Be a Smart Patient - Self Care & Mental Wellbeing - November 2017

The event kicked off at 10am with the practice pharmacist Neil Karia explaining about self care and the changes to the prescribing of over the counter acute medications. After lunch we then had speakers from Carers 4 Carers on complimentary therapies, one of our PPG members on positive thinking and Dawn from The Expert Patients Programme and Self-Care Services.

Have you found the information useful? | How do you think the changes will affect you? | What kind of information do you think you will need to take care of yourself? | Any other suggestions? |
Yes | It will give me support to find effective help and remedies for my condition | Reliable information that enables positive results | Reliable ionformation fromk herbalists, nutritionalists. |
Yes | Very much | more information | |
Yes | Very interesting talks by all visitors | More on keeping healthy and eating healthy | More on herbal remedies also expert patients prohramme and self caring services |
Yes | Positively interesting | Alternative medicine | We need some advice to healthy without medicine |
Yes | I will be more careful with myself | | |
Yes | Helpfull | | |
Carers Month - February 2017
In February, the Vassall Medical Centre and its Patient Participation Group organised a series of drop in sessions to give carers the information and support they needed.
Four areas were identified and a workshop created for that area with a local organisation invited to come along and help support that workshop. Full details below -
Health & Wellbeing | 3rd Feb | 6-8pm | Carers4carers |
Whole Family Approach | 10th Feb | 10am-12pm | Contact a Family |
Financial Entitlement for carers | 17th Feb | 6-8pm | Disability Advice Service Lambeth |
Carers having a life outside the caring role | 24th Feb | 10am-12pm | Help For Carers |
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Type of carer | Feedback | Carer of an adult | It is very useful session. I got many information, they are very nice participant so they guide me what to do. I feel comfortable that they help carers. It is very good programme. I like them to continue. | Carer of an adult | It was great. I enjoyed the time is spent listening. I have learnt more about what I never knew. Very great. I will follow on. | Carer of an adult | It was very good for us so much good and I enjoy | Young carers Carer of an adult | I found very nice people and leader. They want to do anything to help us. So I enjoy to come to learn something and advise me, encourage me to speak English, how they can help me | Carer of an adult | It was good to talk to someone who knows what you are talking about and to let you know that there is help out here and will send information to me about it. | Carer of an adult | Good to talk about the problems I have today as the professionals confuse me. Caring very stressful for my daughter. Would like to come again to talk and meet carers for support me. | | I like to get the opportunity to help and get more experience. Thank you very much for all your attention. Hope to be in contact. | Parent carer | This was quite an informative session. Did not realise there is a lot of recreational activities for carers. It will be useful if contact a family can alternate the days of the coffee mornings for parents. It is always on a Thursday when I am working. Fridays maybe suitable. | Carer of an adult | The session was really helpful. I have enough information to do a few searches. All my questions were answered and now have some sort of external support. | Parent carers | Today meeting was very helpful and useful for me and my son. Meeting like this could be once a month. Great session. Peer support was great. | Carer of an adult | It’s really good idea to help us for more information about carers, so I am appreciate about it. Thanks you so much. | Carer of an adult | What a lovely, warm, welcoming and informative drop in. I was actually at quite a desperate point, so I’m so glad to have been able to come and get help, guidance. I really am looking forward to the sessions at Brixton Rec and hope to do some “together” outings. Thank you. | Young adult carer | Useful, the mental health worker will be sending me some relevant information to my council so looking forward to receiving that. Also, the timing of the session was suitable for my schedule. | Carer of an adult | Interesting/pioneering social group. Learnt a lot of useful information, sign posting is current. | Parent carer | I was unsure as a carer what to do about my dad but being at this session has made me aware what to do and now I feel very confident about myself and my dad’s circumstances. | Carer of an adult | First it all I congratulate the idea to create a experience contact in between the adult carers and all the comments and expression to gain in our lives. Founded the environment kindly and highly friendly human warm. Hope to have a chance to continue the progress with. |
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Co-hosted by The Vassall Medical Centre VMC Patient Participation Group |
Paintings in hospitals - August 2014 to August 2015
Vassall Medical Centre and Paintings in Hospitals were delighted to present the exhibition 'Alphabet' by Michael Craig-Martin, which exhibited between August 2014 to August 2015.
For this exhibition Michael Craig-Martin had produced 26 bright nand bold prints. The letters of the alphabet are paired with everyday objects such as a book, a glass of water or an umbrella. Instead of the usual 'A is for Apple' 'B is for Ball', the link between the letter and image is unclear and requiressome guess-work. For example 'C' shows a knife, which could represent the word 'cut'.
During the period of the loan, two events were held in collaboration with Paintings in Hospitals. Firstly we held an event with the Patient Participation Group, gauging how they felt the artwork made them feel and asked for their comments. The second event was for children, the aim was using stencils to produce their artwork of a similar vein to artworks on display.
Michael Craig-Martin is one of the most successful artists of his generation. In his work he likes to look at the meaning of everday objects. He often asks us to think about familiar things around us. He hopes that this will make us appreciate the elegance of commonplace items.
Michael Craig-Martin taught at Goldsmiths College at the university of London from 1973. In the 1980's he influenced many Young British Artists such as Damian Hurst, Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas. He currently lives and works in London.
This exhibition was on loan from and generously supported by Haward Touring, Southbank Centre, London.
Below are some photographs of the installation.


All artwork is copyright © Michael Craig-Martin. No copyright infringement is intended.
Healthier, Happier Children Open Day - 29th June 2013
On the 29th of June we had our second open day, this time with an emphasis on healthier, happier children. The day started with introductions from Beera Patel the practice manager, Himanshu Patel GP Partner, Wai Ha Lam from Health Watch Lambeth and Cheryl Duncan from the Ready, Steady, Go programme.
Cheryl Duncan then went on to talk about the options for healthier living and eating a healthier diet and also eating a healthier diet on a budget, the talk was well received by all concerned.
Afterwards many of the attendees stayed to talk to Cheryl, Wai Ha and Beera about the event and also about joining the patient participation group.
We would like to thank everyone who attended the event and a special thanks to all those who gave up their time to make this Open Day a success.