Patients with dementia and learning disabilities welcomed to Gosport GP surgery to learn about helpful resources

Bridgemary Medical Centre hosted its inaugural dementia and learning disability morning to work with patients who may struggle with the noisy environment of a surgery waiting room.

Linking with International Social Prescribing Day, which took place last Thursday, medical staff put on the event to ensure these groups are aware of which outside organisations could provide them with extra support.

Bridgemary Medical Centre already refers people to Gosport Voluntary Action’s Surgery Signposting service, and they invited Angela Gill from the project to provide support for patients and carers during the dementia and learning disabilities morning.

Patients were reviewed by a GP and a nurse for 45 minutes each, giving time to discuss any issues they may have had before being provided with a comprehensive patient information pack.

Angela, who manages the Surgery Signposting service, said: ‘I was asked for information or signposting for a variety of social issues ranging from bereavement to carers support, help with anxiety to blue badge and carers allowance applications.

‘Some patients I was able to provide with the information they needed on the day, others needed more in-depth support and so intended to meet with a Surgery Signposting volunteer, or to ask Age Concern Gosport for detailed form-filling help.’

Bridgemary Medical Centre have already decided to repeat the day as they felt it ran very smoothly, the patients were seen very quickly and did not have to wait long to be seen, although will move the start time later to give people with dementia more time to get up and ready.

Angela, along with colleagues Angela Gould and Sue Hodge, spent International Social Prescribing Day in Gosport Discovery Centre to spread information about a number of projects including Surgery Signposting and Age Concern Gosport’s services.

To find out more, phone 02392 604683 or email [email protected]. The surgery signposting service will be offering telephone-only consultations at the moment.