Noticeboard

Flu jabs 2017


 


It’s time to think about getting a flu vaccination.


This winter could see a very high number of flu cases in the country.


Australia is currently in the grip of its worst flu outbreak on record and the global circulation of the virus means that episodes in the Antipodes are indicators of the likelihood of outbreaks in Europe later in the year.


For many people a bout of flu will result in symptoms such as headaches, aches, pains and tiredness.


However for people in “at-risk” groups flu can have serious consequences, leading to existing health conditions getting worse or the development of an illness such as bronchitis or pneumonia.  For example, if you have asthma the symptoms may become more severe if you catch flu. For people with diabetes flu can potentially cause high blood sugar levels. Pregnant women should know that a bout of the flu could leave their child with a life-long health condition.


That’s why it is so important that people in these “at-risk” groups arrange to have a flu vaccination.


You are eligible for a free flu vaccination from your GP practice if you:



  • Are aged 65 years or over

  • Are pregnant

  • Receive a carer’s allowance or are a Ccarer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill

  • Are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility

  • Are aged between six months and 65 years and have a heart problem, a chest complaint or breathing difficulties, lowered immunity due to disease or treatment, liver disease, had a stroke or transient ischaemic attack(TIA), diabetes, a neurological condition or a problem with or removal of the spleen e.g. sickle cell disease

  • Are a child born between 1 Sept 2013 – 31 August 2015 – plus children in reception class and school years one, two and three.


If you know someone in one of these categories please remind them of the importance of protecting their health this winter.



Please speak to a member of Staff if you would like any further information or to book an appointment.

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DISRUPTION TO BLOOD TEST APPOINTMENTS FROM 07.10.20

UPDATED MONDAY 26.10.20

Thank you for your patience during this difficult time.  It has been decided that although the chemical supply issue with Roche is not completely resolved - ROUTINE BLOOD TESTING WILL RESUME TODAY - MONDAY, 26TH OCTOBER.

Please contact Reception on 01449 767722 to book an appointment for your blood test.

PLEASE NOTE :  

REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS ARE CURRENTLY TAKING 5 WORKING DAYS TO PROCESS

FACE COVERINGS MUST BE WORN WHEN COMING INTO THE PRACTICE

contact your doctors online and get a response by the end of the next working day

Welcome

Welcome to our website which we hope will provide you with information on the services available at our Mendlesham and Bacton surgeries.  Use the tabs above and at the bottom of the page to find out the information you need such as, when we are open, how to reach medical services, when we are closed, the area we cover and learn more about the team at the practice.

FLU 2020

This year we have had to factor in social distancing to our flu vaccination schedule and have introduced new systems to keep everyone safe.

If you are eligible for the flu vaccine, have received your invitation letter and have not yet booked, please telephone Reception to make an appointment.

If you already know that you don't want a flu vaccine please call to tell us (you could also email to decline: IESCCG.mendlesham@nhs.net) so the vaccine can be offered to someone else.  This year, more than ever, this is very important as vaccine supplies are expected to be in extremely high demand.

Bacton Dispensary Re-Opening

On Monday, 14th September Bacton dispensary only will be re-opening.  If you submit a prescription request prior to the 14th September this will still need to be collected from Mendlesham Surgery.  Prescriptions requested at Bacton after the 14th September can be collected from Bacton Dispensary and our turnaround time remains at 5 working days - please wait for your text message before calling or collecting your prescription.  

We will be asking patients to wear face coverings and only one patient will be allowed into the building at a time.

GP & NURSE EDUCATION DAYS

Ipswich & East Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group organise monthly 'virtual' training events for practices across Suffolk.  We will be closed for clinics from 1.00 pm on the following days so our doctors and nurses can attend these events:

Wednesday 12th August, Thursday 10th September 2020, Wednesday 7th October 2020, Thursday, 12th November 2020 & Wednesday 2nd December 2020

The telephones will be diverted to the Out of Hours provider, who will be covering any clinical emergencies.

Please dial 111 if you need medical assistance.  If your problem is life threatening dial 999. 

The Dispensary at Mendlesham will continue to be open from 3.00 pm for medication collection.

Noticed an unusual change to your body?  Don't sit it out, get it checked out:

Normal For You Be Clear on Cancer

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

Important Information

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we are working in a different way to prevent the spread of the disease and protect our patients and staff, while still providing essential services.  

If you or someone you live with HAS coronavirus symptoms (new continuous cough OR fever OR loss of/change in smell or taste)

  • Stay at home
  • If your symptoms worsen or you feel that you cannot manage at home, please refer to the NHS 111 online coronavirus service
  • Please do not come to the practice

If you or people you live with DON'T HAVE coronavirus symptoms and you think you need primary care help and advice, don't delay

We are continuously reviewing how we can deliver our services and taking into consideration the importance of social distancing and delaying the spread of the virus.

To support this we have had to take some important steps and changes: 

FOR ALL PRESCRIPTIONS PLEASE WAIT FOR THE TEXT MESSAGE TELLING YOU YOUR PRESCRIPTION IS READY BEFORE CALLING OR VISITING THE SURGERY.  

All our face-to-face appointments will be scheduled at Mendlesham Surgery where we have adequate facilities and staff support.

We have altered our online appointment booking system to ‘Telephone Consultations’ only. Please note that your call may be an hour either side of the appointment time

If you feel you need to be seen please call Mendlesham Surgery on 01449 767722.  Your call will dealt with by a care navigator and then triaged by a healthcare professional. 

All patients who have already booked an appointment in advance will be telephoned by a healthcare professional prior to them attending.

We have turned off our self check-in screen to avoid the risk of spread.

Until further notice, all prescriptions will continue to be issued for one month.

We may have to consider postponing some routine appointments.

Please regularly check our website for updated information and the links below:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxvaGwIDb5wIVRrTtCh22egLsEAAYASAAEgKKm_D_BwE

General Information on Coronavirus: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

For patients concerned that they may have Coronavirus or may have come into contact with someone who has, the NHS 111 online service has created Coronavirus pages that tell patients what they should do based on their particular circumstances.  These can be accessed at: https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19

Testing for Covid-19   

Click here to find out more

Antibody Testing

The Government recently announced the introduction of a test to detect the presence of the Covid 19 antibody. It is not fully understood what a positive antibody test means in terms of immunity and future risk from COVID-19. At the moment, tests are only available for the purpose of increasing understanding of who has (or has not) had an immune response. There is little clinical benefit in knowing this information as the evidence so far does not show that having had the virus once provides immunity to prevent a patient getting the virus a second time. Hence it is extremely important that we all continue with the current approach of social distancing, hand washing, infection control procedures and so on. The test may be offered, if deemed appropriate, to those patients who are having a blood test for another clinical reason.

The antibody test is not currently being offered to the general population.  Some patients have said that their employer has asked for the test to be undertaken before they return to work.  This is not in line with current government guidance.

Advice For Parents During Coronavirus

If your child is unwell please click here for advice.

Isolation Note for your Employer

Use this service if you have to stay at home because of Coronavirus and you need a note for your employer.

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

Ear Syringing

Due to Covid-19 we are currently unable to provide ear irrigation as it is an unsafe procedure in these circumstances.

Please apply oil to the effected ear for 7-10 days.  If the problem does not resolve then a procedure called ear microsuction can be performed as a private procedure.  This is a safe procedure and may cost around £80.00.  Contact the Hearing Care Centre on: 0800 096 2637 for further information.

DR JON HERMAN - LEAVING ANNOUNCEMENT

Sadly, Dr Jon Herman left the Practice on 5th August after 25 years.   He won't be hanging his stethoscope up all together but will be branching out into other aspects of Primary Care.

We would like to confirm that all Dr Herman's patients will continue to receive the high standard of patient care that Mendlesham Medical Group gives to all its patients.

It goes without saying that Dr Herman will be missed greatly by staff and patients' alike. We would like to wish him all the best for his future career.

Dr Julia Ford whom most of you know will be replacing Dr Herman's position within the Partnership alongside Dr Raj Tanna and Dr Sarah Evans this summer.

Mobile Phone Contact Details

Please ensure that the mobile phone number you have supplied us with is up-to-date and and that you have consented to receive text messages. 

Extended Hours

The GP Extended Hours service is designed to provide patients with appointments outside core general practice hours for routine care and is available:

Tuesday 7.00-8.00 am and Thursday 7.30-8.00 am and 6.30-7.00 pm offering a selection of blood test, GP and Nurse Practitioner appointments

To book an appointment please call reception.

GP Online Services

You can register to book your appointments, request medication and access your medical records online. For more information see our Online Services page.

Collecting Prescriptions/Medication

Please note if you need someone else to collect medication on your behalf, you will need to sign and return the below form before your medication can be collected by the third party. 

GDPR representative consent letter

AccuRx - Asthma Questionnaires

In addition to our text appointment reminder service, we have started using AccuRx which is a piece of software we will use to enhance our communications with you whilst we reduce the footfall in to the practice.  This is used via the practice’s clinical system to your mobile phone using a text message conversation or video consultation. This enables you to converse with a member of the clinical team and for clinical information be saved to your medical record. 

We are currently using the AccuRx text messaging facility to send Asthma Questionnaires to patients in their birth month.

Medical Students

Over the year we will be hosting medical students at Mendlesham. They will often sit in with the GPs and sometimes will see patients themselves, under close supervision of one of the Doctors and with the consent of the patient.   We would like to thank you all for making the students feel so welcome during their time here.

Healthwatch Suffolk

You are able to leave feedback by using the link below:

https://www.healthwatchsuffolk.co.uk/services/mendlesham-medical-group-stowmarket-1

Friends of Mendlesham Health Centre - Join In

We are extremely lucky to have a very active Friends group who do a lot of fundraising for the practice. Their support has enabled us to purchase diagnostic equipment for use in the surgery.  For further information about the 'Friends' please see "News" tab at the top of this page.

When We Are Closed

The NHS 111 service is available for patients to call when the surgery is closed.  Trained clinicians are on hand to answer health related queries, provide general advice or arrange for a doctor or nurse to discuss your more specific need.  NHS 111 is for when your need is less urgent that 999.

CQC Inspecton

The practice was routinely inspected in January 2020 and the inspection report can be accessed via the link below.

Named Accountable GP

All patients at the practice have a named accountable GP on their clinical record.  Your named GP has overall responsibility for your care but you may see any GP of your choosing at the surgery. If you wish to find out who your named GP is, please ask at reception.

Friends and Family Test

The Friends and Family Test is an opportunity for our patients to provide feedback on the services we provide, to complete the online questionnaire please look on the "Have your say" tab at the top of this page.

GP Patient Survey

For the full survey results please visit the GP Patient Survey website GP Patient Survey Results 2017 GP Patient Survey Website

My Care Record

Please see 'My Care Record' in Further Information section at bottom of page.

(Site updated 26/10/2020)
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