Due to the recent surge in Covid-19 and the pressures on the NHS, we stopped most non-essential work. As the success of the vaccination programme and lockdown measures reduce the pressures on the NHS, we are reintroducing many of our routine services. We are also putting a plan together to catch up on the backload of routine checks and services which we are left with after almost a year of non-standard working.

We will also be continuing with the very successful local vaccination programme.

Please bear with us during this transitional time. We are looking for our "new normal" to be better than before and to build on the huge community spirit, shown locally during the crisis and will be sharing more details shortly.

In the mean time, please use the above e-Consult service whenever you can.

Useful local advice for parents and carers of babies, children and young people can be found at

Frimley Healthier

Together

Oakley Health Group Vaccination Update

-  30th April 2021 

Aged 40yrs or older?
Or turning 40yrs old before 1st July 2021?
Not had your jab yet?

Call us!! 

We are now calling back patients for second doses of vaccine who had their first doses on or before 20th February 2021. Supplies for second doses are guaranteed, so do not worry, we WILL contact you to have your second vaccine by 11 - 12 weeks after the first.

We are also continuing to vaccinate every patient aged 40yrs+, so if you have not yet been contacted and would like to be vaccinated, then contact us.  Please remember that this applies to patients registered at Oakley Health Group. If you are not registered, then registration forms can be downloaded from our website. https://www.oakleyhealth.org/website/X82206/files/gpregistration1.pdf

You can also be vaccinated if you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable), live or work in a care home, are a health and social care worker, have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable) or have a learning disability.

You can also be vaccinated if you live with someone who is immunosuppressed (someone who received a shielding letter during lockdown)

If you have previously been offered a vaccination but have declined, it is not too late to change your mind – let us know and we will book you in.

If you are not sure whether you want to be vaccinated, then book a vaccination appointment and discuss your concerns with the doctor or nurse – we will only vaccinate you if we have your full consent.

Under 30s and Astra Zeneca Vaccine

We are following national guidelines that for patients under 30 years old, without other health conditions, it's preferable to have another COVID-19 vaccine instead of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca vaccine.

More information is available here

The COVID-19 vaccine can help stop you getting seriously ill or dying from coronavirus. For people aged 30 or over and those with other health conditions, the benefits of being vaccinated outweigh any risk of clotting problems.

Dr Neil Bhatia has produced some simple information about the risks associated with the Astra Zeneca Vaccine

COVID-19 Clinical Risk Assessment Tool

NHS Digital have commissioned a COVID-19 risk assessment tool for use by healthcare professionals. When warranted, the use of this tool will allow a healthcare professional to assess an individual's risk of COVID-19.

The tool has been registered by NHS Digital as a Class 1 medical device with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The tool necessarily involves inputting relevant information from a patient's record into the online tool, to enable calculation of risk assessments, and as such we are required by law to provide our patients with the following information:

• A DPIA that we have produced
• A privacy notice
• A more detailed privacy notice

Further information about the tool can be found at:
https://digital.nhs.uk/coronavirus/risk-assessment/clinical-tool/information-for-patients

How can we help you?

Getting the care you need during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

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 - you will get a response the same day - this is the option the doctors would prefer you to use if possible.

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 and a Receptionist will call you back.

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:

• Post your request into our post boxes at any of our sites
• Email us on NEHFCCG.OHG@nhs.net
• Request via Online Access
• Download the NHS App
• Use the e-consult service
• 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