Flu Clinics 2022 – Important Information

Covid 19 Autum/Winter Programme and Flu Vaccinations

The Autumn/Winter Vaccination Programme starts in September and is set to include Covid boosters and flu jabs.  

We are working with our GP federation, Alliance for Better Care, to deliver our Covid vaccinations and will be running regular clinics at the Clair Hall vaccination site. As per current government guidelines, the Covid booster programme covers patients aged 50+, as well as health and care workers and those who are deemed clinically vulnerable. However, if you wish to check your eligibility, we ask that you do so via the NHS website. Should you have any questions relating specifically to the programme, please call 119.   

Appointments can be booked via the NHS website or you can check the Alliance for Better Care Walk-In Clinic page.   

While this next phase of the Covid vaccination programme focuses on the delivery of booster doses to eligible patients, we continue to welcome patients aged five and upwards for first and second doses of the Covid vaccine. Simply book via the NHS website or attend one of the appropriate Alliance for Better Care Walk-In Clinics.   

For more information, visit https://allianceforbettercare.org/vaccination-programme-patients/  

For our Flu Vaccinations we will be hosting these at the Practice on Saturdays during October.

We will be contacting all patients who are eligible for a flu vaccination directly and inviting them to receive their annual dose at our practice. Please await further information on this.  

Patients are eligible for the Flu Vaccine if you are in any of the following catergories:

• anyone aged 65 and over
• pregnant women
• children and adults with an underlying health condition (such as long-term heart or respiratory disease)
• children and adults with weakened immune systems 
• Anyone aged 50-64 

Flu vaccine for people with medical conditions

The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to anyone with a serious long-term health condition, including:  

• chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma (which requires an inhaled or tablet steroid treatment, or has led to hospital admission in the past), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis 
• chronic heart disease, such as heart failure 
• chronic kidney disease 
• chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis 
• chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease or multiple sclerosis (MS) 
• diabetes
• problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed 
• a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
• being seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above)

This list of conditions isn't definitive. It's always an issue of clinical judgement.

Your GP can assess you to take into account the risk of flu making any underlying illness you may have worse, as well as your risk of serious illness from flu itself. The vaccine should always be offered in such cases, even if you are not technically in one of the risk groups above. If you live with someone who has a weakened immune system, you may also be advised to have a flu vaccine. Speak to your GP about this.

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Clinics & Services

General Medical Services

The practice provides services to all patients who are ill, from conditions from which recovery is generally expected; the terminally ill and those suffering from chronic disease. This includes offering consultations, physical examinations (where appropriate), health promotion, liaison with other healthcare professionals and, if appropriate, referral to other NHS services for treatment or further investigation.

Additional Medical Services

The practice also offers additional services to help maintain patient health, such as:

Cervical Screening 

Available for all registered females aged 25 to 64 (inclusive). 

Child Immunisations and Vaccinations

Notification of when the immunisations are due will be sent to you. However, if you have recently moved or feel your child is overdue for immunisation, please contact the surgery. The practice believes it is very important to ensure that all children are immunised against all potentially serious illnesses.

The surgery help in many ways to ensure your child has its correct immunisations; every baby has a record, which is completed when the child has each of its injections. A number of checks are made prior to immunisation to ensure the child is fit enough to be immunised on that day.

For more information and a schedule of the immunisation programme visit www.immunisation.nhs.uk/

Family Planning 

Advice, treatment and prescriptions including the enhanced service of coil insertions. You do not need to be registered to access this facility.

Minor Surgery 

The doctors undertake additional minor surgery procedures e.g. treatment of warts and verrucas and enhanced minor surgery procedures such as joint injections, microsuctions, implants and excisions.

Patient Referrals

From May 2018 the way NHS referrals work have changed slightly. All GP referrals will now go to a central Referral Support Service.

If you have a query about your referral please call 01293 300270 (Between 9am - 4pm Monday to Friday) Please see the below for more information 

RSS Leaflet for Patients

Please be aware that there will be a small cross-over period with Patient referrals from the old system to this new RSS system so if you call the number above and they haven't received your referral please then call the practice to speak to a Medical Secretary on 01444 458022.  

Sleep Clinic Questionnaire

If your GP has referred you to the Sleep Clinic we require you to complete the questionnaire below to attach to your referral so that we can send it off. It is very important that we receive your questionnaire so that it does not hold up your referral. 

SLEEP CLINIC QUESTIONNAIRE

Once you have completed the questionnaire please drop it into Reception for the attention of the Medical Secretaries.

Can I go back to work before the end date on my fit note?

Yes.You do not always have to be 100% "fit" to be able to do some work – in fact, work can help your recovery from health problems or support your overall wellbeing if you have a long-term health condition. You should go back to work as soon as you feel able to and, with your employer's agreement. This may be before your fit note runs out.  For example, you may want to go back to work sooner if:

• you've recovered from your illness or injury more quickly than expected

• your employer can offer you support to help you return to work

Visit this website for more information: https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/caring-carers-and-long-term-conditions/can-i-go-back-to-work-before-the-end-date-on-my-fit-note/

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Form

This is our standard form, please use this to record your home blood pressure readings.

Home BP Monitoring Form

Physiotherapy Self-referral Form

Our Patients can now self-refer into a physiotherapy department at Queen Victoria Hospital, Princess Royal Hospital – Haywards Heath, Crawley Hospital or Horsham Hospital without seeing your GP first. You can self-refer yourself to physiotherapy through an online form or by picking up a paper referral form from the GP practice or physiotherapy department (Princess Royal Hospital is the closest to the Practice).

Visit the website for more information: http://sussexmskpartnershipcentral.co.uk/for-patients/self-referral/

To print off a physical referral form instead please CLICK HERE

Travel Vaccinations

For multi-destination travelers, or if a course of vaccinations is required, you may need to attend several times. Please ensure you allow a minimum of 6-8 weeks for vaccinations before you travel. Some travel vaccinations are currently free and others are chargeable as they are a private service. At Northlands Wood Practice we are able to give you Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio vaccinations free of charge. Oral Cholera vaccine is available via NHS prescription (current prescription charge will apply).

Advice on vaccinations and malaria protection for travelers changes frequently - we recommend you look at the specialist travel websites below for current advice and to consider which vaccines you may require/wish to have, dependent on the level of risk.

NaTHNaC - www.travelhealthpro.org.uk  or FIT FOR TRAVEL - www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk 

For our Full Vaccination Leaflet on how to find out what vaccinations you will require CLICK HERE

Once you have researched the vaccinations you require, if you would like Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio or oral Cholera vaccinations please complete and return the QUESTIONNAIRE (questionnaires are also available at Reception). You must have completed and returned the travel questionnaire before it is possible to book an appointment.  If you are unsure about historic vaccinations, please ask reception to print a summary for you. We will contact you, to then book the appointment once a Practice Nurse has reviewed your information. 

Please also read our useful Travel Advice Leaflet 

Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

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Non-NHS Services

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability.

For a list of our Private fees which was updated in May 2018 CLICK HERE
 

Smoking Cessation

It is never too late to stop smoking, if you are serious about stopping then a Smoking Cessation Adviser can provide help, support and information.

• Smoking kills over 100,000 people per year in the United Kingdom.
• Smokers are more likely to get ill and die earlier than non-smokers.

Accessing Smoking Cessation Support

We do not provide Smoking Cessation at Northlands Wood Practice however you can be seen at Dolphins Practice who are able to see our patients as temporary patients.

To access the Dolphins Practice Smoking Cessation service:

• Collect a temporary form at Reception or print one at home by clicking HERE.

• Call Dolphins Practice for an appointment on 01444 414767 and explain you are a Northlands Wood patient calling to be seen for Smoking Cessation.

• Fill in the temporary Patient form prior to your appointment and give to a Dolphins receptionist upon arrival. 

Details of Dolphins Practice can be found on their website: www.dolphinspractice.co.uk

(Parking can be difficult at Dolphins Practice so give yourself plenty of time before your appointment)

The Smoking Cessation Adviser has a number of tips to help you stop:

• Plan your attempt to quit smoking
• Pick a date and keep to it
• Support from family and friends is vital
• Reward yourself with treats from the money you save
• Always take one day at a time
• Be positive

We will be able to advise you about Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT). NRT increases your chances of quitting successfully. The products are available on prescription.