COVID – If you have symptoms DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY
Get a free PCR test to check if you have coronavirus (COVID-19)
If you have any of these 3 coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms, even if mild, use this service to get a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test as soon as possible:
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed
You can order a PCR test kit to be sent to your home or book an appointment at a walk-in or drive-through test site.
If you have symptoms, you and everyone you live with must immediately self-isolate. Do not leave home until you get your test results, except to post a test kit or for a PCR test appointment.
You should not use this service if you’ve received a positive PCR test result in the last 90 days, unless you develop any new symptoms.
If you have had your first COVID19 vaccination via your GP and you cannot have your second dose from your GP practice, please book your second COVID19 vaccination using theNational Booking System.
For people over 50 your second vaccination should be 56 days after your first vaccination. However, you will not be able to book your appointment immediately after your first vaccination – please wait to try and book your appointment.
For people under 50 your second vaccination should be 77-84 days after your first vaccination. However, you will not be able to book your appointment immediately after your first vaccination – please wait to try and book your appointment.
If you try to book too early appointment slots are unlikely to be available for you.
If after waiting as advised above you are unable to book your second vaccine appointment, please contact the CCG Central Referral Team who will be able to help you.
Contact number: 0300 123 0771
Open Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm
If you have difficulty using the telephone, e.g. hard of hearing, please make contact using email [email protected]
SECONDARY USE OF GP DATA OPT OUT 08.06.2021
If you wish to opt-out of any potential secondary use of your GP data please download and complete the form we have here Type_1_opt-out_letter
Please note that this is for medical data which may be shared with third parties. Your Summary Care Record will not be affected by this and will still be shared with hospitals and other NHS care providers only, unless you want to opt out from that too. Download that here SCRConsentFormApr20_1.2
Please send these forms to the surgery by post or by hand or email to [email protected]
Collection of GP Data NHS Digital released a statement last month regarding the launch of the new system they will be using to collect GP data, called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR) service. The statement highlights that NHS Digital will only share data with organisations who have a legal basis and meet strict criteria to use it for local, regional and national planning, policy development, commissioning, public health and research purposes. They have also developed a public advice webpage to explain how and why the data is being used.
ONLINE SERVICES
While we switch our patients over to the NHS APP, we are finding that some of you are not able to see your repeat medication on the list. We are working to sort this out. If repeat medication doesn’t appear on your NHS APP, please ring the Dispensary order line at either site and we can address this issue.
CORONAVIRUS – CONTACT US BY PHONE
In the interests of patient and staff safety Hedingham Medical Centre is operating a telephone triage service for patients. We are booking telephone appointments and if a face-face consultation is required, your GP will arrange this with you over the phone. Where patients do attend for a pre-booked appointment we ask you to wear a mask, or wrap a scarf or bandanna around your mouth to reduce the risk of virus transmission. Our staff are doing their best to help everyone with their needs and would appreciate it if patients did not give them verbal abuse while they are trying to help. We have a zero tolerance policy for abuse and will remove patients from the list if they are aggressive towards our staff. Please contact the surgery by telephone for all requests.
Dispensaries – Doors are open for collection PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK:
Castle Hedingham, Falcon Square – 11am-1pm and 2pm to 5.30pm (Telephone order line open 0930-1100 tel:01787 461465 option 2 – Castle).
Sible Hedingham, Swan Street -10am-1pm and 2pm to 5pm (4.30pm on Thursdays) (You can phone requests through from 9.30am-11am tel:01787 461465 option 2 – Sible).
Patients will be allowed in to see GPs only after they have been assessed by telephone. Nurses will call all patients prior to seeing them and will only see essential appointments.
Medication can be ordered by posting requests through the letterbox, calling or online.
If you use the NHS APP you will be able to access NHS Advice as well as view your record (including your Covid 19 Vaccination details) and order repeat prescriptions (this helps to ease pressure with the phone lines). Find out more here: https://digital.nhs.uk/services/nhs-app
The Hedingham Medical Centre partners have taken the decision to suspend clinical services at our Great Yeldham branch until further notice, due to the need to contain coronavirus.
All medication will now need to be collected from either the Castle Surgery or Sible Surgery. Please contact us on 01787 461465 option 2/if you need to check where to collect your medication from or if you need to book an appointment. Do not come to the surgery unless you have been asked to do so by a GP or Nurse. If you are collecting medication please allow 4 working days for your prescription to be prepared.
LOW CARB DIET
Are you interested in a healthy diet, weight loss, or being able to put type 2 diabetes or prediabetes into remission? We are very excited to announce the launch of the Colne Valley PCN Low Carb Project, which has been set up to help our patients eat well & lose weight. Read more by clicking on the link to our Low carb leaflet
HOSPITAL WAITING TIMES
Broomfield Hospital have long waiting lists of between 36-60 weeks. If you are referred to them for non-urgent treatment then you will have this sort of wait. We are not able to write letters to expedite these referrals as our colleagues in hospitals are now trying to catch up on the backlog caused by the Covid 19 situation.
Mid Essex residents who need to see a GP or nurse on a weekday evening, Saturday or Sunday can now book an appointment by calling 01245 398055. Appointments are available as follows:
Monday to Friday, 6.30pm to 8pm
Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 8pm
and consultations will usually take place via telephone or video call. If a face-to-face appointment is required, it will be at North Chelmsford Health Centre, Sainsbury’s, 2 White Hart Lane, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 5EF.
If you are 70 or older or have pre-existing health conditions that mean you are eligible for flu jabs then you could be at a higher risk of serious complications from coronavirus. You should follow Government advice and stay at home. Please arrange for family, neighbours and friends or local community groups to deliver the food and medicines you need. If you do not have this support available please register with the Essex Welfare Service at www.essexwelfareservice.org.uk/support-request or call 0300 303 9988.
If you are caring for somebody who is living with dementia or who are affected by dementia click here to read about how you can get help from Dementia Support Workers: DEMENTIA HELP
ACTION FOR FAMILY CARERS
Action For Family Carers are offering online help and outdoor walks for carers. Read more here AFFC activities
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT
Over recent weeks Essex County Council have been working with colleagues from across Greater Essex to put together a series of resources that can be used to support people in our communities who are bereaved. It is important that family, friends and communities seeking support at this time are able to talk to somebody they trust, who will listen, empathise and point them to professional advice where necessary. Click here for more details:
During the current COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak there are lots of things that parents are having to think about.
Immunisations protect children from many serious illnesses. To make sure that your child is properly protected it is important that they still get their immunisations on time where possible. Health experts strongly advise that you make and keep your children’s immunisation appointments as planned. The same advice applies to teenagers who are due their routine adolescent immunisations
Our practice is now part of My Care Record – supporting the delivery of joined-up care. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, additional measures are being put in place to help health and care providers to deliver effective care. This includes how the information from your care records is used. My Care Record is an approach to improving care by joining up health and care information. Wherever possible, health and care professionals will be able to access care records from other services if it is needed to deliver care for individuals with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms. For example, we are working to make sure doctors, nurses and co-ordination staff at places you may receive advice or treatment can see important information from your GP record. This will include health and care professionals at neighbouring GP practices, NHS 111 and regional centres for the treatment of critically ill patients including the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London. This will make it easier and faster for them to deliver effective care for you if it is needed. Please see the My Care Record website for more information including the Privacy Notice to support this work.
Face Masks
We ask that all patients attending the Surgery wear a face mask when inside the building.
Exemptions
We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks/coverings in various public settings.
GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask/covering.
The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this.
Dial 111. The NHS 111 service now administer the out of hours cover for the Practice area from 6.00 p.m. until 8.30 a.m. on weekdays and also 6.00 p.m. Fridays until 8.30 a.m. Mondays (plus Public Holidays).
12th March, 2021
