A new venture for our patients with chronic pain, starting Monday 6th October - limited spaces available!

At Binscombe, we are running a new iniative for our patients who are living with with long term symptoms such as pain or fatigue. Sometimes the body feels stuck, and the usual medical approach does not seem to have the right answers. This is something we are all interested in at Binscombe - we are aware of how frustrating it can be for our patients, but a growing body of research about a new approach to managing chronic symptoms is offering new hope.

One of our GPs, Dr Martin Brunet, will be holding a series of 4 group appointments outlining this new approach, starting from Monday 6th October, to be held at Farncomebe Community Garden. At these appointments, I he will introduce this new way of thinking, called the mind-body approach, to help explain what might be going on, and to offer practical advice for a significant recovery.

There are limited places at the appointments (up to a maximum of 20 patients) so you will need to book soon if you would like to come. If you would like to book then please call reception and ask to book on the first appointment on the 6th October (it is important that you can come to all 4 appointments but only need to book the first now). PLEASE NOTE that you can only book into these appointments if you are a patient at Binscombe and you are the one with chronic symptoms (we can't take bookings from someone who is a carer for a patient with chronic symptoms. I'm afraid).

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Here is some important information about the appointments – please read carefully as they will be very different to standard appointments!

• Most importantly, the appointments will NOT be held at Binscombe Medical Centre but will be held at Farncombe Community Garden on Summers Road. This is located opposite Broadwater School and is next door to Broadwater Care Home. It is a wonderful project that we helped set up and it will be a beautiful setting for the appointments, as well as having great facilities with the new building at the garden.

• The appointments are group appointments with 10-20 people attending, which obviously makes them very different to a usual appointment. The primary purpose is to explore a new understanding of chronic symptoms as a group and to discuss the ideas, and so the sessions will not be about your personal health, or breach your confidentiality. People may wish to discuss their own situation, of course, but this will be entirely up to them. Dr Brunet will not be accessing anyone’s health record at the time and nor will he share anyone’s health information.

• Although the appointments will run like a seminar, we would still like you (and your employers, if you are working) to consider these as medical appointments that are important for your health,. After the appointments we will note on your GP record that you attended, but with no more details than that.

• Each appointment will last an hour, from 11.15-12.15 with tea and coffee being served at the end.

The dates are as follows:

• Monday 6^th October - introducing the mind body approach

• Monday 13^th October - how do I know if this relates to my situation?

• Monday 20^th October - learning from some one with lived experience of chronic pain

• No appointment on 27^th October as it is half-term

• Monday 3^rd November - what practical steps can I take next?

  
  

• We are hopeful that you will be able to attend all four appointments, but you only need to book the first one on the 6^th October and will book the others on that day.

• There is parking and an accessible toilet at the garden. The building is fully accessible for those with disability.

• This is a new venture for us, and we are very hopeful that it will be both enjoyable and helpful for those who attend. We will want to learn from it and so will ask you to complete some simple questionnaires before and after the appointments so that we can hear what you think and help shape any similar future appointments.

If you are interested, but have further questions you would like to ask, then please call reception and leave a message for Dr Brunet who will be happy to contact you. Once the appointments are full we will also be happy to take details for a waiting list for any future similar appointments.