essage to our patients – update on the COVID-19 booster programme 13 dec 2021
The NHS and its partners are working extremely hard to roll out the COVID-19 booster vaccination programme to our communities.
All adults are eligible from Monday 13 December, and you will be able to book20 via the National Booking System from Wednesday 15 December.
You can book your booster for 3 months from the date of second vaccine, and you can access the National Booking System to book the appointment from 2 months.
We are working at pace to increase the availability of appointments so that there are plenty of options for people on the National Booking System. Some local vaccination services will also contact patients directly.
New appointments are being added every day across our vaccination services. Further availability will come online from Wednesday 15 December.
We will be working with all of our sites to take further steps to increase what they can offer again, including opening later and on more days.
All of these appointments will be added to the National Booking System and so we encourage everyone who is aged 18 and over, is yet to have their booster and who is approaching 3 months from your second vaccine to use the National Booking System to arrange your appointment when you are able to do so.
In terms of any planned appointments with Dr Thorniley-Walker and partners, there are no changes at the current time and everyone should attend [or take the call for] your planned appointments as normal. If we need to make any changes, we will contact you directly.
Important information with effect from Monday 19 July 2021
In line with Infection Prevention Control, we respectfully ask all patients and visitors to wear a face mask or covering whilst visiting the practice and continue to socially distance.
We do understand this is frustrating, but we need to protect sick or vulnerable patients and our staff. Some patients cannot receive the Covid vaccination due to medical reasons and we need to keep them safe.
Our staff will also continue to wear face masks and PPE to ensure patient safety.
Help us improve health and social care information in South Tyneside
Help us improve health and social care information in South Tyneside
South Tyneside Council wants to help people with health and care needs to access information, advice and support.
A survey is open to:
- Residents who live in South Tyneside.
- People outside South Tyneside who would look for information on behalf of someone who lives in South Tyneside (such as someone they care for)
A care or health professional working in or around South Tyneside
The survey is anonymous and all responses will be treated as confidential.
The survey will help identify where people currently receive information, any difficulties in accessing information and what information residents need or want.
To complete the survey online Click Here
Hard copies are available in council buildings, community centres, partner and voluntary groups or contact diane.walker@southtyneside.gov.uk
The Council continues to support families and older or vulnerable people
Proof of vaccination
We are unable to issue this certificate at the practice.
Please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad for further information.
Proof of your vaccination status will be available on the NHSapp, which is also valuable for accessing your health records and ordering repeat prescriptions
The NHSapp can be downloaded from Apple Store for iPhone or Play Store for Android.
Please follow this link to Digital Health Coach for instructions on how to obtain and register on the NHS App.
Alternatively, you can call the NHS helpline on 119 (from 17 May) and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine, the letter may to take up to 5 days to reach you.
It’s never been easier to get your Covid-19 vaccine Latest 30 June 2021
If you haven’t had your Covid-19 vaccine yet, it’s never been easier to get one. From Tuesday 29 June, South Tyneside residents over 18 can get the jab at three drop-in vaccine clinics – no booking, just walk in!
- The Glen Primary Care Centre, Hebburn – Tuesdays 3-6pm
- Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre, South Shields – Thursdays 3-6pm
- Flagg Court Health Centre, South Shields – Saturdays 3-6pm
Other options
- To book an appointment at a local vaccine centre (The Glen, Cleadon Park or Flagg Court), please call the South Tyneside Vaccination Contact Centre on 0191 283 1925 or speak with your GP practice.
- To book an appointment at a large vaccine centre (such as the Nightingale Hospital or Centre for Life) or at selected local pharmacies, visit the NHS website or call 119 between 7am and 11pm.
Got questions about the vaccine?
If you have questions about the vaccine, please call the South Tyneside Vaccination Contact Centre on 0191 283 1925 or speak with your GP.
Further information, and answers to frequently asked questions about the vaccine, are available at www.southtynesideccg.nhs.uk.
Book or manage your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination
Vaccine Latest 24 June 2021
Weekly drop in clinics for your covid vaccine
We will be running weekly drop in clinics at all three hubs on the following days and times starting week beginning 28th June:
The Glen Primary Care Centre, Hebburn, NE31 1NU *Tuesdays 3-6pm*
Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre, South Shields, NE34 8PS *Thursdays 3-6pm*
Flagg court Health Centre, South Shields, NE33 2LS *Saturdays 3-6pm*
The above drop in clinics are for first doses for patients age 16+ with a health condition such as asthma , diabetes etc and all patients age 18+ who have not yet received their first dose.
Vaccine latest – 1 June 2021
If you’re in one of the vaccine priority groups and you have not had yours yet, please contact your GP and they can book you into a local vaccine centre.
Local people aged 30-34 will receive invitations from local vaccine centres over the next two weeks – if they receive an invitation to a large vaccine centre like the Nightingale or Centre for Life in the meantime, it is OK to wait to get a vaccine locally if that is more practical for you.
The telephone number is a local number and included on the text message or letter. For us it will come from Imeary Street as this surgery is co-ordinating the campaign for us.
If anyone is concerned about calling the number due to the number of scams going round, you are still welcome to contact our reception team. Thank you.
IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION
*CORONAVIRUS*
What is the advice to patients and the public?
The latest information on coronavirus and advice to the public can be found on:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do:
Not all practices in South Tyneside have received their allocation of Covid Vaccination, Dr Thorniley-Walker and partners are included in this group.
Once we have the vaccine we will be in touch with patients to invite them to attend in order of priority that has been decided by NHS England.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Anyone with these symptoms must self isolate for 10 days (this includes children), if you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms
If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
Anyone with the above symptoms who is WELL can stay at home and does NOT need to ring 111 or be tested
Anyone with these symptoms who is UNWELL should go to 111 online for advice and guidance
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR OUR PATIENTS
Due to the current situation regarding coronavirus, the surgery door is now shut.
We are open but working in a different way.
We are no longer routinely seeing patients face to face. All patients will have their appointment with a clinician via telephone and if necessary the clinician will arrange for you to be seen.
You can only attend the surgery for a scheduled appointment, otherwise contact must be via telephone. You must wear a face covering when in the surgery.
We are unable to accept any paper from patients. Prescription requests will need to be via patient access or via telephone if you do not have access to the internet.
Anyone that requires a fit note for self-isolation can access this via https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/ .The practice is unable to issue fit notes for social distancing, please discuss this with your employer.
We thank you all for your co-operation during this difficult time.
Dr Thorniley-Walker and partners ask that you do not book any appointments at the practice for cold or flu symptoms.
Do Not come to the surgery if you have these symptoms
Please contact 111 directly via this link https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or call them on 111
Our receptionists are also available for telephone advice if you are unsure.
Look after your Health whilst we are in this Global Pandemic