
Stop press - Covid 19 vaccinations. GP Surgeries have been asked to support NHS England to deliver the largest vaccination programme the country has seen in a number of years and we are supporting the national campaign with this.
Unlike other vaccination programmes, such as flu, we are unable to provide vaccination from our Practice sites, with NHS England asking groups of Practices to come together and provide vaccination from a central location to patients registered with that group of Practices.
In the group we have established with surgeries in Attleborough, Poringland, Loddon, Pulham Market, Diss, Harleston and Long Stratton, the vaccination centre will be in Poringland and we are currently establishing our centre in line with NHS and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards and guidelines to ensure safe vaccination.
Vaccine supply will be very limited in the first instance and there are characteristics of the vaccine that mean we are restricted in the number of patients we can vaccinate safely in a day.
For example, all patients vaccinated ae required to remain under observation in the centre for 15 minutes after receiving their vaccinations and of course we need to also respect social distancing guidelines during this time.
The Government has announced priority groups for vaccination and we are starting with invitations to those patients. Those in eligible groups will receive a call from one of our booking team, which we are hoping will commence the week commencing 11th January 2020.
Please do not call the surgery, we will contact you. This will keep surgery telephone lines free for other patient need.
Updates on our service during the Covid-19 pandemic
Thank you for working with us over the past few months as we have responded to the coronavirus pandemic. We now face a further period of lockdown to help control the virus. We continue to work in a slightly different way following the NHS England guidance of managing patients where possible via telephone or video consultation. This is not exclusive and if you are unable to engage with us in this way, please tell us.
Routine telephone appointments can be booked up to three weeks in advance. Booking appointments on line remains suspended but our reception team are here to book the appropriate appointments for you. If the clinician you speak with feels the need for a face to face consultation, this will be arranged. There are certain face to face appointments with our nursing team that can be booked direct by our reception team. We continue to offer both routine and urgent blood tests. We are still visiting patients at home who are genuinely housebound and unable to get to the surgery.
Where there is a same day need, patients will be added to a 'call list' with details taken by our front line team and one of the clinical team working that day call you back within four hours of your call being received. This standard is regularly met but may vary if demand is high. Our reception team will flag with the clinicians if the need appears more urgent. We will confirm the best telephone number to reach you on.
We are still screening patients at the entrance to the two surgeries with the symptom questions around persistent cough, fever above 37.8 degrees C or a loss of taste or smell. We may take your temperature before you enter the building. Patients are asked to wear a face covering when entering the building. We have a supply of face masks for patients who arrive without a covering.
If you are not attending the surgery and you have these symptoms, then click here for the direct link to the latest advice on managing symptoms. You may need to arrange a coronavirus test. This link includes access to the online booking service. Or you can call 119.
There are some limitations on the types of clinic we are offering. Spirometry (a respiratory test), some minor surgery and cryotherapy are still restricted. We continue to offer sexual health clinics.
Many of our services including national screening programmes, dressings, contraception checks, learning disability checks and child immunisation clinics have continued throughout the Pandemic and remain available to book in advance.
With the reinstatement of national shielding arrangements after the Prime Ministers announcement on 4th January 2020, we will offer patients who are recognised as clinically extremely vulnerable to be seen in a designated environment.
Our branch surgery site at Rockland St Mary remains open on Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8.30am and 12 noon and then 2.30pm to 5pm each day.
Our dispensaries at both surgery sites are open for collection of prescriptions. We are aware that the local WELL pharmacy has some staffing issues and so if you collect your prescriptions from that location, you may like to consider giving them an additional day or two to have your prescription ready.
The Practice is adhering to national social distancing guidance and will continue to do so. Please help us maintain this with safe distancing when in the surgery. In line with NHS England and Public Health England guidance, all Practice staff will wear face coverings to help manage the spread of COVID -19.
The surgery is offering blood tests for Covid-19 antibody testing. Please read, print, sign and return this form before booking a blood test.