Patient News

Please be aware that due to intermittent issues with the NHS Clinical System, clinical and non clinical staff are currently unable to access patient medical records & the appointment book.

Patients are advised to submit an Online Consultation requesting an appointment or advice; these will be triaged and dealt with quicker than waiting on the phones to speak to a receptionist.

Submit an Online Consultation here - https://florey.accurx.com/p/M84028

The Surgery will be closed on Good Friday 7th April and Monday 10th April 2023. We will reopen Tuesday 11th April 2023 as normal.

Please call 111 for help and advice and please contact 999 in case of an emergency.

Priory Medical Centre are pleased to announce that their branch surgery located at Brese Avenue on the Woodloes Park estate, will be reopening to patients from 31/10/2022.

From this date, we will be offering appointments with a GP (telephone triage), Healthcare Assistant & Clinical Pharmacist.

To book an appointment, please call the surgery main phone line on 01926 293711.

Have you ever visited us and wondered why we can’t see all of your health and care information? Or queried why you sometimes need to answer the same questions about your medications, allergies or treatment each time you visit your local GP or hospital? 

The simple answer is we all use different computer systems to record your details. However, that’s now changing with the introduction of the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Record (ICR). 

The ICR is bringing together the various electronic records of a person’s care and presenting it in a structured and easy-to-read format for health and care professionals to use. 

ICR: Improving care for you & your family

For more information, visit the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Record website. 

Please view the newsletter here.

In February, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised a spring dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in care homes for older adults
• individuals aged 5 years and over who have a weakened immune system

The NHS will contact those who are eligible to make a spring booster appointment, so people should wait until they hear from the NHS. The NHS will prioritise those whose clinical need is greatest, as it has throughout, starting with those who have had a bigger gap since their last dose, then working through the cohort to invite others who have waited less time. Everyone who is eligible will be offered a top up between three and six months over the Spring and early Summer.

Priory Medical Centre are pleased to announce that we have been approved & accredited by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) as an Armed Forces Veteran Friendly GP Practice. As an accredited Armed Forces Veteran Friendly GP practice, we are able to provide support to Military Veterans and their families in line with the RCGP advice & the Armed Forces Covenant. 

What does this mean?

The NHS has a duty to deliver on a number of health commitments, which are set out in the Armed Forces Covenant as follows:

• The Armed Forces community should enjoy the same standard of, and access to healthcare as that received by any other UK citizen in the area they live.
• Family members should retain their place on any NHS waiting list, if moved around the UK due to the service person being posted.
• Veterans should receive priority treatment for a condition which relates to their service, subject to clinical need.
• Those injured in service should be cared for in a way that reflects the nation’s moral obligation to them, by healthcare professionals who have an understanding of the Armed Forces culture.

This is reflected in principle four of the NHS Constitution, which states ‘the NHS will ensure that in line with the Armed Forces Covenant, those in the Armed Forces, reservists, their families and veterans are not disadvantaged in accessing health services in the area they reside’.  

The Covenant is an important aspect of our approach to care, especially as the Armed Forces community can be at a disadvantage due to their mobility and frequent moves.

What is a veteran?

A veteran is anyone who has served for at least one day in the Armed Forces, whether regular or reserve. It means the same as ‘ex service personnel’ or ‘ex-forces’, although not all veterans know, choose or want to associate with the term ‘veteran’. This is particularly the case amongst younger veterans who often refer to themselves as ‘ex-forces’, due to the common belief that a veteran is someone who fought in the First / Second World War. 

What do I do if this applies to me?

If you are a military veteran, or a member of a military family, please let us know so we can record this on your medical records. Once recorded, we might be able to provide you with additional support & priority access to medical care in line with the guidance.

Additional Resources

Please see the attachments for additional information on this scheme.

Veterans Patient Charter

Top tips for Veterans

Contact for Further Information

Further information on the Armed Forces Veteran Friendly GP Practice can be obtained from either Robert Massey-Ellis (Executive Director), himself a former member of the British Army, or Dr Lazar, who is the clinical lead.

The NHS Digital Weight Management Programme supports adults living with obesity who also have a diagnosis of diabetes, hypertension or both, to manage their weight and improve their health.

It is a 12-week online behavioural and lifestyle programme that people can access via a smartphone or computer with internet access.

There are two providers across Warwickshire which provides at least 12 weeks of weight management support.

Opening times:

Open various times, Monday – Sunday

Who is this service for?:

Anyone aged 18 years or above and registered with a Warwickshire GP.

Costs:

Free of charge

Eligibility:

• Aged 18+ or over with a body mass index of 30+ (or 27.5+ if you are black, Asian or an ethnic minority).

Use this calculator to check your body mass index (BMI) and find out if you are eligible.

Referral:

• There are two options to receive adult weight management support.
• Slimming World
• Everyone Health

Please select one and respond to your text message/email received from the surgery.

Once accepted you will be sent joining instructions via text or email.

Slimming World and Everyone Health all offer weight management support. All providers will have the same delivery model – 12 weeks of face-to-face service to support Warwickshire residents in leading a healthy lifestyle. Please see below for more information about each service.

Vaccinations for 5-11 year-olds at-risk

• The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has advised that 5 to 11-year-olds who are either in a clinical risk group or are a ousehold contact of someone who is immunosuppressed should be offered two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with a minimum interval of eight weeks.
• This means around half a million children nationally will soon be invited to take up their jab.
• The JCVI has set out criteria for determining who should be offered vaccination within this group and clinicians will be responsible for identifying children in their care who are eligible.
• Information on eligibility can be found in the Green Book, chapter 14a in the section on children aged 5-11 years and tables 3 and 4.

How will I know if my child is eligible?

• GPs and hospital specialists have been asked to identify 5 to 11-year-olds who are eligible. For children eligible as a household contact, we will write directly to the person who is immunosuppressed.
• Parents and guardians will be notified if their child should get the vaccine and told how they can book an appointment. The NHS will be in touch in the coming weeks if your child is eligible, so it’s important that parents wait to hear from us and do not contact their GP.

In order to protect yourselves, your families and the NHS please ‘grab a covid vaccine jab’.

You can book your booster jab …or indeed your first or second jab using the links below. You may also get a text message from your local GP offering appointments

Don’t delay …BOOK NOW

Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Find a walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Following the government’s announcement on Sunday 12th December that everyone over 18 is to be vaccinated against Covid-19 by the 31st December, we have been instructed to redeploy our GPs and ancillary teams to our vaccination centre at Stoneleigh in order to achieve this ambition.

This means that for the remainder of December we are only able to provide urgent care at our Practices whilst our teams continue to vaccinate our patients and protect our communities. 

We will still be open to our patients and do not want you to delay being treated if you feel you need urgent assistance. Our clinicians are best placed to inform you if your symptoms or needs are urgent and need treating or can be delayed until the New Year when hopefully the national focus will revert to business as usual. 

Cervical screenings (smear tests), dressings, and children’s immunisations will continue as normal during December. Please do call if you need to book in for these appointments. 

We understand that these continue to be unprecedented times. It is a very difficult time for both patients and staff but, as we have seen in recent years, we will rise to this enormous challenge together and protect our communities from this terrible virus.

It is imperative that you and your family are protected from Covid and flu this winter so please do book your vaccination as soon as possible by calling 119 or going online www.nhs.uk

Thank you for your ongoing support in these challenging times.

From all at Priory Medical Centre.

The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year to protect the nation against the Omicron variant.

As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today.

The best way to get your vaccine is by booking online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119 – please do keep checking availability as appointments are loaded onto the system every day. The website and phoneline are understandably very busy and we thank you for your patience when booking.

The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.

The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some sites offer walk-in appointments where no appointment is needed. Please check here for clinics with walk-in availability and their opening hours www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins

GP teams have been asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up maximal capacity to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care. This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.

Scientists are very concerned about the spread of Omicron due to the speed with which it spreads and because two doses do not appear to provide much protection but thankfully, a booster dramatically improves this.That is why the Government has asked the NHS to prioritise boosters over other routine care.

We appreciate your support and understanding – and urge you to come forward for your vaccination as soon as possible.

Don’t stay hanging on in the queue, we will phone you back.

We will be receiving a new version of the QueueBuster functionality on our phone system, which will save you having to hang on in a queue.  Currently if you select the QueueBuster option on the appointment line, you are called back and connected into the queue, at, or nearer, the front than you would have been.With the new version, the main difference will be that you will not be called back until a member of staff answers the phone when your call would be at the front of the queue. 

If you miss the call back, you will receive a text message if you phoned from a mobile phone to alert you of this, and then if you choose to phone back in,  the system will recognise your number and it will put you at the front of the queue again so that you don’t have to wait. The new version will be starting from the 1st December 2021.

We have put on the additional following drop-in Flu clinics that will run alongside our Covid clinics. Please be advised that when arriving at Stoneleigh Business Park you will need to follow the Covid vaccination site signage when you arrive.

Dates:

Thursday 25th November

            9AM - 12 Noon and 14:00 - 17:00

Friday 26th November 

            14:00 - 17:00

Monday 29th November

            9AM - 12 Noon and 14:00 - 17:00

Friday 3rd December

            9AM - 12 Noon and 14:00 - 17:00

Monday 6th December

            9AM - 12 Noon and 14:00 - 17:00

Tuesday 7th December

            9AM - 12 Noon and 14:00 - 17:00

Friday 10th December

            9AM - 12 Noon and 14:00 - 17:00

EMIS Health have received reports from both Patient Access users and people who have never registered for the service, that they have received Covid passport emails purporting to be from Patient Access.

They would like to share the following guidance from Patient Access:

• EMIS Health advise users of Patient Access to check the name and email address of the sender; all emails from Patient Access will come via an email address that ends in @patientaccess.com.
• EMIS Health advise users never to click on any log in links that you receive via email but to visit the site via the address bar of your browser instead so that you know you are on the genuine Patient Access log in page. You can find more information and guidance on our information security page here: https://www.patientaccess.com/security
• EMIS Health strongly advise users to set up their Memorable Word security feature, as well as using biometrics (fingerprint ID) if they use the app.
• Email addresses used to register for Patient Access account are secure. They do not share any data and no data is ever saved or stored on any device you use to access Patient Access.

The school flu vaccination programme is going ahead this year. All schools will have completed their flu clinics by the end of the year. Some clinics have been pushed back slightly to accommodate the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination clinics that are currently taking place in schools. There is no need to contact your GP about the school flu vaccination programme – you will hear from your school as usual in due course.

You may have received a text from the NHS national booking service to book your Covid-19 booster vaccination. 

Please be assured your local vaccination team will also be providing this service and will be in touch very soon so there is no need to contact your GP practice. 

And don’t forget your booster will only be given six months after your second dose.

We look forwards to seeing you soon at your local vaccination centre. 

The government has announced that all children aged 12 to 15 in England will be offered one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. Invitations for the vaccine are expected to begin next week (20-26 September). 

The vaccination programme for this age group will be delivered through schools, not via GP practices. Parents and guardians of those eligible will be contacted when it’s their turn to get the vaccine. 

Covid-19 booster jabs are expected to be offered to eligible groups in the coming weeks.   The booster jab should be given at least six months after your second dose of the vaccine. 

The NHS will contact you when it is your turn to get the booster vaccine, so please don’t contact the NHS. If you are invited, it is vital you attend so that you have the best possible protection against Covid-19.

Please be aware that we are no longer accepting repeat prescription requests over the telephone. Please either request electronically on the NHS App or hand your prescription slip in at reception during opening hours. If your medication requires you to be seen by a doctor or nurse before it is issued please contact reception.

Following patient feedback, our phone lines have been updated to help you find the best person to speak to regarding your care. The list of options is as follows: 

• Option 1 - COVID Information
  • For information on COVID 19 & NHS 111 service. This line is unmanned.
• Option 2 - Non Clinical Matters
  • For prescription requests, sick notes and test results. This line is unmanned.
• Option 3 - Appointments / Home visit requests
  • If you’re looking to make an appointment with us.
• Option 4 - Secretaries
  • Secretaries for Referrals. Not for appointment booking.
• Option 5 - Administration
  • Administration for insurance reports and SARS requests.
• Option 6 - NHS Health Checks
  • To book your NHS Health Check.

Please listen carefully to all the options in order to help you find the best choice for your query. 

A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests.

Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems will still get one, but where your clinician recommends that it’s safe to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.

Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.

If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally.

You may have seen in national news items that the Government are considering extending the vaccine offer to 16 - 17 year olds.

There is nothing you need to do now - you will be contacted and invited for your vaccination as soon as the programme is up-and-running.

We are currently waiting for the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to update and publish. We are also currently awaiting guidance on the vaccination of 12 - 17 year old clinically vulnerable children and will be in touch as and when we have further information.

The current NHS Digital (NHSD) extract of GP data for Research purposes (known as the GPDPR) has been delayed due to NHSD wishing to review the way in which this data will be collected, to conduct more public involvement and information about the plans and change the way in which patients can opt out of the extract of their GP data.

Currently the only way to opt out is to complete a Type 1 opt out form and return this to the practice. There was a deadline of the 1st September but this deadline has been removed (see below):

However, this extract will not be taken until the NHSD have changed the way it will take the data and respect the patient’s choice for using their data.  NHSD are introducing the following changes to the opt outprocess which will mean that patients will be able to change their opt-out status at any time:

• Patients do not need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.
• NHS Digital will create the technical means to allow GP data that has previously been uploaded to the system via the GPDPR collection to be deleted when someone registers a Type 1 opt-out.
• The plan to retire Type 1 opt-outs will be deferred for at least 12 months while we get the new arrangements up and running and will not be implemented without consultation with the RCGP, the BMA and the National Data Guardian.

This means that you can opt out at any time in the future and NHSD will delete data that they already have taken for research purposes, the deadline of the 01/09/2020 has been delayed until a new system of opt out is developed.  Hopefully, this will be a simple centralised approach via the NHS app or NHS website to avoid paper form and administration work for your GP.

We will update you when we know more about the NHSD plans to change how you can control who has access to your data.

For further information on this - please click here.

The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules.

Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.

Read the infection prevention control guidance for further details.

WE WILL BE OPERATING FROM OUR NEW SITE PRIORY MEDICAL CENTRE, PRIORY ROAD, WARWICK CV34 4NA FROM MONDAY 28TH JUNE

DUE TO THIS MOVE WE WILL BE OPERATING AN EMERGENCIES ONLY TRIAGE SYSTEM ON THE AFTERNOON OF FRIDAY 25TH JUNE

OUR PHONE LINES WILL OPEN LATER ON THE MORNING OF MONDAY 28TH JUNE TO ENSURE WE ARE FULLY OPERATIONAL

DURING THIS TIME PLEASE CALL 111 FOR ANY URGENT MEDICAL NEEDS THAT CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THE SURGERY REOPENS. IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL 999.

Patients wishing to register a Type 1 Opt out from the NHS Digital General Practice Data for Planning and Research collection which starts on 1st September 2021 should download this form and return it to the Practice.

More information on this data collection can be found here.

Video - How the NHS uses your patient data from GP practices to improve health and care

Please do not contact the surgery to enquire about covid vaccination certificates.

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. Refer Online Services page to download it.

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.

If you are in touch regarding concerns about the Oxford Astra Zeneca, Public Health England have produced a patient information leaflet that is available here.

Advice in your region:

England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland

Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms

Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.

Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms

Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.

Testing and tracing

Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.

People at high risk

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

Social distancing and changes to everyday life

Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.

GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support

Government information and advice.

In light of Covid-19 we are temporarily closing our 3 Cape Road (Cape Road Surgery) branch site. If you need to contact us you can do so on 01926 293711. We thank you for your cooperation