Clarification re COVID vaccinations:

We are aware some patients aged 80 and over have received invitations from NHS England directly to book appointments for COVID vaccinations in central hubs.  Please note that:

• We have completed 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations to over 95% of our patients aged 80 and over.  Please ignore the NHSE letter if you have had both doses already from us. 

• Some of our patients aged 80 and over have only had their first dose of the vaccine - you must have both doses from the same source.  If you only had your first dose from us please ignore the national letter as we will contact you for your second dose. 

• Only a handful of our patients aged 80 and over have not had any of their COVID vaccinnes - if you are one of those patients please contact us ASAP.  You can book with national sites but will also have to have the second dose with the national site as well. 

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. 

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 be assured that the surgery will contact patients in line with the vaccination programme.    We have started with the most vulnerable age group (over 80s) and as vaccine becomes available we will be contacting patients aged 75 and over.  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. 

Please click on the links below for further information:

Answers to Commonly asked Covid-19 vaccination Questions

When, how, where, will ? - answers to your questions

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.

Flu and Covid-19 vaccination

You still need to get the flu jab if you're getting the COVID-19 vaccine as the COVID vaccine will not protect you against the flu or stop you spreading the flu virus.  You should still get your flu jab at the earliest opportunity to protect yourself and those around you.   

Flu Vaccination Programme 2020

50-64 YEAR OLD VACCINATIONS - We have been asked by the Government to vaccinate this additional age group this winter and held our first clinic on 12th December 2020.  Further clinics will be added shortly.  

IMPORTANT - Prior to attending your appointment you are required to read a patient leaflet with regards to the vaccination being used - Flublok.  This medicinal product does not have a UK marketing authorisation but has been given authorisation for temporary supply by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for immunisation against influenza.  Flublok is licensed for use in the USA by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Distributor: Sanofi, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1PT, UK 

Reporting of Side Effects  As with any new medicine in the UK this product will be closely monitored to allow quick identification of new safety information.  You can help by reporting any side effects you may get.  See the end of section 4 of the leaflet for how to report side effects. 

To read the full leaflet please click on the link below or pick up a copy in the lobby at the surgery.  Please read all of this leaflet carefully before you attend for your vaccination as it contains important information for you.   By attending this is taken as consent for  having your flu vaccination.  Thank you.

https://products.mhra.gov.uk/search/?search=flublok

Understandably this year’s flu clinics are being run a little differently to past years.

If on the day of your appointment you have any of the following: (1) a high fever over 37.8, (2) a new continuous cough or (3) a loss or change of your sense of smell or taste, then please do not attend and contact the surgery to rebook. 

Please note that we will not open our doors until 9.00 am for the morning clinic and 2.00 pm for the afternoon clinic so please do not come before then, especially if the weather is wet!   

 Clinics

• All patients will be booked 3 minute appointments
• Please do not bring extra people with you unless they are carers
• There will be a one way system around the building and 1 outdoor sheltered station
• We ask that patients arrive at their given time as queuing will be outside. Please bring umbrella for wet weather
• There will be marshals both inside and outside the surgery
• You will be screened by one of the marshals. If you answer positive to any of the checks you will be asked to go home and arrange a covid test whilst isolating and await the results
• When entering the building please remove your coat and outer garments so that your arm is available for vaccination. Please wear a short sleeved top
• The clinician will be wearing a mask in line with current guidelines
• You will be asked to stand for your vaccine but a chair will be available if needed. The clinician will wipe down any surfaces that have been in contact with patients.
• Once you have had your vaccine a marshal will show you the way out. If you feel faint please let them know.

  We appreciate your co-operation with safe distancing and assure you that measures have been taken to keep all our patients safe during this busy time.

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.

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.

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