9 out of 10 pharmacies in Kent and Medway can now offer prescription medicine for 7 common conditions, without you needing to see a GP or make an appointment.
This is called Pharmacy First.
Conditions they can offer prescription medicine for are:
• Impetigo (aged 1 and over)
• Infected insect bites (aged 1 and over)
• Earache (aged 1 to 17)
• Sore throat (age 5 and over)
• Sinusitis (aged 12 and over)
• Urinary tract infections
• Shingles (aged 18 and over)
Mum-of-two Gemma used Pharmacy First when her 12-year-old complained of earache.
She said:
“I used Pharmacy First when my son complained of on-going earache. He was assessed by the pharmacist and prescribed ear drops. We were advised to return for prescription antibiotics if the problem did not resolve within a few days. It was a quick and brilliant service and one I would recommend.”
Pharmacists can also offer advice on a range of illnesses, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, ear infections, aches, and pains.
You may be referred to a pharmacy by your GP if you contact them for one of the above conditions or another minor illness.
You can also go to a pharmacy for these conditions, without contacting your GP.
Anna HindeCommunications and Engagement Manager
NHS Kent and Medway
On Thursday, the 13th of November, Andy Sambrook, of the Upchurch running group NSD Runners, is attempting to run 170 miles to raise money for the local Mid Kent Branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
It’s a charity close to his heart, as his uncle, Allan Blagden, passed away over 20 years ago from the disease. Since then, his auntie, Linda Blagden, has been volunteering to support MNDA and is now fighting her own health battles, but has continued to volunteer throughout.
So if you can, please sponsor him towards this great cause, that would be greatly appreciated!
Please visit Andy's JustGiving page to donate:
To cover the 170 miles, he’s going to be running 5 mile loops (day time) and 2 mile loops (night time) of Upchurch until the 170 miles is complete.
So if you see Andy, or any of the NSD Runners, running through the village from 13th - 15th November, please cheer them on.
There will be a tracker and a link for his progress towards the target of 170 miles that will be shared closer to the day.
Thanks all in advance!
Cheers,
Andy
To all our kind villagers who may not be on Facebook, please support Sarcoma research by sponsoring me 🙏🏼
I am going to do the ‘Swim 15k in October’ challenge in aid of Sarcoma UK.
Why 15k? Because every day, 15 people are diagnosed with Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer which affects the bones and soft tissue, about which little is known, and research so far has been limited.
As many of you know, our young granddaughter, Eva, was diagnosed with SEF (Sclerosa Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma) in 2023, which in itself is rare among the Sarcomas.
It does not respond to chemo, and so far, no treatment has been successful in stopping its spread.
If any of you kind people would consider sponsoring me to support this charity for future generations, I would be truly grateful.
Thank you
Angela Williams
Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta
Dear men of Upchurch,
I have been somewhat taken aback by the number of responses to my initial posting, which means that I now have to do something, rather than subsiding back into oblivion.
I have 4 names who have been in touch with me already, but could I ask that any others who are definitely interested call me on: 07966 005248 and if sufficient men respond, I will hold a meeting, hopefully in the pub, to take the whole idea forward.
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Are you a happily retired fellow like me, just looking for a practical, justifiable, defensible place to go during the day?
For a while, I have had floating in the back of my head (where there is a lot of space) the idea of setting up a Men's Shed in Upchurch.
These are places where men can gather to make things, repair stuff, or sit, chat and drink tea. A sanctuary, if you like, from the busy hussle and bustle of daily life.
Before I take it any further forward, I would like to know if there are any other like-minded men in Upchurch who would be interested in exploring setting up a shed here in the village.
I have no idea where this could happen, but I am confident that if there is interest, then doors will open.
Anyway, enough of my mindless optimism. If you think that you might be interested, please contact me, and we can maybe share thoughts over a drink at the local pub.
Thank you
Ian Stride
NHS Kent & Medway and NHS Sussex are working together to review and improve the NHS 111 service, and we’d really value your help.
NHS 111 is a free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers advice and support for urgent, non-emergency health issues, whether accessed online or by phone.
To ensure the service works well for everyone, we’re asking people who have used it to share their experiences.
The survey takes just 5 - 10 minutes and is completely confidential. Your feedback will help us:
• Understand what people think of the NHS 111 service
• Identify any challenges or barriers to using it
• Learn how the service can be improved
Survey link: www.haveyoursayinkentandmedway.co.uk/nhs-111
Thank you for helping shape a better NHS 111 for your community.
The survey closes on Monday, 4th August.
NHS Kent and Medway
Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham
The Pensioner Just Missing Out scheme supports Kent pensioners in need of help with significantly rising living costs.
The scheme is available for pension-aged residents on lower incomes who are not eligible for Pension Credit or the government’s Winter Fuel Payment.
The scheme is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the UK government.
Please Note: You will need to provide an Email address and have online access for energy support activation. Food vouchers will not require online activation and can be issued by Email or post.
The scheme provides eligible residents with £200 towards energy, food, or both.
The scheme will close on Friday 28th February 2025, or when all funds are spent.
Kent County Council
Maidstone Road Surgery Rainham, including Upchurch Surgery.
Monday 23rd December10:00am to 1:00pm - Usual opening hours
Wednesday 25th December - Christmas Day
Closed
Thursday 26th December - Boxing Day
Closed
Monday 30th December
10:00am to 1:00pm - Usual opening hours
Wednesday 1st January - New Year's Day
Closed
Thursday 2nd January
10:00am to 1:00pm - Usual opening hours
Ray Kemsley
Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham
NHS Constitution: 10 Year Review
The NHS Constitution sets out the principles, values, rights and pledges underpinning what our health service is about; free care when you need it, accessible to all.
Now, the NHS needs your input to help redefine and strengthen these fundamental principles for the years ahead.
Ready to Make a Difference?
You can share your feedback and suggestions online by completing the survey at: https://tinyurl.com/4myw6yde
The survey is easy and accessible and is open to everyone. The consultation period closes at 11.59pm on Tuesday the 25th of June 2024.
Communication and Engagement Team
NHS Kent and Medway
Maidstone Road Surgery Rainham, including Upchurch Surgery.
Change to Upchurch Surgery Opening Hours
For one day only, there will be a change to the usual Upchurch Surgery opening hours on Wednesday the 15th of May 2024.
The surgery will be open between 9:00am and 1:00pm instead. Therefore, there will be no usual afternoon surgery appointments available on this day.
Spring Covid Booster Vaccinations
The NHS is now inviting patients aged 75 or over to receive their spring Covid booster.
If you are housebound, a nurse will come to your home to vaccinate you. The surgery will likely have already contacted you to discuss this.
Patients are already receiving Emails about the vaccination if they are eligible. The vaccination is available until the 30th of June 2024.
Do you use the Patient Transport Service?
If the answer is yes, NHS Kent & Medway would like to hear from you!
The Non-emergency patient transport service is a planned transport service provided by the NHS to help take patients with a medical need for transport to and from hospitals and medical centres that provide NHS healthcare.
The current service is reaching the end of its contract and NHS Kent & Medway need as many views as possible to help shape and design a new service for the next provider.
Tell them what your experience of the service has been, what your views are of the service and how you feel that patient transport can be improved in Kent & Medway.
The survey closes on the 29th of April 2024.
They would also like you to join their Patients Panel. The panel will help commissioners to understand the service from a user’s point of view and to support the project team in choosing a new provider.
If you are interested in coming on this journey, please leave your details on the survey or alternatively contact Aby at: kmicb.engage@nhs.net
Upchurch Matters
Maidstone Road Surgery Rainham, including Upchurch Surgery.
Flu Vaccinations
964 (over 6yrs) plus 381 from at-risk groups took up the offer and had the Flu vaccination.
Shingles Vaccinations
There is currently a drive within the practice to have those eligible to receive their Shingles vaccination.
Health Checks
The nursing staff will be carrying out diabetes, blood pressure, medical reviews, asthma and COPD checks.
If you are due for one of these checks and have not been contacted, please contact the Surgery.
Maidstone Road Surgery Rainham, including Upchurch Surgery.
Upchurch Surgery will be closed on Christmas Day, Monday the 25th of December 2023, and New Year's Day, Monday the 1st of January 2024. Otherwise, the usual opening hours apply.
Ray Kemsley
Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham
To help meet the financial challenge Kent County Council is facing, the Community Warden service has been asked to reduce its annual budget by £1 million by 2024-25.
To achieve this level of savings, the council will need to redesign the service.
• The current Community Warden service, including what it does and how it operates.
• Why KCC is proposing to make changes and how they have developed their proposals.
• The proposed changes to the service and details of other options that have been considered.
The proposals presented in the consultation have been developed with information from service users and input from staff and partners.
Most of the service’s £2.4 million budget provides the salaries of community wardens. To reduce the service budget by the required £1 million, staffing reductions are needed. In summary, KCC is proposing to:
• Redesign the service, ensuring there is a core Community Warden presence across the county, with teams covering 2 districts.
• Reduce the service by 32 warden posts and 2 management posts.
• Retain the remit and community-based way the service currently works but cover fewer communities.
• Use data and information to identify where to place wardens for the most impact.
The service is currently structured with: • 70 wardens, including 6 team leaders.
• 2 area managers.
• 1 volunteer and apprenticeship scheme manager.
• 1 business coordinator.
Have your say!
Before any decisions are made, the council wants to hear your views on:
• How the proposed reductions and approach to allocating wardens could impact you.
• Any additional information that you think they need to consider.
• Any alternative suggestions for how the service could make the savings.
• The assumptions they have made in the draft Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA)
Please read the Consultation document first before completing the online questionnaire below.
The council is keen to hear your views on its proposals and how any changes may affect you and your family.
You can answer all or as many of the questions as you like. If you would rather not provide feedback on a section or question, just move on to the next one.
The consultation closes on Tuesday the 3rd of October 2023.
Ray KemsleyChair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham
What actually is an athlete?
NSD Runners believes an athlete is anyone who laces up their trainers, has a desire to move and most importantly has fun whilst doing it!
So to encourage more people to join our local community of athletes, NSD Runners is inviting anyone who wants to start their journey as an athlete to our “Armchair to Athlete” running session on Mondays, 6:15pm at Upchurch Scout HQ, Oak Lane, ME9 7BN.
The aim of the session will be to help anyone who wants to start running for the first time, or to get back to running after a break and/or to help everyone build up their distance and reach whatever running goal they may have.
We are an all inclusive community running group and welcome everyone to come along and start their own athlete’s journey!
NSD Runners
Review of health services in Sittingbourne
NHS Kent and Medway are asking people living in Sittingbourne and surrounding neighbourhoods to give their views about community health services.
This important appraisal is so we better understand how the population feels about access to current local NHS services.
We would like to hear from you about your experience of travelling to and from community health service appointments, outpatient appointments and the Urgent Treatment Centre / Minor Injury Unit appointments.
Please complete the survey at the link below and tell us your thoughts. In addition to gathering patients' views, we plan to speak to community groups across the Sittingbourne area.
The survey closes at 9:00am on Monday 26th June 2023.
Thank you for taking the time to answer the questions.
NHS Kent and Medway
Maidstone Road Surgery Rainham, including Upchurch Surgery.
Extended Surgery Opening Hours
Opening hours for the entire practice have been extended on Tuesdays from 6:30pm to 7:30pm and will be offered to all patients at the Rainham surgery only.
Physio at Parkwood Health Centre
Physio can be booked through the surgery now without seeing the doctor.
Podiatry at Rainham Healthy Living Centre
Podiatry can be booked through the surgery now without seeing the doctor.
Missed Appointments - Non-attendance
The number of missed appointments at both surgeries between January and March 2023 totalled 138.
52 appointments were missed in March alone, 4 with a GP and 48 with a nurse.
Each appointment with the nurse is 30 minutes. Therefore, 24 hours were wasted, during one month, which is very costly to the practice.
If you cannot attend your appointment, please contact the surgery so staff can book in another patient - Thank you.
Website
Ray Kemsley
Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham
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