Flu jabs and Blood bottles

As you may have seen in the national news recently there has been various nationwide supply issues affecting flu vaccines and blood bottles.

Flu Vaccines
This has meant we have had to put our flu vaccines on hold for the time being until we know of a definite delivery date. Please do not call the surgery about Flu vaccines we will let patients know as soon as we are able to start booking people in again. 

Blood Bottles
All blood tests in primary care and community testing must be halted until further notice, except for clinically urgent testing. Examples of clinically urgent testing include:

• Blood tests required for a two week wait referral
• Blood test that are extremely overdue and/or essential for safe prescribing of medication or monitoring a condition
• Blood tests that if taken could avoid a hospital admission or prevent an onward referral
• Those with suspected sepsis or conditions with a risk of death or disability

Taking the next step – July 19th

Face Masks and other Social Distancing measures in General Practice from 19th July

The government have announced their plans to move out of lockdown, indicating that this is likely to be from 19 July. Until that time we wanted to remind you that the hands, face, space, fresh air mandatory requirements and guidance still apply.

The number of people who have received their first, and in many cases, second vaccination locally is fantastic but it doesn’t completely remove the risk of Covid and the virus continues to circulate in our communities. If you haven’t had your vaccinations yet you can find out more about the walk in opportunities in your local area HERE and we encourage you to share this information with friends and family.

Please remember that at this time, all infection prevention and control and the guidance regarding the use of face masks/coverings, which has been put in place for health care settings remains unchanged. This is for your safety, the safety of loved ones receiving care and for the safety of our staff. If visiting a healthcare setting, such as your GP practice, or when going to receive your Covid vaccination, you will still be required to practice good hand hygiene, wear your mask and give appropriate space to staff and other people in the area.

Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:
“As we move from regulations to guidance and get back to our everyday lives, see our loved ones and return to work, it is vital people practise good sense and take personal responsibility for their own health and those around them”

We have made such positive strides over the past few months, to keep moving forward, we must still remain mindful that we need to help protect each other.
After the 19th July, for the safety or yourself and others, we continue to recommend you:

• Meet others in well-ventilated areas where possible, such as outdoors or indoors with windows open.
• Wear a face covering where you come into contact with people you don’t normally meet in enclosed and crowded spaces.
• Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitiser regularly throughout the day.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough and sneeze.
• Stay at home if unwell, to reduce the risk of passing on other illnesses onto friends, family, colleagues, and others in your community.
• Consider the individual risks of others, such as clinical vulnerabilities and vaccination status.

To keep up to date and fully informed with the changing guidance continue to visit GOV.UK and NHS.UK for trusted information.

Travel Immunisations

We are not offering a travel vaccination service at present.

There is a global shortage of some travel vaccinations at present and the surgery is unable to offer a full service at this time.

We will update our website as things progress.

Please contact your nearest travel vaccination centre (or local chemist if they offer the service) for further guidance.

How to get your COVID pass.

To get a NHS Digital Covid pass you will need to use an online service.

You can get access to the certificate either through the NHS App or via the NHS website.

You will need to register for an NHS ID which will allow you to access the immunisation record. This process is easier if you are already registered for patient access with your surgery as your identity has already been confirmed. To sign-up for online patient access at your surgery please contact reception or next time you visit the surgery, bring with you a piece of photo ID (passport, driving licence) and something with your address on like a bank statement but not a gas or electric bill. If you don’t have these, please talk to us and we will help you sign-up.

Please click here for further details on getting a digital COVID pass.

Flu Jabs and COVID Booster

Clinics for the COVID Booster and Flu vaccine are currently being prepared and will take place at Lakeside Country Club from September 2021.

We will confirm shortly when both clinics are available to pre-book. Please do not contact the surgery we will contact you when the appointments are available.

Requesting repeat prescriptions

Please remember that we cannot accept requests for repeat prescriptions by phone or by email. Requests can only be processed in person, by post, online (via patient access) or via your pharmacy. Please click here for further information

A Message from Surrey Heaths GP Clinical Lead

“Whichever service you access, I’d like to reassure you that the NHS is working very hard to be there for you in a safe and timely way.

GP Practices are currently facing unprecedented times with very high levels of demand.

This includes significant waiting times for non-urgent routine care and high volumes of telephone calls which we are working hard to reduce. We are also implementing additional resources, where possible.

To support us during these challenging times, please consider how urgent your request is before contacting your GP Practice and whether there is another service, like your pharmacy or NHS 111 that could help”.

Dr John Fraser – Local GP and Clinical Lead for Surrey Heath

Please call us or do an online consultation if you need medical attention where your request can not be dealt with by a pharmacist or 111.

Appointments:

The Surgery is running a system where you are able to book a telephone consultation with a clinician (Video consultations may be used with your consent)

The easiest way to seek non urgent advice or to check your symptoms is by using the e-consult service (see below)

The easiest way to book a consultation is using the online system
If you are not already registered for online services please contact reception to register. Click here to book Patient Access 

Urgent Medical Assistance – Call the Surgery and you will receive a call back from a clinician

Non urgent Medical assistance – If you cannot book online you can call the Surgery to book a consultation with a clinician

Routine - If you wish to follow up or speak to the GP who has been treating you there are routine bookable phone slots 

There is plenty of availability for e-consult. A quick and efficient way to consult with a health professional.

If you have any queries with regards to your health please don’t forget the e-consult system easily accessed through this web site.

PLEASE NOTE – Phone calls may not be at the exact time booked depending on demand. Calls will be made between 8am and 8pm Monday - Friday

Nursing appointments will continue only for essential clinics. We ask you to consider the national guidance before visiting the practice https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

COVID UPDATE

CALLING ALL patients over the age of 18. Have you booked your first PFIZER Vaccine yet? please take up the offer of this important vaccine when you are invited. If you have not updated the Surgery with your mobile number please do so, so that the invite can reach you in a timely manner.

We are now giving 2nd vaccinations and patients will be invited between approximately 6-9 weeks after their first vaccine – If you have not heard and it is over 10 weeks please contact the Surgery. Your second vaccine will be the same vaccine type as your first.

If you require any assistance with booking please call 01276 707100

YOUR SURGERY IS OPEN

As I am sure you can appreciate it has been an extremely difficult time for all NHS staff and that includes our team.

We are grateful for your ongoing support and we thank you for your patience.

We are glad that now -

Heatherside and Old Dean Surgeries are open - we will still be following strict Covid measures and signs will be in place to help guide you.

Nurses and GPs will be working from Heatherside and Old Dean sites and may ask you to visit them at those sites if they need to see you (some have already started this)

All appointments will remain as telephone and video consultations in the first instance and the clinician will only ask you to attend if deemed necessary - We must continue to be vigilant of increasing Covid 19 numbers

You will be able to book a routine phone call 3 weeks in advance

Further updates will follow, in the meantime please continue to be patient and please understand that we will take a Zero Tolerance stance to any abuse towards any staff member regardless of the reason

#bekind

Register at the surgery today for the Online Services

You can now:

• Access aspects of your medical records held by the practice
• View test results
• Book appointments
• Request repeat medication

You can collect a form for online registration at reception. It's very important that only genuine patients are granted internet access. The best way we can ensure this is to see photographic ID and separate proof of address.

PLEASE try to nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect your medication from. This can be added to your records and your prescription can be sent electronically to save you having to pick it up. Please add a comment with your request and we can set this up for you alternatively ask your pharmacist and they can add it to your records

What to do if your prescription normally goes there electronically: ALL new requests: PLEASE add a note to your request with a nomination on if you do not have one or ask a pharmacist to add you to their list and add a nomination for you.

Surrey Coronavirus Helpline

0300 200 1008 - Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

For Surrey residents needing support or wanting to help in their community.

Mindfulness / emotional wellbeing Apps

• Calm
• Insight timer
• Headspace

Website - Mind Matters www.Mindmattersnhs.co.uk

Dental practices

If you think you need urgent dental treatment:

1. call your dentist
2. if you cannot contact your dentist, or you do not have one, use the NHS 111 online service
3. if a clinical appointment is necessary, this will be arranged at an urgent dental care centre.

We are a well established GP Practice working from three sites,offering you a wide range of services and extended opening hours all in a friendly, welcoming environment.

 We hope you will find our website user friendly with a wealth of information about our healthcare services . Find out when we’re open and what to do when we’re not, all from the comfort of your own home.

Our Vision is: 

“A centre of excellence delivering high quality care where patients and staff choose to be” 

           New Weekend Opening Hours

From 1^st October, local GP practices are working together to offer patients better access to GP appointments 

– find out what this means for you by clicking here

NEW HELP AVAILABLE FOR PARENTS/ CARERS and YOUNG PEOPLE

“Frimley Healthier Together – Empowering parents, carers and young people with knowledge and easily accessible help at their fingertips. When it’s 3am and you are up with a sick child unsure if you can stay at home or need to see someone and where; the website lays it out in a clear traffic light so you feel confident with the decision you make and what you can do at home.

You can find help with day to day queries such as pregnancy, feeding, sleep and development together with current topics from COVID to mental health and emotional well-being. Brings together not only national resources but what is available locally in Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire and Bucks. There is also a SMS option to share with other parents and young people and can be accessed on any device; phone, tablet or computer.”

Frimley Healthier Together

Due to the rising demand and pressures at A&E departments, Park Road Surgery are working with Surrey Heath CCG to try to reduce unnecessary attendances: Click here to find out more