Shake-up for GP Services?

The Patient Participation Group of the Old School Medical Practice met on 27th June, and agreed to circulate the proposals for the future of the practice so that residents can see the current state of play and allow the practice to explain their present thoughts on the situation. The practice has prepared the following statement to explain the current position :

The Future of General Practice
Further to recent articles that have been published in a variety of local community newsletters and discussed on community website forums, regarding the proposals that Old School Medical Practice who provide GP services in Bishopthorpe, Copmanthorpe and other outlying villages, is considering its options to aspire to provide better facilities that are fit for purpose that will and could also provide more health care services locally to registered patients.  At the Patient Participation Group (PPG) meeting 27th June 2016, attendees (15) were given an update as part of the PPG meeting agenda, with an explanation and rationale behind the Surgery proposals and consideration to its future plans. In brief the practice confirmed its ideal solution is to combine all its services into a single site surgery, whilst explaining other options are also being considered to collaborate with other GP surgeries, further more and in addition to considering the York Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) plans and the wider York strategic health care community plans which are part of the Government and Department of Health five year view for NHS services. At the meeting Marcus Collumb Practice Manager, confirmed that NO plans had yet been accepted beyond in principal, and that NO funding for such a project had yet been granted. He added that any plans would involve a patient consultation, and that the practice does recognise that some patients have concerns about such proposals around access and location and these were being noted as part of any development to progress, whilst also noting there had also been a lot of support expressed. The PPG meetings would continue to be updated as and when any proposals progressed through any evaluation processes.

The meeting also agreed to proceed with a Patient Survey that will give registered patients an opportunity to comment on the areas that they consider are priorities for action.

To download a copy of the survey please click here Patient survey 2016-17

A background document that outlines the reasons why the practice needs to consider its future options can also be reviewed here The Future of GP Surgeries

 

 

Bishopthorpe Library Coffee Mornings

Bishopthorpe Library holds a coffee morning on the first Wednesday of each month between 10.00 and 12.00. It is organised by the Friends of Bishopthorpe Library and drinks and delicious home-made cakes are available.

The last coffee morning on 6 July was well-attended by villagers of all ages between 1 and 80.

The next one will be on Wednesday 3 August – why not come along?

Police Investigate Cyclists

With the Tour de France currently in full flow it brings to mind that, in the past, cycling races were a popular pastime in and around Bishopthorpe – albeit in a more modest way.  In August 1886, Mr. George Anderson, landlord of the Woodman Inn, promoted a cycling handicap which attracted cyclists from a number of local clubs.  The first two heats were decided earlier in the month and the final race was to be run over a distance of one mile from Tadcaster Road to Bishopthorpe.  However, for some unknown reason, the race started at dusk and one or two competitors were stopped by policemen for not carrying lamps.  Needless to say, some confusion arose.  However, the contest seemed to finish happily enough – probably at the Woodman Inn, where Mr. Anderson presented silver medals to the winners.

Yorkshire Gazette, Saturday, 28 August 1886, p8.

Linda Haywood

Buses – a partial reprieve

City of York Council, because of government financial cuts, is having to reduce the subsidies paid to loss-making bus services.
Some services will cease and others will be cut. The plan affecting Bishopthorpe would have meant an end to evening and Sunday services.
After a strong intervention by John Galvin, our local Councillor, our evening services have, it seems, been saved.
Sadly, we are to lose our Sunday buses. The last ones will run on Sunday 21st August.

The Lost Men of Bishopthorpe: First World War

As we proceed through the years 2014 to 2018, I intend to publish the names of the fallen from Bishopthorpe in both Link and Bishopthorpe dot net in the month which marked the centenary of their deaths.

As well as spending a few moments thinking of these men and their families, I hope that you find the details of some interest.

I decided some time ago that I should also include the names of men from Bishopthorpe who are not commemorated on the War Memorial, and Charles Simpson, who was born in Bishopthorpe, was the third such man to lose his life. He was also the first local man to die during the Battle of the Somme.

WILKINSON, George

Sapper, No. 138673, 118 Railway Company, Royal Engineers.
Killed in action, on 21 July, 1916, aged 26, near Calais.
Buried at Calais Southern Cemetery, Plot E, Row 2, Grave 10.

SIMPSON, Charles

Lance Corporal, No. 2335, 1/5 Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Wales’s Own).
Killed in action on 28 July, 1916, aged 22, during the Battle of the Somme in France.
Buried in Grave No. II K 7, Blighty Valley Cemetery, Authuille Wood, near Albert.

George Wilkinson and Charles Simpson were the first Bishopthorpe men to be killed in action since October, 1914.  The three men who had died in the intervening period perished as the result of accident or sickness.

Remember them.

Ken Haywood