COVID Vaccine Update

We have now booked all our COVID vaccine clinics, and are not offering any further 1st dose vaccinations. We have attempted to contact all eligible patient but as we only have limited patients left to vaccinate we cannot facilitate doing anymore 1st dose clinics.  

Any patients now wanting the COVID vaccine will have to book via NHS England by calling 119 or 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ 

Please check that NHS England are offering your age group the vaccine before trying to book. 

We would like to thank all the staff and volunteers from Brook Lane and Lockwoods Surgery as well as our own staff and volunteers from Stubbington Medical Practice. Their dedication and hard work over the last 6 months and for the months to come has made this vaccination programme the success that it is.

Thank You!!!! 

PROOF OF COVID19 VACCINATION STATUS  

Through the NHS App 

You can access your COVID-19 vaccination status through the free NHS App. You can access the app through mobile devices such as a smartphone or tablet. Proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status will be shown within the NHS App. We recommend that you register with the app before booking international travel.

By calling 119

If you do not have access to a smartphone and know that the country you are travelling to requires COVID-19 vaccination status, you can call the NHS helpline on 119 and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 working days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine. We expect the letter to take up to 7 working days to reach you.

The letter will be sent automatically to the address registered with your GP. The 119 call handler you speak to will not be able to see your address to check this with you. If you’ve recently moved house, make sure you’ve given your new address to your GP practice before calling 119.

Please do not contact the surgery to request a letter as we cannot provide this in the approved format.

For further information, please use the link below.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad 

    What is happening at Stubbington Practice?

We have resumed all of our services at the practice but the way we access these services has changed. The Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has forced us to work differently to help slow the spread of the virus. All healthcare settings are taking special measures to protect their patients and staff although working differently.

Where possible, we want to avoid lots of patients sitting in the waiting room together, as we know this increases the risk of the virus spreading and therefore we have had to change the way we offer our services to you.

If you are invited to attend an appointment, we want to ensure that there are minimal numbers of people in the practice so that we can maintain social distancing and keep patients and staff safe.

We have reduced the restrictions for patients entering the building. You will now be able to drop off and pick up paperwork as you did before, although prescriptions will still be sent electronically to the pharmacy.

There is a limit to two patients queuing at the reception desk so please queue outside if busy.

We have now opened our arrival checking screen. Please use this if you are attending for an appointment. There are wipes to clean the screen before using.

We will no longer take your temperature when you enter the building but to protect staff and other patients, please do not enter the building if you have any covid symptoms.

Making an appointment

• We have adapted the way in which you can get an appointment safely.

• Most patients health concerns can be managed over the phone or via video consultation. This is why we are providing you with an initial on the day phone call to decide the best way to help. If we can support you without you needing to attend the practice then we reduce the need for you to travel and reduce the risk of the virus spreading. This is also to avoid the need to cancel pre-booked sessions when a Clinician has to isolate due to Covid. 

• If you need a face to face appointment, you will invited to attend the practice. If we can ensure there are a minimal numbers of people in the practice, we can maintain social distancing and keep patients and staff safe.

• Please note that only two people are allowed into the reception area at any one time. 

• Alternatively, you can submit an eConsult to request advice or treatment (see the link at the top of this page). After reviewing your query, you will then be directed towards the most appropriate help. This might be some advice on self-help, pharmacy advice, an appointment with one of the clinical team or another service.  Please DO NOT use e-Consults for urgent medical issues.

 Repeat prescriptions

• Please request prescriptions in one of the following ways:
  - using your online access account if you have one
  - via the NHS app (visit www.nhs.uk/nhsapp)
  - by email: fgccg.stubbington-admin@nhs.net
  - by phone: 01329 664231, choosing option 3 to speak to our prescriptions team or by hand.

• Prescriptions will be sent to your nominated pharmacy; if you have not already nominated a pharmacy please specify when requesting.

 How can you help

• Please be patient – our phone lines are very busy, especially between 8am and 11am.
• Do you have a condition that you can treat at home? If you do then please try to do this with advice from NHS online or your local pharmacist.
• Do you simply need general advice? If you do, you can call 111 for this or submit an eConsult.
• If you think you may have Covid-19 DO NOT go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Use the NHS111 Online service to find out what to do next: 111.nhs.uk/covid-19.
• If you feel you need to see a doctor for non-Covid-19 symptoms then please call 01329 664231 and we will discuss your needs.
• Please help the receptionist by giving them as much information as possible and answer any questions they may have. This will help us prioritise calls and have the right Clinician call you back.
• You can email the practice at: 
  fgccg.stubbington-admin@nhs.net    
  (Please do not use this to request appointments - these must be made by calling reception on 01329 664231)
• Please check our website and Facebook page (Stubbington Medical Practice) regularly for updates.
• We do anticipate some staff shortages due to isolation and sickness and aim to continue to give you the best possible care at this difficult time. We appreciate your continued support.

We ask that you please treat our staff with courtesy and respect - thank you for your understanding and co-operation during these challenging times.

 Please Seek Alternatives to A&E for
Minor Injuries & Illness where Possible

The NHS is doing all it can to make sure it is able to support all those who will need hospital treatment as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Organisations across the NHS are taking a number of steps to prepare for increased demand and you may be redirected if you attend A&E with a minor injury.

Please CLICK HERE for information on where to go if you have a minor injury or illness.

Our Emergency Dept. remains open.  If you or someone you know is experiencing a medical emergency you/they can still attend the ED, or alternatively please call 999.

Medical emergencies can include:
- loss of consciousness
- an acute confused state
- fits that aren't stopping
- chest pain
- breathing difficulties
- severe bleeding that can't be stopped
- severe allergic reactions
- severe burns or scalds

Call 999 IMMEDIATELY if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke.  Every second counts with these conditions.

Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic acident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from a height or a serious head injury.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 (a high temperature or a new, continuous cough), please DO NOT attend the Emergency Dept. or any of the other services.

LINKS TO FURTHER INFORMATION

Self-register as high risk
Click HERE

Guidance on shielding and protecting vulnerable people
Click HERE

Support and advice for talking to children about the pandemic
Click HERE

Advice for people with asthma
Click HERE

Self-isolation notes
Click HERE

Guidance on Self Isolation and Social Distancing for COVID-19
Click HERE

Travel plans?
Click HERE

Information from the Hampshire Safeguarding Adults Board
Click HERE

BE CAUTIOUS about CANCER

Your GP wants to know if you have any of these symptoms.

These symptoms may be harmless but can be caused by cancer or other conditions, so contact your GP to discuss them.

Quick assessment means faster reassurance if all is well. If there is a problem, an earlier diagnosis means better chances of a full recovery.

Better outcomes with

Earlier assessment of:

 Change in bowel/bladder function

A mouth ulcer or skin problem which isn’t healing

Unexpected bleeding/discharge (eg bowel/vagina/nose)

Thickness/lump in a breast/nipple/elsewhere

Indigestion - severe & persistent/swallowing difficulty

Ongoing cough/hoarseness

Unusual appearance of a mole/wart

Symptoms of unexplained weight loss/bloating/extreme fatigue/excessive night sweats/unexplained pain

TELL YOUR GP ABOUT ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS.