Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

 Dr Supriya Das & Dr Lakshmi Subbiah

The following was discussed at the last PPG meeting:

There have been a number of staff changes over the last 6 months.

Notably, the practice nurse Bonnie Olsen left in April and has been replaced by Kate Goldup.

The practice has a 'Social Subscriber' now who will signpost patients to the relevant department.

The main focus in Medway and Swale this year will be on diabetes, cardio issues and lung cancer.

Practice programme

Individual nurses are now responsible for the following new clinics at Maidstone Road and Upchurch surgeries: 

ECG’s - All nurses

Wound Clinic (apart from ongoing leg ulcers ) - All nurses

Mental Health - June East

Diabetic Checkups - Amanda Epps

Spirometry appointments are also available for patients with breathing difficulties.

Nurses have returned to doing face to face appointments.

Flu vaccination 

The practice is expected to receive vaccines in mid-September and the surgery WILL CONTACT PATIENTS to make an appointment.

NB Please DO NOT telephone the surgery regarding your yearly flu jab, the surgery will contact you.

Patients who are 'house bound' will also be contacted regarding their flu jab.

Stay safe

Ray Kemsley

Chair - Surgery Patient Participation Group - Upchurch & Rainham

Thank You from Foodbank Co-ordinator Gill Gay, Swale Foodbank and St Mary's Church

Hi Everyone,

Bless you, Upchurch - a very good turnout once again.

It was wonderful to receive your generous donations for Swale Foodbank and see your generosity overspill to helping the ten Afghan refugee families resettling in Ashford too.

You filled our church with precious necessities for those who entered our country with nothing. 

“Dear friends

Jane Davies from Hartlip has been in touch to thank everyone for the overwhelming generosity shown to the appeal for support for Ashford's Afghan refugee families.

Because so much has been donated, there is no further need for donations at this point. We will let you know if any more is needed.

Please do continue to hold the families and others caught up in this terrifying situation in your prayers, and, if you are able, consider donating to the appeals set up by major agencies involved in the humanitarian response.

Every blessing

Amanda Lane

Associate Priest with The Six”

There were three other pews like this!

Ron and I will be collecting again at the bus stop opposite the Church in Horsham Lane on Wednesday the 13th of October between 10:30am and 11:30am. This will tie in with the new Cuppa and a Chat at St Mary's, which will also be on the 13th and will run between 10:00am and 12 midday. 

September's Cuppa and a Chat will be on Wednesday the 8th of September between 10:00am and 12 midday. 

God gives strength to those who are faint and weary. We are his heart, his hands and his feet.

Thank you, and God bless you ❤️

Gill & Ron Gay

Gill Gay - Foodbank Co-ordinator
Email: gilliangay99@yahoo.co.uk

Television Stolen - Hartlip

Hartlip, Newington & Upchurch Ward

Crime Number: 46/162285/21

Between 00:01 on Sunday the 1st of August and 01:40 on Monday the 30th of August, somebody stole a television from a residential property in Hartlip Hill, Hartlip.

If you have any information that could help investigators please contact Kent Police on telephone number 101 and quote the relevant crime number above.

For more information on crime prevention visit: www.kent.police.uk

Kent Community Messaging

New Public Use Defibrillator Installed at Seymour Road, Rainham

Kent property developer Esquire Developments has installed a public use defibrillator at its recently completed Lupin Close development in Seymour Road, Rainham.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses the life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and pulseless ventricular tachycardia, and is able to treat them through defibrillation, the application of electricity which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

Modern AEDs have been designed to be simple for the layperson to use.

In a medical emergency

In a medical emergency, you must dial 999.

The 999 operator will assist and instruct the user, particularly with CPR, and provide the unlock code to open the defibrillator cabinet.

No training is required to use the defibrillator. The defibrillator will talk to the user giving them instructions on how to use it.

The 999 operator will also dispatch an ambulance.

The defibrillator is located at:

Click map to enlarge.

Lupin Close

Seymour Road

Rainham

Gillingham

Kent

ME8 8PY

Thanks to Esquire Developments and Andrew Deptford for their help and information.

www.esquiredevelopments.com

www.aadefib.com

Upchurch Matters

UpARA - September 2021 Newsletter

Hello UpARA members,

August was a great success with pretty much all our activities getting back on track. In addition, both our Oxford trip and Breakout Party went extremely well.

Our next Social is the UpARA quiz on the afternoon of the 24th. We hope that many of you will be able to attend; tables of six (if you can’t make a six, let us know and we will organize a team for you). If you want to make up a six with friends then great, non-members welcome, the important thing is that everyone has a good time.

A lot of effort goes into the organizing of these and indeed all our activities and trips and it really does make it feel worthwhile by the organisers when things are well attended.

Please Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com or text: 07802 250773 to book a space.

Another one of the aims of the Socials is to raise money to help to make a difference to members’ experience, e.g, we are planning to build a storage area for our stacks of books and jigsaws and are also looking to help fund a defibrillator for the hall if it can be accommodated; if you can think of anything you would like to see, let us know...

The thoughts of Chairman John

Hi everyone, 

So much has happened in the last month compared to the last eighteen, it’s difficult to know where to start! 

Having attended the Village Hall open afternoon a couple of Saturday’s back I was struck by how much has changed, with all the improvements to the hall and also, the number of activities, trips and social events that UpARA provides.

Many pictures of old trips were on display and provided lots of memories; it’s easy to forget that just seven years ago we didn’t even exist as an organisation, and it is a credit to everyone involved, past and present, that UpARA is where it is now. It was also great to see all the other users of the hall and so many visit to see the improvements.

Lastly, an interesting phenomenon occurred during our Oxford trip - Two of our members saw their footwear disintegrate before their very eyes!

John W 

Ten Pin Bowling

Just a reminder that 10 pin bowling will be restarting this month on the 14th of September. We’ll be continuing at the Hollywood Bowl, Strood and will be meeting in the car park outside.

Activities

Guy Bartlett gives us a fascinating talk on the Battle of Britain.

Trip down the river at Oxford, past all the College Boat Houses. It is rumoured that several members were spotted throughout the day in the Pub opposite.

Great to see everybody having a great time again with our Breakout Party and entertainment from Nick Boswell.

Trips

Don’t forget - the balance is due by 10th September for those going to Tinsel and Turkey week in Torquay and deposits are now being taken for the Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) trip to secure your place.

Any queries... just ask...

September Calendar 

Wednesdays September 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th 10:30am - Line Dancing

Friday, September 3rd 10:00am - Village Walk

Friday, September 3rd - Runnymede and Saville Gardens Day Trip

Mondays September 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th - 10:00am - Short / Soft Tennis

Monday, September 6th 2:00pm - Kurling

Tuesday, September 7th 9:30am - Coffee Morning & Art Class

Tuesday, September 7th 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Friday, September 10th 2:00pm - Monthly Meeting

Tuesday, September 14th 10:30am - 10 Pin Bowling (Hollywood Bowl)

Friday, September 17th 10:00am - Village Walk

Tuesday, September 21st 2:00pm - Petanque

Friday, September 24th 2:00pm - UpARA Quiz

Tuesday, September 28th 9:30am - Coffee Morning & Art Class

Tuesday, September 28th 2:00pm - Table Tennis

Hopefully, see you all soon - your UpARA Committee.

Email: uparaupchurch@gmail.com 

Website: www.upara.club

Swale Borough Council - Support on Offer for Anybody Self-isolating

People who are self-isolating due to a positive covid test or being pinged by the NHS test and trace app can apply for practical support while they are unable to leave the house.

Swale Borough Council received almost £110,000 from Kent County Council (KCC) which is being used to fund nine local voluntary and community groups to help support local people who need to self-isolate.

Local charities, community groups and volunteer organisations will deliver a wide range of support from food and medication deliveries, to wellbeing calls and dog walking.

Cllr Richard Palmer, cabinet member for community at the council, said:

“We’re working with local organisations to fund the support people need to maintain their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing while self-isolating.

“Citizens Advice Swale, Age UK’s Faversham, Sittingbourne and Sheppey, Swale CVS, Diversity House, Faversham Umbrella Centre, West Faversham Community Association, Strengthening Minds, Oasis Charity on Sheppey and the Salvation Army will be working directly with those needing support.

“Anybody that has to self-isolate can receive support towards goods and services such as dog walking, virtual counselling or therapy, mowing the lawn, food and medication deliveries, wellbeing calls and more.

“If you need support of any kind while self-isolating, contact Citizens Advice Swale who can direct you to the service provider best suited for your need.”

Mark Hinton, Chief Officer at Citizens Advice Bureau, said:

“If you have to self-isolate and need any help you can self-refer yourself to us and we can help direct you to the relevant organisation.

“Unlike before, help and support is not means tested or based on being clinically vulnerable, so we encourage anybody who is self-isolating to contact us and see how we can help.

“Call us on: 01795 417664 or Email: selfisolation@citizensadviceswale.uk to get in touch.”

Clare Burgess Chief Executive from Age UK Faversham & Sittingbourne, said:

“We’ve been supporting the local community since the pandemic began, providing the on the ground, day to day support that people need.

“We’ve delivered hot food, shopping and medicine, and provided wellbeing support including telephone calls and doorstep checks.

“Loneliness and isolation are real issues for lots of people and this has been heightened in the past year so it’s vital that we receive the funding we need to support people who are self-isolating.”

Swale Borough Council