Patient Newsletter 2 - Spring 2025

 

Patient Survey 2025

Fill in a short form to let us know how we're doing, open until Sunday 25 May 2025.

We are inviting all patients to take part in our 2025 Patient Survey, which is open until 11.45pm on Sunday 25 May 2025. This is your chance to tell us about your experience with the practice and help shape the way we deliver care in the future.

Jessica Bawden, Chief Executive of Lakeside Healthcare, said: “Your feedback, whether it’s positive or highlights areas for improvement – is incredibly valuable. It helps us understand what matters most to you, so we can continue to provide the best care possible. Even if you haven’t visited the practice recently, or have filled in a survey before, we would still really like to hear from you. Your comments show us what’s working well and where we can do better.”

The survey is being run across all Lakeside Healthcare practices and will help us identify common themes and areas for improvement. Last year, thanks to the feedback we received, we made several changes to how we work.

These included improvements to our appointment systems, staffing structures, triage process, call handling, and the availability of different types of appointments.

This year’s survey asks about your experience when contacting us, as well as whether you accessed any other advice or services beforehand, such as NHS 111 or online resources.

There are also free text boxes where you can share more detailed comments. We kindly ask that you do not include any confidential or medical information in your answers.

patientsurvey2025

Patient Survey 2025

Fill in a short form to let us know how we're doing!

Open until Sunday 25 May 2025.

The survey should take around 10 to 12 minutes to complete. You can take part by scanning the QR code displayed on posters in our surgeries, or by following this link.

If you would prefer a paper copy of the survey, you can ask for one at reception. If you need help filling it in, please don’t hesitate to speak to a member of our team – we’ll be happy to support you.

 
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Helen Lattaway

Helen is the Digital and Transformation Manager at St Neots Primary Care Network

Helen Lattaway is the Digital and Transformation Manager for St Neots Primary Care Network, providing services for patients in four local GP practices, including at Lakeside St Neots.

She makes links with practices, community teams and healthcare stakeholders, sharing information and driving projects to help local patients.

Her experience, as Practice Manager for more than 15 years, means that she has in-depth knowledge of what patients and surgeries need.

The role, which is newly created, allows her to use her Primary Care Management skills but with more flexibility and collaboration than before and she knows how to best support local practices in practical ways.

She said: ‘I loved being a Practice Manager but it was firefighting all the time and being a Digital and Transformation Manager gives me the opportunity to make things better, not in a single practice but across the patch. After being in the same job for such a long time it was quite a transition to go to a whole new role, but I am building good relationships. I am hoping that is where my experience as Practice Manager will come to the fore as I really understand how practices work and the support that they need with projects and initiatives as they simply may not have the capacity to do it themselves.’

Helen is keen to promote local services, including the health kiosk and local women’s health hub and she is building a network of collaboration and communication to keep the local community informed about developments. ‘I have joined such a lovely team, both within my fellow Digital and Transformation Managers at Lakeside, and also with the practice teams.

'The support and encouragement I had, particularly when moving into such a new and dynamic role, was fantastic. We are all developing our roles in different ways and sharing ideas which can be used across all our PCN areas.’

 

Health kiosks at Cedar House and Eaton Socon

We have health kiosks at Cedar House Practice and Eaton Socon Health Centre. You may have received a message or letter from a clinician or our Prescription Team asking you to use our health kiosk for a health check. It could be to update your patient record with height and weight measurements, or blood pressure for a repeat prescription review including contraception, HRT or other medication.

The results will be available at any future appointments giving you more time to ask questions, discuss treatments and complete any further requests if required. There’s no need to make an appointment. You can use the kiosk anytime during surgery opening hours. It is easy to use as there are on screen prompts on the touch screen to guide you through the process. Standard health checks take no more than 10 minutes to complete, and your results are instantly saved to your patient record.

If you would like to find out more about the health kiosk at Eaton Socon Health Centre, please watch this YouTube video.

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Pharmacy First

Did you know that you can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from your local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. The Pharmacy First scheme means that pharmacists can now treat and prescribe medication for the following common conditions and ailments:

  • Earache – 1 to 17 years
  • Impetigo – 1 year and older
  • Infected insect bites – 1 year and older
  • Shingles – 18 years and older
  • Sinusitis – 12 years and over
  • Sore throat – 5 years and over
  • Uncomplicated urinary tract infections – Women 16 to 64 years

Pharmacists can also provide advice and over-the[1]counter medication for various common conditions such as coughs, colds, flu, as well as everyday issues like aches, pains, and skin rashes. No appointment is necessary to see a pharmacist, and they will let you know if you need to see a doctor. Many pharmacies are open evenings and weekends, and often provide private consultation rooms. To find your nearest service and check opening times visit the NHS website and search ‘Find a Pharmacy.’

Published: May 21, 2025