COVID 19 VACCINATION PROGRAMME
We are thrilled to be offering the COVID 19 vaccination and are working with 3 other local practices (Southbourne Surgery, Shelley Manor & Holdenhurst Medical Centre and Beaufort Road Surgery) as part of the Bournemouth East Collaborative Primary Care Network to deliver the programme. We have every faith that both the Pfizer and Oxford AstraZeneca vaccines are very safe and effective at protecting you from symptoms of COVID 19.
So far, we have completed over 3000 vaccinations to care home residents and their carers, frontline health and social care professionals and patients over the age of 80. We are working through the vaccination cohorts as advised by NHS England.
To help answer any questions you might we hope that the following FAQ are helpful. The practice continues to offer normal care alongside the vaccination programme. As you may expect things are very busy at the moment. We are incredibly grateful for your patience with any delays you experience in us answering the phone or appointment availability.
Please download the FAQs Covid-19 Vaccination Programme
The New Strain of Coronavirus Spreads Even Faster
Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Chris Whitty, said:
“As announced on Monday, the UK has identified a new variant of COVID-19 through Public Health England’s genomic surveillance. As a result of the rapid spread of the new variant, preliminary modelling data and rapidly rising incidence rates in the South East, the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG) now consider that the new strain can spread more quickly. We have alerted the World Health Organization and are continuing to analyse the available data to improve our understanding.
There is no current evidence to suggest the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments although urgent work is underway to confirm this.
Given this latest development it is now more vital than ever that the public continue to take action in their area to reduce transmission.
Get Vitamin D Supplements
Vitamin D for the Clinically Extremely Vulnerable Patients
Click on this link for more information: Vitamin D
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Dear Patients,
Please do not call us about the COVID Vaccine, we will contact you.
Many Thanks
(All of the COVID Vaccines will take place at Beaufort Road Surgery, Southbourne BH6 5AJ)
Please download the following leaflets for more information on the Vaccine:
A Letter to ALL Our Patients on the COVID-19 Vaccination - (Updated) 10 December 2020
TO ALL OF OUR PATIENTS
Dear Patient
We are all excited to hear that there is progress on a Covid vaccine and that this should improve the quality of life for all of us.
We know that you, like us, are struggling with the confines imposed upon us all due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Everyone is trying to make the best of the situation and, as a practice, we are committed to caring for you in the best possible way whilst keeping both you and our team safe.
To keep you as informed as possible, we will update these messages frequently as we become aware of more information from NHS England:
Some hospitals have now received the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid vaccine and have started to vaccinate patients. The hospitals are sending out invitations to the patients they are able to vaccinate.
Some groups of GP surgeries will be getting vaccines in the next few weeks.
We are waiting to hear the delivery date of local vaccines
We have to follow strict government guidelines which tell us which group of patients to vaccinate first
We will contact you if you are eligible for a vaccine when we know what date the vaccine is available for you.
It is essential, if you are given a vaccine, that you return for the second part of the vaccination on the date that you are advised to.
Please do not telephone us to ask when or if you are going to get a Covid Vaccine. We will contact you individually if and when you are invited to have one and will keep this website updated with as much information as we can.
We have many patients to vaccinate so we ask for your patience as we work through this vaccination programme which will last well into 2021.
Meanwhile, we all need to keep to the advice of handwashing, face masks and social distancing but we all look forward to the time when we will return to life as normal.
Thank you for your patience
Littledown Surgery
Rapid Antigen Swab or PCR Swab
Dear Patients,
Please note: We do not offer tests for travellers requiring a rapid antigen swab or PCR swab, our travel clinic for standard travel vaccinations is only available to patients registered at our Surgery.
Many Thanks
Thank you for Helping Us to Help You
2020 has been the most challending year in the history of the NHS.
We would like to thank you for supporting our hard working staff. Read more here…
Important Patient Message:
Please download/print the Patient Letter and FAQs regarding how the Practice has changed our way of working during the C19 Pandemic:
Patient Letter July 2020 and FAQs
There is another test, the antibody test to check if you’ve had coronavirus. This test is not widely available yet.
4 July 2020
Information from GOV UK from the 4th of July – Social Distancing: https://bit.ly/2ZnyfpJ
What you can and can’t do before 4th July 2020: https://bit.ly/31uKfIT
What you can and can’t do after 4th July 2020: https://bit.ly/2BU8Ewu
Coronavirus: FREE NHS Test
Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can get a free test to check if they have the virus. Some people without symptoms can have the test too.
Click on the link for further information: https://bit.ly/2OMSXul/free cv-19-test
COVID Antibody Testing Programme
This is currently only available to NHS & care industry workers. The test hasn’t been rolled out to the general public yet, more information to follow.
Wearing Masks to the Surgery
We are encouraging our patients to wear a face covering if they have one, when visiting the Surgery
Masks 4 Carers
Being an unpaid carer is hard work and can impact upon other areas of your life such as work, relationships, finances & social life. We are a charity athat supports unpaid carers that live in Dorset. Click below for more information:
The Leonardo Trust: Masks 4 Carers – Leonardo
Do You Have a New Medical Problem You would Like to Discuss?
As you will be aware the NHS is currently dealing with the coronavirus pandemic which has drastically altered how we see patients. A concern with these new arrangements is that patients who would normally be attending to discuss symptoms are now staying away in order to allow us to focus on pandemic related healthcare.
Whilst we understand and are grateful for this, we would still encourage you to contact the surgery to discuss any new medical problems not related to the coronavirus illness. We can usually make an assessment over the telephone as to whether we can safely delay further assessments or investigations and are happy to give advice. Alternatively, it may be prudent to see you in person in which case strict infection control measures are in place in the surgery to protect both staff and patients. The aim of this is to identify and treat any more serious illnesses in a timely fashion rather than allow problems to worsen before the end of the social distancing period.
Further good advice about symptoms is available through the NHS website www.nhs.uk and you can also find relevant help here on our website.
Coronavirus Update: 17 March 2020
Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 we will not be able to book face to face GP appointments in the first instance. Instead, the doctor will phone you first before asking you to come to the surgery if that is required.
Nurses appointments for immunisations, urgent blood tests, smears, dressings and urgent ECGs are carrying on as normal, but if you have symptoms of fever or a new cough then please call the surgery on 01202309500 before coming for your appointment, and we will advise you. Long term condition reviews and pill checks are being done over the phone, and appointments for NHS Healthchecks, New Patient Checks, Ear Syringing and routine blood tests are being postponed.
Appointments are currently unavailable to be booked via online services. You will still be able to request medication, view your record and cancel appointments.
If you already have a routine GP appointment booked, the surgery will contact you to advise you further.
We understand that this may be disappointing, but we are doing our best to protect both our patients and our staff so that we can continue to provide an essential service to you all.
Click here for a Patient Information Letter 17 March 2020
How to Avoid Catching or Spreading Coronavirus
Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus spreading. It is particularly important for people who:
- are 70 or over
- have a long-term condition
- are pregnant
- have a weakened immune system
Do
- wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- always wash your hands when you get home or into work
- use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
- avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus
- only travel on public transport if you need to
- work from home, if you can
- avoid social activities, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas
- avoid events with large groups of people
- use phone, online services, or apps to contact your GP surgery or other NHS services
Don’t
- do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
- do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family
Do I Need to Avoid Public Places?
Most people can continue to go to work, school and other public places. You only need to stay away from public places if you’ve been:
- to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
- to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or “special care zone” areas in South Korea since 19 February
- to other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
- to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
- in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus
Treatment for Coronavirus
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus. Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses. Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness.
You’ll need to stay in isolation away from other people until you’ve recovered.
What's the Risk of Catching Coronavirus in the UK?
The UK Chief Medical Officers have raised the risk to the public from low to moderate. But the risk to individuals remains low. Health professionals are working to contact anyone who has been in close contact with people who have coronavirus.
Symptoms of Coronavirus
The symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a cough
- a high temperature
- shortness of breath
But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
Urgent advice: Call 111 now if you’ve been:
- to Hubei province in China in the last 14 days
- to Iran, areas of northern Italy in lockdown or “special care zone” areas in South Korea since 19 February
- to other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia or Macau in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
- to other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos or Myanmar since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath
- in close contact with someone with confirmed coronavirus
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111, stay indoors and avoid close contact with other people.
Lockdown areas in northern Italy
- in Lombardy:
- Codogno
- Castiglione d’Adda
- Casalpusterlengo
- Fombio
- Maleo
- Somaglia
- Bertonico
- Terranova dei Passerini
- Castelgerundo
- San Fiorano
- In Veneto:
- Vo’ Euganeo
Special care zones in South Korea
- Daegu
- Cheongdo
How Coronavirus is Spread
Because it’s a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person. Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets. It’s very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food. Viruses like coronavirus cannot live outside the body for very long.