Posts by Tim Readman
CCGs pay tribute to Dr Phil Garnett
NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has paid tribute to its chairman, Dr Phil Garnett, who has passed away.
Dr Garnett had led the CCG from its formal inception in April 2013 and was still working just a few days before his death. Dr Garnett had been living with cancer.
Friend and colleague, Dr Peter Billingsley, the Associate Chair of the CCG, said: “This is an incredibly sad time for the NHS in Scarborough and Ryedale and on behalf of our Governing Body and staff, I would like to express my deep condolences to Phil’s family, friends and colleagues at Filey Surgery.
“Phil was driven by a burning desire to make the NHS the best it could be and throughout his time at the helm of our organisation – and indeed throughout his distinguished career as a GP – he was determined to secure the best possible services for patients.
“He very much led from the front and was an exceptionally gifted speaker, possessing a wonderful sense of dry humour and wit to match his intellect. Phil was erudite, captivating and charming; and people always listened to what he had to say.
“From a personal perspective, he was always on hand to offer help and advice and I will miss him greatly.”
A keen thespian, Dr Garnett qualified as a doctor in Leeds in 1973 and joined Filey Surgery in 1978. He held senior positions with the local Primary Care Trust, Primary Care Group and Saint Catherine’s Hospice and was heavily involved in the North Yorkshire Local Medical Committee.
Dr Garnett also worked for five years in secondary care with a focus on paediatrics where he gained a Diploma in Child Health (DCH) from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP).
Filey Surgery Practice Manager, Carolyn Liddle, said: “It is with heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our friend and colleague, Dr Phil Garnett. He was a GP here in Filey for 40 years and was a much respected and loved doctor.
“The people of Filey will miss him as many of them will have been patients of Dr Garnett for many years. Amongst the sorrow there are smiles from his colleagues at the surgery as we remember a lot of good times.”
Simon Cox, the former Accountable Officer of NHS Scarborough and Ryedale CCG and now the Director of Acute Commissioning for the three CCGs in North Yorkshire, said: “Phil’s desire to see the NHS flourish shone brightly throughout our time together at the helm of the CCG.
“He was a strong and passionate voice for local health services and his commitment to the NHS in Scarborough and Ryedale was unwavering, even when his own health was faltering.
“I speak on behalf of the entire Governing Body and all of the staff when I say it was a privilege to have worked alongside Phil. As we move towards a new era, with a single clinical commissioning group representing the people of North Yorkshire, his voice will be sorely missed.”
Dr Charles Parker, the current Clinical Chair of NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG and chair elect for North Yorkshire CCG, said Dr Garnett had been “indefatigable” in his promotion of primary care over many years and added: “It has been a privilege to work with him over the last year, working in the single leadership team for the CCGs.
“Phil was well liked and respected by us all and throughout the local NHS. He was a gentle character and I will miss him. Phil was such a long time servant within the health service that it is difficult to imagine a time without him. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time.”
Read MoreNew community equipment ‘amnesty bin’
A new ‘amnesty bin’ to make it easier for people to return on loan community equipment like walking frames and crutches has been installed at a household waste recycling centre in Harrogate.
It follows talks between Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd – which issues community equipment to patients on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council and clinical commissioning groups in the county – and Yorwaste which manages the area’s household waste recycling centres.
In addition to the new amnesty bin at Harrogate’s Penny Pot Lane recycling centre and three amnesty bins at York Hospital and Friarage Hospital in Northallerton there are plans for a further depository at one of the household waste recycling centres in Scarborough.
Medequip’s North Yorkshire Operations Manager, Darren Clark, said: “It’s not as simple as knowing where the equipment is originally deployed – equipment may be lost, passed on to another family member or even put away in a loft.
“We realise we need to get the message across to people that it is important to return these items, but we also recognise that we have to make it easier for people to arrange collection or to return the equipment to an accessible location.”
Community equipment like walking frames, sticks, crutches and other daily living aids costs the NHS and local authorities millions of pounds every year. Unfortunately, a lot of this equipment never finds its way back to the issuing authority, where it can be cleaned and safely reused.
A Return, Reuse, Recycle campaign originally instigated by Medequip in partnership with West Suffolk NHS back in 2017 has been taken up by North Yorkshire County Council and clinical commissioning groups in York and North Yorkshire. The county council and local NHS are hoping to see recycling rates increase significantly as a result of this initiative.
Dr Charles Parker, the clinical chair elect for North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said: “Increasing the number of places where people can deposit unwanted equipment like crutches and walking frames is a huge positive.
“Much of the equipment that’s returned is in a good condition and can be cleaned, serviced then reissued to someone else in need. The objective is to continue to deliver cost-effective, efficient and safe community equipment solutions which help the NHS budget go further.”
Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council’s Executive Member for Health and Adult Services, said: “The county council, in conjunction with our CCG partners, are always looking for opportunities to encourage and enable people who have been issued with equipment to be able to return this for recycling, repair or disposal.
“As such we have been keen to promote the ‘Return Recycle Reuse’ campaign in conjunction with CCG colleagues and our integrated equipment provider, Medequip, and prevent equipment being discarded or left unused.”
All equipment delivered by Medequip on behalf of North Yorkshire County Council and clinical commissioning groups in York and North Yorkshire is accompanied by a leaflet with full details on how to return the items once they are no longer required, and every item carries a barcode label which also features a collection telephone number and a unique identifying code.
In addition to the amnesty bins, equipment can be returned to Medequip’s drop off points at Dunslow Court in Eastfield, near Scarborough and Manse Lane in Knaresborough.
Alternatively, Medequip will pick up some loan items for free – call 01423 226240 or email north.yorks@medequip-uk.com
Read MoreHow to stay well over Christmas and New Year
Doctors in North Yorkshire are urging patients to check their stocks of repeat medication ahead of the Christmas period.
With most GP practices closed for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, other local NHS services often experience increased demand, with the NHS 111 telephone service receiving high volumes of calls from patients who have run out of their vital medication.
NHS Hambleton Richmondshire and Whitby, NHS Harrogate and Rural District and NHS Scarborough and Ryedale Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are asking patients to check their repeat prescriptions to make sure they have enough medication to see them over the Christmas period.
Dr Charles Parker, the clinical lead for NHS Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby CCG, said: “While we do ask patients to only ‘order’ repeat prescriptions when necessary, it is really important people have enough to see them through periods when their GP practice is closed, such as the Christmas period.
“By ensuring they have enough of their prescription medication, patients will be doing their bit for the NHS by freeing up urgent care services for people with more serious health problems.”
Patients are also being asked to remember that their usual pharmacy may be closed at times over the Christmas period, though other local pharmacies may be available. You can find details of pharmacy opening times in your area on your local CCG website.
If patients feel they need urgent health care over the festive period, they should dial 111. If appropriate, patients may then get an appointment at one of the local urgent treatment centres.
If it’s an illness or injury that is serious or life threatening, patients should always call 999 for an ambulance or go to the nearest emergency department.
Read MoreVisitors urged to keep flu out of hospital
Visitors to hospitals in North and East
Yorkshire are being urged to help protect patients and staff by reducing the
spread of flu and other illnesses which are commonly associated with winter.
Flu, short for influenza, is a common
infectious viral illness spread by coughs and sneezes. It can prove fatal for
vulnerable people, with those aged 65 and over and with long-term health
conditions, including diabetes and kidney disease, particularly at risk.
At this time of year, a rise in the
numbers of cases of rotavirus and diarrhoea bugs is also common and these can
be equally disruptive if there is an outbreak in a hospital or other healthcare
setting.
York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation
Trust, which runs Scarborough Hospital, says there had been a number of
confirmed flu cases on the wards over the last few weeks which had led to some
bays being closed, putting beds out of action at a time of year when they are
most in demand.
Heather McNair, Chief Nurse at York
Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are asking people who have
been unwell with symptoms of flu not to visit the hospital until they have been
free of symptoms for at least two days. This is really important because the
virus is highly infectious and outbreaks can happen quickly.
“We ask that people think carefully
before paying any non-essential visits, and to keep hands clean and be vigilant
about hand washing. This is to keep the virus contained and to help visitors
keep themselves safe as well as their friends or relatives.”
Dr Charles Parker, who will become the
Clinical Chair of North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) when the
CCGs in Scarborough and Ryedale, Hambleton, Richmondshire and Whitby, and
Harrogate and Rural District are disestablished at the end of March next year,
added: “An outbreak of flu or norovirus in hospitals and other healthcare
settings can have serious consequences, both for patients who may already very
unwell, and on the hospital space that’s available to look after people.
“When there is an outbreak of flu or
another infection, it’s important this can be contained, but it may mean bays
and sometimes entire wards are quarantined and are not available.”
Hospital visitors are asked to:
- Stay away if they have signs or symptoms of the infection. Some of the main symptoms of flu include:
– a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
– tiredness and weakness
– a headache
– general aches and pains
– a dry, chesty cough - Cold-like symptoms – such as a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, and a sore throat – can also be caused by flu, but they tend to be less severe than the other symptoms you have.
- Think carefully before paying any non-essential visits at this time
- Keep hands clean and be vigilant about hand washing.
- Respect the fact that if a ward is closed due to the virus, this also applies to visitors. There are exceptions to this, and the ward sister can advise visitors if they feel they have exceptional circumstances.
You can protect yourself, your family
and other patients by getting yourself vaccinated. The flu vaccination is available
every year to help protect adults and children at risk of flu and its
complications.
The injected flu vaccine is offered
free on the NHS annually to:
- adults over the age of 18 at risk of
flu (including everyone aged 65 and over) - pregnant women
- children aged six months to two years
at risk of flu
Many pharmacies also offer the flu
vaccination.
