Noticeboard

Seasonal Flu and COVID Boosters – Provisional Information

We have reached that time of year again when we need to start thinking about seasonal influenza vaccinations. As you know the Waterside PCN has been providing a successful COVID vaccination programme throughout the year (based at Applemore Leisure Centre), which started in December 2020.
This winter, in conjunction with the seasonal flu vaccination, we also must provide a COVID booster programme. The seasonal flu vaccine will be offered to the same group of patients who require a COVID booster. It makes sense therefore that we deliver our flu vaccinations at the same time as the boosters.
Currently the NHS is waiting for confirmation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that this will be possible. We hope that this confirmation is imminent.
Once approved, we intend to start running joint COVID and flu clinics (hopefully from around mid-September).
As soon as we can, we will start inviting you to our clinics.
In the meantime:
•Please ensure we have up-to-date mobile number, or that of a next of kin 
•For those patients who don’t have mobiles, please provide an email address where possible.
•Keep watching our website or Facebook pages for updates.

NATIONAL SHORTAGE OF BLOOD BOTTLES

There is currently an international shortage of blood bottles used for taking samples and clinicians working in GP practices, hospitals, community and mental health trusts and ambulance trusts have been asked to suspend non-essential blood tests.
 
Our clinicians and managers in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are working together to be more efficient. We will ensure we don't waste blood bottles and that we don't duplicate tests which have already been done. We are being thoughtful about which tests are ordered and prioritising those tests which will have an immediate impact on the diagnosis or treatment.
 
Our clinicians and their teams are working hard to prioritise our blood tests and we appreciate your patience whilst we put in place systems to manage this difficulty safely.

This is expected to last at least 8 weeks but possibly longer.  During this time NHSE have introduced a national allocation of ordering stock which applies to both Primary and secondary care providers

We would like to reassure all our patients that this disruption in supply should not affect any essential blood tests and any tests that are delayed will be rescheduled as soon as possible. We are working closely with NHS England to follow their guidance. We will continue to provide you with updates regarding this and thank you for your support.

From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from: 

  • the NHS App which you can download from app stores 
  • the NHS website (from 17 May 2021)

It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified so you can use these services.

If you cannot access these online services, and you have had 2 vaccines, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status.

When you’re planning your travel, check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is time to get proof of your vaccination status before you leave.

Telephone system

Update to our telephone system

Dear Patient

Our new telephone system has now been installed however; we have issues with our broadband and are awaiting a replacement system. Engineers are due out to the practice on the 26th July to start the first phase and we hope to be up and running in early August. like you we are very frustrated with the whole situation.

We are coming to grips with the new telephone system but it is still not working properly due to the broadband, our staff are have been answering over 700 calls per day.  If you do not get through within 20 minutes please hang-up and try again later. Please do not get annoyed with our staff they are working very hard trying to help you.

Currently we have 4 staff off either sick or shielding which also impacts on answering the phones.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused to you. We are working very hard to deal with all calls and to assist you further.

Thank you for your understanding.

Julie Stewart

Practice Manager

14.7.2021

Confines of Covid-19

Dear Patient

We know that like us, everyone is struggling with the confines of Covid-19.  Everyone is trying to make the best of a really difficult situation and as a practice we are working very hard to keep our doors open caring for all our patients in the best possible way whilst aiming to keep both you and our team safe. 

We are covering clinics within Dibden Purlieu & Marchwood surgeries, along with providing support at the Covid Clinics within Applemore.

Our Telephones are over-run by patients enquiring about their Covid Vaccinations and our emails have increased tenfold from patients emailing the same questions.

We are also as a practice very frustrated with our telephone system to the extent that we are now changing our telephone provider however; this can take up to 12 weeks.  Please be kind to our staff this is out of our control.

The practice is working under extreme pressure please be aware that through our website:-

  • We can take repeat prescription requests. Please be aware that prescriptions can take a minimum of 72 hours to process. We will endeavour to deal with urgent enquiries as quickly as possible.
  • You cannot send Blood Pressure readings or photographs through the website
  • You cannot book appointments through the website - Patients must call Tel No. 02380 844546 to book appointments or use the E-consultation service via our website. Thank you for your understanding.
  • We cannot answer clinical questions through our website, please click on to e-consult and complete the questionnaire or call the surgery to book an appointment.
  • We cannot respond to patients asking when they will receive their Covid vaccination via email or on our website

We are currently working our way through the governments set list of priorities, rest assured we will send you a text message to book your appointment if we have an up-to-date mobile number and if we don’t we will call you.

If you have received a first vaccination within Applemore we will contact you again to book the second dose.

If you receive a letter from the national booking service, please book through them directly unless you have a problem getting to the centre.

Thank you for your patience.

17th March 2021.