Category: General

NHS England has announced that the timing of this year’s flu vaccination campaign has been altered with most adults to be given the jab from the 3rd of October rather than September.

A September start date will remain in place for children who are aged 2 or 3 years on 31^st August 2024 and pregnant ladies and the practice will invite those who are eligible.

Delaying administering of the vaccine until the beginning of October is based on advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) who has advised that this provides ‘optimal protection during the highest risk period.’ Guidance issued by UK Health Security Agency said evidence shows that the flu vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults.

This year we will be holding clinics every working day from Thursday 3^rd October, please speak to reception as soon as possible to get booked in. Thank you.

With effect from 31^st October 2023 as part of the GP contract and as your GP Practice, we have been advised by NHS England to provide our Patients with full access to medical records going forward.

The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster. It also lets you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

Therefore, we are now letting you see all the information within your health record. If you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App, NHS website, or other GP online services and apps, you will now automatically be able to see all future information entered on your medical record.

This means that you will be able to see records from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your doctor (GP), not from hospitals or other specialists, although you will be able to see any letters that hospitals or specialists send to your doctor (GP). You will only be able to see information from 31^st October 2023. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won't need to do anything.

Your doctor (GP) may talk to you to discuss test results before you are able to see some of your information on the app. Your doctor (GP) may also talk to you before you are given full record access to make sure that having access is of benefit to you. If you are concerned that seeing your records is not right for you, you should speak to us.

These changes only apply to people with online accounts. If you do not want an online account, you can still access your GP health record by requesting this information via reception. The changes also only apply to personal information about you.

You will need to make sure you protect your login details. Do not share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information. It is important to remember that these documents may, at times, contain information that could be upsetting, especially if they contain news of a serious condition. If you are in a difficult or pressured relationship for example, you may prefer your records to remain accessible only to those treating you, with them not appearing on your smart phone or online. Sometimes people with a mental health condition might prefer not to see documents that remind them of difficult times in their life.

Government has been clear, that if a patient does not wish to have access and you do not want to see your health record, and wish to opt out, you may contact the Practice and a code can be applied to your medical record.  Or simply complete the attached form (Prospective Access withdraw form 103 code) and bring it into the Practice yourself with photo ID.  If you would like more information you can read more by going to www.nhs.uk/gp-record.

Due to long term shortages of many common medicine supplies coming into the UK, which is affecting Pharmacies and Dispensing Doctors, we are unfortunately needing to work to a minimum 5 full working days to process your routine repeat prescription. If you have items in past drugs or queries need to be raised with the GP’s or Pharmacy Team, this may take slightly longer.

We will endeavour to complete your prescription request as quick as we can, please make sure we hold your mobile number so we can send you a text message advising it is ready to collect. We will review our position on this on an ongoing basis.

Prescriptions put in before 1pm            Earliest Collection (unless received text)

Saturday & Sunday (online or in box)   Friday PM

Monday                                                             Following Monday PM

Tuesday                                                            Following Tuesday PM

Wednesday                                                     Following Wednesday PM

Thursday                                                         Following Thursday PM (close at 4pm)

Friday                                                               Following Friday PM

Our phone ordering service is ceasing from 1^st May 2023, except for housebound patients. Please can we ask that you do not enquire if your prescription is ready until the above timescale has lapsed. If we are asked to check, it will cause further dispensing delay.

Any urgent prescription requests will be reviewed by a clinician, they may not be deemed as clinically urgent and therefore processed at the above timescale.

Please allow enough time so you do not run out, the impact of having to provide an urgent prescription is to the disadvantage of others.

Thank you so much for your support.

Since the start of Covid in March 2020 the Practice accepted prescription requests over the telephone, primarily to stop the spread of Covid. We have now taken the decision to withdraw this service with effect from 1^st May, with the exception to the patients that are registered on our Housebound list.

The decision to stop taking prescriptions over the telephone is supported by the NHS to minimise the risk of a potential error, causing a significant event.

You can continue to order your medication in the following ways;

• Via the NHS App (if you haven’t set this up yet, please visit Step by step instructions for NHS App for further information or visit our website for further information)

• Via SystmOnline – (if you haven’t set this up yet, please come into the surgery with photo ID and we will send you your appropriate linkage key/passwords)
• Prescription Box – Put the right-hand side of your prescription, ticking what you would like to order in the box at the front door

Reception Team will NOT take prescription orders. It is your responsibility to put your request in at least 5 working days in advance of your next order.

These changes are being made to ensure the highest standards of patient safety and prescription accuracy are maintained.

Dr Utting

GP Partner