March Newsletter 2025

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Your good health

Patients’ views sought on greater continuity of care

STAFF AT Addison Road want to improve patients’ chances of seeing the same doctor when they visit the surgery. Dr Jan Crofton, managing partner, told the Patient Participation Group meeting in January, that he wanted to investigate how this could be best achieved – and he wants patients to have a big voice in helping reach this goal. In a practice with 18,000 patients it is not something that can be guaranteed. But preliminary discussions among staff have proposed dividing patients into micro teams under named doctors so that they know who is dealing with them. “Not every patient needs continuity of care,” said Dr Crofton. “A lot of younger patients just want an immediate problem dealt with as quickly as possible. But older patients with multi-morbidities [two or more long-term health conditions] do need closer attention and need to know that the staff they see are familiar with their case history.” This month a working party of doctors, nurses, patient group members plus carers and patients with serious health issues will meet to discuss possible strategies. Of the 18,000 patients at Addison Road, it is estimated that 2,500 need to be seen by micro-teams familiar with their conditions. “We have 18 GPs on staff, but they don’t all work full-time. I am sure that by listening to patients’ concerns, we can devise more effective and personalised work patterns.”

New worry over Whipps Cross funding

DOUBTS about where the money for to pay the new Whipps Cross hospital grew even more intense last month when a briefing by a senior government adviser on health reforms indicated that a new form of PFI (private finance initiative) would have to be devised to fund such a project. Paul Corrigan who is helping Wes Streeting, the health secretary, draw up a 10- years plan for the NHS, told the Cambridge Health Network, a gathering of senior NHS executives, suppliers and entrepreneurs: “We need to get people used to the concept of private funding for capital projects.” Corrigan was heavily involved in reforms at the turn of the century that saw PFI investors fund building works in schools, health services and other public projects. This allowed a big building programme to proceed. The financiers then managed the sites as the money was repaid over the next 25-30 years. However, the reality proved to be poor maintenance standards and big interest payments which have crippled public service finances. The news has triggered a strong response from local people campaigning to ensure that the 122-year-old Whipps is rebuilt. They are concerned that the new PFI deal will mean a heavier burden on the taxpayer. Eva Turner, of Action4Whipps as well as Addison Road’s patients group, said: “Barts Health Trust has the biggest PFI debt in the country after both the Royal London and Newham hospitals were built with private capital. To add another debt to rebuild Whipps Cross will be unsustainable.”

Whipps on hold until at least 2032

Originally 2026 was the target. It’s 122 years old, so why is it taking so long, asks Eva Turner

 

 When Boris Johnson promised to build 40 new hospitals back in 2019, NHS staff and patients were positively hopeful. Whipps Cross was opened in 1903 but no longer meets modern health requirements. After the prime minister endured an uncomfortable meeting with an angry parent (right) complaining about inadequate standards, Whipps was fasttracked to be one of six in the first cohort of “40 new hospitals”, although we now know most of them were refits, refurbishments or rebuilds. The first six were allocated £2.7bn between them. The modern Whipps was promised to be ready by 2026. Inevitably, that date was later put back – to 2030. An alliance of residents and patients established Action4Whipps to ensure that the number of beds and health services (such as the Margaret Centre and Connaught Day hospital) in the new Whipps Cross were not cut. Barts Health Trust obtained permission for a multi-storey car park – now being built. Everything changed when Labour was elected last July. Ministers decided on a review of the whole programme – which many said had not been allocated adequate funds from the start – and pronounced it “not affordable”. Wes Streeting, the health secretary, said that “the programme we inherited was unfunded and undeliverable”. Right now seven hospitals are being built, 16 will start between 2025 and 2039, and the new Whipps Cross with seven other hospitals is scheduled to start between 2032 and 2034 – at an estimated cost of £1-1.5bn. The remaining hospitals will not until 2035. Staff and patients alike at Whipps Cross are extremely disappointed.There is still no clarity about what funds, if any, will be allocated for the next 10 years to maintain the old and often unsuitable premises. Nor do we know which services will be available in the new hospital for an ever-growing population – just look at all the residential building work in the borough – with an ever increasing number of elderly patients. The problems are already visible. The Care Quality Commission inspected A&E at Whipps last July; when it reported in December, it said that, despite heroic staff efforts, it required a “significant improvement” to care for patients’ safely. Wes Streeting and the Labour Government are suggesting that Care in the Community will be provided so that there will be fewer people needing hospital care. So far there is insufficient investment in this service so the need for hospital beds is ever growing. Hence we see the queues of ambulances outside the hospital and people on trolleys in corridors. Action4Whipps will continue to fight for funds to provide sufficient beds and services in the existing and the new hospital. The need is not likely to diminish.

An angry parent assailed Boris Johnson then Whipps was put in the first cohort of rebuilds

For more information, please read: Waltham Forest Echo pages 1, 8 and 10 The Lowdown on the effect of the delay Care Quality Commission report on Whipps Cross New Hospital Programme Plan.

Chaps, don’t be shy of the GP

Our health is more important than our masculine pride, writes Neil Levis

FIRST PERSON

Pass the polyps. That’s how I spent last autumn. Four colonoscopies in four and a half months. Not the most dignified way to start your 77th year. But you mustn’t ignore warning signs. And 15 polyps growing in my colon was no trifling matter. I didn’t know they were there, but during the first six months of 2024 I noticed half a dozen occasions when I had slight anal bleeding – a hangover from haemorrhoids during my teenage years. Time to check things out. My GP agreed, but went further and referred me to hospital. The endoscopy team at Whipps Cross were very supportive – and very busy. The demand means it’s a production line. Two of my procedures started with phone calls on a Sunday afternoon and very little time to prepare. But you have to steer yourself positively through the system if you want a good outcome. The report from my first procedure had pictures of my insides – not ones for the album – and told me I would need to come back in three weeks. It also – probably inadvertently – included the chilling sentence: “Cancer Pathway: cancer found continue on pathway.” We Levises don’t panic. Both my GP and I believed this was precautionary. And Whipps wouldn’t have sent me away without saying anything if they had found a serious problem. I concentrated on chasing my next procedure. Phone calls proved fruitless, so I went up and politely pestered. It took two months for me to secure my second up-periscope date. My main anxiety, if I’m honest, was about getting rid of the 15 unwelcome growths, but after two sessions, I still had nine inside. Polyps are benign but, given time, they can become malignant. Six weeks later the number came down to seven. Another month and I was clear but with the invitation to come back next January for more checks. Relief. The purpose of this article is not for me to talk about my backside – or out of it – but to alert my fellow men that we should not hold back from seeking medical help when we need it. We are way behind the women – by 32 percentage points – in chasing appointments. We need to overcome our fears – or is it masculine pride?. Remember: pester politely – but persist.

Blood tests at Addison Road:

Two clinics are now operating:

The surgery’s own phlebotomy service is on the ground floor. You need to book

On the first floor, Booking through Swiftqueue. Mon to Fri 8.15am to 4pm. Closed for lunch 12.30-1.15pm.

Learning that benefits us all

Jenny Blythe says training doctors at Addison Road is a real plus

 At Addison Road, you may sometimes be asked to see medical students in clinic before being reviewed by GPs, or you may be asked to speak to group of medical students on placement with us.This practice takes first and fifth (final) year medical students from Queen Mary University of London. I believe that that this has huge benefits for patients, staff and the wider healthcare system. Let me explain

For patients, it means:

  • Longer appointments: Students have more time to speak to you, which leads to thorough recording of your medical history and discussion of what’s wrong.
  • More attention: Patients should receive extra perspectives on their conditions – from students as well as the clinical team.
  • Enhanced care quality: GPs report that supervising students often makes them reflect more on cases, so your condition is given more careful consideration.
  • You are contributing: Patients dealt with by students play a role in training future doctors, and so are improving the healthcare system.

For surgeries and GPs, the benefits are:

  • Keeping up to date: Teaching students encourages doctors to keep abreast of the latest medical thinking and research.
  • Improved job satisfaction: There is clear evidence that GPs find teaching rewarding and stimulating.
  • Extra help in clinics: Students assist with clinical tasks under supervision.
  • Stronger team culture: Teaching fosters collaboration and learning among staff.

GPs say supervising students makes them think more about patients’ treatment


For students, the experience gives them:

  • Real-world experience: They gain hands-on exposure to primary care, which is vital for their training.
  • Improved communication skills: Regular interactions with patients enhance students’ consultation skills and experience.
  • Broader clinical knowledge: Students see a wide variety of cases, from minor illnesses and emergency presentations, to chronic disease management.
  • Encouragement to become GPs: Exposure to general practice may inspire students to choose primary care as a career.

Finally, there are benefits for the healthcare system:

  • Better training for future doctors: Students who train in surgeries are more prepared for patient-centred care because they see people in their communities.
  • Boosts staffing: With shortages in primary care, early exposure can help recruit GPs.
  • More efficient healthcare: Well-trained students contribute to a stronger and more effective healthcare system in the long run. Even if they don’t become GPs, knowing how the role fits into the system helps them manage your care more effectively.

Overall, integrating students into surgeries enhances patient care, supports GPs, improves medical education, and strengthens the system. It couldn’t be done without patients, and we are grateful to all of you who help. However, the choice does remain with you. You should be told when your appointment is booked that you’re seeing a student first – so please feed back to the doctor afterwards if you haven’t been told. Thank you for your ongoing support! 

Jenny Blythe is a GP at Addison Road two days per week and teaches medical students two days at Queen Mary University

HEALTH CHECKS FOR PENSIONERS

Tips for a longer and fulfilling life

Once we pass 60, we are more prone to illness. And more of us are living longer lives. Good diet, plenty of exercise and a moderate lifestyle should keep you going for as long as your genes let you. Being older isn’t a disease! Neither is it necessarily fraught with dangers. But it’s important to have regular medical checks to monitor your body. Exercise is important to keep your muscles strong, for your bones and for your respiratory system. Anaerobic exercise – raising your heart rate – is important for efficient functioning of the body. Regular movement and stretching keep you supple and your blood pressure at the right levels. Sport is also good because you meet other people. Regular socialising is good for your mental health and helps you keep a sense of proportion about the world. If you don’t like sport, you should join a club to get you out of the house and widen your horizons. Meeting people keeps you alert. But you also need regular health checks to ensure your body, a complex mechanism, is not deteriorating. These pages, we hope, provide useful checklists, contacts and advice. Carole Sturdy, Eva Turner, Neil Levis and Roisin Reilly

Stay active, stay alert – and happy

Walking: Waltham Forest council organises a comprehensive walking programme to help people keep active. There are 18 walks every week, Monday to Saturday. Full details here. Check out, too, Go Jauntly and the Feel Good Walks further down the council’s website page. Walking is as good as running for helping you stay strong.

Golf: most local golf courses (Chingford, Wanstead, West Essex, Ilford or Hainault) let you pay by the round, around £20, without paying an annual fee. Hainault offers five-day membership for £630, so you can play unlimited golf Monday to Friday

 

Jazz: Eastside Jazz Club. Tuesdays 8pm, The ExServicemen’s Club, 2 Harvey Road, Leytonstone E11 3DB, behind Red Lion pub. Top acts every week. Nice bar



 

Walking Football: Womens run by Leyton Orient. Weekly sessions, first one free. Just turn up in trainers and togs. Plus the Dodgy Tickers at Our Future Health.

Walking Cricket: every Tuesday at Leyton Sports Ground on the High Road (the old cricket ground) 11am-12.30. Just turn up, Free. Organised by Waltham Forest Council.

Swimming: Waltham Forest offers all residents over 60 what amounts to free swimming: you pay an annual £11 fee to use any of the borough’s four pools during off-peak hours. Details here. This offer also applies to any resident with a disability and members of the armed forces.
 

Tai Chi: A martial art that through its stretching helps boost the immune system. Suitable for beginners of all levels. Can be done sitting or standing. Every Wednesday at Addison Road surgery on the first floor. 6.30-7.30. Details here. And at The Firs surgery Fridays 8.30–9,30am. Details here. To book, visit here.
 

Ramblers: More walking, but it is good for you and works as a social meeting place as well. There are two local groups: West Essex Ramblers and Redbridge Ramblers. There is often overlap between the two groups, but you can get out on an enjoyable walk of varying lengths most days of the week. Quite cheap for £3.48 monthly or £43 per year to get out with either group. They also organise walking holidays.

Bowls: Walthamstow Borough And Aveling Park Bowls Club in Lloyd Park. Orford House Bowls Club in Orford Road in Walthamstow Village.

Nordic Walking: every Friday, 10-11.30am. Meet Leytonstone Station, Church Lane entrance, Free, but you must book. Register by emailing Feel.Good@walthamforest.gov.uk. Nordic walking aims to exercise the arms and chest by using walking poles. It is similar to cross-country skiing without the snow.

Age UK Waltham Forest has activities for everyone: table tennis, walking football for men and women and zumba to silver surfers and book clubs. Something for everyone. Full details here


 

University of the Third Age (U3A): The local branch has a detailed website which lays out the activities and groups you might like to join: film clubs, classics, gardening, sketching, theatre. The list is too long to do justice to here. Lots of outings, and visits as well as lunches. It is a really social gathering.The annual fee is £20.

Sports & Wellbeing Programme Pastures Centre: 15 Davies Lane, Leytonstone, E11 3DR. Free Pilates for adults on Tuesdays and Zumba (Fridays). Free children’s multi-sports session on Sundays. Email: Feel.Good@walthamforest.gov.uk for more information.

 

Cycling: Lea Valley Cycling Club. Based in Walthamstow. Long established. Walthamstow Cycling Club. Newer and more sedate
 

 

One-off checks

Pneumonia: At 65, you should receive a one-off jab. It protects you also against meningitis and sepsis. Normally painless, but needs treating with respect – no partying.

Shingles: From the same virus (herpes zoster) as chicken pox. (Cold sores are herpes simplex). It attacks the central nervous system and is very debilitating and painful. It also threatens the eyesight. Jab for over 65s. You will be notified but it’s worth chasing if you’ve missed out.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm. For men 65 or over. Women are six times less likely to suffer this so are not screened. A damaged blood vessel or a weakness makes the main artery from the heart swell, which could lead to a rupture, internal bleeding even death. The check is noninvasive: you have an ultrasound wand swept across your abdomen.

Retinopathy: Diabetics – 21% of over-65s – can experience damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina in the back of the eye This can seriously affect your vision and may cause blindness. Screening is recommended every two years. Find out more here.

Regular tests

Flu: Every September, free flu jabs are available as the latest strain makes its way over from the other side of the world. If you have a respiratory problem, as many older folk do, the jab is one way to gain extra immunity.

Blood tests: Monitors whether changes are happening to your body. Again, if you don’t see medics regularly for other conditions, get you blood checked you should get your blood tested at least annually.

Covid: A respiratory condition, so well worth inoculating against. Vulnerable people should be having two jabs per year now

 

Eyesight: Most older folk experience problems. There is no stigma attached to it. Some conditions are irreversible: glaucoma can only be arrested, not cured. Macular degeneration is often agerelated. But for most folk, an annual test at an optician is a must. Many are free

Blood pressure: Most old people with conditions will probably be seeing a doctor regularly so will be tested. If not, you need to call in to the surgery at least every 12 months.
 

Hearing: If you are starting to go deaf, you can, without realising it, feel isolated or cut off from family and friends. If you are getting irritable with others it could mean you can’t hear properly. Hearing tests are free from most opticians, but you have to pay for any treatment. The Royal National Institute for the Deaf provides a free online test, too

Cancer tests

Lung: Common worldwide. Every year in the UK, around 48,000 people are diagnosed and about 35,000 die from it. Smoking is the most common cause. Targeted screening for 55- to 74-yearolds identified at high risk. In other words, they contact you. Aways see a doctor if you have symptoms.

Breast The most common cancer among women, but men can develop it, too. It kills 11,500 UK women and 85 men every year. Women are screened every three years from 50-70. After that, you must ask to stay on the programme. An uncomfortable, sometimes painful experience, but it is not agonising.Write or phone your local unit.

Bowel: High rates in the UK. Most patients are over 60. Home testing kits – pooh sticks – are sent to 54-74- year-olds every two years. If anything is found, you will have a colonoscopy. After 75, you have to opt to stay on the programme. If you have stomach pain or anal bleeding or your bowel habits change, you should consult your doctor immediately.

Cervical: Screening of women’s wombs starts at 25. It is slow-developing but, as with all cancers, the earlier it is treated, the better. The cause is human papillomavirus (HPV) which can be sexually transmitted but can lie dormant for years. Women over 75 account for about 9% of all cases. Screening can be painful, but catching it early is better than the alternative 

The doctor is ready. Are you?

If something about your health is worrying you, it’s not unusual to feel anxious. Such feelings might increase if you are not sure how to approach your treatment and care. Hopefully this guide, prepared by the Patients Association, may help.

To get the most from medical appointments, it is important you prepare. Here’s how

Before and during your appointment

1. You can ask the surgery to contact you in a way that is easy for you to understand. If English is not your first language or you have a disability, you can ask for communications to suit your needs.

2. Write down in advance what you want to ask the healthcare professional about your condition or treatment. It may be useful to bring a list of your medications with you.

3. Make staff aware if you have already taken blood tests or other checks to prevent you having to take the same tests again.

4. Make sure you know why you have been referred to this appointment. Check to see how long it will last. Ask if it’s OK to discuss more than one condition.

5. Don’t be afraid to make notes about what is discussed, what will happen next and how you will be informed.

6. If you are being treated by different health teams, do ask how they will work together to treat your condition, and how you can help to make the process easier.

7. At the end of the appointment, ask the healthcare professional to go over what will happen next. Ask them to write down any names or terms that are new to you.

8. You can ask about being part of all decisions made for your treatment and care. This will help you to feel confident that you are receiving what you want and need. You can ask to see your hospital records and other information held about you to make sure they are correct, and you have given your permission for them to be shared.

After your appointment

1. If there are things that you don’t understand, contact your surgery for help make in making them clearer.

2. If you forgot to ask an important question during the appointment, then contact the health team. Make a note of the date of your next appointment and the things you may need to do to prepare for it.

3. Did you feel heard and understood? If not, you could take someone with you next time to support you.

4. Were you able to understand more about your condition, and the reasons for your treatment and future care? If you are not clear, contact the surgery to explain what you need to find out.

5. Are you happy with the decisions made and do you agree to follow the treatment and care plan? If not, discuss this with your healthcare professional because it is important find a solution that you are both happy with.

Adapted by Patrick Morgan from an article published by the Patients Association.