Surgery update 26/02/2021

Surgery Update

On the 15/02/2021 GP Surgeries were instructed to deliver the vaccine to cohort 6. This cohort consists of patients aged 16 – 64 with underlying health conditions. Cohorts 1 – 5 will be cared for under the regional centres. We have vaccinated 45% of cohort 6, this figure will increase over the weekend as we are immunising today.

The government introduced additional patients to the shielding list, as of yesterday we have attempted to contact all the patients from this additional group, if we have not contacted you yet please do not worry we will be making second calls this week. Alternatively you can call the surgery and select option 4 for our bookings team.

We are now planning our recalls for the second vaccinations, these will in a similar fashion to your initial call the only change (currently testing for viability) we may use the AccuBook system of booking via text messages. More information will follow on how we will contact you, if you or someone you know doesn’t have a mobile phone or does not have the capacity to use a device please do not worry as we will manually contact those patients.

Are you or a family member in one of these groups? Take control. Book your first COVID vaccination now.

If you:

  • are aged 64 or over
  • are a frontline health and social care worker

Please, book today to have your potentially life-saving vaccination. You can book through the national booking system here: www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination

The national booking service allows you to arrange an appointment at a vaccination centre or community pharmacy-led service. Call 119 if you don’t have the internet. You can choose a time slot and location that suits you.

If it isn’t possible for you to attend any of the vaccination centres offered through the national booking service, then get in touch with the practice and we will offer you an appointment at our GP-led vaccination centre instead.

Vaccinations for people with learning disabilities and their Carers

The local NHS plans to vaccinate all adults (aged 16 and over) with a learning disability and their Carers by the end of February.

Our surgery is contacting people with learning disabilities and/or their Carers on their behalf, to arrange an appointment to have their first COVID-19 vaccine. If you have not been contacted and believe you should be registered with us as having a learning disability, please contact the practice to discuss this.

Family Carers of adults with a learning disability are also eligible for a vaccine. This can be arranged at the same time as booking the appointment for the person with learning disabilities.

There is more information on vaccinations for people with learning disabilities and their Carers on this NHS website: https://www.healthierfuture.org.uk/covid/coronavirus-information-for-people-with-learning-disabilities

The county council and partner organisations are continuing to support residents who request support via the National Shielding Support Service (NSSS) website: www.gov.uk/coronavirus-shielding-support. This can help with:

  • Deliveries of medication using volunteer support
  • Food assistance including volunteer shopper support (via Communities Help Hertfordshire) or purchasable food boxes (via Herts Independent Living Services)
  • Crisis support for those in financial difficulty or needing urgent support
  • Care support including mental health support, befriending, wellbeing visits or transport to vaccinations.

HertsHelp are also continuing to support users who do not have access to online services or are in urgent need of support. You can contact HertsHelp direct seven days a week on 0300 1234 044 or info@hertshelp.net.