Welcome to the latest of our weekly newsletters. We regard it as a priority that all patients at our Adlington, Buckshaw, Croston, Eaves Lane Chorley and Lostock Hall surgeries are kept fully informed of news and developments relevant to them. We hope these regular updates continue to prove useful.
NHS 111 Now Caters for Mental Health Issues
Patients of all ages, including children, who are experiencing a mental health crisis can now use the 111 NHS phone line.
Anyone in crisis or a concerned family member can now call 111, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional.
NHS staff can guide callers 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.
Anyone requiring assistance from the service can refer themselves online via NHS Uk or by contacting their GP at the surgery where they are registered.
Mpox Update
Reports indicate that the current outbreak of Mpox you may have read about in the national press is continuing to spread. However, we would stress that there is no need to panic as the risk of catching it remains extremely low.
Mpox, which was previously known as Monkeypox, is most commonly found in west or central Africa but there have recently been a small number of cases elsewhere in the world.
The danger level in this area is very low but in the light of the recent outbreak, as a precaution you may when contacting our surgery be asked about recent travel.
If you have travelled overseas to high risk areas and have any of the symptoms of Mpox, we would ask that you DO NOT PRESENT at the practice and instead call 111 for advice.
For further information please see this link if you have internet access Mpox - NHS (www.nhs.uk) If not, please contact our reception team.
Homeless and Ukraine Appeals
We recently visited the Chorley Support for Ukraine depot to deliver your donations and saw your recent items packed on a pallet and ready to go to Eastern Europe.
We are still continuing to accept toiletries, sanitary products, baby items, pet food, non-perishable food items, shoes, clean duvets, blankets, towels, coats or sleeping bags for the Ukraine and the Chorley Homeless Group appeals, and you can drop them off at any of our surgeries during opening hours.
Please mark your bags if you’ve a preference for which appeal you wish them to go to.
Back to School
Good luck to all our younger patients who are returning to school next week.
Our chief Clinician Dr Muttucumaru has written a very informative column about common health issues in youngsters which you can read in the latest edition of the free ‘Friends of Buckshaw’ magazine which is delivered to most addresses locally.