Over the last six months the wellbeing blog series has covered the following subjects:
· New Year New Me
· Falling off the wagon and how to get back on it
· Being kind to yourself
· Setting healthy boundaries
· When sadness turns to depression, how to manage and recognise mental health dips
· The benefits of physical exercise on mental health
At the end of each blog you will find a SMART goal that is relevant to the subject and will also see information directing you to your wellbeing team at the local surgery. As a good way to round up the wellbeing series we thought it would be a good idea to introduce the wellbeing team to you a little better so that you know who to ask for and how they can help you with your goals.
Kennet and Avon Medical practice
Sam Palmer – Health and wellbeing coach
Sam has been working for the EKPCN helping the patients of the Kennet and Avon Medical practice (KAMP) for almost two years now. The role of a health and wellbeing coach is to encourage and support you to make proactive and positive changes to your lifestyle and improve your overall health and wellbeing. Sam is highly knowledgeable and experienced in all thing’s health and fitness, but Sam’s role is not limited to that. Sam can help you create a plan to achieve your wellbeing and mental health goals and coach you through the steps you need to take whilst also providing useful information and helping to educate patients.
Karen Montgomery – Social prescriber
Karen is one of EKPCN’s longest serving Social Prescriber’s and has previous experience in the education sector and working for the Citizens Advice Bureau. Karen can help advice you on navigating the benefits system and housing systems and any social services support you may need. Karen is also able to support with mid to low level mental health issues and can help point you in the right direction of the social support available in the area such as looking for a support groups such as carers café’s in the area – Karen will be able to link you with these groups.
Alison – Social prescriber
Alison is a Social prescriber covering KAMP. Her career in the NHS started when she worked as an occupational therapy assistant in social care before transitioning to GWH, she holds a degree in occupational science. During her training, she gained experience in forensic mental health, focusing on personality disorders and schizophrenia.
Having personal experience with dyslexia, ASD, and ADHD, Alison has developed numerous strategies that apply both personally and with patients. She has supported individuals in accessing the community to enhance their socialization skills. Furthermore, she possesses extensive knowledge of multiple medical conditions and their impact on daily life and specializes in learning disabilities. Alison, alongside Karen, can help point you in the right direction of the social support available in the area.
Molly – Care coordinator
Molly works for KAMP and Ramsbury surgeries along side of Sandie (please see below).
Molly has excellent knowledge of local resources in particular can help patients by liaising between Adult Social Care and the surgeries. A significant amount of Molly's role is helping patients work out the best place to source further support. As a care-coordinator, Molly can help advise, signpost and facilitate people who are looking for additional care needs support. A fun fact about Molly is that she has worked in the NHS since she was 17 and previously worked as reception in KAMP surgery 2 years before taking on this role - so you may recognise her friendly face.
Ramsbury Surgery
Karen M – Social Prescriber
Karen Mackrill is the Social Prescriber for Ramsbury Surgery. Karen has worked within the NHS for approximately 10 years, starting in Community rehabilitation and Nursing teams before finding her passion in Social Prescribing. Having met many patients and family over the years who are lonely, isolated and managing physical and mental health concerns, it became apparent to Karen that there was a link that needed connecting.
Fun fact about Karen… 'I love stationary. In a world where so much is digital writing things down helps make me feel in control and organised. I love pens and a planner (as most of my patients will know!) and writing and receiving letters.'
Sandie – Care coordinator
Sandie is one of the newest additions to the team and works as a Care coordinator covering Ramsbury and KAMP surgeries with Molly. Sandie has worked with Older People and People with Physical Disabilities for over 25 years, the last 8 of those as a qualified Social Worker. Her particular interest was older people and how they could remain as independent as possible in their own homes, for as long as possible.
Sandie spends her downtime walking the dogs and sewing (as a stress relief).
Georgia – Clinical care coordinator
Georgia is a clinical care coordinator for Ramsbury surgery. Georgia does both clinical and non-clinical work. She has her own phlebotomy clinics, does NHS Health checks and supports the nurses with the coil clinics. Georgia also supports patients with a new cancer diagnosis.
Alice – Health and wellbeing coach
Alice is the Health and Wellbeing coach and she covers Ramsbury, The Old School Surgery (Great Bedwyn) and Burbage surgeries. As a Health & Wellbeing Coach, her role is to support patients make life changes to improve their physical and mental health and overall wellbeing. Health coaching is about encouraging empowerment and instilling a ‘can-do’ attitude whatever the situation. With a background in nutrition, Alice loves working with patients who want or need to make dietary changes combined with the desire to move more leading to a healthier, happier future. Alice’s motto is: “make a promise to yourself, that is so small it’s impossible not to achieve it, then build on this”.
Burbage Surgery and the Old School Surgery (Great Bedwyn)
Emily – Care coordinator
Emily is the care coordinator that covers the Old School Surgery (Great Bedwyn) and Burbage Surgery. A large part of Emily's role is looking after any patient going through cancer that is registered to the above surgeries. Emily can help from diagnosis all the way through your treatment journey. She is an excellent liaison between the GPs and secondary care and is also a fountain of knowledge for all the different support networks there are in the area. Emily also works closely with the Prospect nurses. Outside of this, Emily's role includes supporting patients with any care needs be it due to long term illness or more acute issues. Emily is excellent at sign posting patients to available support and is also available to help navigate and advise on additional support systems such as the Blue badge or attendance allowance.
So now you know the team a bit more, why not call up your local surgery and ask to speak to one of the wellbeing team to help you on your wellbeing journey. All of the team can be contacted via their surgeries on the following contact details;
KAMP – 01672 512187
Ramsbury surgery – 01672 520366
Burbage surgery – 01672 810566
The Old School surgery (Great Bedwyn) - 01672 870388
To round up the wellbeing series of blogs it makes perfect sense to finish with a SMART goal. The final SMART goal of the series is to get in touch with one of your surgeries wellbeing team and book an appointment to discuss all your care and wellbeing needs. We look forward to hearing from you and getting to know more of the amazing patients of each surgery.
EKPCN Wellbeing team
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