Allied Health Professionals

We have a team of four pharmacists and two pharmacy technicians based at Chestfield Medical Centre and working across all three sites in Whitstable.

The members of our team have all undertaken extensive training to obtain their professional qualifications, including additional learning to ensure we are equipped for our role within a GP practice.

Pharmacy professionals are experts in medicines and have an important role in medication safety. We work closely with the GPs and the rest of the surgery team.

You can book an appointment to discuss any problem with your medication. Your GP may request an appointment for a medication review where we will ensure that your medication is safe, effective, and appropriate. They may also ask us to discuss blood pressure readings, blood test results or new medicines.

Please contact reception in the usual way if you would like to speak to one of our team.

Older Persons Team

People over 75 years of age often have specific needs that need specific attention.  For example, there is a condition known as ‘frailty’ which is a condition that describes a decline in a person’s state of health that is related to the ageing process.

While many older people are living well, the older person living with frailty may lack the reserves to cope with minor changes in their physical or mental health and wellbeing. A person’s level of frailty can fluctuate and people often do not identify themselves as frail. Small events such as a change in environment or an infection may present as a challenge to someone with frailty from which they may or may not recover to their previous function.

Social Prescribers

Social Prescribing can be helpful to people:

• Who feel lonely or isolated for example parents with young children, those who are bereaved or live alone
• Who feel anxious or depressed
• Who are carers
• Who have long term mental or physical health conditions

We spend time finding out what matters to you and explore how your health and wellbeing can be improved. We offer Face to Face appointments at both Whitstable Health Centre and Estuary View, telephone appointments and also home visits when needed.

We think about the 5 ways to Wellbeing:

• Connect (friends, family, neighbours and colleagues)
• Exercise
• Take notice (appreciating the beautiful things around and using all the senses)
• Exercise your mind (might be learning something new)
• Do something nice or help someone (might be a neighbour or volunteering)

We help you link into your local/national community for information support and advice and activities.