Peacock Healthcare, 577 Carlton Road, Carlton, Nottingham
The Peacock Times Issue 4 Oct 2015
Peacock Healthcare, 428 Carlton Hill, Carlton, Nottingham. NG4 1HQ
Phone number 0115 9580415
This issue of The Peacock Times is focusing quite a lot on costs in the NHS. The NHS is like any other business and needs to balance it's budget whilst trying to maintain the highest possible service - not an easy balance to achieve!
Most of us are not aware of costs in the NHS. It is not our intention to get you to stop having or stop using medication, equipment or services you need, but to raise awareness, and perhaps if all of us could make small changes, overall, a large saving could result.
In the words of a well known supermarket advert 'Every little helps!'
#dontjusttickthebox
(For those of you who don't know, comments starting with a hash (#) are referred to as a hashtag. A hashtag is used as a type of label on social network sites to allow messages etc containing that hashtag to be grouped together or searched for.)
So what does #dontjusttickthebox mean?
It refers to a repeat prescription, and asks that you 'don't just tick the box' if you don't need a particular item. Every item that you get at a pharmacy on prescription costs the NHS, our NHS, money. Also, pharmacies are paid for every item they dispense and if that item is just going to sit in your cupboard it will have cost for no use.
Most pharmacies now have the ability to get repeat prescriptions from the doctors for you. By law, you are still required to tick for those items you want, butdo you need all of the items? (Are you aware that you can have a medication review with your GP where adjustments can be made if necessary?)
In our area (Nottingham North East referred to as NNE) there are 21 doctors’ surgeries with 140,000 patients. The budget for prescribing this year in NNE is £21.5 million, and it is forecast that this will be overspent by £600,000.
You may think that your one extra item won't make much difference, but multiply that up by some of the other 140,000 patients thinking the same, and there's potential fora huge saving.
In 2010, it was estimated that £110 million worth of medicine was being returned to pharmacies, £90 million worth of unused medication was being stored in people's homes, and £50 million worth wasdisposed of by care homes. The figures are staggering.
So be careful if the pharmacist asks 'do you want everything?' It may seem easier to just answer 'Yes', but if you don't need it, don't order it!
Paracetamol
In NNE, the cost to the NHS for prescribing paracetamol is a staggering £83,812 for 3 months! That's over £330,000 for the year.
Some people may think that they get free prescriptions, so they may as well get paracetamol for free. However, paracetamol isn't free, there is a cost to the NHS for the tablets, and that is many times higher than what you can buy them for in supermarkets.
Some medical conditions require large amounts of paracetamol, and in those cases, it would be unfeasible for sufferers to keep going to the supermarket, but for the majority?
Paracetamol is one of the cheapest medications to buy in shops. If no paracetamol at all was supplied on prescription, over half of the year's budget overspend mentioned above, would be saved. It makes you think, doesn't it?
Attendance at A&E
Were you aware that if a Peacock patient goes to the A&E department at the Queen's Hospital (or any other hospital for that matter) that the hospital charges the Peacock surgery?
Just going through the doors of A&E and talking to a medical professional raises a charge of on average £100.
Attending a Walk-in centre raises a charge of £25.
(Going to a pharmacy costs the surgery nothing.)
Similarly, if you call an ambulance, a charge is raised of on average £204 if they come and treat the person, or £186 if they come and take the person to hospital.
We need your help to reduce the unnecessary pressure being placed on A&E resources for symptoms that can easily be addressed yourself or at a pharmacy.
Some situations warrant an ambulance and/or going to A&E, but a paper cut or having a cold should not be one of them!
Antibiotics
Do you remember a time before antibiotics became widely available? Some of our older clientele probably can. Imagine going into hospital for a routine operation and no antibiotics to fight any infection you may get. It's a frightening thought.
However, you will have heard of 'superbugs', those that can't be killed by antibiotics. They have evolved so that antibiotics won't work against them. Amazing from a scientific perspective, but not so good for us!
We have some cases of this in the UK where antibiotics are only available on prescription, but it is much much worse in the many countries of the world where you can buy antibiotics over the counter.
In Italy now, there are 4 hospitals that cannot carry out any operations AT ALL, because they are infected by superbugs. Pity the people living near them if they need an operation.
Why is it worse in those countries? The simple answer is that because antibiotics have become so commonplace and overused, the bugs have had time to get used to the antibiotics and evolve.
What can we do so that we don't get into that situation? Remember the golden rules of antibiotics :
1) They don't work on colds, flu or other viruses. Don't badger the doctor to prescribe them in these situations.
2) If you are prescribed antibiotics, TAKE THE FULL COURSE.
There are 2 reasons for this. If the full course isn't taken, you may not fully benefit or kill off the bugs - don't give the blighters chance to live on and strike you down later, or worse still the chance to evolve into a superbug. Also, what is the point in the doctor prescribing medication that isn't taken - it's a waste.
3) Take the medication at regular intervals as directed as this ensures that the correct amount of antibiotic is around the infection at all times.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day is November 18th. There is a campaign by Public Health England for people to sign up to become Antibiotic Guardians. This only involvesmaking a pledge (by ticking a box) on your use of antibiotics. (Search on-line for Antibiotic Guardian)
Missed Appointments
We are still running at a very high level of missed appointments. You can see the numbers on display in the surgery. It's ridiculous when it works out at 2 or 3 per day!!
Dentists charge for missed appointments, but we don't want to go down that route.
Does anyone have any ideas as to how to reduce this number?
Sharing Medical Records
You may see leaflets and posters displayed in the surgery on your medical records being shared. Please take time to read about it as it is essential to your continuity of care when you attend hospital or use community based services.
Self Care Week 16th - 20th November
The PPG will be in the surgery on some mornings during Self Care Week handing out leaflets and talking about it. The theme this year is Self Care For Life and relates to looking after yourself especially if you have a long term condition.
Look on-line for Self Care Forum for more information.
After all who better to look after yourself than you!
Path to Wellbeing Day Saturday 14th November 10.30 - 2.30pm
Following on from the success of the previous Wellbeing Day in June, the Friends of Peacock Healthcare are holding another Wellbeing Day.
The format will be similar to the last one with sessions on Horticultural Therapy, Pilates, Yoga, Sound Therapy, Nutrition plus refreshments and a tasty nutritious meal.
The cost is £25 per person, and anyone interested should contact Peacock reception for details or to book a place.
Produced by Peacock Practice Patient Participation Group (PPG)
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