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April 2025 Newsletter
News from the surgery
Did You Know?
- Waterfield House is an accredited training GP practice for future general practitioners? GP Registrars are in specialised GP training, with significant hospital experience. They are supervised by a GP Partner and may sometimes hold joint clinics with their trainer. We also train Foundation Year 2 doctors, early-career doctors who have worked in hospitals for a year. They are closely supervised and discuss all consultations with a senior GP. They handle a range of issues but may require guidance during or after clinics.
- Your GP surgery receives only 31p a day to look after you and that this amount stays the same no matter how many times you attend? From this the surgery pays for energy, equipment and all staff costs. Please support your GP service by using it wisely.
GP Appointment? Can’t make it? Don’t need it? Cancel it!
Introducing Check & Cancel self-service on our phone system
- If you've ever forgotten your appointment time or need to cancel an appointment, we've introduced a new self-service feature to make it easier for you.
- Simply call the surgery at any time, 24 hours/7 days a week, provide the requested details, and the system will find your appointment.
- This self-service feature will hopefully reduce the number of appointments missed and will also help add to the number of same day appointments available, as cancelled appointments are immediately released for other patients.
Repeat prescriptions
A reminder that repeat prescriptions must be ordered seven days before they are ready for collection from the pharmacy.
Musculoskeletal physiotherapist
The Primary Care Network has relocated a musculoskeletal (MSK) first contact physiotherapist to be based in WHS on a Wednesday, reducing the need to travel for assessment.
Update on Anima
The surgery has listened to your feedback and collaborated with the provider to enable account-less submission of your Anima requests. If you already have an Anima account, you can continue using it if you prefer. However, new patients registered with Waterfield House Surgery will no longer need to create an account.
Waterfield in numbers
January to March 2025
Total number of patients: 6,443
Calls: 12,246
Appointments Offered: 10,223
Face to Face Appointments offered: 5,324
Home Visits: 324
Clinical Letters processed: 5,564
Prescription items issued: 57,610
Did not attend booked appointment: 150
The Patient Participation Group
The next meeting of the PPG will be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at 7pm on Wednesday 9th July 2025 in Waterfield House. All are welcome, so do come along, have your say and find out what the current big issues are at your local surgery.
Covid Vaccination Spring 2025 Campaign
The NHS is offering the COVID-19 vaccine to those at highest risk of getting seriously unwell if they catch the virus. If you are aged 75 or over, in a care home for older adults, or if you or your child have a weakened immune system, please make an appointment for your vaccine as soon as possible.
Everyone eligible for the jab will be contacted via text, email, NHS App messages or letters, but you don’t need to wait for an invite to book – just visit the NHS website, use the NHS App or call 119 now to book your appointment. Please note that you can now receive your Covid vaccination at Pembury Pharmacy.
Never forget to take your medication again
New Medication Reminders on the Patient Access app can help make sure you never miss taking your medication. How does it work? Medication Reminders sends you a personalised notification from the Patient Access app whenever it's time to take your medication - according to your prescription and recommended dosage. How do I turn on Medication Reminders? First, sign in to the Patient Access app on your preferred mobile device, then:
- Tap on 'More'.
- Tap 'Medication Reminders.'
- Tap 'Turn on Medication Reminders'.
And you’re set up! For more help visit.
Learning Disability Week
Learning Disability Week is an annual event organized by Mencap. The event aims to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities. It raises awareness, fights stigma and discrimination, and raises funds for support programs. This year, Learning Disability Week will take place from 16 - 22 June. The theme is "Do you see me?" and is about making sure that people with a learning disability are seen, heard, included and valued in all aspects of life.
You can learn more about Learning Disability Week here.
NHS News
Park and ride is a free, more sustainable way to visit Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals.
- Park your car at the free car park (London Road for Maidstone Hospital, and Knights Park for Tunbridge Wells Hospital)
- Jump on the free shuttle bus to the hospital
- Get the bus back to your car.
For more information, visit here.
Need urgent medical help? Stop Think Choose!
The NHS is encouraging patients across Kent and Medway to choose the right service for their condition and help ease the pressure on emergency departments. Knowing the right place to go when you need help will assist you find the treatment you need, faster.
The Stop Think Choose website lists a range of treatment options, including a map of pharmacies and details of urgent care services in Kent and Medway. Visit: Visit the Stop Think Choose website to find out more.
Clear on Cancer: Help us help you
NHS breast screening campaign
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in the UK. Anyone registered with a GP as female aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday will be invited for NHS breast screening every three years. Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to spot a cancer that is too small to feel or see yourself – it saves around 1,300 lives each year in the UK. So when you're invited, save the date, it could save your life. Search ‘NHS breast screening’ to find out more.
Read about Kent and Medway Cancer Alliance’s work with Social Enterprise Kent (SEK) on breast cancer and screening here.
Bowel cancer awareness month
April is bowel cancer awareness month. Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK. But more than 9 in 10 people survive bowel cancer when it's diagnosed at the earliest stage.
So, April is a time to raise awareness of bowel cancer, its symptoms, and how to get help.
Published: Apr 25, 2025