Older People

The practice caters for the needs of older patients in the following ways:

• The appointments system allows for elderly patients to get the prompt advice they need without leaving their homes.
• When elderly patients are seen in surgery, it is easy for the doctor to plan for a prompt but longer appointment if required – our system is built on the premise of meeting the needs of the most ill patients first.
• Where elderly patients are too ill or infirm to leave their homes, our doctors start their daily home visits after 11pm, thanks to our appointment system. Hence, some of our most ill and frail patients avoid hospital admission because they get their medical treatment sooner or they are seen in secondary care early enough to allow for discharge without an overnight stay.

• Our doctors offer a ring pessary service so patients do not need to go to hospital for this treatment.
• The practice spearheads a collaborative effort with many other practices to ensure that patients in care homes can receive their flu jab at home.
• The most frail elderly patients will have a care plan provided and this will be reviewed at regular intervals. In these cases, your GP will contact you within three working days of receiving notification that you have been discharged from hospital.
• We work with the Community Matrons, District Nurses and Macmillan Nurses to provide the appropriate package of palliative care for our terminally ill patients.

Influenza – flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses. Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Health Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.

Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu:

• people aged 65 or over,
• people with a serious medical condition
• if you are pregnant
• people living in a residential or nursing home
• the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
• healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care

For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see Seasonal flu jab.

HPA - Season Flu Guide

Seasonal Flu Factsheet

We're bombarded with scare stories about weight, from size zero to the obesity 'epidemic'. But a healthy body is determined by different factors for each of us.

NHS - Good Food Guide
Information on a healthy diet and ways to make it work for you

BBC Healthy Living - Nutrition
A good diet is central to overall good health, but which are the best foods to include in your meals, and which ones are best avoided? This section looks at the facts, to help you make realistic, informed choices

NHS - Why be active?
Even a little bit of exercise will make you feel better about yourself, boost your confidence and cut your risk of developing a serious illness.

BBC Healthy Living - Improve your levels of activity
Information and help for young and old about the benefits of increased physical activity & how to go about it!

These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

For further information on issues affecting elderly people we recommend the websites below.

Age UK

Alzheimer's Society

Relatives & Residents Association

Royal Voluntary Service

For further information on issues affecting carers the following websites are recommended.

Care Aware

Carers UK

FirstStop Care Advice 

Independent Age

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers

Which? Elderly Care

The practice has access to an Urgent Care Response Team who can treat individuals health or circumstances that may result  in an A&E attendance or admission to hospital.

This service is limited to specific conditions but provides a person-centred approach to optimise independence and confidence, enabling recovery and may prevent a decline in functional ability.