Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

The Patient Participation Group

The PPG meets quarterly, in January, April, July and October. If you have any queries / observations you would like to be raised on your behalf, please contact the Chairman on: 01634 231585. The Group meets next on Thursday 25th July.

Group Committee 2019

Ray Kemsley - Chair

David Candy and Mrs Jackie Brown - Co-vice Chairs

Janice Bunting - Secretary

Gill Renshaw, David Kew, Rev Ron Partridge, Kathryn and Paul Rutson

Marian Richardson, Michelle Williamson - Surgery Representatives

Defibrillator

The Upchurch Surgery has now been equipped with a new defibrillator.

Bowel Cancer Screening

Patients are still NOT taking up the offer when they receive the letter / test kit in the post, and those failing to respond are increasing monthly.

Can you really afford to ignore such an offer?

Missed Appointments

A major concern!

May total = 34

2019 total = 201

It is important that, if you have booked an appointment but subsequently find that you are unable to keep it, you please give the Surgery as much notice as possible by ringing: 01634 231423.

With an ever increasing demand for appointments, this will almost certainly allow your slot to be re-allocated to another patient.

Please remember:

• If you rebook an appointment online, this does not automatically cancel any earlier bookings.

• If you update surgery records with your mobile phone number, you will receive a texted reminder just before your scheduled appointment is due.

Purchasing of Minor Drugs

Paracetamol / Ibuprofen etc

The response from patients has been very positive and a big ‘Thank You’ to all concerned. Please continue to do so. It not only saves time for the doctors and receptionists but also helps save money.

Smear Tests

The Surgery urges all female patients between the ages of 25 and 64 to take up the offer of regular free smear tests. Eligible patients will normally receive a written invitation to partake of the test but, if you feel that you qualify but don’t receive such an invitation, please enquire at either Surgery.

Shingles Vaccinations

To check whether you are eligible to receive a Shingles vaccination, please log on to: http://www.gov.uk/phe. Go to the 'search' box and enter ‘shingles eligibility’. Click on the 'calculator' box and enter your date of birth.

Ventolin Inhalers

It has become clear from the ever increasing requests for repeat prescriptions that Ventolin Inhalers are NOT being used as prescribed. They are intended for use as a preventative measure, and not as a “regular dosage” medication. Accordingly, future requests may be reviewed by the practice nurse.

Repeat Prescriptions

Please do to ask for drugs that you DO NOT need.

Upchurch Surgery

Changes to opening hours - 2019

To accommodate GP meetings, the following regular afternoon Surgery dates at Upchurch will be replaced with morning sessions, between 10:00am and 1:00pm on:

Thursday 18th July

Thursday 22nd August

Wednesday 18th September

Thursday 24th October

Wednesday 27th November

Please collect your prescriptions during the morning Surgery times above.

If you have any questions or suggestions on the local practice, please Email:

Jan Bunting - Secretary: janannbunting@outlook.com or 

Ray Kemsley - Chair: raykemsley@btinternet.com

David Candy

Co-vice Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

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Nursery Days Fete and Open Day

Nursery Days

The Old School, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7AJ

Telephone: 01634 263896

Email: info@nurserydays-upchurch.co.uk

Website: www.nurserydays-upchurch.co.uk

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Swale Borough Council - Don't Be Idle

Head of school Simon Krafft with Ward Cllrs Richard Palmer
and Alan Horton, environmental health officer Clare Lydon,
and children from Newington CE Primary School.

Local primary school pupils can help reduce air pollution by entering a competition to design a banner to encourage people to switch off their engines outside the school gates.

The competition is being organised as part of Swale Borough Council’s Clean Air for Schools initiative. This aims to highlight the harm caused by motorists not switching off their engines when they are waiting in traffic or outside schools at drop off or pick up times.

Launching on Clean Air Day 2019 (20th June) schools are being asked to come up with a creative design to encourage people to help people think about the damage leaving engines idling.

The best design will be made into a large banner to be displayed outside their school.

Newington Primary School is the first school to sign up to Clean Air for Schools, and pupils will be having a special assembly to get them thinking of ideas for their banners.

Cllr Tim Valentine, cabinet member for environment at the council, said:

“We want everyone to enjoy better air quality and by working with schools on this competition, we think we can encourage cleaner and greener travel.

Idling engines cause unnecessary emissions, which contribute to air pollution which can be particularly harmful to young children.

Most people probably don’t realise the harm it does, so we want banners to get people to think about how their actions are affecting others.”

Cllr Eddie Thomas, deputy cabinet member for environment, said:

“When parents and carers drive to school, it’s not just their children they’re dropping off for the day - the fumes from their cars stay too.

A lot of people don’t want to drive all the way but feel there is no other option.

“We will be working with schools to put together travel plans that make it easier for parents to get their children to school safely, without leaving polluting fumes.”

Any schools interested in taking part in the competition can register their interest at: www.swale.gov.uk/clean-air-for-schools

The Clean Air for Schools initiative has been set up as part of the council’s air quality action plan and aims to work with schools to encourage sustainable travel options and raise awareness of air pollution.

To find out more, visit: www.swale.gov.uk/Dont-be-idle

Swale Borough Council

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Overnight Road Closure - Church Lane, Newington

Overnight Road Closure - Church Lane, Newington - Tuesday 9th July 2019.

An overnight closure of part of Church Lane, Newington, near Sittingbourne, is planned for Tuesday 9th July 2019 from 10:00pm through until approximately 6:00am.

Church Lane will be closed in the general vicinity of the railway bridge, to the extent indicated by signs and barriers on site.

Local access to the remainder of Church Lane continues from either direction up to where the road is closed.

The alternative route for any through traffic is via A2 High Street, London Road, Breach Lane, Boxted Lane and School Lane.

The closure is to enable Network Rail to carry out a detailed bridge inspection.

There is a slight chance that the works may over-run for such reasons as adverse weather conditions or unforeseen engineering difficulties.

The Network Rail 24 Hour National helpline is: 03457 114141

Website: www.networkrail.co.uk 

The Kent County Council Highways helpline is: 03000 418181

For details of roadworks, see: www.roadworks.org

Kent County Council - Highways, Transportation & Waste

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Opus 32 Performing Sounds Of The 60’s, 70’s and 80’s at St. Mary’s Church, Upchurch

Opus 32 are returning to St. Mary’s Church, Upchurch for their ever popular summer concert on Saturday the 13th of July 2019, starting at 7:30pm.

Enjoy an evening of songs from the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. With songs including Under Pressure, Mr Blue Sky, Rainy Days and Mondays, Only You, Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now and many more.

Tickets £8

To book tickets, please call Derek Boyne on: 01795 423854 or reserve your tickets by Emailing: opus32.choir@gmail.com

Opus 32

Opus 32 was formed by Derek Boyne, the current Musical Director, to give young vocalists in Swale a forum in which to continue singing once they have left full-time education. Drawing on pupils, from Secondary Schools in Sittingbourne and Swale Music Centre, the first group of singers met on November the 6th 2000, and Opus 32 was born.

Opus 32 prides itself on the number of instrumentalists within the group, making it possible to stage a small Orchestra; Jazz Band and Folk Group at any given Concert. Their repertoire is wide and varied, encompassing many musical genres and styles, Opus 32 ‘A Choir for All Occasions’.

Find out more at >> www.opus32choir.co.uk

Upchurch Matters

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Medway Armed Forces Day at Great Lines Heritage Park, Gillingham

Showing our support for Medway’s Armed Forces

Residents are invited to show their support for the Armed Forces community at a FREE family fun day.

Medway Council, supported by the Royal School of Military Engineering, is hosting Armed Forces Day at Great Lines Heritage Park in Gillingham on Saturday, 29th June, from 11:00am to 5:00pm.

Armed Forces Day is a chance to show your support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community from serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.

There will be fun for all the family including have-a-go activities, military bridge building, concerts, drive-a-digger, army obstacle course, helicopters, a military parade led by the Band of The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, arena displays, a funfair and more.

The Royal School of Military Engineering will also showcase skills used by the Sappers in a dedicated Royal Engineer Trades Village such as pontoon building.

Cllr Howard Doe, Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Community Services, and Armed Forces Champion, said “We are incredibly proud of Medway’s rich military history and we’re committed to continuing our support to our Armed Forces community. I would encourage residents to come down to the Great Lines, show their support and enjoy free family day out packed with fun activities for all to enjoy.”

Medway Council has signed the Armed Forces Covenant which focuses on ensuring services are provided to members of the armed forces community, from education and family well-being to advice on starting a new career.

Last year the council were honoured for our work supporting serving and ex-military personnel and were presented with the silver award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme.

Earlier this year key members of Frontline Services staff took part in training with Forces Connect South East to ensure they understand the covenant and tailor support to armed forces personnel.

BAE Systems sponsors Medway’s Armed Forces Day.

Ian Brimelow, Site Executive for BAE Systems in Rochester, said: “It’s always an honour to be a part of the Medway Armed Forces Day event. As an organisation with a rich heritage in defence, we’re incredibly proud to support the Armed Forces community of past and present, as well as their families. At BAE Systems we’re committed to supporting the communities in which we operate. Events like these provide the perfect platform for locals to celebrate, and thank, the service men and women of our country.”

For more information visit: www.medway.gov.uk/armedforcesday

Medway Council

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