Update re COVID vaccinations at Vine House (23rd March):

Second Dose Security

Please be assured that your COVID-19 second dose is guaranteed and our deliveries are coming this week with our first clinics this weekend.  We will contact every one of our patients who have had their first dose with us and bring you in within the 12 week threshold, as recommended by the Covid-19 scientific advisors.

North Watford Mosque Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic

Dr Asif Faizy and colleagues from Watford will be vaccinating at the North Watford Mosque this Saturday 27th March 10.00 - 1.00 pm.  To book call 07438 899441.  Clinic on the link below for full details:

Watford Mosque Vaccination Information

AstraZeneca Vaccine Update

With all that is going on in the news regarding the AstraZeneca Vaccine, we would like to give some reassurance to our patients. 

Blood clots can occur naturally and are not uncommon.  As of 10th March there were 30 reports of clots among almost 5 million people given the vaccine across Europe.  This number of 30 in 5 million people is significantly less than the number that might be expected to happen naturally.

The World Health Organization and the UK's Medicine Regulator have said the vaccine is safe to give.  We will continue to administer the vaccination as per current guidelines.

Vine House Vaccine Update

So far for those patients who have not declined or postponed we have vaccinated:

•  100% of our patients aged 80 or above

• 90% or above for those aged 65-79, high risk aged 16-64, care home residents and healthcare professionals.

We are currently inviting Group 8 patients – those aged 55 and above.  Please wait to be contacted by us via mobile text or telephone call.  Please be assured that the surgery will contact all patients in line with the vaccination programme.    Please do not telephone the surgery until we have invited you to make an appointment for your vaccination.  This will help us keep the phone lines open for patients wishing to make routine GP and nurse appointments.

We are incredibly proud of our team and the North Watford PCN in getting to this stage and are extremely thankful to the team of volunteers who have been supporting the clinics through rain and snow!  Hopefully Spring is around the corner! 

Please click on the link below for up-to-date booking information for the following groups:

If you are:

• aged 64 or over

• a frontline health and social care worker

• a patient with learning disabilities and their carer

• aged 16-64 with specified underlying health conditions

• an eligible 16-17 year olds

• a Carer

• in the new Shielding group

  Covid booking information

Please click on the link below for answers to the most frequently asked questions:

Q&A for patients

Frontline Healthcare Staff

Please click on the link below for Green Book clarification of eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccination:

Green Book - Frontline Healthcare Staff

Your COVID recovery - click on link below for helpful information if you are recovering from COVID:

https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/

COVID Vaccination Clinics

Please click on the link below for the most recent guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officers re COVID vaccinations:

Updated Government Guidance for the NHS

Please click on the links below for further information:

Adult Covid-19 Vaccination Guide

This leaflet explains about the COVID-19 vaccination, who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from Coronavirus

What to expect after your Covid-19 Vaccination

Information for people who have had their first COVID-19 vaccination

Isolating at Home Patient leaflet

This leaflet contains important information to keep you safe while isolating at home.

Accessing your GP

To support general practice, Primary Care have created an animation video to help explain to patients how you can continue to access GP services, including how to get in contact, the different ways care may be delivered and how face-to-face appointments have changed. Please click on the link below

YouTube video

111 First

The 111 First campaign asks people to call 111 first for non-emergency issues, rather than heading straight to hospital. 111 can assess the situation and book patients in to their local emergency department, urgent treatment centre or refer to the GP.   Please click on the links below for further information:

111 First YouTube video

111 First article

Henry Health Families information - Please read

 Please click on the heading above for full details of the free Henry Healthy families programme online starting in January 2021

Using the NHS and Other Health Services during Coronavirus

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/using-the-nhs-and-other-health-services/

We have answers to lots of questions and concerns about COVID testing, self-isolation, schools and work.  Please click on the link below:

https://hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/your-health-and-services/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-know/coronavirus-QandA

Important information for patients

We are open for booked appointments only.  It is not possible to book appointments or discuss queries through the front door so please call the surgery on 01923 262363 and a receptionist will be happy to help you.  Should you need to provide a urine sample, bottles and forms can be picked up and returned to the basket in our lobby, along with repeat prescription requests.  Please ensure that if you come into the surgery you wear a mask,or scarf.  Thank you.

When using Online Consultant, if you are asked to send photographs of your problem, please email them via confidential.vinehouse@nhs.net.  Thank you.

Appointments

In line with all practices in the locality, we are currently only offering book on day appointments, ie there are no advance booking appointments.

When you call to make an appointment with a GP or nurse we will ask you to tell us why you need medical help. This will help us decide how best we can help you.

If appropriate, we will book you a telephone consultation and the GP will call you back the same day. The GP may offer you a video consultation or, if they need to see you face to face, they will arrange this with you. DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY UNLESS THE GP ASKS YOU TO. 

Please do not contact the practice for medical help linked to coronavirus.  Simply follow the latest Government advice on coronavirus further down this page.

Online services

At present you are unable to book appointments on line other than for the flu vaccination but please do use other online services, including:

• Ordering repeat prescriptions – please only order what you need 

• Checking your medical record
  

   

AccuRx Video Consultations

The Practice is using AccuRx to carry out video consultations.  The consultation is not stored or recorded within the AccuRx system, the clinical staff member is required to record observations and outcomes of the consultation directly into patient records in the same way as a face to face consultation.  (as of 12/03/20)

Photographs 

Please note, if the GP requests that you send in photographs relating to your condition, these will be saved securely on your medical record.  Please do not send photographs of an intimate nature.

Repeat Prescriptions

We aim to send all prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions, through the electronic prescription service (EPS) to your nominated pharmacy.  If you do not have a nominated pharmacy you can choose one online or ask your usual pharmacy to set this up for you.  If you currently manage you own prescription requests and your prescription cannot be sent through EPS to a nominated pharmacy, you will need to contact the practice either online, via the telephone or by completing a request slip and placing it in the secure box in our front lobby. 

Home Deliveries - Please be aware that home deliveries by community pharmacies is not an NHS funded service and you may be charged. 

Updated 19/05/2020

Information for Cancer Patients with specific advice relating to Covid-19:

• Macmillan

https://www.macmillan.org.uk

• East of England Cancer Alliance Patient Information

https://www.canceralliance.co.uk/patient-information.aspx

• Cancer Research UK

https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer

• Cancer Care Maps

https://www.cancercaremap.org/​

• Healthwatch Hertfordshire

https://www.healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk/

Cervical Screening Update

During Covid-19 routine cervical screening was put on hold, however it is now up and running again.  Many women may be concerned about delays to their screening and you may find the links below helpful.  They offer advice and reassurance including FAQs and videos from the Jo's Trust website.  Please be reassured that the risk from delaying screening by a few months is very small but we do recommend that all those on recall do now attend. 

https://www.jostrust.org.uk/coronavirus/videos

https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/coronavirus/faqs

https://www.jostrust.org.uk/coronavirus

Latest government advice on coronavirus

If you or anyone in your household has a high temperature or a new and continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of smell or taste, even if those symptoms are mild, you should all stay at home. Don’t go to your GP or hospital; instead go to nhs.uk to check your symptoms and follow the specialist medical advice.

For medical help linked to coronavirus you can also contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.

Only call 111 if you cannot get online.

If you need medical help for any reason, do not visit the GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.  For advice if a child is unwell or injured click on the following link:

Covid-19 Advice for parents when child is unwell or injured

If you need help or advice not related to coronavirus:

• for health information and advice, use the NHS website or our surgery website

• for urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service – only call 111 if you're unable to get help online

• for life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance

Results of National GP Patient Survey 2019 - click here - Survey Results

NHS England updated information for patients around continuity of medicines supply in the event of a no-deal EU exit. (on nhs.uk) Medicines Supply

Opening Times

*open for booked appointments only between 07.00-08.00. The surgery will fully open at 08.00.

Early opening - one week per month we open at 07.30. The surgery will fully open at 08.00.

We are leading Watford Extended Access opening on Saturdays and Sundays with pre-booked appointments most weekends:

Saturdays between 08.00 and 19.00, Sundays between 09:00 and 13:00 and some weekday evenings up to 10.00 pm. These appointments can only be booked by a receptionist as they use a different booking system. 

If you cannot attend your appointment at short notice on the day when the surgery telephone lines are closed, please call 07478 306994.

Please ask at reception for further details.

My care Record - privacy notice and opt out form - please see "news"