The NHS COVID-19 Vaccination programme
Key messages – 14 Jan
The NHS was the first in the world to deliver both the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccines, and has continued to make strong progress.
Over two and a quarter (2.25) million people have now had a vaccine in England, putting us way ahead of comparable countries, and we are confident that we can fulfil our ambition to offer first doses to everyone in the top priority groups by the middle of February.
With supplies available increasing we continue to accelerate, and as part of that the first community pharmacies are now opening, providing another option people can choose to get protected alongside a thousand other hospitals and GP-led services now running.
Many more facilities will follow over the coming days and weeks, providing extra capacity to give people who need it that crucial first dose – which the evidence shows gives you the vast majority of your protection from the virus - as quickly as possible.
NHS staff are doing an incredible job to deliver what it is the largest vaccination programme in our history, at the same time as continuing to be there for everyone who needs care, but we need the public to play their part too:
please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, we will contact you;
when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments at exactly the time you’re asked to, so that we can avoid queues in this cold weather;
and please continue to follow all the guidance in place to control the virus and save lives, even if you have already had your vaccine.
- Latest COVID update 14.1.2021
Please don't call us
Who gets the COVID vaccine first?
The vaccines are coming
Information for patients
All NHS services are under severe pressure at the moment, as we look after increasing numbers of patients who are sick with covid-19 and other seasonal illnesses.
We are also delivering the huge and vitally important covid-19 vaccination programme.
So that it can focus on these really important issues, you GP will understandably be prioritising urgent cases.
This means that when you contact your local practice, they will have an initial conversation with you to understand how urgent your health needs are.
If you have an issue that is not urgent, you may to wait longer than usual until your problem or concern can be dealt with.
Do please make sure that you continue to get in touch with us if you need to. This is particularly important if:
- your problem is urgent;
- you have long term condition that is getting worse
- you are worried about symptoms that might indicate cancer
Please also remember you can call NHS 111 for urgent concerns, and 999 for serious emergencies.
Your local pharmacist can also help with minor complaints
For adults with mental health problems including depression and anxiety, you can refer yourself directly to the local wellbeing service, via their website.
If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, call this freephone number: 0800 6444 101.
We have a childhood illnesses leaflet free to download here, full of advice and information for parents and carers of young children https://hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/application/files/1716/0941/0098/Help_your_Child_Stay_Well_This_Winter_FINAL.pdf
Herts Help has a range of support and information to help people though the lockdown here https://www.hertshelp.net/hertshelp.aspx
Thank you very much for helping us all manage under these very difficult circumstances.
We are OPEN, and very busy!
We are fully aware of the many stories in the national press about GP surgeries not being open. We also understand that we all want things to go back to how they were before the pandemic, and that the initial support for the NHS, which was strong at the start of the pandemic, is wearing thin. Please know that we are doing the best that we can for our patients.
We cannot comment on what other surgeries are doing – but want to re-assure you that we are OPEN!
All GP appointment requests must still be first triaged over the phone, and if you cannot be safely managed over the phone or video consultation, we will arrange for a face to face appointment for you.
Workload 1.4.2020 - 31.12.2020
Face-to-face Consultations = 5,461
Telephone Consultations = 7,419
Video Consultations = 718
Home Visits = 120
Urgent cancer referrals = 359
Multi-Disciplinary Team discussions = 287
Flu Vaccines Given 1,838
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus (high temperature, a new continuous cough or a change/loss to your sense of smell or taste):
1. Please do not attend the surgery (contact the surgery by telephone if you require assistance - please note that during this time we are receiving a high number of calls but a member of the Front of House Team will answer your call as soon as possible).
2. Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.
3. Self-isolate and do not have visitors – only leave your home to have a test.
Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also self-isolate.
Which patients will practices need to vaccinate?
This is still not fully clear. The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations has recommended the following order:
- older adults’ resident in a care home and care home workers
- all those 80 years of age and over and health and social care workers
- all those 75 years of age and over
- all those 70 years of age and over
- all those 65 years of age and over
- high-risk adults under 65 years of age
- moderate-risk adults under 65 years of age
- all those 60 years of age and over
- all those 55 years of age and over
- all those 50 years of age and over
- rest of the population (priority to be determined) but current vaccines only for those aged 18 and over.
However, this is not confirmed – this will depend on the characteristics of the vaccines being administered. It is unlikely that surgeries will have any control over this part of the programme
We will do our best to keep you informed - this programme is bound to be subject to many changes...
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Our doors are open – However you still must follow social distancing rules when coming to see us, therefore please ensure that you do the following;
• We only have limited space for patients to wait socially distanced in our waiting room. Please follow the guidance of our staff. At busy times you may be asked to wait outside, where the clinician will still call you.
• Attend your appointment alone if possible and just before your appointment time to limit the wait you have at the practice
• Wear a face covering
• Follow social distancing on the way to and whilst visiting the practice
• Ensure you follow any advice as displayed on posters or advised by our staff
• Use hand sanitiser on entry to the practice – automatic machine available in the entrance
• Try to use the toilet and wash your hands before leaving home – limited toilet facilities available
• Please do not attend if you or any member of your household have any symptoms of Covid-19
We also want to assure you we are doing everything we can to protect our staff during this period. More specifically:
We have carried out a risk assessment our main actions are to ensure the safety of our staff and patients. Some of the things we have put in place are listed above for changes to patients entering the practice and the service we offer. We have also risk assessed our staff members following latest guidance and advice.
We already had a triage system (patient first) which we are able to continue using to speak to patients before they attend to ensure they do not have symptoms before being seen for treatments and continued care
We will see patients when necessary after triage and we follow guidelines with appropriate PPE
We have adopted video consultations where needed to reduce face to face contact
We follow Government and NHS advice and guidance and keep our staff updated With this - specifically adherence to social distancing, frequent hand washing, hand sanitiser readily available and sneeze screens up in reception.
We ensure that there is regular cleaning of frequently used areas and all staff have refreshed their infection control training
We have wall mounted hand sanitising stations throughout the Practice to facilitate staff and patients with keeping hands sanitised
EXEMPTION FROM WEARING A MASK IN PUBLIC
We have seen an increasing number of requests for GPs to write a letter to exempt patients from wearing a mask in public. Please see below the advice from the Local Medical Committee and note that it is not your GPs responsibility to provide exemption.
Exemption from wearing masks
The Government website clearly states that the public should not be asked to provide written evidence of their exemption from wearing a face covering and has now included templates for badges and cards that the public can download.
Some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.
This is a personal choice and is not necessary in law.
Those who have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering should not be routinely asked to give any written evidence of this. Written evidence includes exemption cards.
This guidance can be found at:
https://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
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
Thank you
Nuffield House Surgery was recently contacted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who were offering an engagement and support telephone call to practices. Below is a summary of their findings of how we have coped and delivered services during the COVID pandemic. We hope you are as happy with the results as we were.
CQC COVID assessment and engagement call summary
Important information about the coronavirus (COVID-19)
You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England available on NHS Website or www.gov.uk
List of diseases and conditions considered to be very high risk:
Solid organ transplant recipients
People with specific cancers
People with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
People with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
People having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
People having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
People who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD
People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell)
People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
People who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
Nuffield House Surgery
The surgery is accessible to patients using a wheelchair, and there are disabled toilets on the premises.
Car parking:
Please note that car parking on the premises is available for registered disabled people only (Blue Badge must be displayed).
There is public car parking nearby.
West Essex CCG Shutdown Dates
Below are a list of the dates that the Surgery will be closed at 13:00 as all Clinical Staff have to undertake mandatory training that is held by West Essex CCG.
Thursday 25th February 2021
If you are not sure what you should do when you are feeling unwell, use the FREE NHS Health Help Now website or app to see available local services, get advice or find the best treatment for your symptoms.
Alternatively you can call NHS 111 for urgent health advice 24 hours a day.
In an emergency please call 999.
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Registration with Nuffield House Surgery and Usual GP
All patients registering, and who are registered, with Nuffield House Surgery, are allocated a usual GP.
If you wish to know your usual GP, please ask the receptionist.
However, it does not mean the practice will always be able to offer you an appointment to see your usual GP, as GPs are not available every day the practice is open.
Having a usual GP does not prevent you from choosing to see another GP for a pre-bookable appointment, but if your need is urgent you will be offered an appointment with an available GP.
NUFFIELD HOUSE SURGERY POLICY – We do not accept patient requests for change of their usual GP, as patients are able to choose to see another GP for pre-bookable appointments.
CQC report 12.10.2020
CQC inspection area ratings
(Latest report published on 18 December 2020)
CQC Inspections and ratings of specific services
(Latest report published on 18 December 2020)
Practices are graded as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate or put into Special Measures
The practice has been graded as Requires Improvement in two of 5 areas and Good in three areas. At our previous visit in November 2019 the practice was put into 'special measures'. Everyone has worked tirelessly to turn things around. We skipped the 'inadequate' rating completely which would be the usual progression from special measures. We have challenged our 'Requires Improvement' rating and provided further evidence to the CQC to support this. The process can take up to 50 working days. We will post the outcome here once it's known.
We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help to give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format. It has been designed with the patients' needs at the forefront of everything, from checking surgery times to contacting us (please do NOT use this form for medical correspondence / issues / problems; it is only for general comments about the practice or website, and suggestions as to how we can improve our service to you. Medical matters and complaints cannot be dealt with via this form). If you have a query regarding a medical matter, or wish to make a complaint, please telephone Reception on 01279 213101.
(Site updated 22/01/2021)