Category Archives: Ticker Tape

Patient Access Survey

This survey is about finding out how easy or hard it is to talk to or visit your doctor. The survey should take around 4 minutes to fill in and is for patients 14 years old and over.

We want to know what it’s like for you to make appointments, talk to the staff (like receptionists, doctors, or nurses), and hear what changes could make things better or easier for you.


The questions will ask things like:

  • Is it easy to call or use an app on your phone?
  • Can you get an appointment when you need one?
  • Do you like seeing the same doctor each time, or does it not matter if you see different people?

Your answers will stay private, and they will help us figure out what needs to be improved. It’s really important to know how patients feel, so we can make changes that help everyone.


You can do the survey online, or you can get a paper copy from reception in the practice. There will also be face-to-face and online meetings where you can share more experiences and ideas if you want to. The dates and times for those meetings will be posted on the website.

https://northwestlondonnhs.uk.engagementhq.com/embeds/projects/35957/survey-tools/39893 

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MEASLES

We are currently experiencing a rise in measles in the borough. Measles is an infection that spreads very easily and can cause serious problems in some people. Please call your GP surgery before you walk in or call NHS 111 for advice if you suspect, you or your child may have measles. If you need to visit A&E in an emergency, it is important that you inform the team as soon as you arrive to reduce transmitting the virus to other at-risk patients in the waiting area. For more advice including signs and symptoms, please visit the NHS webpage https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/measles/ .

PATCHS Online Consultation Tool

 We’re pleased to announce that we will be launching a new online consultation tool called PATCHS at our GP practice on Friday 8th July.

We’re pleased to announce that we will be launching a new online consultation tool called PATCHS at our GP practice on 8th July. We have selected PATCHS to take the place of our current online consultation service to improve the experience for our patients.

The new online consultation service offers a secure, simple and flexible way for patients and carers to contact their GP practice – it will not replace face to face appointments, it is in addition to routine contact with Practices. This should not be used for emergencies when you should contact 999 or visit A&E.

By registering you will have easy access to a range of services from your computer or smartphone, including:

– reporting symptoms to your GP

– booking virtual appointments

– accessing health advice

To request repeat prescriptions, you should continue to follow the current process we have in place.

You can register via clicking here or on our website homepage. All you will need to do is provide an email address and set up a password.

For more information on PATCHS you can visit their website.

SURVEY

Your local NHS is seeking your views about the best times and locations for GP (doctor) and nurse appointments in the evenings and weekends.

Nationally the NHS has asked local practices to review the times to provide appointments at evenings and weekends. We want to capture information to support decision-making and make sure we are providing times, and locations that meet the needs of local people.

Our short survey will take no more than two minutes and your answers will help us to provide the best possible times and locations for our evening and weekend GP services.

Please complete our survey https://forms.office.com/r/Z5g9sxW1wf

(GP and nurse appointments are already available in the evening and at the weekend and can be booked by calling your GP practice or 111).

Q&A

Why are you asking people about this?

Nationally the NHS has asked groups of GP Practices (Primary Care Networks) to develop a plan for providing appointments at evenings and weekends. To inform these plans we want to make sure we are also providing times, and locations that meet the needs of local people.

What changes are you planning to make?

At this stage we really don’t know – we currently provide weekend and evening appointments from 6:30pm to 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 8pm on the weekends in each borough. Provided by local GPs. We want to know if these times are still right for patients?

What are the proposed national changes?

Local GPs currently offer appointments seven days of the week; the new guidance does mean that appointments don’t have to be provided on a Sunday. We are not proposing we don’t offer a service on a Sunday, but we do want to understand what local people need.

I just want to be able to see a doctor, face-to-face not on the phone?

All GP practices provide telephone and face-to-face appointments. This means we can see as many patients as possible each day. If you need to be seen face-to-face you will be invited into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment.

When will the changes happen?

Nationally the new changes to the way GP networks provide evening and weekend services will come into place in October.

Will my feedback really make a difference?

Yes, we want to ensure we are providing service times that work for local people.

 

COVID BOOSTER UPDATE

PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE PRACTICE REGARDING COVID BOOSTERS

 

Covid 19 Boosters

The government has announced the roll out of Covid vaccine boosters for the over 50’s, health and social care workers and younger people at risk.  These people will be offered a booster vaccine a minimum of 6 months after completion of their second dose.

Flu and Covid 19

It is safe for you to receive a flu vaccine at the same time as your Covid booster but we have been told that you should not wait to receive both.  If you are offered either please accept the offer.

Invitation Process

Patients will be invited by a central Covid vaccination team and not via your GP practice.  This will either be via a text with a link you should follow or via a telephone call.  Please do not call your GP practice.

Housebound patients

The Covid vaccination team are working on a process and workforce for vaccinating our housebound patients.

 Vaccinations for Children

The majority of healthy children and young people aged 12-15 will be vaccinated in schools.

Please visit this website for further details: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-booster-dose-resources/covid-19-vaccination-a-guide-to-booster-vaccination

Covid vaccination – benefits outweigh risks

COVID-19 vaccination 

 

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), European Medicines Ageny (EMA) and the World Health Organization have all reiterated that the benefits of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine in the prevention of COVID-19 far outweigh any possible risk of blood clots amongst those groups currently eligible to receive their first vaccination, as well as all of those due their 2nd dose.

Offering further reassurance, the EMA said that these extremely isolated cases “should be listed as very rare side effects”. 

In those aged 18-29, an alternative vaccine will be offered when the time is right for vaccinating this group, and GPs will ensure the appropriate vaccine is offered, and any questions are answered.  The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has stated that this change in course has been made – not because there is a high risk to the under 30s from this vaccine, but due to them having taken an approach of the utmost caution – which should provide great reassurance, and is quite normal in the rollout of a global vaccination program.

More information can be found here:

COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

 COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting

The UK vaccination programme has been very successful with more than 30 million people vaccinated and more than 6,000 lives already saved.

What is the concern?

Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear.

Although this condition remains extremely rare there appears to be a higher risk in people who have had the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Around 4 people develop this condition for every million doses of AZ vaccine doses given.

This is seen slightly more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 2 weeks following vaccination.

Benefits and risks of the vaccination

Age Risk from COVID-19 Benefit of vaccination Risk of vaccination
Over 50 years of age or having underlying medical conditions Low – catching infection, passing on infection 1 dose – more than 80% reduction: deaths, hospitalisation, intensive care Uncommon – sore arm, feeling tired, headache, general aches, flu like symptoms
Moderate – Long COVID 2 doses – more than 95% reduction: deaths Extremely rare – clotting problems
Very high – hospitalisation, intensive care admission, death
30 to 49 years of age Low – hospitalisation, intensive care admission, death 1 dose – between 60% and 70% reduction: catching infection, passing on infection Common – sore arm, feeling tired, headache, general aches, flu like symptoms
Moderate – Long COVID 2 doses – more than 85% reduction: catching and passing on infection Extremely rare – clotting problems
High – catching mild infection, passing on infection
18 to 29 years of age Very low – hospitalisation, intensive care admission, death 1 dose – between 60% and 70% reduction: catching infection, passing on infection Very common – sore arm, feeling tired, headache, general aches, flu like symptoms
Moderate – Long COVID 2 doses – more than 85% reduction: catching and passing on infection Extremely rare – clotting problems
Very high – catching mild infection, passing on infection

This condition can also occur naturally, and clotting problems are a common complication of COVID-19 infection. An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines but is being carefully monitored.

What to look out for after vaccination

Although serious side effects are very rare, if you experience any of the following from around 4 days to 4 weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently:

  • a new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting worse
  • a headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over
  • an unusual headache that may be accompanied by:
    • blurred vision, nausea and vomiting
    • difficulty with your speech
    • weakness, drowsiness or seizures
  • new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding
  • shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain

What you should do next

Over 50 years of age or with underlying medical conditions

All older adults (including health and social care workers over 50 years of age), care home residents, health and social care workers (includes unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed) and adults with certain medical conditions were prioritised in the first phase of the programme because they were at high risk of the complications of COVID-19.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that you should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.

If your first dose was with AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should have the second dose on time as you may still be at high risk of the complications of COVID-19. Having the second dose will give you higher and longer lasting protection.

If you are a healthy person over 30 to 50 years of age

The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines.

The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.

If you are a healthy younger person aged 18 to 39

The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.

Currently JCVI has advised that it is preferable for people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AZ. If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait to be protected. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you.

About the second dose

If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should complete the course. This includes people aged 18 to 29 years who are health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed. It is expected that the first dose of the vaccine will have given you some protection, particularly against severe disease.

Further information can be found at NHS.UK.

 

 

COVID-19 contingency sharing

Primary care staff across each borough will be able to access your full medical record without consent during the COVID-19 pandemic but will only do so when this is necessary to provide you with care. They will be required to use a smartcard which confirms their identity, and which limits their access and actions to those appropriate for their role. They will all have been trained to understand their professional and legal responsibilities in providing you with care.

Hayfever

Hay fever is caused by an allergy to pollen. The symptoms of hay fever are caused when a person has an allergic reaction to pollen. Common hay fever symptoms are:

  • a runny, itchy and/or blocked nose
  • sneezing
  • itchy eyes

Pollen is a fine powder released by plants as part of their reproductive cycle. Pollen contains proteins that can cause the nose, eyes, throat and sinuses to become swollen, irritated and inflamed.

How to treat hay fever

Many hay fever symptoms can be controlled with over-the-counter medication at your local pharmacy.

  • Steroid nasal sprays help to prevent or reduce inflammation in the lining of the nose and some can help to relieve watery eyes. Available from your local pharmacy.
  • Antihistamines help to relieve a runny nose, sneezing, itching and watery eyes. Some types of antihistamines make you drowsy and are best taken before bed. Newer antihistamines are less likely to make you drowsy and are a common choice for children and people with milder or occasional symptoms of hay fever. Available from your local pharmacy.
  • Decongestant nasal sprays and tablets are used to unblock the nose. They should never be taken for more than a few days at a time. Available from your local pharmacy.
  • Eye drops can be used to treat itchy or watery eyes. Available from your local pharmacy.

If none of the above treatments are effective for you, please book an appointment to discuss other treatments.

Useful Links

NHS – Hay fever
NHS – Find your local Pharmacy
Met Office – Pollen forecast