Creek House, Shepperton Need to see the Doctor? 6/7

By Nick Pollard

Creek House is situated in the Chertsey Road, Shepperton, just to the west of Church Square and on the north bank of the creek which feeds into the Thames at Ferry Square, and gives the house its name. It’s an attractive Arts and Crafts style house, dating in its present form to the late 19th century, but perhaps its main interest is in the well-known people who have lived there over the years. The first, and least known to a modern audience, was Thomas Mullett Ellis. Seemingly a man of many talents, he was variously an architect, writer, and even an aspiring politician. He was the architect of the Creek House is situated in the Chertsey Road, Shepperton, just to the west of Church Square and on the Wesleyan garrison church in Malta built in 1883. As a writer, he wrote several science fiction stories including Zelma (1895) which was notable as introducing the concept of biological warfare in the form of north bank of the creek which feeds into the Thames at Ferry Square, and gives the house its name. Itanthrax-filled balloons. In 1900 he stood as an MP for the Strand division in London against W.F.D.Smith, attractive Arts and Crafts style house, dating in its present form to the late 19a partner in the booksellers W.H.Smith & Sons, who had refused to stock his books. He was also the publisher of a short-lived poetry magazine, The Thrush. main interest is in the well The first, and least known to a modern audience, was Thomas Mullett Ellis. Seemingly a man of many talents, he was variously an architect, writer, and even an aspiring politician. He was the architect of the In the 1950s, the house became the home of Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly. This Canadian couple were both famous for their television appearances, Barbara Kelly for What’s My Line?, an entertainment show where a panel had to decide what people’s unusual jobs were by asking a series of questions, and Wesleyan garrison church in Malta built in 1883. As a writer, he wrote several science fiction stories in-Bernard Braden on various magazine programmes including Braden’s Week, an early consumer affairs programme which eventually led to That’s Life cluding (Esther Rantzen had been a researcher on the show). anthrax a partner in the booksellers W.H.Smith & Sons, who had refused to stock his books. He was also the pubIn 1959, the Bradens sold Creek House to actor John Gregson, who was famous for his parts in numerous classic British films of the era such as Genevieve, Battle of the River Plate, Whisky Galore! and many others. He was also well known on TV for the detective series Gideon’s Way. Famous personalities of the lisher of a shorttime such as Sean Connery, Tom Jones and Adam Faith were visitors. He and his wife were Roman Catholics, and his wife Thea built a chapel on the other side oIn the 1950s, the house became the home of Bernard Braden and Barbara Kelly. This Canadian couple f the Creek, using bricks from the recentlydemolished Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on Thames. were both famous for their television appearances, Barbara Kelly for show where a panel had to decide what people Please mention Shepperton Matters when responding to adverts 4 Bernard Braden on various magazine programmes including programme which eventually led to www.villagematters.co.uk

In 1959, the Bradens sold Creek House to actor John Gregson, who was famous for his parts in numerous

By Neal Adolphus

It used to be so easy, didn’t it? You just popped into the surgery or rang up and there you were, soon sitting in front of the friendly doctor. ‘Your’ doctor of course. A bit of a chat then down to the medical stuff. Why isn’t it as simple nowadays? What went wrong? Well there are more of us wanting appointments, for one thing. Some local practices were designed for much lower numbers, Shepperton now has about 13,000 patients. We are also getting older (Shepperton has the highest number of elderly people in the Borough) and, consequently, we have more needs. This isn’t taken into account in funding. Before the pandemic, doctors knew that things had to change as it was impossible to keep up with the demand; the number of days we had to wait stretched ever longer (particularly if many patients wanted to see the same GP). When the pandemic struck we accepted that everything was going to be difficult, and clapped the heroic doctors, nurses and other key workers. As we come out of lockdown, and go back to the pub if we wish, it would be great to think that the doctors’ surgeries would settle back as they used to be – but they won’t. The way it was wasn’t working anyway. Doctors knew that. Waiting times for appointments were ever increasing. Although infection rates are continuing to drop – we can even go back to the pub if we like – practices are still under great pressure because: - Not enough doctors – there is a general shortage (which will increase as some leave the profession through exhaustion etc.), they tend to work fewer shifts (currently going afterwards to help with vaccinations etc.) and of course the budget is limited – our doctors have actually taken a voluntary pay cut in order to increase the number available; - Fatigue and stress affects all types of staff, many of whom have been helping with vaccinations after work and this leads to absence and perhaps losing the member of staff completely; - Many more people telephone the practice – lines have been increased as well as staff to answer them, but there is a limit to what can be afforded and places to put people. A lot of the calls are about vaccinations, which they generally can’t help with; - People who didn’t come forward with health concerns during the worst of the pandemic are doing so now (particularly following NHS advertisements on television); - Some additional tasks are set from above,

NHS etc, over which the practice has no control. Similarly, website design and triage systems are decided regionally. Of course the practice needs to respond to complaints about long waits on the phone etc, but ironically that gives them less time to actually take the calls! What can be done? The Patient Participation Group for Shepperton Medical Practice represents patients and assists in communication between them and staff. We are always open to hearing about your concerns and will pass them on – in general terms, we can’t go into individual cases as there are complaints procedures for that when necessary. We have come to the conclusion that helping patients to understand the situation and how to access services is now the most useful work we can do. If you have a health problem that is urgent, contact NHS online (http://www.111.nhs.uk/) or dial 111 (or 999 for life-threatening emergencies). For Covid related issues you can use 119. If it is something else, you can: 1.Consider whether a local pharmacist could help, or a video consultation with a doctor (https://www.livi.co.uk ). 2.Go on the SMP website, click on

It used to be so easy, didn popped into the surgery or rang up and there you were, soon sitting in front of the friendly doctor. chat then down to the medical stuff. Why isn it as simple nowadays? What went wrong? Well there are more of us wanting appointments, for one thing. Some local practices were designed for much lower numbers, Shepperton now has about 13,000 patients. We are also getting older (Shepperton has the highest number of elderly people in the Borough) and, consequently, we have more needs. This isn ing. Before the pandemic, doctors knew that things had to change as it was impossible to keep up with the demand; the number of days we had to wait stretched ever longer (particularly if many patients wanted to see the same GP). When the pandemic struck we accepted that everything was going to be difficult, and clapped the heroic doctors, nurses and other key workers. As we come out of lockdown, and go back to the pub if we wish, it would be great to think that the doctors would settle back as they used to be they won anyway. Doctors knew that. Waiting times for appointments were ever increasing. Although infection rates are continuing to drop www.villagematters.co.uk like because:

Consulting Room, then click on the red ‘get help for any health problem’ box.

You will be asked if you have any emergency need, if not click on ‘I have none of these’. You will be taken to an online form to be completed. As appointment times were stretching further head, TO KEEP

PATIENTS SAFE, THE PRACTICE

WILL NOW ONLY MAKE APPOINT-

MENTS ON THE DAY. When that day’s routine appointments have been filled, the online form for doctor’s appointments will be switched off. The form can still be used for nurses, health questionnaires etc. 3. If you can’t use the form, phone 01932 229524. You may have to wait, typically 15 minutes (as we often do when contacting companies). Calls are in a queue, so putting the phone down and trying again will add to the waiting time. 4.If you don’t have a phone, call in at the surgery. Because of Covid, only a very few people can be inside queuing, so be prepared for whatever the weather may be! 5.Whether you use the internet, telephone or visit, the form will probably have to be completed. 6.You may be directed to someone other than a doctor, a paramedic or pharmacist for example if their help is more appropriate; 7.Your appointment may be by telephone or video link rather than face-to-face. This isn’t just to minimise infection, it takes less of the doctor’s time and so enables them to care for more patients; 8.An assessment of clinical need drives all these decisions, i.e. who ‘sees’ you, whether or not it is a face-to-face consultation, when you have your appointment. This has to be better than just ‘first come, first served’. The more we can support the practice in this way, the more they will be able to help us.

Neal Adolphus, chair of Shepperton Medical Practice Patient Participation Group (neal.adolphus@yahoo.co.uk)