News

Shortage of Blood Vials - 01/09/2021

ADVICE FROM DIABETES UK

NHS England and NHS Wales have reported a shortage of blood collection tubes. This is due to a global shortage which is expected to last until the middle of September.

As a result, GP services have temporarily stopped all non-urgent blood tests, and hospitals have tight restrictions on the blood tests they can do.

What does this mean for people with diabetes?

Only blood tests considered clinically urgent are being done by NHS primary care and hospital services for the moment.

How will vial shortages affect those living with diabetes and at increased risk of the condition?

People with diabetes will not be able to get the blood tests that support an annual review. If people have annual reviews booked in the next month or so they are likely to be cancelled unless they have already had the blood tests done recently.

The NHS advises that clinically urgent blood tests include those that are extremely overdue or essential for prescribing of medication or monitoring of a condition. This means it is possible that some people with diabetes may be considered in need of urgent blood tests. If you believe that you fall into this category, contact your GP surgery or your diabetes healthcare team.

What are we saying about this?

We are concerned for the people who have still not had their annual diabetes review who may have already had appointments cancelled during the pandemic — as these are likely to be further delayed.

We know many thousands of diagnoses of type 2 diabetes were missed during the pandemic, and we are concerned that diagnoses will continue to be missed due to this logistical issue. It's very important that this situation is resolved as soon as possible.

What is our advice?

We encourage everyone to find out their risk of type 2 diabetes by using our Know Your Risk Tool. If you are at high risk, you can and will be referred directly to the NHS England Diabetes Prevention Programme – no blood test needed.

The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can develop much more slowly than the symptoms of type 1 diabetes. If you are showing the 4Ts symptoms of diabetes – which include going to the toilet a lot, being very thirsty, feeling more tired than usual and losing weight without trying – contact your GP immediately.

With regards to children and young people who experience the 4Ts symptoms of diabetes, we recommend that they are taken straight to the doctor and insist on a test for type 1 diabetes, there and then. A quick diagnosis and early treatment, means you can avoid becoming seriously ill with the life threatening condition diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).

How long will this last?

NHS England have put the tight restrictions in place until 17th September when it anticipates the position should improve, but they say overall supply is likely to remain challenging for a significant period of time.

If you do have any concerns about your condition or you are experiencing any new symptoms, it is very important to speak to your GP surgery or diabetes healthcare team.

If you’re worried about any aspect of your diabetes care, we’re here for you. Our Helpline Team is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm, either on 0345 123 2399 or at helpline@diabetes.org.uk.

Thanet Health CIC gains Cyber Essentials Certification - 01/06/2021

Thanet Health CIC is proud to have achieved the Cyber Security Essentials certification, a UK government information assurance scheme operated by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) that encourages organisations to adopt good practice in information security.

UTC Update - 06/11/2020

Dear Colleague,

We write to update you with some recent changes that have taken place within the UTC.

We would however like to start by thanking you for all the hard work you have put in during the transition from E-ART to the UTC. We appreciate it has been extremely challenging but we would not have been able to get where we are without your dedication and buy in to the changes, so thank you.

The first change is the location of where the UTC Receptionist sits. It has been decided to relocate to the Fracture Clinic reception desk on a trial basis. If we find this to be more beneficial to the service then we will look to make this permanent until such time as the UTC is relocated to its new home.

The patient pathway has also changed as is now as follows:

Patient walks in at A&E, streaming Nurse asks the covid questions and initial view and issues UTC GP, UTC ENP or A&E card to patient

Patient will be registered on PAS by the A&E reception team who will select UTC or ED.

If the patient is for UTC, they will appear on ECASCARD. If the patient is for ED, they will appear on Sunrise.

If UTC Patient, they will be directed around to the Fracture Clinic. The patient will also be given a coloured card which identifies one of the following:

Primary care for the Drs
Urgent care centre for the ENPs
Urgent Care (NHS111 DAB) FOR BOOKED GP appointments

Tech within UTC will undertake Obs.

If still suitable for UTC GP, enter on to EMIS and mark as arrived.

If unsuitable for UTC discharge on ecascard to ED, make contact with A&E Reception to advise patient to be rebooked on Pas as ED. Clinician also needs to inform ED clinicians that patient is not suitable.

Once patient has been seen within UTC, follow the normal discharge process. Where the patient has a safeguarding issue identified, then complete ECDS/CPIS on ECASCARD prior to discharge.

Please note that the escalation process for this service is as follows:

Speak to ENPs on site.

If further escalation needed

In hours

Kelly Marley 07815654233

Kate Barrett 07798 798943

Out of hours

A&E Nurse in charge

Clinical site co-ordinator

However there is also the following telephone number which can be used to reach the 'Director On Call':

07311 811363

If you have any other problems with the new way of working or have any suggestions on how we can improve the processes, please let either of us know.

Many thanks

Graeme, Sandra, Markus & Stephanie

C-Art - 24/09/2020

Good news,

we have secured the contract for the GP component of the c-Art service.

We look forward to even more cooperation and close working together.

Thanet Primary Care Centre is about to move - 11/06/2020

Thanet Health CIC is very proud in having been able to support the local surgeries to set up and operate the Thanet Primary Care Treatment Centre (TPCTC).

Since we are getting to the recovery phase of the Covid Pandemic it will be necessary for the TPCTC to move to a different location. We are fortunate to have the Garlinge Surgery (Westgate) at our disposal and that building will serve as the TPCTC from the 22nd of June.

Please refer to our website links for further information.

Social Enterprise Mark - 28/05/2020

The Thanet Health CIC has been awarded the approved Social Enterprise Mark.

This is an international accreditation providing an independent guarantee that we operate a social enterprise committed to create positive social change!

This shows we are trading for the benefit of our people, staff and planet!

Find out more about this certification here.

CQC visit - 10/01/2020

We are delighted and proud to announce that our company has been inspected by the CQC and been graded as good across the board.

We want to thank everyone who has put in so much hard work and commitment into our company to make this happen.

We also want to take this opportunity to thank all our clinicians who are at the front line and making such a difference for all our patients and people we encounter.

Thank you!

GDPR - 12/11/2019

We are as a company fully GDPR compliant.

We can provide your personal and confidential data on request. Please contact us under the contact page to either make your request known to us, obtain one of our forms we can provide, or send us your request in writing to our mailing address below. Please be aware you will need a form of photo ID to make the request.

A full guide and information how to do so can be found under:

https://ico.org.uk/your-data-matters/your-right-to-get-copies-of-your-data/

CQC visit - 07/11/2019

We are excited to tell you that we are going to be inspected by the CQC (Care Quality Commission) on the 14th of November.

We plan to impress the inspectors!

UTC developments - 10/09/2019

The Thanet Health CIC has been working hard to prepare for the upcoming PQQ to ensure we are in a good position to answer the PQQ against formidable competition from the outside. For that purpose an alliance has been formed with the other local GP federations namely Ashford Clinical Providers (ACP), Invicta Health CIC, Canterbury Integreated Health (CIH) and Faversham. This has enabled us to be a strong partner for EKHUFT and IC24 to go ahead and prepare for the PQQ.

Extended Access in Thanet - 06/06/2019

Thanet Practices provide additional appointments as part of the National Extended Access scheme.

Appointments are available in the evening between 6.30pm and 8.00pm, Monday to Friday, with weekend appointments offered at the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital between 8am and 8pm.

These appointments may not be at your local GP Practice or with your regular doctor but may be with a neighbouring practice and with your consent the Clinician will have access to your electronic medical record.

For more information and to book an appointment, please speak to a member of your Practice Reception Team.