Great Barford Surgery

20/11/2025

Flu cases are higher than usual for this time of year. 🤧 Here are some things you can do to stop the spread.

Having a vaccine is still the best protection against flu. 🛡️

Visit www.sneevaccine.org.uk for all the info.

20/11/2025

20/11/2025

Flu injections still available at our surgery, please call to book on 01234 870325. Thank you.

Leading flu experts say they will not be surprised if this year's is the worst flu season for a decade.

13/11/2025

Patient Notice
We are closed from 2.30pm – 6.30pm on the 19/11/2025 (Wednesday) for mandatory staff training.
Please call 111 for medical help or 999 in the case of emergency!
Thank you.

13/11/2025

We're so grateful to Davina McCall for sharing her experience of being diagnosed with breast cancer so openly and highlighting the importance of being breast aware.

Anyone can get breast cancer, so it's important to know what’s normal for you.

Touch your breasts

Look for changes

Check anything new or unusual with a GP

There’s no right way to check. Just make sure you do it regularly. Find out more here: https://brnw.ch/21wXq83

13/11/2025

11/11/2025

Great Barford Surgery Newsletter
26 Silver Street, Gt. Barford, Bedford MK44 3HX Tel: 01234 870 325
Email: gbsblmk.greatbarfordsurgery@nhs.net

Great Barford Total Triage
IT’S ALL ABOUT the e-CONSULT
We are encouraging all our patients to use e-consult for non-urgent requests and call on the day for URGENT appointments only.
For patients who do not have access to a PC/online access an e-Consult form can be filled in by the Receptionist taking the call.
When do I need to complete an e-Consult?
If on contacting the Surgery for a GP appointment and there are no available appointments left on the day the Receptionist may ask you to complete an E-Consult online for non-urgent related matters.
What do I do if I do not have access to a PC but need to see a GP
For non-urgent related issues, the Receptionist on duty will complete the e-Consult form on your behalf and submit the e-Consult form to the Clinical team for triage.
What happens to the submitted online e-Consult form sent to the Surgery? The Surgery will respond to you within 48 hours for non-urgent matters.

Please contact Laura our Care Co-Ordinator on Tel: 01234 870 325 to arrange free 1-2-1 training / group training sessions which will cover a few IT skills such as the following or can be tailored to meet your needs
• How to create an email address
• How to complete an e-Consult or simply
• how to order your repeat medication online saving you a trip to the Surgery to post your repeat prescription.

Great Barford Surgery Christmas Closure
We will be closed from 4.00pm Christmas Eve
24th December and will reopen on 27th December.
We will be closed on New Years Day 1st January 2026.

HOMELESSNESS SUPPORT HUB – Prebend Street Support Hub – Drop-in-day centre for homeless people. Tel: 01234 365955

SALVATION CHURCH
Bedford Salvation Army Church
bedfordsalvationarmy.org.uk
Commercial Rd, Bedford MK40 1QS Tel: 01234 329200

HOPE WORKS – 56 Harpur Street, Bedford
From 1st December for 100 days (March 2026) based on a first come basis offer temporary Winter Shelter.
Doors open @ 1930.

PATIENT PARTICIPATION GROUP

Great Barford Surgery are looking for patients to join their Patient Participation Group. If you are interested in join our committee please contact Laura, Surgery Care-Co-Ordinator for more information.

11/11/2025

🗣️ Have your say!
Bedford Borough Parent Carer Forum wants to hear from you.

The Annual Survey is now open — a chance for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND to share their experiences, shape local services, and help make real change across Bedford Borough.

The link to the survey is in the comments below 👇🏻

11/11/2025

Reduce your salt🧂 intake, here’s how:

1️⃣ Use salt sparingly & cut back on salty sauces and condiments

2️⃣ Avoid snacks that are high in salt

3️⃣ Consider using lower-sodium salt substitutes for adults with no kidney problems. If unsure, check with a health professional before switching

11/11/2025

Sometimes a person with dementia may become intensely distressed and agitated in the later afternoon or towards the end of the day. This is known as ‘sundowning.’

The symptoms may continue into the night, making it hard for them to get enough sleep, but they aren’t necessarily linked to the sun setting, or limited to the end of the day.

Sundowning can happen at any stage of dementia but is more common during the middle and later stages.

The reasons why sundowning happens are not well understood, but it is possible that a range of different causes makes it more likely. These might include:

Tiredness, hunger, pain or other unmet physical needs

Not enough exposure to sunlight during the day

Overstimulation during the day, such as from a noisy or busy environment

Disturbance to the person’s ‘body clock’ caused by damage to the brain

Disturbed levels of hormones that vary over the course of the day

Sensory impairment, such as hearing or sight loss

Tiredness in other people causing the person with dementia to become upset

Mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression

Fewer carers around to look after the person (in a care home)

Side effects of prescribed drugs

Sometimes what seems like ‘sundowning’ could be the person trying to communicate a need. This could be needing the toilet, feeling hungry or being in pain.

Uneven indoor lighting and reflective surfaces can sometimes cause confusion by creating disturbing shadows or mirrors.

Close the curtains or blinds once it starts to get dark and cover the television with a dust cover, if it’s not being used.

Think whether something that’s happened during the day has affected them.

If they remain agitated, it could be that they have a need that is not being met.

If they seem agitated, try to calm them by distracting them, perhaps talking about a favourite memory.

[Image description:
A light blue infographic with the title 'What causes sundowning?' centred infront of a yellow glow, surrounding by eight different illustrations depicting each cause, including: tiredness, hunger, pain, lack of sunlight, overstimulation, sensory impairment, body clock disturbance, prescribed drug side effects, mood disorders, and hormone level imbalances.]

10/11/2025

10/11/2025

Great Barford Surgery Total triage patient guide

Total triage is a system where every patient contacting a GP practice provides information about the reason for their contact before any appointment is booked. It has been designed to get as many patients using the online route as possible to submit their requests, this has many advantages including:
• Taking pressure off the phones so those who need to use the phone benefit from short wait times (basically all patients then benefit).
• Reception staff have more time to help these, generally more vulnerable, patients.
• You have a validated digital route to communicate by message with the patient.

This is a national NHS project and all general practices must adopt the system.

Total triage allows patients to submit their symptoms or requests to their own GP electronically, and offers around the clock NHS self-help information, signposting to services, and a symptom checker.
Total triage has been built by NHS GPs for NHS patients, designed to enhance patient access, improve practice efficiencies and signpost patients to the right place at the right time for their care.
How does it work
All patients need to submit their request via the online consultation system. Ideally, patients will submit their own request however we appreciate that this may not be possible for some patients. Our staff can complete the form on behalf of patients who cannot use the online system directly. You can also ask a family member or care provider to complete the request if you prefer.
This means that all requests are dealt with in a single process which is simpler and more efficient and allows the entire team to co-ordinate their efforts, sharing, reassigning, advising.
A clinician will review all the medical requests and assign to the most appropriate resource based on the information provided by the patient, this could be a GP, pharmacist, physiotherapist, etc. and assess how best to manage the request i.e. face to face appointment or telephone consultation.
The total triage service will have a staggered opening time to cope with demand and allow us to safely manage the number of patients we can consult with on a daily basis. You will not be able to send your GP a total triage form over the weekend, when you should instead contact the NHS 111 service. NHS 111 will put you in touch with the out of hours doctor if your problem needs GP assistance over the weekend.

You’ll wonder how you did without it
• You may not need a trip to the surgery and your query may be resolved with a phone call.
• Triage ensures that limited healthcare resources are allocated to patients who need them most urgently.
• By prioritising patient, triage reduces waiting times for those with urgent medical needs. Patients receive timely care, leading to better outcomes.
• Improved patient safety as triage helps to identify high risk patients early, allowing healthcare providers to intervene promptly. This prevents complications and reduces the risk for adverse events.
• Triage streamlines the patient flow within the practice and makes the process more organised and efficient.
• You can check health symptoms online and receive on the spot medical advice and treatment guidance thanks to NHS content. This part of the Total Triage service is available 24/7.
• Access wherever and whenever you want from any device. Unlike a telephone call, you can complete a Total Triage form at a pace that suits you.
• You can request sick notes and test results and the clinician will advise if you need an appointment, saving you time.