From 1 September 2024, pregnant women can have a free vaccine in each pregnancy, to protect their babies against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV

When you will be offered the RSV vaccine

You should be offered it around the time of your 28 week antenatal appointment. If you haven’t heard by this stage, contact your maternity service or GP practice to make an appointment. Having the vaccine in week 28 or within a few weeks of this will help you build a good level of antibodies to pass on to your baby before birth. This will give your baby the best protection, including if they are born early.

You can still have the vaccine later in your pregnancy but it may be less effective. If it wasn’t possible to have your vaccine earlier, it can be given right up until you have the baby. If you have it very late in pregnancy, it may still protect you from infection and reduce the risk of you spreading infection to your newborn baby.

Full details can be found here: A guide to RSV vaccination for pregnant women - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (Accessed 09/08/2024

From 1 September 2024, those who turn 75 and those age 75 to 79 will be eligible for a free vaccine to protect them from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

RSV is an infectious disease of the airways and lungs. RSV infection often causes symptoms similar to a cold, including:

• cough
• sore throat
• sneezing
• a runny or blocked nose

It can also make you become wheezy or short of breath and lead to pneumonia and other life-threatening conditions. There is no specific treatment, and most infections will get better by themselves. Every year thousands of older adults need hospital care for RSV, and some of them will die. RSV can be more severe in people with medical conditions such as heart or lung disease or a weakened immune system.

RSV infection is common in young children but is most serious for small babies and for older people.

How RSV is spread

RSV infections can occur all year round but cases peak every winter.

RSV can spread through coughs and sneezes. You can help to prevent the spread of the virus by covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze (ideally with a tissue, or else into the bend of your elbow), and you can wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of picking up the virus. Even with these measures it can be difficult to avoid RSV infection.

The best way to protect yourself is to have the vaccine

Eligibility for the RSV vaccination

Everyone turning 75 years old on or after the 1 September 2024 will be offered a single dose of RSV vaccine. This is because older adults are more at risk of serious complications from RSV. You can still get the vaccine up to the day before you turn 80.

For the first year of the programme, the vaccine will also be offered to those who are already aged 75 to 79 years on 1 September 2024 as part of a catch up programme.

If you are not yet 75 the NHS will invite you for vaccination once you turn 75.

Your GP will invite you for your free RSV vaccination if:

• You turn 75 years of age on or after 1 September 2024
• You are already aged 75 to 79 years old on 1 September 2024

Full link of information can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccination-for-older-adults/your-guide-to-the-rsv-vaccine-for-older-adults (accessed 09/08/2024)

At Chawton Park Surgery, we stand in solidarity with the BMA's industrial action and fully support the efforts to address the critical issues facing the healthcare system. As a partnership and practice team, however, we feel it is appropriate to continue seeing our patients during this period without changes to are daily activities.

We are acutely aware of and share in the daily challenges of meeting the overwhelming demand for appointments and request for contacts. Our commitment is to provide timely and appropriate care to all our patients, as do all GP Practices. It is with great sadness that we witness the strain under which our healthcare system currently operates.

We remain dedicated to our patients and our team and will do our utmost to deliver the best possible care in these trying times.

The team at Chawton Park Surgery

The roving health hub updated schedule.  The Spring COVID booster programme has finished however, we are still offering Blood pressures, Weight checks and signposting advice.

No appointment necessary, please just attend during the times list below:

Please find attached this months Primary Care Network newsletter  - Click here

The trial of a new online consultation platform, called AccuRx is going very well. We have had feedback from some of our patients who have used to and it seems to be much easier to use and takes less time to complete. 

Therefore, we have decided to pause the use of eConsult at this time and use AccuRx. 

Here is a patient information video for more information and how to use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOTMVlTlYzA

The link is available on the front page of our website, or via this link Contact us about your request (accurx.com)

If you do use the new platform we would like to hear your feedback, please do email the Practice. 

In line with their commitment to security, Patient Access have introduced a new multi-factor authentication (MFA) log-in process for Patient Access, which comes into effect from May 2024. 

Patients will be required to input a one-time-passcode (OTP) from an authenticator application to log-in to their account. You can find more information on the Patient Access website here. 

Patients can choose an authenticator application for mobile or desktop devices, and there are several free options to choose from. Suggestions here.  

For those who do not have a mobile phone: Patient Access are making changes so that patients do not need to add a mobile phone number to their Patient Access account. They can instead choose to use a desktop authenticator to complete the MFA log-in.

For more information visit EMIS Patient Access directly here or contact their Support Desk.

Alternatively, you can download and use the NHS app (Available on smart devices and computers) full details are available here https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-app/ 

Please find attached this months Primary Care Network newsletter - via this link

Please find attached an update from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Intergated Card Board which overseas the provision of healthcare, has changed its position and guidance to GPs on the prescribing of gluten free foods. This means gluten-free goods will not longer be available on prescription. 

This process started across the system in January 2024.

Any patient who has gluten free products prescribed will be contacted. 

Full details and FAQs can be found here -  Gluten Free foods FAQs.pdf

Useful patient resources: Patient webinars: Coeliac Disease - https://patientwebinars.co.uk/condition/coeliac-disease/webinars/

Coeliac UK: Living Gluten Free and Gluten Free Checklist - https://www.coeliac.org.uk/information-and-support/living-gluten-free/the-gluten-free-diet

You can also find recipes and tips for managing a gluten-free diet on the Coeliac UK website - www.coeliac.org.uk/home/ 

Dr Goodman has now retired from Chawton Park Surgery.  We wish him luck in his future endeavours. 

All patients that were registered with Dr Goodman have been allocated a new named GP.  However, you can see any of the GPs that work at the Practice. This will show on your NHS app. 

If you would prefer a different named GP to the one you have been allocated, please do not call the Practice, the Patient Co-Ordiantors cannot help with these queries, please email the Practice at hiowicb-hsi.chawtonparksurgery@nhs.net 

The Practice does have first contact physiotherapist available at the Practice that you can book in for an assessment without seeing the GP.

To compliment this service, the Circle MSK service now has an app available, to support you with MSK (musculoskeletal) problems. It:
• Introduces and explains the MSK service, including contact information
• Contains useful information about MSK conditions
• Includes exercises to support you to manage your condition
• Offers advice on “Waiting Well” – if you’re waiting for an appointment
• Allows you to refer yourself to the MSK service for physiotherapy using Phio

Full details are avaiable here: https://circleintegratedcare.physiapp.com/ 

MMR cases are increasing.

There is a recall system in place where NHS England are proactively contacting all parents and guardians of 6 to 11 year olds regarding the importance of having two doses of MMR. This includes patients whose children are fully vaccinated.

The Practice has been contacting patients directly for those with children aged 6 to 11 years who we believe do require a vaccination. 

However, we are able to offer MMR vaccinations to any patients who have not had two doses before in their lifetime. If you have any queries please do contact the Practice team on 01420542542. Appointments are also available via the NHS app and online accounts.

Diabetic Eye Screening has changed the frequency of screening for Patients who are at a lower risk of diabetic eye related diseases. 

Patients who are at a lower risk, will now be invited for screening every 2 years instead of every year. 

How can I find out more about NHS diabetic eye screening?

To read more about diabetic eye screening and diabetic retinopathy visit:

Diabetic eye screening - Diabetic eye screening - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Your guide to diabetic eye screening - Your guide to diabetic eye screening - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

From 1st November 2023, Healthcare professionals will no longer be able to book non-emergency patient transport.

Please read the attached poster for further information -  Whats changing Nov 2023 - Patient Version.pdf

The Practice now has a facebook page, which will be used for updating our patients on important information, Facebook

The A31 has a dedicated cancer care-co-ordaintor who is available to be contacted regarding support for patients with cancer, also to help to keep our patients up to date with what free screening is available to all patients.

 Hannah is available via  hiowicb-hsi.a31cancercare@nhs.net for routine queries and support. For any urgent queries or medical advice please do contact the surgery as normal, or 111 or 999 in an medical emergency. 

More information please see the dedicated page by clicking here -  Cancer Care Coordinator advice pages

The practices of the A31 Primary Care Network are pleased to announce that from June 10^th there will be additional Saturday appointments in the Alton & Four Marks area available for our patients to book.

These appointments will be run on our behalf by Mid Hants Healthcare and held at Chawton Park Surgery on behalf of the registered patients of The Wilson Practice, Chawton Park Surgery and Boundaries Surgery. This will be a local service provided for our patients and delivered within Alton and you may recognise some of the team members from your usual practices!

The new service will offer a wider range of services for our Alton and Four Marks population than currently offered on a Saturday and run between 09:00 – 17:00.  Please check our A31 PCN Facebook page and your practice websites for more information as the service develops.

To book an appointment please contact your Practice as usual.  Appointments will be available for booking from 1 June 2023.