COVID Vaccinations

COVID is still with us! It has not gone away....you can still catch it & become ill with it.

We are getting a lot of DNAs (Did Not Attend) at the Covid hub, which is resulting in lots of vaccine being wasted - this is so unnecessary and wrong!

If you have arranged to have a COVID jab...PLEASE keep your appointment (or cancel it, in good time, so we can try to get someone else in).

COVID-19 vaccine Oxford-AstraZeneca and blood clotting

Recently there have been reports of an extremely rare but serious condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination.  The national committee which recommends on vaccines has therefore recommended that patients under 40 years are no longer offered this vaccine for their first dose. If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering this rare side effect you should still complete the course with the AZ vaccine for your second dose, even if you are under 40.  For more information please see

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-and-blood-clotting/covid-19-vaccination-and-blood-clotting

COVID Vaccination Proof for Travelling Abroad

PLEASE do not contact the surgery for proof of having had two approved vaccines, thus allowing you to travel abroad.

See the following website:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

The Practice's Prescription telephone line

With effect from Monday 10th May 2021, the practice's prescription line will be open between

1.00 pm - 3.00 pm

Monday - Friday

First Contact Physio Service

NEW in C le St!

First Phyiso Service: Contact Details

Local Pharmacies Open Spring / Summer Bank Holidays 2021

Local Pharmacies Open Spring Summer Bank holidays 2021

OVID Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine

Response to COVID-19 Vaccine Oxford-AstraZeneca media reports

The UK Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe, have said that evidence DOES NOT suggest that the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab is linked to blood clots.

People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.

Please read more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mhra-response-to-irish-authorities-action-to-temporarily-suspend-the-astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine

Kind regards,

The Medicine Optimisation Team

NHS County Durham CCG

COVID 19 Tests

If you have been referred to your GP by 119 for a COVID test we are sorry but we are unable to help. We do not have the ability to test. Please be patient and continue to try 119. If you wish further advice on COVID - please contact NHS direct on line or phone 111.

There is currently a capacity issue with testing via 119. Your GP practice are not able to provide tests or diagnose COVID. If you have been directed to your GP practice by 119 please hang up, be patient and continue to isolate until you are able to obtain a test.

Face Masks - patients seeking exemption letter

Please read the attached letter

Face masks and exemption letters

See this website for more info:

https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/mask

Patient Transport: How to access it...

Leaflet for Patients about Patient Transport

Poster for Patients about Patient Transport

Better Health

Public Health England has launched a major new adult health campaign to seize the opportunity for a national reset moment of health.

Nearly two thirds (63%) of adults in the UK are overweight or living with obesity.

Gaining weight is often a gradual process that takes place over a number of years and modern life doesn’t always make it easy. But this extra weight causes pressure to build up around vital organs, making it harder for the body to fight against diseases like cancer, heart disease and now COVID-19.

By reducing your weight within a healthy range, you can cut your risk of being critically ill with COVID-19.

To improve health and wellbeing, individuals should aim to have a BMI below 25 and above 18.5.

NICE recommends that Black, Asian and minority ethnic groups (BAME) should aim to have a BMI below 23 and above 18.5 to avoid risks to health.

To support people to live healthier lives, Public Health England’s Better Health campaign will provide a variety of tools and apps to help you make healthier food choices, become more active and prevent future weight gain. One of these tools is a Weight Loss Plan app, which provides 12 weeks’ worth of engaging content that can be personalised and tailored to the goals and needs of the individual. Later down the line, support will also be made available to help people quit smoking, cut down their drinking and look after their mental health.

For help and support to lose weight, visit nhs.uk/BetterHealth

Want to stop smoking?

Throughout the Coronavirus outbreak our Smoke-free County Durham service is still open. Our person-centred service focuses on delivering flexible specialist stop smoking support to those who live or work in County Durham. Our Practitioners are here to offer you support with quitting smoking so please contact us on 0800 772 0565 or 0191 369 2016.

COVID-19 and smoking

What you need to know

If you smoke, now is the time to quit, to help you stay healthy and out of hospital.

See the coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for smokers and vapers from Public Health England.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection, which can cause life threatening complications affecting the heart as well as the lungs.

Smoking damages your heart and lungs, which can put you at greater risk of developing severe disease from COVID-19.

Smokefree County Durham service is still open and accepting self-referrals throughout Coronavirus.

Call 0800 772 0565 or email smokefreelife.countydurham@nhs.net

Coronavirus

Information for patients

If you have symptoms (acute respiratory infections, using any one of the following: cough or fever or shortness of breath)

• DO NOT come into the surgery
• DO NOT attend A&E
• Visit the 111 website

Coronavirus and Fit (Sick) Notes

If you need to provide a note to employers asking for proof that you are self-isolating please go to

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Please read the attached:

Coronavirus and Fit Note Advice

electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD)

If you get regular or repeat prescriptions, you could save time by switching to electronic Repeat Dispensing (eRD).

eRD sends your prescriptions electronically from your GP surgery to a pharmacy of your choice. It’s easy to use and you don't need a computer or electronic device. Ask your GP or pharmacist to set it up for you.

eRD allows your GP to prescribe your regular medicines for up to a year. It’s reliable, secure and confidential. Your regular prescriptions are stored securely on the NHS database, so they'll be ready at the pharmacy each time you need them.

Using eRD you can:

• save time by avoiding unnecessary trips or calls to your GP every time you need to order a repeat prescription
• order or cancel your repeat prescriptions online (if your GP practice offers this service)
• pick up your repeat prescriptions directly from your pharmacy without having to visit your GP
• spend less time waiting for your prescription in the pharmacy or GP practice
• save paper – you won’t need a paper prescription to collect your medicine from the pharmacy

For more information about eRD and how it works, ask at your GP surgery or pharmacy, or visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/eRD

IMPORTANT

Information for patients

Regarding non-NHS repeat prescription services

We are aware that repeat prescription services that are not legitimate NHS services are currently being advertised.

Be cautious if an individual offers to pick up your prescription for you at a cost.

Anyone signing up to this service should be aware that it is not endorsed by, or aligned to any NHS organisation. Patients will be signing up to a private contractual agreement between themselves and the individual providing the service.

We would strongly advise any patient thinking of signing up to this service to ensure that they consider whether it complies with Data Protection Act (DPA) and General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) in relation to how their information will be stored and processed.

Any advertisement for a legitimate NHS service offering repeat prescription service will display the NHS logo and the contact details of the organisation(s) providing this. 

If you have any questions or concerns about a service that you have seen advertised in your local area, please speak to the Business Manager (Martin) who will forward on your question or concern.

The Medicines Optimisation Team

DDES and ND CCGs

August 2019

Prescription Telephone Line

Is open between 10:00 am - 11:30 am and 1:00 pm - 3.00 pm, Monday through Friday.

Extended Access Service

There is an extended access service, running Monday to Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday.

Both GP and Nurse or Health Care Assistant appointments are available.

This is an extension of the GP service that runs as normal throughout the day, and is aimed firstly for those people who, for example, work and find it difficult to get to see a GP or Nurse or Health Care Assistant during the day.

This poster offers more information:

Extended Access Service

Information about our appointments system and prescription

Appointments

Ring our main appointments number on (0191) 371 0232 using option 2 to book an appointment: the line is open from 8.00 am to 3:00 pm.

Urgent appointments

Is one where you have contact with a GP within 24 hours (we cannot guarantee that you will be matched to the GP of your choice, but we will try to)

Routine appointments

• With any GP is an appointment within 2 weeks

• With the GP of your choice is an appointment within 4 weeks

Our Reception staff has been trained to ask questions to help direct you to the most appropriate appointment / GP / Nurse: PLEASE take the view that they are there to help, and are not asking questions for no reason at all.

We offer:

• Early morning appointments (before 8 am) on a weekly basis: days can vary occasionally so ask at Reception for details.
• Late evening appointments every Monday (last GP appointment 8:20 pm).

You can book an appointment on-line via our website: please ask a Receptionist for details as to how to do this.

You can help us by:

• Being on time for your appointment
• Letting us know if you need to cancel
• Calling for a home visit or urgent appointment before 10 am
• Ringing for a repeat prescription between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm
• Ringing for the results of tests between 10.00 am and 6.00 pm

Prescriptions

Repeat prescriptions   

• Please ask at reception if you would like to start ordering via email or nominating a pharmacy you would prefer to have your prescription forwarded to electronically.

• You can also post the prescription request in the box in the foyer (please ensure social distancing) or post your request to us.

PLEASE allow 2 working days for the practice to process your prescription request, and 3 working days for the on-site pharmacy to process the prescription order (other local pharmacies may operate on a different time scale).

Therefore, we suggest you plan ahead at least 5 working days for any repeat medication requests.

• If you take medication on a long-term basis, you can ask for a repeat prescription by ringing the prescriptions telephone line on (0191) 371 0232 you should ring between 10:00 am - 11:30 am and 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm using option 3.

Use of antibiotics

Please see this poster:

Antibiotics usage poster

Wi-Fi available to patients

Please see the attached poster as to how to access Wi-Fi in the waiting room.

WiFi available in the surgery

Eligibility for help with NHS Costs

Patients are required to make a payment towards the cost of certain items, such as prescriptions, dental or eye care.

The NHS has an online checker so you can see what help you could get to pay for NHS costs at:

https://tinyurl.com/paying-nhs-costs