Dr Maassarani & Partners Newsletter May 2018

NEWSLETTER

MAY 2018

TELEPHONE TRIAGE TO CREATE 200 ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS PER WEEK ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

“Many patients will benefit from the convenience of speaking to a clinician over the phone and not having to journey to the surgery.” - Dr Maassarani

DIABETES IS NO MATCH FOR NEIL Neil’s lost 2 stone and improved his diabetes. He can show you how you can too with his new group.

DON’T FEAR THE SMEAR Women attending cervical smear hits all time 20 year low. Nurse Wendy Cain gives us her advice.

As of April 2018, patients of Dr Maassarani & Partners at Tower Hill and Melling Surgery are being encouraged to take advantage of convenient telephone appointments. Same day and routine appointments conducted by phone with a GP or clinician will be offered to in a bid to create an additional 200 appointments per week across the two surgeries.

Dr Faisal Maassarani, managing partner and lead clinician across the surgeries said: “We know how frustrating it can be when you need an urgent same-day appointment, yet we also know that the system is being abused at present.

Once appointments have gone, they’re gone, leaving patients with genuine illnesses that need same-day care unable to see a clinician.

“We have recruited and trained a team of care navigators who will field incoming appointment requests, directing some patients to the Care in the Chemist scheme at their local pharmacy or other emergency care. A small number of patients will be offered same-day telephone appointments where appropriate. It means that more people will get the help they need.”

Same-day urgent telephone appointments can be booked each morning from 8am and routine advanced telephone appointments can be booked from 11am or online through Patient Access, the NHS booking platform.

DR MAASSARANI & PARTNERS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! HOW’S YOUR HEALTH? Annual health review for chronic conditions will now take place each year in your birthday month. Dr Kenny says what to expect.

FREE CLUBS AND CARE Care Merseyside gives our patients access to courses, activities, professional help and advice. Cathy tells us more.

ARE YOU BOOKING ONLINE? If you haven’t yet registered, now is the time to get 24/7 access to appointments.

WWW.MAZMEDICAL.NHS.UK

“IT’S WORTH GIVING UP SUGAR TO FEEL THIS GOOD!”

Neil Dooley from Kirkby is enjoying a new lease of life after being chosen to take part in a low-carb diet trial, under the guidance of Dr Maassarani, for an upcoming BBC documentary.

Neil, who has Type II diabetes, was seriously concerned about his health and warned in late 2017 that if he didn’t make improvements to his lifestyle he would come insulin dependent.

“This scared me. My mother and brother have unfortunately had to go down that route and I didn’t want this to happen to me.”

Neil followed a low carb diet plan, swapping rice, potatoes, bread and sugary drinks for foods low in carbs, plenty of veg and lean meats. Although a challenge at first, Neil soon started to notice an improvement in his blood sugar levels, his mood and his motivation.

A former military man, Neil had undergone various problems with his knees and felt that exercise was beyond his capabilities. Yet with his new lease of low-carb life and motivation, Neil dusted off his running shoes and started to pound the streets.

Just four months after starting running, and well seasoned as a low carb stalwart, Neil embarked on an amazing feat of endurance, taking on the Liverpool half marathon (here he is with his well deserved medal!).

Neil is so passionate about his new way of life that he set up his own Facebook support group, Knowsley Low Carb, where he shares delicious low carb recipes and inspires others embarking on this lifestyle change. He also conducts weekly online support groups and has decided to chair our very first Low Carb Club which will take place the second Wednesday of every month at Tower Hill between 18:00 - 19:30hrs. Please do come and meet Neil and find out more about low carb living. It isn’t just for diabetics, anyone interested in following a low carb lifestyle is welcome to join.

DON’T FEAR THE SMEAR Cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women under 35 and is treatable and often preventable when detected early.

The way to detect early signs of cervical cancer is via screening, formerly known as a ‘smear’ test.

Nurse practitioner, Wendy Cain, says: “We’re so busy as women and we put off our smear tests, usually because they're not the most exciting of appointments! Yet there is nothing to fear, especially if you have been invited for your first cervical screening. These few minutes with my colleagues and I can potentially save your life.”

Wendy has been a nurse for 28 years and has completed an estimated 13,000 cervical screenings over the decades. “It doesn’t matter how many times you explain that you really have seen it all before, every woman gets a little anxious about her cervical smear. I can assure you the only thing us nurses are focusing on is making sure you’re comfortable, getting the sample of cervical cells we need and putting you at ease.”

Women aged 25 to 49 are invited for cervical screening every 3 years and women over 50 every 5 years, unless otherwise stated on the appointment request letters. If your cervical screening is overdue, please book an appointment as soon as you can by calling us after 11am on 0151 244 4001.

ANNUAL HEALTH CHECKS When you’re blowing out your birthday candles, it means it is time to book in for your annual review appointment at your local surgery.

Dr Kenny said: “If you're one of our many patients who have a chronic condition including COPD, asthma, mental health, rheumatoid arthritis, a coronary condition, high blood pressure or dementia, you will be invited to attend your annual review appointment during your birthday month. We’ve decided to change the way we invite you into the surgery for this review. Organising it in your birthday month will make it easier to remember each year. If you have multiple conditions, we will also combine the appointments into one, to save you time and be more convenient.”

At your appointment, your clinician will chat through your current health and wellbeing, review medication and where necessary create an ongoing care plan. Look out for your invitation to book an appointment in your birthday month.

FREE CLUBS, COURSES AND CARE

Care Merseyside, our not-for-profit organisation is now up and running, offering patients a huge array of courses, clubs and care.

Care Merseyside is housed in the neighbouring Tower Hill Community Centre and sees a full programme of weekly events, delivered by partner organisations and volunteers for the benefit of the local patient population, From walking clubs to professional debt advice, mindfulness classes to Tai Chi, creative writing to makeup courses and so much more, Care Merseyside has proven to be the best in social prescription since it was launched in February 2018.

Care Merseyside’s Cathy Connolly who organises the courses, advice and events said: “As a patient of the practice and someone who lives in the area, I know how desperate we are here to have a safe place to go to. Whether that be to learn something new, connect with other people, improve our health and wellbeing or make positive and proactive steps to get out of debt, it all helps.

“I am so proud of everything Care Merseyside has to offer and I encourage all our patients to have a look at the wide and varied timetable and join us. If anyone would like to chat through what we have on offer, they can always call me or meet me for a coffee every Wednesday morning after 10am in the Community Centre.”

To view the Care Merseyside timetable please visit www.CareMerseyside.org.uk to chat with Cathy email cathy@caremerseyside.org.uk

BOOKING YOUR APPOINTMENTS ONLINE We live in a fast paced digital world. It’s therefore often frustrating having to wait until 8am to make a same-day appointment or 11am to make a routine appointment at your GP practice.

If you haven’t already, you can sign up to Patient Access, the NHS online booking portal for booking appointments, ordering repeat prescriptions and viewing your medical records.

We’ve recently changed Patient Access and have made it even easier to book routine and same-day appointments in person or on the telephone with a clinician of your choice, in a location of your choice. If you have used our 24 hour telephone system, Patient Access is even easier and quicker giving you a clear view of the available appointments at the touch of a button.

A limited number of face to face and same day appointments are released each day via Patient Access so sign up today and make booking an appointment and ordering prescriptions even quicker and easier.

To register for Patient Access, call us AFTER 11am, Monday to Friday, on 0151 244 4001.

DR MAASSARANI & PARTNERS

WWW.MAZMEDICAL.NHS.UK