Practice Newsletter

PRACTICE CLOSED 19th SEPT AFTERNOON

Please be aware that the Handcross branch will be closed from 12:30pm on 19th September for staff training. We will reopen as normal on 20th September.

We are receiving extremely high numbers of calls into the Practice. Please be kind and respectful to our reception team, they are working extremely hard to answer calls and deal with patient queries.

Update to appointment booking system

With effect from 1^st JUNE 2023

The Reception front desk will not open until 9am, allowing our receptionists to answer the telephone from 830am.You will not be able to book an emergency, on the day appointment in person at the front desk.

PLEASE CALL THE SURGERY WHEN THE LINES OPEN AT 08:30AM

Various options are available for health advice, including NHS111, eConsult (details below) and your local pharmacy.

eConsults are operational between 9am and 11am weekdays. Please do not also telephone for an appointment if you have completed an econsult, thank you.

eConsult Service now available

Please note this service is only available Mon-Fri 09:00-11:00.

STREP A/SCARLET FEVER

We are experiencing a high number of calls regarding Scarlet Fever/Strep A. Please check the guidance on the UK Government website first

https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2022/12/05/group-a-strep-what-you-need-to-know and if you are concerned, follow up by contacting us or phoning 111.

You can visit www.111.nhs.uk and follow the step-by-step guidance.

Flu Vaccine Clinics

If you have booked yourself into any of our flu clinics over the next few weeks, please make sure to wear a face mask as many of the patients attending will be clinically vulnerable. Thank you for your consideration.

Due to staff shortages, there may be delays in answering your calls & in our dispensary. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and we will answer you as soon as we are able.

From Thursday 27^th January 2022, there is no longer a legal requirement to wear a face covering in indoor public places. However, we do ask that you please continue to wear a face covering in NHS settings to keep staff and other patients and visitors safe. Thank you.

Appointment Changes

We are changing our appointment structure so you can now book telephone (by phone only) and face to face appointments (by phone or online). Please ask reception for details of online access to booking appointments and ordering repeat prescriptions.

Please ask for a particular Dr or the Dr you saw last time to improve continuity of care.

Appointments will be limited to 15 minutes so if you have several concerns you may be asked to book a further appointment.

Covid Autumn Booster & Flu Vaccinations 2022-23

We ask that you help us support your local GP practice and vaccination centre by not calling to ask questions about when the programme will be extended or walking into vaccination centre clinics unless you meet the current criteria for a booster vaccination. They will not be able to give you any further information. We are already experiencing high call volumes and increased patient walk-ins and at this stage, we kindly ask that if you have any questions, please continue to visit the NHS website Vaccination Programme page or call 119.

Annual Flu Vaccine

If you are 50 and over, or fall into the under-65 clinically vulnerable category, you are now able to book your annual influenza immunisation. Please call 01444 405750 after 3pm to book your vaccination with Ouse Valley.

Covid-19 Vaccines

All those aged 16 and over are now eligible for a COVID vaccination. If you would like to book your booster dose COVID vaccination, please call Clair Hall on 0333 370 4110, or email abcltd.vaccine@nhs.net
(*must be over 3 months since your first booster)

Book your vaccinations here

Advice for parents of 12-15 year olds who want the Covid-19 vaccination

Alliance for Better Care Ltd are providing a limited number of vaccination sessions for clinically vulnerable 12 to 15 year olds. Sessions can be booked via the National Booking System, they cannot be booked directly by your GP practice.

If there are no available dates, patients are advised to keep trying the NHS site to find appointments as new clinics will continue to be added regularly.

Sussex patients - further information on the West Sussex CCG website.

PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE NHS EXPECTS EVERYONE ACCESSING OR VISITING THE SURGERY TO CONTINUE TO WEAR A FACE COVERING AND FOLLOW SOCIAL DISTANCING RULES.

Welcome to Ouse Valley Practice

Opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data (Type 1 Opt-out)

Important Patient Information - action required by 23rd June 2021

This link from NHS Digital explains why data is shared, it contains their transparency & privacy notices for doing so and also points to links where patient can opt out if they want to: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-collections/general-practice-data-for-planning-and-research/transparency-notice?fbclid=IwAR2h07o26rVYlJLrCCuoA65NSwYJhDVMzWyyLSa_nevV2VTdtzpSvCL6DmE#top

Data sharing with NHS Digital will start on 1 July 2021.

If you wish to register a Type 1 Opt-out with your GP practice before data sharing starts with NHS Digital, this should be done by returning this form to your GP practice by 23 June 2021 to allow time for processing it. If you have previously registered a Type 1 Opt-out and you would like to withdraw this, you can also use the form to do this. You can send the form by post to Ouse Valley Practice, London Road, Handcross, RH17 6HB or by email to the practice wsxccg.ousevalleyreception@nhs.net or call 0300 3035678 for a form to be sent out to you. Please DO NOT call the practice for a form.

Paper copies of this form will also be available in the waiting area. Once completed, please pass to the reception team.

COVID VACCINE INFORMATION

When Will I Get My Jab

Frequently Asked Questions about the COVID-19 Vaccine

Warning over COVID vaccination scams

Be on your guard against fraudulent text and email messages as new scams are being sent to patients. People are receiving a text or email notification of their ‘vaccination appointment’ and are being asked to confirm it by clicking on a link. This looks very similar to the genuine texts being sent to patients to arrange their appointments at the GP led vaccination services.

Please follow the advice below.

· The COVID-19 vaccination is ONLY available from the NHS and it is FREE – you will never be asked to pay for it or give your bank details.

· If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.

· If you receive a text or email that you believe to be fraudulent please delete it. Please be assured that if you don’t respond because you are worried and it is a genuine text or email, you will remain on the vaccination list and be contacted again

· If you believe you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft you should report this directly to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. Where the victim is vulnerable, report it to Sussex Police online or by calling 101.

Guidance on official NHS texts.

· An official NHS text message from your GP practice or the organisation arranging the appointments for your GP practice such as the local GP Federation will include their details such as the name of the Practice, group of Practices or the name of the Federation working on their behalf. It may also include details of the vaccination centre. Scam text messages and emails usually don’t include his information

· An official NHS text message from the national booking system will be a reminder text so will include details of your booked appointment include date, time and location

If you have any further concerns about something you have received please contact the Sussex COVID-19 vaccination programme team on sxccg.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net

Serving You

Our team are here to treat acute problems as well as providing long-term management of chronic conditions. Clinics we provide cover a wide range of healthcare issues including child/travel/flu vaccinations, minor operations, antenatal care, diabetes, cervical screening and family planning.

msk Our Patient Participation Group (PPG) exists to make sure that the services we are offering continue to meet the needs of patients.

.Teaching and Training

VTS

Ouse Valley Practice is an accredited Training Practice and is part of the GP Vocational Training Scheme (VTS) for Mid-Sussex. This means that both the Trainer and the Practice are inspected and have to meet certain standards and undergo a re-accreditation process. You may be offered an appointment with a GP Registrar who is a fully qualified doctor completing their training to become a GP. On occasions, GP Registrars may be sitting in with another GP in the surgery. You can consent or decline to have them sitting in with you if you wish.

Dr Janet Hardingham and Dr Katie Briggs - GP Trainers

BSMS

The Surgery is also affiliated to Brighton and Sussex Medical School. We will occasionally have medical students in the Practice. They are early in their training to become doctors so will be fully supervised by another doctor. They may be sitting in on consultations to observe; normally on a Thursday afternoon. You may be asked if you would mind being involved in their education by allowing them to ask you some questions or examine you under supervision. Patient involvement is greatly appreciated and helps medical students learn to become competent doctors. You should be informed that medical students will be in attendance when you book an appointment. If you would prefer them not to be present, please inform reception staff.

Dr Tiziana Camilleri - Medical Student Co-ordinator