Patient Newsletter: Issue 9

Welcome to our spring newsletter, our first newsletter of 2025.

As a practice we have said a sad farewell to Dr McCloskey who has moved away and wish him luck at his new practice. As a result we will be welcoming our two new GPs Dr Milne & Dr Walters. In this newsletter we will find out about Dr Tanya Walters, and Dr Sam Milne in the next newsletter.

Some of the topics we will cover include National Receptionists Day, Carers Support West Sussex, carer’s hubs, blood pressure, The Lullaby Trust baby check app and Patient Participation Groups.

Also included is a review of our appointment and practice statistics for the last 12 months.

You don’t know what happened on the call they just took…….

Practice managers have launched a campaign to protect the wellbeing of GP receptionists that asks patients to be more understanding of their role and the fact they have to deal with highly emotional and distressing calls. The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) unveiled it’s campaign called, ‘You don’t know what happened on the call they just took…’ this week. It coincides with National Receptionists Day which is May 14.

The move follows a recent survey revealing that 80% of IGPM respondents said their reception teams suffered abuse on the telephone on a daily basis, with the majority reporting that abuse takes place numerous times a day. A total of 432 IGPM members took part in the poll.

The IGPM said its aim is to educate patients on the complexity of the receptionists’ role and the emotional burden that it carries, while also encouraging the public to be more supportive of them as they try to arrange help.

At Langley House, we are joining this campaign and ask that you listen to this video.

When speaking with our front line team, you don't know what happened on the call they just took. Protecting our reception teams protects your access to care. Constant abuse can push our staff to breaking point and we risk losing skilled staff who can no longer absorb the emotional toll.

GP Spotlight - Dr Tanya Walters

Firstly I would like to thank all the staff, and the patients I’ve met so far, for welcoming me warmly to the team as a retainer GP.

I qualified from St George’s Hospital London 30 years ago this summer and initially started out in hospital medicine.

This work was, as expected, pretty exciting but having grown up by the coast in Dorset, I began to feel somewhat land-locked, so I moved to Chichester around 2000 when I was lucky to secure a GP training placement in this area. I have been enjoying the balance of work, family and a social life here ever since, very much helped by restorative walks along the coast and in the Downs.

As some of my family are mad about sailing, I do get involved on the water in an amateurish way; other family members are musical and I can pick out a basic accompaniment on the piano, but my main relaxations are nurturing plants in a shared allotment and creating ‘art’ as part of a wonderful local art group.

Learning from other carers

Being a carer can be life-changing, and having some top tips from other carers who have been through something similar can be invaluable.

Carer Support Sussex top tips are a mix of insights from Carers Support staff and carers themselves. They've gathered advice, support, and practical suggestions directly from carers, covering everything from lessons they wish they'd known at the start to helpful reminders about small steps you can take to make your caregiving journey easier.

Carer Top Tips

Have you heard about carers hubs?

Our carer hubs provide a welcoming space where carers can talk openly with our friendly wellbeing workers about any aspect of their caring role. Whether there are questions about available support, needing a well-deserved break, or concerns about finances, we're here to help.

Some of our carer hubs offer bookable appointments, while others welcome you to drop in during opening hours for a friendly chat. Please check individual listings for specific details. We're dedicated to supporting carers in the community, making sure you have easy access to the guidance and support you need.

Carers Hubs in West Sussex

 

Mental Health Matters

Mental Health Awareness Week, 12th – 18th May
World Wellbeing Week, 31st May – 6th June

In Mental Health Awareness Week, let’s think about the number of people impacted by poor mental health. In the UK, it’s estimated that one in four adults suffers from a mental health problem of some kind each year. People suffering from poor mental health need support and to have their voices heard.

This year, let’s focus on community in terms of our wellbeing. Feeling part of a community can have a significant positive impact on our overall wellbeing. While busy lives can mean that it’s difficult to set aside time to build relationships, contributing to our communities helps us and helps others too.

Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

The Lullaby Trust Baby Check App

If you have a baby under six months of age, it can be really difficult to know whether you need to make a medical appointment, or whether you can safely look after your baby at home. The Lullaby Trust built an app to help parents of young babies to know the difference

Baby Check app

Patient Voice

National Patient Participation Week, 31st May – 6th June

If you’ve never considered joining your local Patient Participation Group, it’s a fantastic time to try. Patient participation doesn’t need to be time-consuming or difficult, but it really helps practices and the wider NHS build services that work well for patients.

PPG Awareness week

Dementia Action Week, 19th – 25th May

If you’re worried about your memory, the Alzheimer’s Society has a fantastic checklist of 20 short questions to help you decide whether you should speak to your GP practice team about your concerns.

Dementia Action Week

Ideas for our next newsletter

If you have any ideas for a future newsletter that you feel would improve patient understanding of the NHS, please do let us know by contacting us online.

Published: Jun 4, 2025