throughout the whole of April. This year, the Stress Management Society is
promoting a 30-day challenge in which every day you do something to improve your physical, mental or emotional
wellbeing. This challenge aims to reduce the overall stress that people may feel in their day-to-day lives,
and helps to teach techniques that reduce stress which you can use in your daily life after the
challenge.
If you’re feeling stressed, there are steps you can take to help yourself feel better. These
can include techniques as simple as going for a walk, trying meditation, eating a little bit healthier or
spending time with friends and family. If you’re finding stress unmanageable, then it’s important to speak to
your GP.
National Stress Awareness
Month
National Stress
Awareness Month - Stress
03/04/23
Teen Clinic Daventry #teenclinicdaventry
Next clinic date: Monday 24th April
⏰ No appointments needed - drop in anytime between 3.30pm - 6.30pm
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Teen Clinic Daventry #teenclinicdaventry
Daventry Mayor, Cllr Malcolm Ogle, visited the Teen Clinic Daventry team on Monday 6th March at Daventry Mind. The clinic supports the physical and mental well-being of teens aged 11-18 in Daventry and surrounding areas. Cllr Ogle, pictured with TCD clinical lead Dr Sarah Tudor was thankful to learn more about the services provided and spread awareness of the support available to the young people within Daventry.
Next clinic date: Monday 24th April
⏰ No appointments needed - drop in anytime between 3.30pm - 6.30pm
08/03/23
Eating Disorders Awareness Week, 1st-7th March
This year’s Eating Disorders Awareness Week focuses on the fact that men can suffer from eating disorders
too. It has been found that 1 in 4 people who suffer from an eating disorder are men. This year really focuses
on men sharing their stories about eating disorders and speaking to others about their experiences. You can
help by donating, sharing your story, or just taking the time to read someone else’s. The more that men with
eating disorders are heard, the sooner the stereotype will be broken. If you’re concerned about yourself or
someone else, you can reach out for professional advice, or to find out more about Eating Disorders Awareness
Week, you can see the BEAT website.
If you or someone you know is struggling with eating, it can be
difficult to know if it’s just a lack of time or appetite, or if there’s something more serious going on. It’s
important to recognise that eating problems don’t always mean that someone has to be underweight, or look
visibly unwell. Eating disorders and relationships with food are not a physical appearance, they are
behaviours. If you or someone you know is struggling with their relationship with food, or you want to find
out more, there are many people that can help.
01/03/23
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, 1-31st March
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month focuses on the symptoms of ovarian cancer, how to spot if symptoms are developing, and what you can do to find out more if you’re concerned. Some symptoms may include: persistent stomach pain, persistent bloating, difficulty eating or needing to wee more often than usual. If you’re concerned that you may be experiencing any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with your GP. There are ways in which you can lower your risk of getting ovarian cancer. These include quitting smoking, staying a healthy weight or losing weight if you’re overweight, and speaking to a GP if you’re already aware that ovarian cancer runs in your family. These measures may not prevent the development of ovarian cancer, but they can help to lessen the factors that may cause its development. For more advice, you can see the NHS website, or speak to a GP.
01/03/23
Bowel Screening
Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Yet the latest data shows that almost one third of people who were sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit in England last year did not go on to complete it. Early diagnosis is vital, as detecting bowel cancer at the earliest stage makes you up to 9 times more likely to be successfully treated.
For more information please visit the nhs.uk website - nhs.uk - Bowel Cancer Screening
27/02/23
Free NHS Webinars
NHFT Talking Therapies is offering free webinars to provide the tools to manage low mood, sleep, worry and practice mindfulness.
These webinars provide educational and practical help to support you to learn relevant Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) techniques to make positive changes in daily life.
The sessions will offer interactive support providing guidance and tips. When you join, your microphone and camera will be switched off, you will be able to see the presentation and therapist leading the session but they won’t be able to see you.
To find out more about webinars, take the first step and register for support by completing the online form
09/02/23
Lift Someone Out Of Loneliness
Feeling lonely is something that all of us can experience at any point and it can have a huge impact on our wellbeing. It’s important to remember that these feelings can pass and that there are lots of ways we can help each other too.
If you’re feeling lonely, search ‘Every Mind Matters’ for free support and advice or go to the Every Mind Matters loneliness webpage
31/01/22
Dry January
Have you previously considered reducing your alcohol intake? Alcohol affects the human body in several
different ways, and reducing alcohol consumption might improve things for you in ways you didn’t
expect.
Try this self-assessment tool about the amount of alcohol you drink. The questions are tailored
to your responses and at the end, if you’re honest, you should get a good idea of whether your drinking is a
problem or not.
Drinkaware
how to reduce your drinking
Each January people from across the UK sign up to be free of alcohol
for 31 days. Reducing the amount you drink can have long-term health benefits. Follow the link to find out
more.
Alcoholchange Managing your drinking
11/01/2023
Cost of Living Support - Northamptonshire
For advice on cost of living support visit westnorthants.gov.uk/cost-of-living or call
0300 126 7000 (Monday to Friday 9am-5pm)
Cold weather payments (England,
Scotland, Wales)
The government has advice on keeping warm this winter. Being too cold
can have negative consequences for your health.
Depending on where you live, and whether you receive
certain benefits, you may be eligible for a cold weather payment, or additional support over winter.
If
you were born before 26th September 1956 you may be eligible for a winter fuel payment. If you’re eligible,
you should get the payment automatically, but, if you don’t, you can find out more by clicking here.
Keep
well keep warm leaflet
Cold weather
payment
Winter fuel payment
29/12/22
Quit Smoking
Quitting smoking is one of the best things someone can do for their health and is often top of the list when it comes to making New Year's resolutions.
We know that quitting with the right support can increase the likelihood of quitting for good. There are lots of different support options and tools available, so you can find the right way to quit for you.
- Download the free NHS Quit Smoking app
- Contact Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service on 0300 126 5700 or smokefree@northnorthants.gov.uk or you can find more information on quit smoking website. This service currently offers 12 weeks of FREE telephone support, with e-cigarettes and nicotine replacement therapy sent straight to your door.
- Speak to your local Pharmacist for help and support to quit smoking
29/12/22
Teen Clinic Daventry Launch Event #teenclinicdaventry
We're very pleased as part of the Daventry Primary Care Network to be supporting the Teen Clinic which launched this week.
Our very own Dr Sarah Tudor is the Clinical Lead for this project and has been doing a fabulous job of promoting and organising the clinic along with a wide range of other local organisations and of course the students.
The Practitioners and students look forward to welcoming visitors to the first Teen Clinic on Monday 7th November at Daventry Mind. ⏰ No appointments needed - drop in anytime between 3.30pm - 6.30pm
#teenclinicdaventry
26/10/22
Focus On Your Life Whilst Noticing Pain
Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board have collaborated with SMART Wellbeing to provide a 6-week live online webinar course starting in November 2022 to help people struggling with enduring pain to better manage their symptoms and to live happier more meaningful lives.
You can find more information in the flyer here - SMART Wellbeing course flyer
13/10/22
Stoptober is back!
Whether you want to start breathing easier, feel the energy boost or even have a little more money to spend, there has never been a better time to stop smoking.
If you can make it to 28 days smoke-free, you're 5 times more likely to quit for good!
There's a few tools available to help:
-
Sign up for daily email support to get daily tips and advice direct to your inbox throughout your 28 day quit, and occasional emails after that to help keep you on track on the Stoptober website.
-
Download the free NHS Quit Smoking app
-
Contact Northamptonshire Stop Smoking Service on 0300 126 5700 or smokefree@northnorthants.gov.uk or you can find more information on the smokefree website.
03/10/22
Loneliness Awareness Week 13th-17th June 2022
The theme for this awareness week is "lift someone out of loneliness" #LetsTalkLoneliness
Feeling lonely is something that all of us can experience at any point in our lives, which can have negative impacts on our health and wellbeing.
There are simple things you can try such as inviting someone for a walk or a coffee or sending someone a text; small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
There is more advice and support to help yourself or others who may be feeling lonely on the Every Mind Matters webpage
13/06/22
Help & support for patients waiting for a hospital appointment or operation
The My Planned Care website supports people waiting for a hospital appointment, operation or treatment, and gives them advice and support while they wait. This includes access to average waiting times at their hospital and other useful advice and local services.
Patients can check the website of their allocated hospital for any information they may need before contacting their hospital or GP practice. Carers, friends, relatives and NHS teams can also see this information and, if needed, help guide people through the detail.
The site is easy-to-use and updated weekly with other advice and information on how to manage pain, keeping healthy, looking after their mental health, accessing financial help and other local support services. The site can also help people to prepare for their appointment or operation, including practical suggestions about how to manage symptoms and help prevent these from getting worse.
12/05/22
IAHW 2022
This week is International Adolescent Health Week 2022! #IAHW2022
20-26 March 2022
"Transitions"
from childhood to adulthood, physically and mentally
from a
pre-pandemic life into a life shaped by a pandemic
from dependence to independence
There are displays in both practices (Abbey House reception below with Care Co-Ordinator Laura and Dr Sarah Tudor) with some useful information and links about services for young people.
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Each day has a new topic and will be posted on here.
Thursday 24th March #IAHW2022 #mentalhealth #nostigma
Talking about mental health with people who care about you can help.
Not sure how to start? Here is a great resource to get you started:
Opening
up to friends and family – a guide for young people
Wednesday 23rd March #IAHW2022 #factsnotfiction #eatingdisorders
Did you know that eating disorders affect all types of young people and have the highest risk of death of any mental illness? More information about eating disorders in young people.
365 days a year helpline support: 08008010677
Monday 21st March 2022 #IAHW2022 #stressbusters
Stress is a part of life, and here are two great resources to help manage it:
Quick Ways to Manage Your
Stress (Youtube)
Guided
Journaling Questions
Supporting patients following events in Afghanistan
We are conscious that some patients registered at Abbey House Medical Practice may be affected by current events in Afghanistan. Abbey House Medical Practice is accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners as one which specialises in the care of military veterans and their families. All the team have been trained in the care of military veterans and their families. If recent events have affected you and you wish to seek help, please come forward.
16/07/21
Update from NGH
If you are a patient at Northampton General Hospital and have any questions or queries about an outpatient appointment, when your planned operation is expected to take place, or if you want to cancel or rearrange an appointment with the hospital, please contact their Outpatient Contact Centre on 01604 545555. We do not have access to the hospital booking system and will not be able to provide you with the information you need. Thank you.
07/06/21
Opting Out
Your health records contain a type of data called confidential patient information. Currently this data can be used to help with research and planning. If you don’t want your identifiable patient data to be shared for purposes except for your own care, you can opt-out by registering a Type 1 Opt-out or a National Data Opt-out, or both. Your individual care will not be affected if you opt-out using either option. See Opt-out options.
More information about Type 1 Opt-outs is in the GP Data for Planning and Research Transparency Notice, including a form that you can complete and send to your GP practice.
If you register a Type 1 Opt-out after this collection has started, no more of your data will be shared with NHS Digital. They will however still hold the patient data which was shared with them before you registered the Type 1 Opt-out.If you do not want NHS Digital to share your identifiable patient data with anyone else for purposes beyond your own care, then you can also register a National Data Opt-out.
