The guest speakers at our meeting in May were representatives from the Tamar Valley Health Patients’ Group (tvhPPG)
One third of the whole week’s telephone calls are received on Monday mornings so great is the demand for appointments etc at Callington and Gunnislake surgeries. That’s a huge demand on the Receptionists. By asking a few questions they are not being nosey, they just want to direct you to the best person able to deal with your problem.
Fred Shotter, Secretary of Tamar Valley Health Patient’s Group outlined the work done by the numerous Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, Phlebotomists and other staff who look after 16.000 patients. The role of tvhPPG, a voluntary body, is to be a critical friend of the practice, trying to provide the best care possible. The experiences and views they collect are fed back to the Practice staff to help them make important decisions or changes needed to improve the services they provide.
As well as regular open meetings held at the surgeries, the tvhPPG is trying to move around the area meeting in village halls etc. giving talks to allow more people an opportunity to take part.
The number of staff, the services and help available was a real eye-opener. £89,000,000 is spent annually in Cornwall on drug prescriptions. By attending your annual medication review with the Pharmacist (whose detailed knowledge of how the drugs your doctor has prescribed for you work with one another) you will be able to reorder wisely and reduce waste.
The Living Well Project is helping people with health related problems which limit their ability to get out of their home and reintegrate with their local community.
To hear more about the work of the tvhPPG call 01822 832999 or visit www.tamarvalleyhealth.co.uk
We had begun our meeting with a visit by Val Wright, a member from Cockermouth WI who came to thank personally the ladies who in January held a ”Quiltathon” and made 34 quilts which they sent to flood victims in Cumbria. They are slowly returning to normal but many are still out of their homes. They were amazed and very grateful that people in Cornwall had thought of them.
At our next meeting on June 1st Jane Talbot Smith will tell us about working with Leather.
If you are interested in joining South Hill WI, we meet on the first Wednesday of the month in the Parish Hall at 7.15pm for further information please contact Sue Palmer at southhillwi@gmail.com