There is a new strain of the coronavirus which spreads even faster.
Around 1 in 3 people have no symptoms and could be spreading the virus without even knowing.
Remember: Hands, Face, Space.
In the last 3 months at West Common Lane Teaching Practice, we’ve taken:
We’ve done:
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3,898 Telephone Appointments
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1,265 Face to Face Consultations
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17 Home Visits
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202 Asthma Reviews
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868 Blood Appointments
And we’ve issued:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Do you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19?
Are you aged 65 or over? Or 50 to 64 with underlying health conditions? with symptoms within the past 14 days?
Please visit www.principletrial.org to find out how to take part in an Urgent Public Health Clinical Trial for
COVID-19 Treatments
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The COVID pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, and this includes the way we see our GPs and other practice staff.
Despite the huge pressures on the NHS, your GP practice has remained open throughout the pandemic. However, the way your GP is working has changed – this includes making use of phone, video and online consultations where possible to reduce any unnecessary face to face contact. This approach has been taken locally and nationally, and is aimed at minimising the risk of infection to you, other patients and your GP staff where possible.
Primary care is working as a team to ensure that you speak to/see the right person at the right time. This may mean that a more appropriate person for your health needs is a physiotherapist, a nurse, a pharmacist or a mental health worker – by contacting your practice by phone or online first, this allows the staff to signpost you to the most appropriate healthcare worker.
This does not mean practices have stopped face-to-face appointments, and they continue to be offered where safe and necessary. There will always be a need for some patients to see their GP or another Clinician in person, and where it is safe to do so and clinically appropriate practices will always ensure this is facilitated.
Practices also remain committed to making sure their services are accessible to those without access to digital consultations, or who struggle to use technology.
If you have any health concerns, please don’t ignore them. You can seek medical advice in different ways including the use of NHS 111 (online and phone), your GP practice or your pharmacist.
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Due to the coronavirus outbreak, how you contact us will be different at the moment. This is to limit face-to-face contact whenever possible and help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Appointments are being delivered face-to-face, online and over the telephone. If you are asked to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment, please remember to wear a face covering. Measures are in place to keep you safe from infection during your visit to the surgery.
Flu Season 2020/21
We are now booking appointments for your flu vaccine! If you fall into one of the categories below, please contact Reception on 01724 877744 to book your free flu vaccination and help protect you and your family this flu season!
- Over 65
- Pregnant
- Heart problem
- Chest complaint or breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or severe asthma
- Kidney disease
- Lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)
- Liver disease
- Had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)
- Diabetes
- Neurological condition, e.g. multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy
- A problem with your spleen, e.g. sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed
- seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above)
- People on the NHS Shielded Patient List for COVID-19 are all eligible for a free flu vaccine and it is really important this year that they receive it.
Having the flu vaccine helps to protect against the main types of flu virus circulating.
People sometimes think a bad cold is flu, but having flu can often be much worse than a cold. Some people are more susceptible to the effects of flu. For them, it can increase the risk of developing more serious illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia, or can make existing conditions worse. In the worst cases, flu can result in a stay in hospital, or even death.
If you all into one of the below categories, you are at an increased risk of developing complications from flu.
Don’t delay, contact Reception on 01724 877744 to book your free flu vaccination and help protect you and your family this flu season!
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
Due to the extreme high volume of calls that we are experiencing at this time our lines are extremely busy, and we ask that you bear this in mind and thank you for your patience.
On Monday 16th March the UK government announced a package of measures, advising those who are or may be at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19 to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults
If you fall into one of the below categories it is strongly advised that you stay home as you are at a significantly increased risk:
- aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
- under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, 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, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- 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 medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
- those who are pregnant
Coronavirus: Planning your birth
Click here for an information leaflet (.pdf, 822KB)
Coronavirus: Parent information for newborn babies
Click here for an information leaflet (.pdf, 793KB)
Try the new NHS App
If you’re a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.
You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.
If you already use Patient Access you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.
For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp
Engage Consult now supports NHS login.
When you arrive at the login page for Engage Consult there will be an extra button to use NHS Login. All you need to do is to click on that button and provide your NHS Login and password. If you already have an Engage Consult account it’ll link the two accounts; if you haven’t used Engage Consult before a new account will be created and linked to your NHS Login details.
This will make it easier for patients who use NHS Login to use Engage Consult.
| If you would like to be able to receive a message back in response to your query, it is important that you register with the service. If you sign in as a guest the system does not allow for 2 way messaging between you and the practice. |
Easy Access to Patient Health Services and advice in a click!
Download MJog Messenger - receive healthcare advice direct to your smartphone!
Help the NHS save money by having your reminders and healthcare messages sent to the MJog Messenger app
Please check with reception to make sure they have you current mobile number
RCGP RSC Newsletter
November 2020
December 2020
This website provides online facilities such as booking and cancelling appointments, registering, and ordering prescriptions. It also contains a vast range of health information and resources, along with practical information on visiting the surgery.
We hope you find the website useful and informative.
About our practice
West Common Lane Teaching Practice was first opened in July 1991 by Dr Chris Hall and Dr Andy Lee. Since then there have been many changes with the most notable one happening in February 2015 when the surgery took over the care of Dr Balasanthiran’s patients.
Dr Chris Hall has since retired but Dr Andy Lee is still a partner with Dr Francisco Terreros, Dr Kyle Hall and Dr Laura Thomas who became a partner on April 1st 2018.
Our list size is currently in excess of 8000 patients and continues to grow.
Repeat Dispensing
The practice is in the process of switching patients whose medical condition is described as stable by the GP to repeat dispensing.
Repeat dispensing is a new way of getting your medicines without having to ask the GP for a prescription each time.
If you would like more information, please speak to a receptionist or click here.