Verbal Abuse by Patients
Our staff are experiencing a high degree of verbal abuse from patients both on the telephone and in the surgery. They are dealing with an extremely challenging workload at the moment and your patience is requested. As COVID restrictions start to be lifted, we are doing our best to return to normal services as quickly as possible but we are not in control of secondary services such as the hospitals. Our staff are doing their best, whilst also trying to contact large volumes of patients concerning their COVID vaccinations. Whilst we do understand the frustrations of patients, staff should be treated with respect. Thank you to all our patients who have sent their kind wishes and supportive comments - they are greatly appreciated.
Wearing of Masks in the Surgery
Please note that all patients must wear a mask/visor when visiting the surgery. If you are exempt, please bring proof of this. If not you will be asked to return with the proof and your appointment will have to be re-arranged. If you are not exempt and you refuse to wear a mask/visor you will be asked to leave the premises. We have visors on reception for those patients who find it difficult to wear a mask. We have to protect all our patients and our staff. Thanks
Blood Clotting and the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
New guidance has been issued following further reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, and the Commission for Human Medicines, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a rare blood-clotting condition since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.
The MHRA and Joint Committee for Vaccinations and Immunisations have emphasised that the risk of this condition is extremely small and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people. They have recommended that:
- Everyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine should still have a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, irrespective of age, unless they suffered any serious side effects after their first vaccination.
- People aged 30 and over or who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease should still be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The benefits in protecting them against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition.
People aged 18-29 who do not have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease will be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine where available. (This has been recommended as a precaution as people under 30 are at less risk from Covid-19 and not because they are considered to be at particular risk of developing the rare blood clot.)
- People under 30 can still choose to have the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine if this will mean they can be protected more quickly and they have been made aware of the guidance.
Please see the leaflet below that has been produced by Public Health England and the NHS to answer any questions you may have
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/976880/PHE_COVID-19_AZ_vaccination_guide.pdf
COVID Vaccinations
The NHS has now moved to the second phase of the vaccine rollout – people under 50 – and vaccinations will be offered by age.
Getting an appointment
Currently, anyone in an eligible age group can book a vaccination online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. If you are not able to book online you can call 119 free of charge, between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. As the age limit reduces, this will be updated on the booking homepage.
If you would prefer to have your vaccination at the centre run by local GP practices you do not need to do anything – we will contact you when we have appointments available. The invite from the GP practice will often be in the form of a text message.
We know lots of people will be eager to get protected but please do not contact your GP practice for an appointment. People will not be able to make an appointment unless they have been invited and you might stop someone who needs medical help getting through to us.
Getting your second vaccination
People need two doses of the vaccine to make sure they get maximum protection. If you had your first dose at a GP centre, you will be contacted by your practice when it is time for your second dose. This will usually be 11-12 weeks after your first vaccination.
If it is 11 weeks after you received your first vaccination, and you have not yet been invited for your second vaccination, please contact your GP practice who will arrange an appointment for you.
For more information about the vaccine, please visit www.nhs.uk or www.wakefieldccg.nhs.uk
Finding your NHS number
You can still book an appointment if you don’t have your NHS number, provided you are registered with a GP practice. However, it will be quicker if you have your number: this will be on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, including prescriptions, or you can find it online at
www.nhs.uk/find-nhs-number
PLEASE NOTE THE NATIONAL BOOKING SYSTEM IS ALSO CONTACTING CERTAIN COHORTS OF PATIENTS VIA A CENTRALISED SERVICE. THIS IS NOT RUN BY THE PRACTICE. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUERES, PLEASE TELEPHONE THE NUMBER ON THE LETTER AND NOT THE PRACTICE. THANKS
If you are invited for a vaccine, please act on your invite straight away and make sure you attend your appointments when you arrange them.
Please note that vaccinations are free of charge and only available through the NHS. Anyone who claims to be able to provide you with a vaccine for a fee is likely to be committing a crime and should be reported to the Police online or by calling 112.
In the meantime, please continue to abide by all the social distancing and hand hygiene guidance, which will still save lives
For more information about the vaccine, please visit www.nhs.uk or click here to view the F.A.Q.
In addition, the following leaflets from Public Health England are available on the gov.uk website
- Why do I have to wait?
- Guide for adults
- Guide for healthcare workers
- What to expect after the vaccine
- Pregnancy
We are experiencing extremely high volumes of telephone calls. Please wherever possible use our online system by following the blue link on our home page. The online system called GP Online allows patients to have an online consultation with the surgery without attending in person or having to wait in the telephone queue. You can use this system to make an admin enquiry eg about a sick note, or a clinical enquiry. PLEASE NOTE THIS SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE USED FOR URGENT MEDICAL ISSUES. Once you have logged your query, someone from the surgery will contact you either the same day or the next day, depending upon the time you log the enquiry. Please click on the blue link on the home page of our website and try it for yourself! This system is particularly useful during this coronavirus outbreak as it avoids you having to come to the surgery in person.
Face coverings when accessing GP practices in the Wakefield area
We are asking all our patients to wear a face covering or something else that can cover the mouth and nose, such as a scarf, if you come to the surgery for an appointment.
You can use a simple scarf or bandana that ties behind your head or make your own ‘no-sew’ face coverings using the advice available online at the gov.uk website. Simply search for ‘face covering’. Face coverings are also available to buy in shops or online.
Face coverings should not be worn by children under three and people who would find wearing them difficult (such as people with breathing difficulties).
Clinicians that are seeing patients face-to-face may be wearing personal protective equipment (face mask/gloves/aprons). This is for your safety as well as theirs.
Further advice about wearing face coverings can be found here
www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
PLEASE SEE OUR CORONAVIRUS TAB AT THE RIGHT HAND SIDE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO HELP OUR PATIENTS