Sophie joined the practice at the beginning of June 2022. As a social prescriber she is here to give time to patients, focusing on “What matters to you”.
Sophie can connect people to community groups and services for practical and emotional support and refer and signpost people to a range of support.
Including
Wellbeing and mental health (non-clinical services)
Benefits, housing and debt
Social isolation and loneliness
Carers support
Employment and volunteering
General health and fitness
Long term health conditions
Sophie is contactable at any of our three sites (Portscatho Surgery, Tregony Surgery, and St Mawes Surgery), Monday – Friday, Tel: 01872 580345.
There is a Roseland Surgeries Social Prescribing Facebook page where useful information is regularly shared:
Independent Age – free information and advice for older people and their families on care and support, money and benefits and health and mobility, and grants for community organisations. 0800 319 6789 / https://www.independentage.org/
Silver Line – a free, confidential telephone service for older people. Providing friendship, conversation and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 0800 4 70 80 90 / https://www.thesilverline.org.uk/
NHS Volunteer Responders – Check In and Chat and Companionship calls (a friendly phone call and a listening ear). Volunteers can also provide help with shopping and prescription delivery and support getting to social activities, if available in the local area. 0808 196 3646 / https://nhscarevolunteerresponders.org/services
Cornwall Carers Service – supporting unpaid and informal carers, including young carers and young adult carers. 01736 756 655 / https://www.cornwallcarers.org.uk/
Cornwall Hospice Care – specialist support for people with terminal illnesses and their families and carers including support for bereavement. https://www.cornwallhospicecare.co.uk/
Cornwall Memory Café Network – where any one with memory loss and their carer or family can find help and support. https://www.cornwallmemorycafes.co.uk/
Hub of Hope – mental health support database for local and national services. https://hubofhope.co.uk/
Pentreath – supporting recovery from mental ill heath and developing opportunities for people to meet their potential for happy and productive lives. 01726 862 727 / https://www.pentreath.co.uk/
The Women’s Centre Cornwall – support to women and girls who have experienced sexual or domestic violence or abuse. 01208 77099 / https://www.womenscentrecornwall.org.uk/
Healthy Cornwall – helping you to lead a happier, healthier lifestyle. Weight management, healthy eating, physical activity, stopping smoking and healthy pregnancy. https://www.healthycornwall.org.uk/
We Are Undefeatable – supporting people with a range of long term health conditions to find ways to be active that work for you. https://weareundefeatable.co.uk/
WorkWell – supporting people with a health condition or disability to start, stay and succeed in work through free, impartial and confidential offer of personalised support.
University of the Third Age – Learning, staying active and having fun in later life. https://www.u3a.org.uk/
Community Energy Plus – providing information for households to have warmer and more energy efficient homes. 0800 954 1956 / https://www.cep.org.uk/
Flu Campaign
We still have a supply of flu vaccine and covid vaccines for out patients…. we are seeing an increase in patients with flu and covid is still around. Please book an appointment as soon as you can if you have not yet had your vaccination – you can have one or both vaccines.
If you are over 65 years of age or under 65 with an underlying health condition such as diabetes, asthma/COPD, heart/kidney disease, if you are immunosuppressed, pregnant or a carer for anyone with any of these conditions, you may have a vaccine. We have not yet received guidance regarding the concommitant administration of the covid booster vaccine, so it may be that you will be offered separate appointments for flu and covid boosters.
Travel Advice and Immunisations
We are able to offer a number of vaccinations for travel and many of these are available on the NHS and thus are free. These include tetanus boosters, immunisations against Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Some vaccines though (such as Yellow Fever, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis) are not available on the NHS and should you need them for a more exotic holiday, such as Cambodia, Vietnam, parts of Africa/Asia, you will be asked to pay for the vaccines prior to booking your appointments.
Non-urgent advice: Important Notice
We need a minimum of 8 WEEKS’ notice of your intention to travel in order to complete your travel vaccination schedule.
In order to accurately inform patients of vaccinations recommended it important that we have as much information as possible and we must have that at least 8 weeks before you are intending to travel.
Please complete this travel questionnaire which will give us additional information to assist the Nurse in arranging your travel schedule.
We will contact you in advance if there is any charge payable and will organise your first appointment.
We know this might seem like a lot of work, but doing all of this preparation in advance means we save you time if you don’t need any immunisations (so no wasted journey to the surgery), we determine in advance what you might need (and get the vaccines ordered in time) and you’re notified in advance of any possible charges for non-NHS vaccines.
Travel Questionnaire
Patient Vaccination Information Leaflets
We have a number of leaflets that you might find helpful to review prior to booking any appointment for a travel vaccination and they can be found below.
All our doctors have the necessary qualifications for the full range of antenatal and postnatal care for mothers and babies. The majority of straightforward obstetric care is managed by our midwife, Julie Wheatley. She holds clinics at Portscatho and will discuss any potential problems with your usual doctor.
Specialist Practice Nurse Clinics
Our practise nurses run specialist clinics to cover a wide range of needs including asthma, heart disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, childhood immunisations, new patient checks, high blood pressure, travel medicine, help to stop smoking and weight loss. Some of these are direct access and others are through a referral from your GP. Our receptionists will be happy to guide you.
Counselling and Support for Mental Health & Wellbeing
Information and support for your mental health and wellbeing.
Non-urgent advice: Support for a mental health crisis
In a crisis, or know someone in crisis? Need someone to talk to? We are here 24/7 to listen and determine how best to help. Call us free on 111, select option 2 for the mental health option.
You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123.
Call 999 or go to the emergency department now if: – someone’s life is at risk, for example they have seriously injured themselves or taken an overdose – you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe
A free, confidential service for people aged 16 years and over who are registered with a GP in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. They provide treatment for common mental health difficulties such as low mood, stress, and anxiety. You can refer yourself to this service without support from your GP.
Free digital mental wellbeing support for adults (18+) across the UK, offering a variety of anonymous support options. Professional support, peer to peer forums and personal development tools. More information can be found here.
Non-urgent advice: Kooth
Free, safe and anonymous support. Drop in live text chat or therapeutic messaging with the team of therapists. Self-guided learning and therapeutic activities. Find out more here.
Non-urgent advice: Man Down
Informal, peer-led talking groups across the UK, providing a safe, judgment-free space for men to share their struggles and connect with others who understand.
Find the locations of the Man Down group meetings here.
Non-urgent advice: Safer Futures
If you are a victim of domestic violence and/or abuse and need support, please contact the Safer Futures Team – 0300 777 4777. More information can be found here
Non-urgent advice: NHS support information for your mental health and wellbeing
Information and support for your mental health including mental health conditions, self help and information for life events.
Although not directly employed by the practice we have a dedicated and hardworking team of district nurses attached to our surgery. They provide nursing services to our housebound patients in the community.
Physiotherapy
Suzy is our onsite physiotherapist with ongoing clinics on a Monday and Tuesday, and a First Contact Physiotherapist clinic on a Thursday at Portscatho.
First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are highly trained physiotherapists, usually based in GP surgeries.
FCPs have extensive experience in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions – such as back or neck pain – and see these patients without the need for a GP appointment.
If you have bone, joint or muscle pain, you can see an FCP.
What to expect when you see your FCP
Your FCP will assess and diagnose you.
Give you expert advice on how best to manage your condition.
Refer you onto a specialist service if necessary.
How do you book an appointment to see your FCP?
Simply contact your GP practice and request an appointment to see the FCP. The reception team will check that you’re suitable and book an appointment for you.
Criteria for booking an appointment with an FCP:
Inclusion criteria:
All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries
Arthritis – any joint
Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone, e.g. tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains
Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain
Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms, e.g. pins and needles or numbness
Changes to walking
Post-orthopaedic surgery
Exclusion criteria:
Acutely unwell
Children under 16
Medical management of rheumatoid conditions
Women’s health, antenatal and postnatal problems
House-bound patients
Medication reviews
Neurological and respiratory conditions
Headaches
Acute mental health crises
After visiting Suzy in a FCP clinic we may send you a text message with a voluntary patient satisfaction questionnaire to monitor how this service is being received.
A visiting chiropodist holds clinics at Portscatho on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. These clinics are administrated by the Truro Health Office and are by appointment only. Your doctor can provide a referral if required.
Minor Surgery
Joint injections, freezing therapy and removal of simple lumps and bumps can be arranged in consultation with your usual doctor. If your problem is more complicated you may be referred outside the practice to have the procedure.