FOR CURRENT ADVICE ON COVID-19 PLEASE REFER TO THE GOV.UK SITE.

NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme

Update 08/04/2021

There have been reports of an extremely rare adverse event of blood clots following vaccination with the first dose of AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The JCVI has weighed the relative balance of benefits and risks and advise that the benefits of prompt vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the risk of adverse events for individuals 30 years of age and over and those who have underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. The JCVI Currently advises that it is preferable for adults aged under 30 years without underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, to be offered an alternative COVID-19 vaccine, if available.

click here to see the government’s statement following updated advice from the UK’s medicines regulator

GP practices in Northumberland are closely following the JCVI groups to plan the order in which vaccine is delivered. To try to be fair to everyone, people will be invited in order of age within each group. Otherwise, our practices are purely dependent on the amount of vaccine received.

We are currently working through Groups 7-8

You may receive an NHS invitation letter  to attend a mass vaccination site such as The Centre for Life. Please make every effort to attend there.  If you are not able to attend The Centre For Life, or another mass vaccination site,  you will be invited to attend locally but we are not able to give a time frame for this.  Please rest assured that you will be invited as soon as possible.

The following link may be helpful:  

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-why-you-are-being-asked-to-wait/why-you-have-to-wait-for-your-covid-19-vaccine 

Beware of COVID VACCINATION SCAMS

We are aware that some people are receiving suspicious calls and text messages offering the COVID-19 vaccination.
Coronavirus vaccines are only available on the NHS. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, or a GP surgery local to you, to receive your vaccine. Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.

The NHS will never ask you for your
Bank account or card details.
Your PIN or banking password.
The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.
The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips.

nhs.uk/covid-vaccine-advice

If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, and particularly if you are worried that someone has or might come to your house, report it to the Police online or by calling 101

Practice update 07/12/20

We appreciate these are unprecedented and challenging times for all of us. The pandemic has affected so many aspects of our lives which can be worrying and upsetting.

We want to assure you that we continue working and aim to provide as many routine services as is possible. If you need us, please do get in contact, we are here for you.

• All contact should continue to be by telephone or online through e Consult.
• GP consultations are all by telephone initially. Following a telephone consult, if there is a clinical need, GP’s will arrange a face to face appointment with you.
• All nursing appointments are by appointment only.
• Our COVID hot site continues to run from the Bellingham surgery site.
• For the foreseeable future we shall continue to ask patients to collect prescriptions from our dispensary at Wark, if this causes difficulty please speak to a dispenser as we may be able to arrange an alternative such as shop drop off or home delivery. We shall text you when your prescription is ready to collect, please wear a face covering and follow the entry instructions on the door.
• Please do not attend a surgery unless asked to do so by a doctor or a nurse or to collect a pre ordered prescription from Wark.
• We are soon to get a porta cabin which shall provide additional clinical space at Humshaugh, which you may be asked to attend.
• Any patient suspected of having COVID-19 and requiring a face to face consultation, will be asked to attend Bellingham where we now have a dedicated area, within Bellingham Practice grounds, but separate to the Practice.  This to protect patients and staff as best we can, keeping suspect COVID patients entirely separate from non COVID patients.

We are aware there are concerns as to why Humshaugh surgery is not open for walk in access.

This is so we can maintain services while ensuring staff work safely. Both of our sites are small and  in order to have all staff able to carry out their role while maintaining social distancing , we have had to set up desks in the waiting room, this is in addition to at least 2 members of staff working remotely from home each day. Without these administrative staff doing their role the practice and the services we offer would cease to function. GPs and nursing staff are here and able to bring patients in to Humshaugh surgery and can also dispense some immediate medications such as antibiotics and analgesia after the consultation.

Like you, we have to react and adapt to both Coronavirus and the consequences of this, this does mean that at times we may have to review or reduce our services, sometimes with little warning, for example in the event of our staff becoming unwell or having to self-isolate due to COVID. We shall aim to update you via the practice website and telephone message of any unforeseen changes, but your patience is appreciated.

Update 16/07/20

Change in rules regarding face coverings

The Government have announced that from July 24th 2020 everyone is required to wear a face covering when entering a shop or business.

This is in addition to wearing one on Public Transport which has been mandatory for some time now.

If you feel you are unable to wear a mask for auditory/sensory/breathing reasons, please click here  to download an exemption card  to show if asked why you are not wearing one.

Please note, it is NOT the responsibility or the role of the Surgery to issue anyone with an exemption letter or certificate. Please follow the link above for more information.

Update 16/06/2020

Face covering

It is a requirement for patients to wear a face covering when entering the surgery. If you come to collect a prescription or have an appointment we would be grateful if you could come with your face covering on – covering your nose, mouth and chin. This can be in the form of a mask, scarf or handkerchief of any sort of fabric.

Dr Mark Dornan, Chair of Newcastle Gateshead CCG has recorded a helpful video as a North East GP, outlining how to get healthcare during the coronavirus outbreak

GP appointments

To reduce your chances of catching COVID-19 and reduce pressure on GP services during this busy time, appointments are being carried out over the phone. If there is a clinical need for you to come into the practice you will be offered a GP appointment at either Humshaugh or Wark. This will help minimise risk while continuing to ensure people get the care and advice they need.

We are very grateful for everyone’s support in the fight against Coronavirus. However we do encourage you to make contact with us if you have immediate or persistent health conditions. Please do not delay seeking medical attention under the assumption we are too busy or due to your concerns regarding exposure to COVID-19. The reasoning behind setting up the COVID site at Humshaugh is so that we can maintain Wark as a ‘Cold site’, where if required, after telephone triage with a GP, you can be seen face to face.

Collecting your medication

Due to current pressures caused by Coronavirus our dispensary is working under significant pressure and we are experiencing delays to our wholesaler orders.

As such all repeat requests are taking 3-4 days to process. If you require home delivery this shall be a week after ordering. If you are in an at risk group avoid collecting your prescription yourself. Ask a relative or a neighbour to collect for you and try to avoid multiple trips. We ask that if you do come in to collect your medication, please respect our staff and observe the social distancing measures put in place.

Please note we are not accepting early repeat requests, orders for more than 28 days supply or requests for just in case medication. These actions may put a strain on the supply chain and exacerbate any potential shortages. We are adhering guidelines given to all practices by government.

If you have online access, please order your prescription through this system.

WARK IS OPEN FOR PRESCRIPTION COLLECTIONS  8AM-6PM Monday, Wednesday and Friday And 8AM-5.30PM Tuesday and Thursday.

If you are not able to get to Wark, please contact us.

Returning to School

As many children across the UK are set to go back to school, A number of resources have been put together online, which focus on supporting the well-being and understanding of staff, children and young people as they return to school and a ‘new normal’.

Referral for further care 

click here : referral info for patients   to read a message from Dr Graham Syers, Clinical Chair Northumberland Clinical Commissioning Group explaining what you can expect if you require a referral to hospital in the coming weeks

or view the video below

Steroid injections

These are not currently being carried out.  If you have concerns please arrange a routine telephone consultation with Dr Wright.

Antenatal and INR clinics

You will be called prior to your appointment to confirm where your appointment will take place.

Health Visitor Drop-in Clinic

This has been cancelled until further notice.  Please contact your Health Visitor Team by phone if needed on 01434 220651

We appreciate your  patience during this difficult time.

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 however mild, you must self-isolate for at least 10 days from when your symptoms started.

You should arrange to have a test to see if you have COVID-19 – go to testing to arrange. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.  Household members  should  self isolate and stay at home for 14 days from the 1st day your symptoms started.

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

Call the Practice to speak to a GP or use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
• your condition gets worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Only call 111 if you cannot get help using the online coronavirus service 

Stay At Home advice can be found here

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
• Stop all non-essential contact with others and stop all unnecessary travel
• Start working from home where you possibly can

More information can be found on the NHS website here

Access to patient records – To help the NHS to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, NHSX and NHS Digital are improving access to medical records and patient information. This will help them to more safely treat and advise patients who are not attending their usual GP practice, who have called NHS 111, or who are receiving care in another setting.

IBUPROFEN
There are reports in the French press that ibuprofen may increase risks with coronavirus. PHE says there is no published evidence that ibuprofen increases the risk of catching COVID-19 or of getting worse complications. However, if you have a temperature/fever you should treat this with Paracetamol as a fist line treatment. If you take Ibuprofen for a long term condition you should continue to do so.

ACEi or ARBs
There has been some speculation that ACE inhibitors/ARBs may further increase the risk of serious illness/death from COVID-19
The Council on Hypertension strongly recommend that physicians and patients should continue treatment with their usual anti-hypertensive therapy because there is no clinical or scientific evidence to suggest that treatment with ACEi or ARBs should be discontinued because of the COVID-19 infection.

NHS.UK INFORMATION LINKS

General NHS advice

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

For expert information and advice on how COVID-19 impacts specific palliative or  long-term conditions and how to manage your condition during the pandemic.

Cancer

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cancer/

HIV and AIDS

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hiv-and-aids/

Alzheimer’s disease

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease/

Sickle cell disease

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sickle-cell-disease/

Chronic kidney disease

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/kidney-disease/

Cystic fibrosis

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/cystic-fibrosis/

Motor neurone disease

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/motor-neurone-disease/

Depression

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/clinical-depression/

End of life care

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/

End of life care – Changes in the last hours and days

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/changes-in-the-last-hours-and-days/

Other Patient information links

Pituitary/ adrenal insufficiency (including steroid sick day rules)

https://www.endocrinology.org/news/item/14050/Coronavirus-advice-statement-for-patients-with-adrenal%2fpituitary-insufficiency

Underlying lung disease (British Lung Foundation)

https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus

People with Asthma

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

People with Diabetes

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

People affected by Stroke

https://www.stroke.org.uk/news/coronavirus-information-people-affected-stroke

Pregnant women

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/

Children/young people T1 diabetes

https://jdrf.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-people-living-with-type-1-diabetes/

People with Heart/circulatory disease

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health

Older people

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/coronavirus/#

Young people with anxiety

https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/

Adults with anxiety

https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

People with Rheumatoid Arthritis

https://www.nras.org.uk/news/coronavirus-what-we-know-so-far

People with cancer

https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/media/statements/advice-coronavirus-people-cancer

People with inflammatory bowel disease

https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/updated-wuhan-novel-coronavirus-advice

People with Parkinson’s disease

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/understanding-coronavirus-and-parkinsons

People with Multiple Sclerosis

https://www.mssociety.org.uk/about-ms/treatments-and-therapies/disease-modifying-therapies/covid-19-coronavirus-and-ms

People with liver disease and liver transplant

https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-health-advice-for-people-with-liver-disease-and-liver-transplant-patients/

People with kidney disease including dialysis

https://www.kidneycareuk.org/news-and-campaigns/coronavirus-advice/

People with epilepsy

https://www.epilepsysociety.org.uk/news/epilepsy-and-coronavirus-09-03-2020#.XnD_g8CnyEc

Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Information 2020

Patients eligible for the seasonal influenza vaccination:

This year the seasonal influenza vaccination is being offered by the practice to:

• All patients aged 50 and over
• Patients under the age of 50 who have an underlying medical condition
• Children aged 2 and 3 and children who are clinically at risk.
• Health and social care workers employed through Direct Payment (personal budgets) and/or Personal Health Budgets, such as Personal Assistants, to deliver domiciliary care to patients and service users.
• Household contacts of those on the NHS Shielded Patient List. Specifically individuals who expect to share living accommodation with a shielded person on most days over the winter and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable.

Anyone in the above groups who has not yet been vaccinated,  please call to arrange an appointment.

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO HAVE A FLU VACCINE OR HAVE HAD ONE ELSEWHERE – please let us know so we can update your records

COVID AWARENESS/instructions for your flu vaccine appointment

If anyone in your household has had a new continuous cough, temperature or loss of taste/smell or contact from NHS track & trace in the two weeks before your appointment please let us know and we will  re-schedule your appointment.

Please wear a face covering when you arrive at the Surgery and if you have not already given your car details to our reception team, ring reception to say you have arrived. The nurse will come out to collect you.

Local Pharmacy Opening  – Bank Holiday Monday 31st August

Due to current pressures caused by Coronavirus our dispensary is working under significant pressure and we are experiencing delays to our wholesaler orders.

As such all repeat requests are taking 3-4 days to process. If you require home delivery this shall be a week after ordering. If you are in an at risk group avoid collecting your prescription yourself. Ask a relative or a neighbour to collect for you and try to avoid multiple trips. We ask that if you do come in to collect your medication, please respect our staff and observe the social distancing measures put in place.

Please note we are not accepting early repeat requests, orders for more than 28 days supply or requests for just in case medication. These actions may put a strain on the supply chain and exacerbate any potential shortages. We are adhering guidelines given to all practices by government.

If you have online access, please order your prescription through this system. Thank you! 

***PLEASE REFER TO THE CORONAVIRUS PAGE  ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE FOR UP TO DATE INFORMATION ABOUT PRACTICE OPENING AND MEDICATION PICK UP TIMES**

Dispensing Practice

We are a dispensing Practice. If you live more than a mile from a chemist we can dispense medication to you. You can then collect your medication from either Wark or Humshaugh Surgery.

Medication drop off points

We deliver medication to various drop off points in Barrasford, Barrasford Park, Acomb and Fourstones each week on a Tuesday.

Home Delivery Of Medication.

If you are unable to collect your medication from the Surgery or from our drop off points at Barrasford, Acomb and Fourstones we can now offer a home delivery service.

If you would like your medication delivered to either one of our drop off points or your home, Please contact the Surgery to register for this service.

Our delivery service takes place on a Tuesday and Friday. If you request home delivery, please ensure that there is someone available to receive your medication. For safety reasons we can not leave medication unattended and it will be returned to the Surgery for collection.

If you take long term medication you can request repeat prescriptions in the following ways

(Please quote your NHS number where ever possible when you contact us).

Repeat Prescriptions On-line

www.patientaccess.com

These requests come directly into our clinical system making it a safe and speedy process.  Please ask at reception for a registration form if you do not already use Patient Access for on-line appointments. (please note this system replaces our current system of E-mailing requests).

Patients registered for Patient Access are now able to view specific parts of their medical record – medication, allergies and adverse reactions. If you wish to have access to this information, please bring 2 forms of identification along to the Surgery and ask our reception team for a patient access form. This can take up to six weeks to process.

Patients are reminded that login details and passwords should be kept safe and secure and not shared with anyone.

Guide to using patient access

IOS devices (Apple) 

Android Devices

Windows devices

By telephone 01434 230986

If you wish to order medication, discuss a medication request or have a dispensing query you can call our dedicated medication request line.  The line is answered Monday to Friday 08.30am till 12.30pm. At all other times there is an answer phone available. Please speak clearly, leave your name and also, preferably your unique identification number found at the top right hand corner of your printed prescription.

Please ensure you dial correctly and hear our message before leaving your request. It is important that you state your patient identification number and remember to itemise each drug required individually. This will ensure that you receive only the drugs you require and prevent any waste.

In person
Use the printed medication sheet that you get in your prescription bag and tick the items you wish to collect.  Then, leave this list in the post box provided in the waiting room at either Surgery.

Repeat Medication Requests

Please can we ask that all requests for repeat medication are made at least TWO-THREE working days before you need to start taking them.
This will enable us to have all your medication ready for collection and may save you having to come back if you arrive for collection too early. Ideally, you could request repeat medication when you start your last weeks supply. Messages left after 3.00pm on our prescription request line are accessed by our Dispensers the next working day and will be ready for collection two working days after they have been accessed.

Prescriptions can be picked up until 7.30pm on a Monday at Wark or Thursday at Humshaugh.  If you wish to take advantage of this later pick up time, please tell us when you order your medication which Surgery you would like to pick up from at the later time.

If you have an exemption certificate or pre-payment card, you will need to produce this each time you pick up medication from the Surgery and you will be asked to complete the back of the prescription form.

If you collect your prescription from a Chemist, you should make your request at least a week in advance to allow for postage and dispensing time.

Urgent medication requests

In the case of emergency requests you will normally be given two days supply of the medication you require but each situation will be dealt with on an individual basis and must be authorsied by a GP.

Past Medication

Requests for medication that you may have received in the recent past but which is NOT on your repeat medication print out list will need to be authorised by a doctor and will inevitably take LONGER than 48 hours to organise. Please allow us enough time to meet your request.

Practice Policy on prescriptions for patients from outside providers.

As dispensing doctors we are allowed to dispense medicines our GPs prescribe for our patients. From time to time patients will be prescribed a medicine by someone other than their GP. If you are seen at an outpatient appointment and the doctor you see wants you to commence a medication immediately they will provide you with a prescription (for a minimum of 7 days) and will advise you to take this either to the hospital pharmacy or to a community pharmacy to be dispensed for you. It is important you take this to the correct pharmacy as bringing it back into surgery is likely to delay you starting this medication. (We would require up to 48 hours to, request this from the GP, order the medication, dispense and check it). Hospital and community pharmacies often keep more wide-ranging stock and so could fill this prescription promptly for you.

Should the clinician you see recommend a new medication goes onto repeat, they will inform the surgery of this either by letter or using an ‘outpatient treatment recommendation’ form after which we will be able to organise this for you. If you have had a new medication started in outpatients you should be advised to wait at least 7 days before contacting the surgery top enquire after the new medication.

We cannot dispense private prescriptions from other providers or dental prescriptions for you; you should always take these to a community pharmacy.

Prescription Charges

From April 1st 2020

Prescription charges will rise to £9.15 per item

Prescription Pre-payment Certificates
3 month pre-payment certificate will cost   £29.10
12 month pre-payment certificate will cost  £104.00

(if buying a 12 month certificate you can spread the cost over 10 months by Direct Debit payments)

You can collect an application form from the Surgery or apply on line

Private Prescription Charges

For prescriptions not available on the NHS, charges will apply.  Please ask at reception for current  private prescription charges

Out of Hours Pharmacy

If you are issued with an out of hours prescription or need an emergency supply of medication the following pharmacies have extended opening hours.(providing limited cover out of hours)

Tesco Hexham:
Monday to Friday:                  6.30am  to  10.30pm.
Saturday:                                7.00am   to  10.00pm
Sunday:                                 10.00am  to  4.00pm

Wellway Morpeth: 

Monday to Saturday:             7.00am to 10.00pm
Sunday:                                  8.00am to 6.00pm

Sainsbury’s Cramlington:  

Monday to Saturday:             7.00am to 11.00pm
Sunday:                                  9.00am to 4.00pm

*Please note that  if you require an emergency supply of medication you may be  charged even if you do not normally pay for your prescriptions.