September Newsletter 2025

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THE WALTHAMSTOW Central Primary Care Network which covers five surgeries including Addison Road is organising a Community Wellness Day for the whole of the town on Saturday September 13 from 12 noon until 3pm. It will be the first time the whole primary care network has collaborated on such an event. Two venues on Orford Road just 50 metres apart are being used, but the surgery itself is not. The nearest venue is 60 metres away in Hope Garden, which our patients’ group maintains with other volunteers. Its address is 1 Beulah Road, but it is on the corner of Orford Road where buses used to turn right towards Addison Road. The second venue is the Community Hub in the old national school (built in 1866) in the centre of the village, on the right of Orford Road as you walk towards Walthamstow Central station. Several organisations and charities offering support and advice on many healthrelated topics will be offering their services. There will be diet advice, debt support, sexual health advice, prostate cancer checks, as well as organisations helping people to lead a more active lifestyle. There will also be food, some free, and music. The Community Apothecary, the herbalists based in Orford Road, will be explaining the benefits of herbal medicines and making herbal teas to taste. Their stall will be located in the Hope Garden. And you can join in a Tai Chi session. In the Community Hub, there will be a programme of workshops to take part in throughout the afternoon, including one examining the issue of gut health.

There will also be a team of health For all staff Your good health and patients professionals in attendance, including GPs nurses and pharmacists, on hand to carry out health checks and vaccinations. It will be possible to see a doctor without having to make an appointment in advance. There will also be face painting and balloons for the children. We want to encourage everyone to attend. As it is a an event for everyone in Walthamstow you don’t have to be a patient at Addison Road, or any other surgery in our network, to get involved. All are welcome. This is the third such event for Addison Road patients. The first, in 2022, attracted about 150 patients. In 2023, patients from the Firs near James Street, Walthamstow, were also invited, which bought the attendance to about 400. Last year there was no event: a parking issue caused by roadworks in Wood Street meant it had to be called off. Let the fun – and the serious stuff – begin.

WALTHAMSTOW COMMUNITY WELLNESS DAY

Saturday 13th September 2025

12pm - 3pm

he NHS 10-year plan published in early July makes much mention of moving from analogue to digital. The word “app” appears more than 300 times, A key element of the new strategy for making healthcare services work better is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) The NHS already uses it to help interpret X-rays and scans, and manage appointments by automated services. Here at Addison Road we are trialling AI scribe software to help speed up the writing of case notes and letters. The potential is amazing: it can improve treatments, reduce costs, and enhance patient experiences. Consider this list of sound benefits: Improved diagnosis: Early detection of diseases (such as cancer or diabetic retinopathy) using imaging and pattern recognition. It should help reduce human error in reading scans, pathology slides, and lab results. Personalised medicine: the latest technology means we can analyse genetic, lifestyle, and environmental data to tailor treatment plans and help identify which patients are most likely to benefit from specific therapies. Operational efficiency: admin tasks such as scheduling and documentation can be automated, which should reduce workload and burnout among health staff. Support for clinical decision-making: we can now get real-time alerts, treatment suggestions and risk scores (for example, conditions such as sepsis or heart failure). The technology enhances doctors’ decisions with evidence-based recommendations. Remote monitoring and telemedicine: so called “wearables” and mobile apps powered by AI enable continuous monitoring of chronic conditions such as diabetes. New drugs: identifying new medications and repurposing existing ones, which could reduce the time and cost of bringing new drugs to market, is accelerated by AI.

So far, the story is all positive. However, AI also brings ethical, technical and practical challenges: Bias and inequity: systems focused on biased or incomplete datasets can lead to disparities in care and may worsen outcomes for underrepresented groups. Lack of transparency: many computer models are hard to interpret, making it difficult for clinicians to understand or trust decisions. Data privacy: large datasets raise concerns about patient consent and data breaches. Misuse of health data can lead to discrimination or exploitation. Over-reliance on technology: blind trust in the machines could reduce critical thinking and clinical judgment, with the potential for “automation bias” in decision-making. Regulatory and legal challenges: a lack of clear standards for AI validation, approval and liability could make it more difficult to determine responsibility in the event of misdiagnosis or harm. Cost and accessibility: high development and implementation costs may widen the gap between well-funded and poorer healthcare systems. I’m not against using AI at all; in fact I used it to help me compile this article to ensure I didn’t miss any important angles. While AI offers transformative benefits in healthcare – from more accurate diagnoses to personalised treatments and improved efficiency – it requires careful implementation, ethical oversight, and robust regulation to mitigate the risks and ensure equitable, safe, and trustworthy use.

THIS GP surgery is probably one of the best in London. Receptionists are helpful, professional and just nice and friendly. Nurses have all been exceptional, and GPs have always been super helpful. It has an online system that makes it super easy to make appointments; if urgent, appointments are done on the day or the day after. I have been here for 4 years. Thank you for all your hard work!.

WE REJOINED the practice in 2021 after 36 years at the Firs where we fled to escape from the insensitivities of Dr Hardman, Dr Cooney’s predecessor. We have received an impressive service since: there’s a pleasant atmosphere, nice people and prompt, effective treatment. Dr Jenny Blythe was very supportive to me during a difficult episode last year. But don’t get me started on getting articles out of the staff (Dr Blythe excepted)! So often, when I’m editing this newsletter; they leave me – and themselves – speechless.

I WAS seen by Dr Mathumai Kanthasamy who is very helpful and listened to my issues. I am very happy with this practice. Fozia Ghafoor in reception is always helpful and kind.

I’VE BEEN with the practice for a year and have multiple chronic illnesses. All the doctors, nurses and reception staff have been super friendly and helpful. They show genuine care and I've had the referrals I've needed. I finally feel like I'm listened.

I THINK the surgery is doing a great job and has improved dramatically in the last 2 years.

THE PATIENTS group at Addison Road has joined the Walthamstow Village Residents Association, which includes local businesses, churches, mosques and schools, as well as Orford House Social Club and the Community Hub on Orford Road. The association runs a network to link local organisations together for mutual support and to share expertise. The Village Association is compiling a listing of all the community activities taking place locally. Our Wellness Day on September 13 is now included, as well as a range of health and wellbeing activities organised by our two social prescribers: Roisin Reilly and Sue Kofi. “It is important that we are linked to local events and organisations so that we can get greater publicity for our work and learn from the expertise of others,” said Patrick Morgan, chair of the Addison Road patients group. “This is an important step forward for us,”

After reports in the press highlighting the lack of defibrillators in Waltham Forest compared with other London boroughs, the association is compiling a list of all the defibrillators locally. The plan is to identify more potential sites and then install many more lifesaving machines around the village. The association has a good social media presence, using local WhatsApp groups to advertise events. We have invited the association to hold its next meeting at the surgery; its social media team will be able to offer guidance and strategies for the patients group, said Morgan.