Proactive practice is praised by patients

Pictured is Tommy Flannagan (bottom of picture) with his wife Mavis (to the immediate right of him) plus the team at the Medlock Medical Practice

A Failsworth GP surgery that makes monthly phone calls to the over-75s, and even organises Christmas parties and gifts for them, has been given a ringing endorsement.

The Medlock Medical Practice checks up on the health of the older folks on its “comfort call” list to see if they are in distress or need medication.

They also signpost those patients to organisations that can help them beat problems like loneliness. 

No wonder one of their patients pops-up to see staff regularly to thank them and says of the surgery: “They just couldn’t be any better.”

Tommy Flannagan, who turns 80 in 2019, has had magnificent treatment at the hands of Medlock medics – particularly when he suffered a bout of pneumonia three years ago.

Said Tommy: “There is no doctors like this one. They make sure I get a regular health MOT and a reminder about all my appointments.”

The former self-employed plumber added: “When I go to the chemists I always go to see the staff at Medlock and say, “hello””.

Tommy was one of around 50 guests to attend two Christmas parties at the surgery where all patients received a free gift.

The party was funded by staff and other patients at Medlock and the team also prepared all of the food which included sandwiches, mince pies and a Christmas carrot cake.

Liz Miller, Practice Manager at the Medlock Medical Practice said: “People can be very proud and not want to ask for help and so we run these initiatives to chip away at that and open up a dialogue.”

Dr Zahid Chauhan, from the practice, concluded: “What we are doing at Medlock chimes with the council’s Oldham Cares initiative to tackle social isolation and loneliness across our borough.

"Around 10% of local residents say they are lonely, and isolation can have a huge impact on health and mortality and increase problems such as drink dependence, obesity and smoking.

"We can only beat this by reaching out to our community and by letting vulnerable people know that we care.”

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