Blood test tube shortage

There's currently a shortage of blood test tubes in the UK.

You can still have a blood test if you have an urgent health problem. But you may be asked to wait for your test, or rebook one at a later date, if your doctor says it's safe to do so.

We cannot give an exact date for when blood tests can be rebooked, but you will get a test as soon as possible if you need one.

If you're worried about your symptoms, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

https://what0-18.nhs.uk 

Important information to keep you safe while isolating at home.

We are aware of various reports and research that BAME patients may be less likely to want the Coronavirus vaccine. At Summertown Group Practice we are very focussed on getting the vaccine to all groups in our patient population. We urge you if you have any questions or worries about the vaccines, to call or email us so that we can respond to any worries or queries.

Please find below a link and videos that might help if you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccination programme:

• COVID-19 vaccine information - Oxford University Hospitals (ouh.nhs.uk)
• Terry Roberts, Chief People Officer - BAME - YouTube
• Why get vaccinated? - Ariel Lanada, Chair of the OUH BAME Network - YouTube
• COVID Vaccination - Imam Monawar Hussain, OUH Muslim Chaplain - YouTube
• Faith Leaders for Covid Vaccination - YouTube

Please do contact the staff at the surgery if you have further questions.

If you are registered at Summertown Health Centre and would like more information, please contact us on 01865-515552. You can also join the trial online, even if you are not currently registered with our practice. For full details, visit http://www.principletrial.org

General Practice Transparency Notice for sharing Data for Planning and Research (Replacement for GPES)

We have been informed that the consultation on this continues.  We are awaiting further directions and will update our website when we are informed.

NHS Digital collected patient data from general practices using a service called the General Practice Extraction Service (GPES), which has operated for over 10 years and now needs to be replaced.

Patient data collected from general practice is needed to support a wide variety of research and analysis to help run and improve health and care services. Whilst the data collected in other care settings such as hospitals is valuable in understanding and improving specific services, it is the patient data in general practice that helps us to understand whether the health and care system as a whole is working for patients.

In addition to replacing what GPES already does, the General Practice Data for Planning and Research service will also help to support the planning and commissioning of health and care services, the development of health and care policy, public health monitoring and interventions (including coronavirus (COVID-19) and enable many different areas of research.

For more information about this see the GP Practice Privacy Notice for General Practice Data for Planning and Research.”

Phase 1 & 2(Cohorts 1 - 12)

If you think you think you fall into one of these groups and have not been contacted or missed/cancelled an arranged appointment, you can still access appointments through the National Booking Service https://www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination or by phoning 119.

These are bookable for all aged 17y9m and older.

From 10 am on Thursday 12 August 2021, the walk-in coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination site finder should be revised to enable people to search by postcode for vaccination sites offering walk-in vaccinations for those aged 16 years to 17 years 8 months to support first dose vaccination for that group. It will also allow sites to indicate availability of walk-in vaccinations for those aged between 17 years 9 months and 18 years old.

* Walk-in is available from 31st August at Kassam Stadium for ALL eligible patients over 16 requiring Pfizer*

Those aged 12-15 are only eligible if they suffer with severe neurodisability or are living in institutional care. This may change soon but there is not a current mechanism for this to happen.

Phase 3

Autumn booster planning is still underway and we will endeavour to keep our site updated when we know firm plans.

The boosters are likely to be done in the same Cohort orders as above and will hopefully be able to be administered alongside flu vaccinations.

Second Doses

Current guidance is for you to receive the same vaccine as your first dose with an 8 week gap, unless severe allergy or rare clotting following the first. We cannot arrange an alternative due to other side effects or preference. We can also not bring forward the gap unless you are about to start immunosuppressive therapy.

Please see below for more information on Astra Zeneca.

Vaccinations done abroad

We are able to update your GP record with any vaccinations received abroad. However, we can only input this into the database that is captured on the NHS App and National Booking Service if you have had a vaccine that is licensed and been administered in the UK. Unfortunately this issue is not a local one but a governmental issue.

Cohort 6 information

Covid-19 Vaccination, A Guide for Adults

COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting - GOV.uk

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Call the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Mental Health Helpline if you need help with a mental health problem. This number replaces 111 for mental health advice in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

• For adults and older adults call 01865 904997.
• For children and young people call 01865 904998.

We are aware that many people are finding it very stressful being confined to their homes for so long. If you’re finding it tough and have children at home, you might like to look at these helpful resources.

Covid-19 Information for Parents and Carers

COVID-19 Advice for Parents and Carers

Covid - 19 - Advice to patients isolating at home

You can get in touch with your children’s head teacher/head of year at school, and the school nursing team might be able to help -find their details here: https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/school-health-nurses/

Please get in touch with us if you are worried about your own health or that of your children.

If you’ve had a baby in the last couple of months and would like some support from other mothers, and professionals, please visit this link: https://www.facebook.com/botleybridges/

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.

Use this service if:

• you think you might have coronavirus
• in the last 14 days you've been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – see coronavirus advice for travellers and a list of high risk countries on nhs.uk
• you've been in close contact with someone with coronavirus

Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.

In Scotland call your GP or NHS 24 on 111 out of hours.

In Wales call 111 (if available in your area) or 0845 46 47.

In Northern Ireland call 111.

For region specific information and advice in:

• England visit nhs.uk
• Wales visit phw.nhs.wales
• Scotland visit nhsinform.scot
• Northern Ireland visit HSC
• Ireland visit HSE

Further information and details of how to self-isolate are available on nhs.uk.

 Further updates can be found on the Blood.co.uk site here: https://www.blood.co.uk/news-and-campaigns/news-and-statements/coronavirus-covid-19-updates/

Our vision is to provide high quality care to all our patients and to continually strive to improve our service to the community.

Our main surgery is in Summertown with others in Cutteslowe and Wolvercote. Between them they are open for consultations for a total of 140 hours each week including opportunities for early morning, late evening telephone consultations and surgeries and a Saturday morning surgery.

Out of normal opening hours you should call 111 if you require urgent health advice.

Please note, unfortunately we are unable to offer parking to patients in our car park.  This is a staff only car park.  Please use the Ferry Pool car park which is a short walking distance from the surgery.

We are a group practice.  Our team of GPs work together sharing information within the practice to enable you to see any GP.  However, every patient has a named GP responsible for their care (if you do not know who your named GP is, please contact the health centre). We also run regular clinics covering a wide range of services.

Our practice area covers Summertown and North Oxford, including Wolvercote, Cutteslowe, Marston and Kidlington. It goes into the city centre as far as Beaumont Street. We also look after students at the University Colleges of Trinity, St Hugh’s, St Edmund Hall and St Antony’s and The Dragon School, St Edwards School and Summer Fields School.