Nightingale News - Spring 2025

Chronic Disease Management Recalls

The Nightingale plans to rename what are called ‘Chronic Disease Management Recalls’ or ‘CDM Clinics’. Patients find the language confusing. They have suggested new names. Most like the simple 'Annual Health Review' and the focus on 'health' rather than disease. Annual reviews are offered to patients who have chronic conditions. A chronic condition is a health condition that is persistent or long-lasting, requiring ongoing medical attention or limiting daily activities.

The Nightingale invites nearly 2,000 patients a year for a review, to help them manage their condition. Changing the name of the reviews seems like a simple thing to do but we hope it will encourage more patients to attend. If you have views about any of the medical language we use at the Nightingale to describe what we do, contact us and share your thoughts. 

The Chancellor is increasing Employer National Insurance from April

This will impact GPs financially. The Nightingale has written to our local MPs, asking the government to consider reimbursing GP surgeries for this increased cost. One patient who also wrote to The Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP had a letter back. This is an extract from that letter:

“Thank you for taking time to write to me about the exemplary service provided by Dr Sarah Williams and her team. Your concerns about the proposed increase in Employer National Insurance contributions for GP practices are entirely valid. Unlike other parts of the NHS, many GP practices operate as small businesses, which makes them disproportionately affected by such changes.

“At a time when GPs are already under immense strain, additional financial burdens risk undermining their ability to deliver the care that patients so greatly value. I have raised this issue with the Treasury, urging them to reconsider the classification of GP practices in the context of the proposed National Insurance increases. It is critical the government recognises the unique role of GPs and treats them in line with other NHS services. Please be assured of my ongoing commitment to supporting GPs.”

Friends of the Nightingale Practice

No fewer than 27 patients attended our Friends of the Nightingale Practice meeting in January. Thank you to everyone who took time to contribute. The Friends of Nightingale Practice (which used to be called the Patient Participation Group) is a voluntary group that meets regularly to listen to people’s feedback.

We warmly welcome all patients, family members and carers to attend our meetings. Our aim is to ensure all patient voices are heard. More details can be found on our website, or ask at Reception.

The practice staff were delighted with how many patients joined us for the last meeting. Please join us again for our next meeting, which will take place on Thursday 17 April at 4:30pm.

Friends and Family Test (FFT)

We are getting very few responses from patients to our Friends & Family Test. We are now charged money if we send text messages to patients, so we have decided we may use email from now on to encourage people to complete the test.

We are aware people don’t like being reminded about the test every time they visit a doctor, so we promise we won’t do that.

The NHS Friends and Family Test (FFT) was created to help service providers (that’s us at the Nightingale) and commissioners understand whether patients are happy with the service provided. It's a quick and anonymous way to give your views after receiving NHS care.

You can find the link to the test on our website.

What’s happening with Together Better?

Together Better provides a variety of free activities at, or near, the Nightingale Practice every week, as well as at other venues across City & Hackney.

We have permanent co-ordinators, like our Tom Fearon, to support us but we also rely on a band of wonderful volunteers. These volunteers have regular get-togethers. Here they are at one of their latest gatherings.

Thanks so much, guys! We couldn’t do it without you. Meanwhile, if you want to know more about Together Better at the Nightingale, you can contact Tom on 07305 617 421 or you can find more information here. 

Health & Wellbeing event a success

More than 70 people came along to our last Health & Wellbeing event held at the surgery. We had a wide variety of local services there, offering advice and information. These included: Talk Changes, Positive East, Social Prescribing, the Shoreditch Trust and Breast Cancer Screening.

There was some lovely free food provided, and our local DJ Jonty played some vinyl.

We hope to organise similar events in the future.

‘Men’s MOT’ is starting soon

This group will meet every Thursday at the Nightingale surgery from 1pm to 2pm. This is an opportunity for men of all ages to talk about well-being issues they may be concerned about, in a space without judgement.

Nobody will be talking about intimate health issues. This is about having a general chat about managing anxiety and stress, improving diet and sleep and enhancing overall fitness.

Please feel free to come along. If you think your husband, father, brother, uncle or partner might be interested in these sessions, please pass the word.

Contact Tom Fearon for more information on 07305 617 421 or via our online form.