October 2017

Physical health check for patients with Serious Mental Illness

Blackheath is a member of the Wirral GP Federation (GPWFed) and over the past year, GPWFed incentivised its member practices to work on physical health checks for patients with serious mental illness (SMI).
People with SMI have a reduced life expectancy compared to the general population and that is even when suicide is excluded as a cause of death. Atypical antipsychotics are a class of drug often prescribed for patients with SMI but most atypicals are associated with significant metabolic problems including diabetes, weight gain, hypertension and hyperprolactinaemia.
Blackheath completed the checks for its patients and responded appropriately to the issues identified such as lifestyle issues, hypertension and diabetes.
This work seems to have been clinically valuable and a formal audit is being planned by the GPWFed GP Federation.

Dr Quinn presents research at World Congress of Psychiatry

Dr Quinn was at the World Psychiatric Association Congress in Berlin presenting results from his review of the acceptability of mental health tools in primary care.

These tools are used to identify patients with mental health symptoms, to help doctors make the diagnosis and to monitor patients' progress. Dr Quinn's research shows that the tools are generally acceptable to patients. Patients are sensitive to questions about alcohol & drug use, abuse and social wellbeing issues. New mothers can find screening for post-natal depression unacceptable - this is a very important as experts believe that post-natal depression is not diagnosed in about half of all sufferers and this can affect the health & wellbeing of the mother & her family.

September 2017

Dr Mottram announces new local Adult ADHD service

Dr Mottram addressed local healthcare workers, patients and local healthcare managers at a meeting in the Village Hotel Bromborough this month about the development of a new Adult ADHD service. This innovation will be delivered in primary care under the auspices of our local GP Federation, the Wirral GP Federation (GPWFed). The planned service will have the full support of local ADHD specialists.

April 2017

Early results from Dr Qunn's research project

Dr Quinn spoke to the local GP Registrars (tomorrow's general practitioners) at the Clatterbridge Post-Graduate Centre on 27th April. He shared the early results from the first 55 patients and then demonstrated the tool to the group.

Doctors in Training

We are delighted to announce that Dr Rehana Sadiq has passed all her GP Exams. Dr Sadiq is with us still until early August.
We are delighted to welcome Dr Harriett Reader who is also with us until early August when she starts her training in Surgery.

Welcome back Dr Hicks

We are delighted to welcome Dr Hicks back to the practice.
Dr Hicks works on Mondays.

March 2017

Telephone numbers

Many people change their telephone numbers, change suppliers or get landlines disconnected these days.

Please remember to tell us when you change your mobile telephone number.

February 2017

Antibiotic prescribing

The incidence of C.Diff infections in hospitals has been linked to the prior prescribing of certain antibiotics in the community. This issue combined with increasing antibiotic resistance is forcing Society to look harder at antibiotic prescribing. As individual doctors and patients we must be part of this, prescribing & using antibiotics when appropriate.
Your practice has set up a sophisticated antibiotic audit process where we can track who is prescribing what type of antibiotics and who to. This audit has been run four times since June 2016 and is leading to a reduction in overall antibiotic prescribing and a reduction in the more especially troublesome antibiotics - the ones linked to C.Diff infections in hospital practice.
We all need to work together to resolve the ethical dilemma of ensuring people get the treatment they need and don't get treatment they don't need.

January 2017

Mental Health Research Project

Dr Quinn is leading a research project looking at the acceptability of a computerised mental health assessment tool.
Patients presenting with mental health symptoms may be asked to participate in the research. If they consent to be part of the research they will have their normal consultation with the doctor but the doctor will use a computer-based tool to guide them through some appropriate questions. The patient will be asked to complete a 5-question questionnaire at the end of the consultation, seeking their opinion about the use of the tool in their consultation.