Please note it is still a requirement to wear face coverings, follow social distancing rules and to use hand sanitiser in healthcare settings from 19 July.

See this link for further details

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/07/nhs-patients-staff-and-visitors-must-continue-to-wear-face-coverings-in-healthcare-settings/

We are aware that this may seem frustrating to some patients but please remember that  many of the patients attending the practice may be poorly and vulnerable so we need to continue with these precautions to support all patients and staff too. 

Thank you for your support.  

Unfortunately we have 3 staff who are having to isolate  as they have been in contact with different  people who have been diagnosed with Covid.19. 

We are trying to source cover for clinical staff but given that some patients have appointments booked for first thing monday, 12th July, we may need to cancel several appointments due to factors beyond our control.  

We apologise for the short notice and any inconvenience caused And thank you for your patience during this time.

From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of the Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine, or one dose of the Janssen single-dose vaccine. Vaccine status will be available through the NHS COVID Pass service from: 

• the NHS App which you can download from app stores 

• the NHS website 

• 119 - by requesting a paper letter

You will need to register to use the online services, if you have not already. It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified.

If you cannot access the online services, and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and have had your second dose (or one dose of the Janssen single-dose vaccine) more than 5 working days ago. It may take up to 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. Please do not contact the practice about your COVID-19 vaccination status unless you have been advised to by the 119 service.

When you're planning your travel, you should check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is enough time to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status before you are due to travel.

How sharing patient data with NHS Digital helps the NHS and you:

The NHS needs data about the patients it treats in order to plan and deliver its services and to ensure that care and treatment provided is safe and effective. The General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection will help the NHS to improve health and care services for everyone by collecting patient data that can be used to do this. For example patient data can help the NHS to:

• monitor the long-term safety and effectiveness of care

• plan how to deliver better health and care services

• prevent the spread of infectious diseases

• identify new treatments and medicines through health research

GP practices already share patient data for these purposes, but this new data collection will be more efficient and effective.

We have agreed to share the patient data we look after in our practice with NHS Digital who will securely store, analyse, publish and share this patient data to improve health and care services for everyone. This includes:

• informing and developing health and social care policy

• planning and commissioning health and care services

• taking steps to protect public health (including managing and monitoring the coronavirus pandemic)

• in exceptional circumstances, providing you with individual care 

• enabling healthcare and scientific research

This means that we can get on with looking after our patients and NHS Digital can provide controlled access to patient data to the NHS and other organisations who need to use it to improve health and care for everyone.

Contributing to research projects will benefit us all as better and safer treatments are introduced more quickly and effectively without compromising your privacy and confidentiality.

NHS Digital has engaged with the British Medical Association (BMA), Royal College of GPs (RCGP) and the National Data Guardian (NDG) to ensure relevant safeguards are in place for patients and GP practices.

To view further information please click here to navigate to the NHS Digital Webpage which provides up to date information on the Data Collection.

Opting out of NHS Digital collecting your data

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 30 July to allow time for processing it.

If you do not want NHS Digital to share your identifiable patient data with anyone else for purposes beyond your own care, then you can also register a National Data Opt-out.

Attachments

Please note: Covid cases across Wirral and the North West are rising.  Please do not take offence if you are asked if you have symptoms multiple times by staff at the practice.  We are trying to reduce the spread of infection, which could support you or any of your friends or relatives if they are already poorly.   

Access to appointments:

Please be aware we have been open for the whole of lockdown and have continued to support and treat patients during this time.  The practice offers a variety of ways you can get in touch to request an appointment including by phone, coming to the practice reception desk or by completing an e-consult through the links on our website. 

Once you have an appointment you have the option to have your request dealt with over the phone, by video consultation or face to face where there is a clinical need. 

Face Coverings

All patients should wear a face covering during any appointments at the practice unless exempt.  If you are exempt it would be helpful for the practice staff to be told in advance of your attendance on site and due to the rising number of covid cases across Wirral and the North West we ask that you at least wear a visor.  

E-consult

Please do not use E-consult if you think you have an infection (ear, chest or UTI) or for an acute issue that needs dealing with immediately.

The Practice will only accept e-consultation requests during the hours we are open: Monday to Friday 8am - 6.30pm  

Patients needing support after 6.30pm on weekdays or at weekends should call 111.