Welcome to Baddow Village Surgery
Surgery Update 20 December 2021
We have a high number of staff members isolating either awaiting the results of PCR tests or who have tested positive to COVID.
The staff shortages cover all areas within the Practice and we ask our patients to be tolerant of our current difficulties.
Thank you.
PATIENT BEHAVIOUR
Our reception team are doing their best to deal with the increased number of telephone calls due to flu vaccinations and queries about Covid boosters. We also have new team members undergoing training.
Our protocol is that a patient will be called by a GP/ANP to assess their condition and if deemed necessary by the clinician the patient will be brought into the Surgery for a physical examination - our reception staff cannot make this decision.
Please DO NOT shout at our reception team members because they cannot book a face to face appointment without the patient first speaking to a GP/ANP.
We cannot book every patient with a face to face appointment as it is necessary to maintain social distancing in the waiting room which can only safely accommodate 16 patients.
This protocol is to protect YOU, other patients and our staff.
We have a zero tolerance approach to abusive and intimidating behaviour. All calls are recorded and we will follow the policy and issue warnings/remove patients from our practice list as appropriate.
Flu Clinics - updated 5 December
We have a received a delivery of flu vaccines for patients who are under 65 - please book as soon as possible as these are limited. These are only available for patients who are eligible for a free NHS vaccination. Please refer to www.nhs.uk for eligibility.
We still have some over 65s vaccines available - please book as soon as possible
Our List is now CLOSED to new patients
With effect from Tuesday 16 November 2021 we are temporarily not accepting applications from new patients.
As soon as we are in a position to reopen our list we will update this webpage.
14 July 2021 FACE MASK UPDATE
PLEASE CONTINUE TO WEAR A MASK WHILST IN THE SURGERY AND MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING
From 19 July there is no legal requirement to wear a face mask however the Surgery continues to require patients and staff to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing whilst in the Surgery.
NHS England's guidance is available on the link below:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/07/nhs-patients-staff-and-visitors-must-continue-to-wear-face-coverings-in-healthcare-settings/
COVID BOOSTER
and
Immunocompromised Patients 3rd dose
updated 16 December 2021
Baddow Village Surgery are providing pop up booster vaccination clinics. Appointments are by invitation only.
Please DO NOT call the Surgery to enquire - we will be sending invites to patients in order of when they received their second vaccination prior to planned clinics.
Immunocompromised patients who require a 3rd vaccine should contact the CCG Central Referral Team - Contact number: 0300 123 0771 - Open Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm
If you have difficulty using the telephone, e.g. hard of hearing, please make contact using email central.referral@nhs.net
PLEASE - cancel any unwanted appointments as there are 6 vaccines in a vial which must be used before the end of each day - not attending an appointment could cause wastage of these valuable vaccines.
Where can I book my booster vaccine?
· Pre-bookable appointments are also available at large vaccination centres and sites such as a community pharmacies.
· Essex County Council has worked with the NHS and a new vaccination centre will be opening at County Hall in Chelmsford on Tuesday 21st December.
· This weekend (18/19 December) Essex Partnership University Trust (EPUT) is hosting a Big Vaccination Weekend at Chelmsford City Racecourse. This is a pop-up clinic so appointments must be booked via a separate link here.
How do I book my booster vaccine?
· If you do not walk to pre-book an appointment, a list of walk-in Covid-19 vaccination sites is available at: https://www.essexcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/
· Pre-booked appointments can be made online at Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk). The website is experiencing high demand at the moment so you may be held in a queue for a short time. Please be patient and keep trying
You can also book by calling the CCG Central Referral Team:
Contact number: 0300 123 0771 - Open Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm
What does the future hold?
Baddow Village Surgery continues to grow and develop. We have been working towards increasing our clinical space by utilising the second floor of the surgery building, but our efforts have been hampered by delays beyond our control. We hope to have new consulting rooms, a waiting area and space to home the PCN clinical pharmacists.
As part of the Chelmsford City Health Primary Care Network, we are soon to have successfully delivered a significant part of the Covid vaccination programme for our patient population since January 15th 2021. Although we approach the end of this work, we look forward to continuing to work together in the future including the recruitment of further staff members to supplement our diverse health professional team.
Our thanks go out to those patients who have invested in a blood pressure monitor over the last 12 months. This has helped enormously with long term disease monitoring. We have restarted our BP machine loaning system, but there is an essential 72 hour delay before a machine can be cleaned and re-issued. We know that some patients have missed the surgery machine previously located in reception and we recognise that this is useful for some patients. Therefore, we are in the early stages of arranging a ‘Surgery Pod’, which will allow patients to check their own blood pressure and the readings will be automatically uploaded to the patient record.
We are soon to be participating in an AI powered Teledermatology system, which will allow clinicians at the surgery to see and assess skin lesions and use a device to access immediate advice and a final decision regarding skin lesions within 2 working days.
National Guidance for Suspected Coronavirus Cases
The government has put is place a policy of SELF ISOLATION for any patient with a new onset cough, and/or fever and/or loss of sense of taste/smell, that could be attributed to Covid-19 infection. Patients well enough to remain at home should self isolate for 10 days and ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS should self isolate for 10 days. If any other household member who is already self isolated develops symptoms, they should remain isolated for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms EVEN IF this means for longer than 10 days in total from when the first household member became symptomatic. Patients well enough to remain at home WHO LIVE ALONE should self-isolate for 10 days.
- If a patient is concerned that they are not well enough to remain at home with these symptoms then they should use the online NHS111 assessment tool, dial NHS111 or contact the surgery.
Testing for Covid-19 can be requested for anyone via the gov.uk website. If you do not have internet access then call 119.
- Track and Trace is now in operation. Any contact will be from the national team and their instructions should be followed. The practice are not involved in this process.
Medical certificates will not be issued for self-isolation or household isolation. Please utilise the NHS isolation note service available online. You can do this for yourself or another individual.
Click here to read guidance for patients isolating at home
Safeguarding our Patients
At this time when we are socially distancing and confined to our homes, we know that there are vulnerable adults or children who may be at greater risk or struggling to cope. We remain vigilant in safeguarding our patients. You may find these resources below useful:
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 If you're worried about a child, even if you're unsure, contact NSPCC professional counsellors for help, advice and support.
Childline 0800 1111: Offers free, confidential advice and support for any child 18 years or under, whatever the worry.
MIND: Mental Health Support with specific advice on ‘Coronavirus and your wellbeing’. www.mind.org.uk
YoungMinds: Supporting children and young people and their parents/carers with their mental health and wellbeing. Specific advice on managing self-isolation and anxiety about coronavirus. https://youngminds.org.uk
ICON: Babies cry: You can cope. http://iconcope.org/
SafeLives: Specific resources for domestic abuse and COVID. http://safelives.org.uk/news-views/domesticabuse-and-covid-19
IRISi interventions: irisi.org/iris/find-your-local-iris-site/
MENCAP: The voice of learning disability, has an easy read guide for any individuals with learning disability on their website www.mencap.org.uk
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Patient Information on Coronavirus
The latest information on symptoms of coronovirus infection and areas where recent travel may have resulted in a high risk of exposure can be found on
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/