The new Live Well B&NES web-based resource, which provides free information, signposting and support to adults needing care or support to live independently, is now live.

Welcome to Dr Salini Balendra (MBBS, Intercalated Bsc in Philosophy of Medicine, MRCGP) who has recently joined the team here at Temple House Practice as one of our salaried GPs.

Dr Balendra graduated from King’s College London in 2010 and initially worked in Wales, before working in Wiltshire to undertake her GP training. Since completing her training, Dr Balendra has worked in one practice in Bristol as a salaried GP and she was also a locum for the Out of Hours GP service.

Dr Balendra is delighted to join the team here at Temple House Practice as a Salaried GP and is interested in all aspects of General Practice.

Emily Fitzgerald is our new Social Prescriber here at Temple House Practice.

What is Social Prescribing?

Social Prescribing is working with patients in a holistic and broad way addressing issues that don’t tend to be strictly medical, but can make you feel unwell i.e. loneliness, debts, housing worries, mental health, lack of direction/motivation, help to live independently at home, search for meaningful activities. We would work together over a short period of time to identify services and activities that best match your needs and through conversations and information build your confidence to access services.

Here’s a little bit about Emily:

Emily has been working in care and support for the past 10 years in a variety of roles which she has thoroughly enjoyed and has a Foundation Degree in Mental Health Practice.

To book a triage appointment with Emily, your Social Prescriber, please contact Reception or mention it at your next appointment.

You may have heard through the national media that you can opt out of sharing information held about you by the practice for the purposes of planning and research. This is called a ‘Type 1 opt out’.

Full details on this can be found here, including a short video that helps explain what this means.

If you wish to opt out, this can be done by following this link: Make your choice about sharing data from your health records – NHS or by completing and returning this form to reception. Copies of the Opt-out Form are also held with reception.

Opt-out-Form