What to do when we are closed over the August bank holiday

What to do when we are closed over the August bank holiday

As the bank holiday approaches it is worth thinking about what you would do if you or a member of your family became unwell over the holiday period.  We recommend that you:-

• stock up on over the counter medicines.  Your pharmacist can also give you advice on treatments and products available.
• check you have enough prescription medicine to see you through the holidays and if you are going away pack enough for at least the duration of your holiday. 

If you need medical assistance when we are closed you can:

• phone the  NHS 111 service for medical advice by dialling 111.
• pop in to your local pharmacy for advice and over the counter medication.
• If your problem is urgent phone the NHS 111 service by dialling 111. To avoid putting undue pressure on this service, please only phone  if your problem cannot wait until we reopen.
• phone 999 immediately in the event of a life threatening, medical emergency.

Please avoid using emergency/urgent services and hospital A&E departments for routine problems or for problems that can wait until we reopen.


We are closed on  Monday 31 August 2015 . Otherwise we are open as usual.

Meningitis B vaccination for babies

From 1st September 2015, we will be offering Meningitis B as part of the routine vaccination programme for babies at 2 months, 4 months and 12 months.  This will be for babies born on or after 1st July 2015.

A catch up programme will also commence for babies born between 1st May 2015 and 30th June 2015, alongside their routine immunisations.

Update on the new teenage Meniingitis vaccine (ACWY) clinic dates

Clinics have now been set up for the following dates -

Wednesday 2nd September 2015
Wednesday 9th September 2015
Thursday 10th September 2015

Further clinics will be set up as vaccine supplies become available.

We will be offering Meningitis ACWY to all FIRST TIME (freshers) university entrants under the age of 25 and to all year 13 students from the 2014 - 2015 academic year.

If you are eligible and would like this vaccination, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment.

Staff training Wednesday 26 August 1.00pm - 2.00pm

The surgery will be closed between 1pm and 2pm on Wednesday 26th August 2015 for staff training.  We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you need medical assistance when we are closed you can:

• phone the  NHS 111 service for medical advice by dialling 111.
• pop in to your local pharmacy for advice and over the counter medication.
• If your problem is urgent phone the NHS 111 service by dialling 111. To avoid putting undue pressure on this service, please only phone  if your problem cannot wait until we reopen.
• phone 999 immediately in the event of a life threatening, medical emergency.

New Teenage Meniingitis vaccine (ACWY) update

* PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON THIS BLOG FOR UPDATES REGARDING CLINIC DATES*

A single dose of Meningitis ACWY will be replacing Meningitis C in 13 - 25 year olds.

From August 2015 (as supplies become available) we will be offering Meningitis ACWY to all FIRST TIME (freshers) university entrants under the age of 25 and to all year 13 students from the 2014 - 2015 academic year.

Please note :- If you are under 25 and have received the Meningitis ACWY vaccine in the past 10 years, there is no need to re-vaccinate.

From September 2015 the 13 - 15 year olds (generally year 10 locally), will receive Meningitis ACWY at school as part of the routine vaccination programme.

Those students starting years 11, 12 and 13 in the 2015 - 2016 academic year will be called as part of the catch -up campaign.


*PLEASE KEEP AN EYE ON THIS BLOG FOR UPDATES REGARDING CLINIC DATES*

Scam?

Cold Calling Incident – have you been contacted?

This week NHS England SW has received two reports from two GP surgeries in the North and East of Cornwall regarding a company who had cold-called one of their patients, seemingly with the patient’s medical history. (In the first incident the company allegedly claimed they had obtained this information from the patient’s GP Surgery).

The company are trying to sell electronic beds and chairs and pressurise the customer into agreeing to a sales appointment.

This incident is similar to one reported in the Exeter area in March, but at that time it targeted patients with arthritis.

If you experience such an incident, please do the following:

·         Write down as much information about the call as you can.

·         inform us immediately and tell us what happened via our email address coleridgemedicalcentre@nhs.net (attention Practice Manager)

·         Inform the police

We will inform and share information given to us with NHS England.

Age Concern will be here on Wednesday 12th August 2015 from 0930 until 1200 noon