Influenza Immunisation 2011-12

This year's influenza immunisation campaign is well underway. Further immunisation clinics are being run on Monday 7th and Monday 14th Novemeber from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. If you have not yet had your annual jab, please contact reception to make an appointment.
Immunisation is available for all people aged 65 or over and patients in 'at risk' groups. This includes ALL PREGNANT WOMEN and patients with heart disease, chronic lung disease (including asthma), diabetes and chronic kidney disease. It is also available for carers of patients in the at risk groups.


New Appointments System

Since Tuesday 24th May 2011 we have changed the way requests for ‘urgent’ or ‘on the day’ appointments are handled. This is to ensure that patients who feel they are unable to wait for a routine GP or nurse appointment are managed promptly and more efficiently

Patients requesting such appointments will be telephoned and spoken to by either the practice's doctor on call or a Practice Nurse. If appropriate, a same-day appointment will be offered for a face-to-face consultation. Patients coming to the surgery without an appointment may be asked to return home to await a telephone call from the doctor on call or a Practice Nurse, or can wait to see the duty Practice Nurse for assessment and triage

We hope this change will lead to shorter waiting times and a more effective and efficient service for patients who need urgent medical advice. We appreciate that this change may cause some inconvenience at first but we hope that you will be patient with us as we all get used to what we hope will be an overall improvement in our service to you.

Cold and Flu
Back Pain
Diarrhoea
First Aid

Cold or Flu

 

Resources

Colds & Flu
A factsheet on the causes, symptoms, treatment & prevention of colds & the flu

NHS Choices - is it the common cold or the flu?
Colds and flu can share some of the same symptoms (sneezing, coughing, sore throat) but are caused by different viruses, and flu can be much more serious.  Find out more.

Seasonal Flu Vaccination

Influenza – flu – is a highly infectious and potentially serious illness caused by influenza viruses.  Each year the make-up of the seasonal flu vaccine is designed to protect against the influenza viruses that the World Healflujabsth Organization decide are most likely to be circulating in the coming winter.

Regular immunisation (vaccination) is given free of charge to the following at-risk people, to protect them from seasonal flu:

  • people aged 65 or over,
  • people with a serious medical condition
  • if you are pregnant
  • people living in a residential or nursing home
  • the main carers for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer becomes ill
  • healthcare or social care professionals directly involved in patient care

Resources

For more information on flu immunisation, including background information on the vaccine and how you can get the jab, see Seasonal flu jab.

HPA - Season Flu Guide

RCGP & RPS Joint Statement on Flu Vaccines

Seasonal Flu guide

These links all come from trusted resources but if you are unsure about these or any other medical matters please contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
 
For quick medical advice online or on the telephone contact NHS DirectNHS 111 is a new service being introduced to make it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare servicesNHS ChoicesDepartment of HealthMy Surgery Website