Know where to go when feeling unwell
Our e-Consult service is available throughout the week but is not available from Fridays at 18:30 until Mondays at 08:00. Local doctors and nurses are working during the times this service is not available and can be contacted by calling 111.
UPDATE on COVID BOOSTERS
AND THIS YEAR’S FLU VACCINATION CAMPAIGN
- SAT 4/9/21
We thought it would be useful to take this opportunity to give you a local update on the above campaigns.
In most years, as the children head back to school, the booking up of flu clinics is in full swing. This year, when we have more people to vaccinate than ever before,
we are still not able to fully launch ourselves into this operation.
We are still awaiting guidance from the JCVI and Department of Health as to exactly who will be offered a Covid Booster and when. Just as we had decided to go full steam ahead with flu vaccinations whilst awaiting this guidance, we heard the news that our main supplier has transportation issues and deliveries will be delayed by 1 – 2 weeks. It would be wrong for us to book clinics without clear confirmation of delivery dates.
This is a national not local problem.
We want to reassure you that the set-up we have locally is quite unique. With three sites, our own Covid Vaccination Centre, a large and experienced team of vaccinators and amazing help from local volunteers, we will be “ready to go” as soon as we know exact nature of the task in hand.
We promise you all that, once deliveries are secured, we will put into operation a wide-reaching plan to get all eligible patients in the local community, vaccinated as quickly as possible.
You may be interested to know that we are one of the most highly vaccinated areas of the country, with over 92.4% of all local people over the age of 16,
having received a Covid vaccination and 87.8% having been double vaccinated.
In the meantime, it is not too late if you have not yet come forward to have a Covid vaccination or have not yet had your second dose (8 weeks after the first). You do not have the maximum possible protection until after the second dose, particularly against the Delta variant.
We will be putting out regular updates as this fast-moving situation develops.
An easy way to prove your COVID-19 Vaccination status is via the NHS App
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad
You can download the app here:
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/online-services/nhs-app/
Access to your vaccination status (the now-called "NHS COVID Pass"), via the NHS App, does not require you to contact the surgery - it is automatically provided once you have self-certified your identity. You only need to contact the surgery if you want access to further/detailed information from your GP medical record.
More information about the NHS App, and secure online GP services in general, can be found on our website, or in our factsheet.
There are other ways to prove your vaccination status, without needing either a smartphone or the NHS App, if you so wish:
- You can view and download your COVID-19 vaccination status online
- You can call 119 and ask for a letter with your COVID-19 vaccination status to be posted to you
And other apps are available (such as Patient Access and Evergreen Life).
But please not contact the surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status.
We cannot provide letters showing your vaccine record.
We cannot provide letters confirming “freedom from infection”.
How can we help you?
Getting the care you need
Appointments
We are operating a "total triage" system. That means you need to have a discussion with a clinician who will try and help you. If a face to face appointment is needed, they will arrange for this to happen at a time and place which keep you and us safe.
Use our e-consult system at the top of the page.
If you cannot use e-Consult, call us and let us know what you need. A doctor or nurse will call you back and video consultations are available too. If you call and our lines are busy, you can send us an email on NEHFCCG.OHG@nhs.net requesting a call and a Receptionist will call you back. Please DO NOT email us with clinical concerns as this is not safe and often wastes time by not providing sufficient clinical details - please use e-Consult which has built-in safety features and has been designed by doctors to collect the right information to get you the best help.
Face to face appointments are currently happening at Yateley Medical Centre and Hartley Corner Surgery. Patients with Coronavirus symptoms will be seen in our "Hot Zone" at Yateley Medical Centre, separate from other non-symptomatic patients.
Please do not come into any off our sites without an appointment.
All patients who need to be seen face to face should arrive wearing a face covering, to help keep staff and other patients safe.
Prescriptions
To request a prescription:
- Use the NHS App
- Request via Online Access
- Use the e-consult service
- Post your request into our post boxes at any of our sites
- call us (our least favourite option - only as a last resort please !)
Your prescription request, once prescribed, will be sent to your nominated pharmacy for you to collect. Please order in good time, and avoid "urgent prescriptions" whenever possible.
Self Care
If you think you might be able to help yourself, our e-consult system can point you in the right direction. Alternatively, the NHS website www.nhs.uk and the NHS App both have symptom checkers and sensible advice. A particularly good site for concerns about children is www.what0-18.nhs.uk
Routine Care
We are doing our best to provide as many of our services as possible for our patients and being as resourceful as we can in these unprecedented times. The list below is just an indication so e-consult, email or call us to discuss you needs further.
Baby Immunisations - a clinic has been running throughout the pandemic, combining mum and baby's 8 week check with baby's first vaccinations. Pre-school boosters are also taking place as normal.
Blood tests including warfarin monitoring - blood tests are available including those needed for hospital appointments. As a consequence, we are not doing some routine monitoring of patients with stable conditions, who may safely delay these checks under clinical guidance.
Cervical Screening - up and running again - contact us for an appointment
Diabetes - Specialist Nurse advice available
Family Planning - contact us with your requirements, ideally using e-Consult
Mental Health Support - we recognise the addition strain that many are feeling under lockdown and telephone appointments are available with our Mental Health Practitioners, Tatenda Makombe and Sharon Burns. You can self-refer for free NHS CBT, counselling and therapy contact Talk Plus or for more information about Crisis Services, Learning Disabilities, Services for Older Adults or services for Children and Young People click here
Orthopaedic Practitioners - available for muscular-skeletal advice and guidance - their preference is to be contacted by e-Consult if possible
Respiratory, including Asthma and COPD - Specialist Nurse advice available
Other Concerns
We are aware that some of our patients are concerned about aspects of their health but do not want "to bother the doctors" at such a busy time.
If you have any of the following symptoms, then you should contact us straight away:
- Lumps, bumps or swelling
- Blood in your pee, poo or coughing up blood
- Unexplained pain
- Change in bowel habit
- Extreme tiredness
- Weight loss (unplanned)
- Cough lasting over 3 weeks, especially if you have ever smoked
We are your local GP practice; we’re working very hard and doing things differently but are still here.
If you need our help – contact us!
The NHS test and trace service – be aware of scams
Oakley Health Group has a factsheet for our patients explaining how to spot genuine contacts from the service - and how to avoid scams:
Beware of scams - the NHS Test and Trace service
(Site updated 15/09/2021)