Aylmer Lodge Cookley Partnership

There is a scam circulating at the moment stating that you are eligible for a Covid Vaccine. NEVER GIVE OUT YOUR PERSONAL DETAILS. SOME OF THESE SCAMS LOOK VERY GENUINE. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT SEEK ADVICE, DO NOT CLICK ON ANY LINKS.

IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A VACCINE, YOU WILL BE CONTED DIRECTLY BY US.

We are pleased to announce that we have been approved to deliver the Covid-19 vaccine from our Hume Street site. This will be in collaboration with our Primary Care Network colleagues from neighbouring Wyre Forest Surgeries. Because of the nature of the vaccine and the logistics of getting it delivered, not all sites have been approved to be able to deliver from their usual surgeries.

When we receive the first vaccines, we will be contacting patients in the Government’s priority order, to book the appointments: please DO NOT ring us. The covid-19 immunisation campaign will be run in a safe Covid secure way.

Separate arrangements will be made for our housebound patients and care home residents to receive their covid-19 vaccine.

This is all that we know at the moment and as soon as any further confirmed details are known we will be contacting patients.

TO COMMENCE IN MARCH 2021.

PLEASE APPLY VIA THE NHS JOBS WEBSITE OR CONTACT THE PRACTICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.

https://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/vacancy/916307257

Patients of Cookley Surgery.

As a response to some recent comments on our Facebook page we wish to clarify that Cookley Surgery is still operating.

During an extremely challenging few months, our team at Cookley has continued to provide excellent care to our patients. We have had a Doctor at Cookley running surgeries since the Pandemic started. Our GPs have had to adopt new technologies and ways of working to safely provide continuity of care to our patients. We have worked closely with, and are guided by, our local Clinical Commisioning Group and Public Health England and have put extensive plans in place to protect both our staff and our patients. These plans are reviewed and adapted weekly after wider discussion with these organisations.

Some services have been temporarily reduced - ie Phlebotomy. This is because there is no safe or practical way to provide this service at Cookley at this time. We have however, provided a service for Cookley patients at our Hume Street facility. Some Practices no-longer provide any phlebotomy to their patients and direct all their patients to the hospital for their blood tests. We wish to continue this service for all our patients.

Our dispensing service has expanded and we are now delivering medication to our vulnerable patients - this is a service that we plan to continue.

We are currently organising the vaccination of patients at Wesley Court and Drummart House. Residents will be informed when this will take place.

We created a Facebook Page so we could share service information quickly and to a wider audience. We think that most of our patients have found the information that we post helpful. Can we please request that in future, if you have a concern about service provision, that you contact the practice directly to discuss. Thank you for your continued support and understanding.

We would like to reassure all our patients that we have been providing Face to Face appointments with our doctors and nurses throughout the pandemic. It is important that anyone needing medical advice speaks to one of the Clinical Team first on the telephone, in order to decide how best to safely provide their care. Please rest assured that we are still able to see patients and examine them whenever this is appropriate in a safe way. Thank you for your understanding.

We have been informed that patients are finding it very difficult to get through on the telephone. This is likely to be due to patients telephoning to book their Flu vaccines. We apologise for this inconvenience and ask that you wait until a little later in the day to book your flu vaccines so patients with more urgent need can get through to us. Thank you for your understanding.

Flu appointments are now available to be booked .

To enable us to maintain social distancing and prevent queuing, on the day of your appointment please do not arrive earlier than your allotted time and where possible attend on your own.

For Eligibility, please see link below:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/907491/Flu_Vaccination_who_needs_it_and_why_12pp_A5_booklet_2020.pdf

FROM THE 24TH JULY YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO WEAR A FACE MASK OR FACE COVERING WHEN YOU ATTEND THE PRACTICE. UNLESS YOU HAVE A VALID EXEMPTION - PLEASE SEE GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE ON THIS HERE:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Many patient have asked for information regarding exemption from wearing a face covering. Please click on the link below for guidance. Do not contact the surgery to request a letter - we DO NOT provide these. Thank you for your understanding.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

During these times it may be difficult to get a dental appointment if you need it. Please refer to the Government guidelines if you cannot get an appointment with your usual dentist.

https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/dental-health/how-can-i-access-an-nhs-dentist-in-an-emergency-or-out-of-hours/

EVERYONE OVER THE AGE OF 5 WITH COVID 19 SYMPTOMS WHICH INCLUDE NEW CONTINUOUS COUGH, HIGH FEVER OR LOSS/CHANGE OF TASTE OR SMELL CAN REQUEST A TEST. CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR GUIDANCE:

Guidance on coronavirus testing, including who is eligible for a test and how to get tested.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#who-can-be-tested

WE ARE STILL RUNNING OUR BABY IMMUNISATION CLINICS. IT IS EXTREMEMLY IMPORTANT THAT YOUR CHILD HAS THEIR VACCINATIONS. OUR NURSES ARE KITTED OUT WITH ALL THE APPROPRIATE EQUIPMENT (AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTO TO THE RIGHT) TO KEEP THEM, AND YOU AND YOUR BABIES SAFE. SEE YOU SOON!

 If you need help or know of someone that needs help, you can self refer into this programme by telephoning 0808 196 3646

There are 3  types of volunteers available to support you in the community if you are shielding

• Community Response volunteer: volunteers to collect and deliver shopping, medication or other essential supplies.
• Patient Transport volunteer: volunteers to provide transport to patients who are ready for discharge and ensure that they are settled safely back into their homes.
• Check in and Chat volunteer: volunteers to provide telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness 

BEWARE OF SCAMMERS

There is heightened coverage around the recent Coronavirus outbreak around the world, which is now severely impacting on the UK and the NHS. 

Unfortunately fraudsters are targeting these circumstances to take advantage of public fear and concern

We have been made aware that our patients are receiving phone calls, texts and letters from fraudsters. They will try and obtain your personal details and in particular your NHS number.

Scammers are sophisticated, opportunistic and will try many ways to get the information they want. They often target the vulnerable.

If you are suspicious, do not give any details over the phone, hang up and then ring your GP Practice to confirm.

You can also report to Action Fraud:

https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/

HAVE YOU, OR HAS SOMEONE YOU CARE FOR GOT DIABETES? DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE SICK DAY RULES!!

TYPE 1https://trend-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/A5_T1Illness_TREND_FINAL.pdf

TYPE 2 https://trend-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/A5_T2Illness_TREND_FINAL.pdf

PLEASE ACCESS OUR NEW FACEBOOK PAGE WHERE WE WILL BE POSTING LOTS OF IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

@AylmerCookley