Westwood Wellness

The newsletter of Hildenborough & Tonbridge Medical Group

Issue Number Four. September 2024

Dr Peter Bench Retires 

Dear Patient,
I'll be retiring from the practice at the beginning of December, having worked here for 31 years, latterly as senior partner. I've found working at Hildenborough very rewarding, and have been lucky enough to be supported by amazing staff and partners, who I'm sure will continue to provide great care in these challenging times. I wish all our patients well and will miss everyone associated with HTMG.

Peter Bench, Senior Partner

Calling all mothers!

The panel on the right shows when your child needs to receive their programme of vaccination. Follow this timescale to protect your child and others around you from life-changing disease.

For flu and RSV…

Flu can be serious or even life threatening. The NHS offers the flu every autumn to those at highest risk.

Get the NHS flu vaccine if you:

• are pregnant
• are aged 65 or over
• live in a care home
• have a qualifying long-term health condition.

We also vaccinate children aged 2 to 3 years, while school immunisation takes care of the older ones. Children’s vaccinations start in September, adults’ in October.

If we have your mobile number we will send you a link to book directly. If not, you’ll get a letter from us.

Further information is available on the NHS website

The RSV vaccine helps protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which is a common virus that can make babies and older adults seriously ill. It's recommended during pregnancy and for adults aged 75 to 79. Patients who are eligible for this vaccine will be invited via text or letter from the Practice. 

Thank you, Microsoft…

You may remember that on Friday 26 June, an issue with CrowdStrike brought down computers around the world – including airports, hospitals, retailers and more.

So on a Friday morning our care navigators came in to work to face 600 incoming calls – and many of our systems inoperable.

With a superhuman effort our team managed to operate entirely normally, using pencil and paper, and running with messages. They deserve a medal! 

Check your testicles, gents…

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in males between 20 and 40 years of age. In the UK about 2,000 men are diagnosed with it each year.

It is several times more common in white males than in men of African, Hispanic, or Asian descent, though we don’t yet know why.

Check yourself monthly!

The most common symptoms are:

• a lump on or swelling of the testicle
• a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
• a dull ache in the abdomen or groin
• a sudden collection of fluid in the scrotum
• pain or discomfort in a testicle or the scrotum
• enlarged or tender breasts
• back pain.

Testicles do ache from time to time - they are sensitive things; knocking them, sitting on them, even after sex can be painful. But if you think something’s not right, make an appointment with your GP.

Why can’t I see my GP instantly?

Please don’t blame our wonderful care navigators if you have difficulties.

Since 2015 the UK population is UP by 4 million - but the number of GPs is DOWN by 2,077 (7%). Since 2018 in England GP practices have delivered 25% more appointments - but in real
terms their funding has been CUT by 20%.

There were 1800 patients per GP in 2018; now it’s 2300 nationally – and in Kent and Medway it's a massive 2751 patients per GP! Appointments, home visits, prescriptions, referrals, liaison with hospitals, visits to care homes, a huge amount of NHS paperwork – and running a business too: our GPs are BUSY! 

Comings and Goings

We bid farewell to Dr Ann Llewelyn who has worked at HTMG for around 30 years and will be retiring end of December 2024. Goodbye too to Jess (Admin) and Nurse Shannan, and welcome to Cara (Admin). Nurse Kathryn, who has been covering Nurse Shannan’s maternity leave, will now join us permanently. Well done to all those who took part in our very own bake off and raised a total of £168.51 for Breast Cancer Charity. 

We hope this newsletter will be useful and interesting for you. But we take your privacy seriously. If you would rather not receive future editions, simply contact us via our secure online form. Thank you.

Published: Nov 13, 2024