Our Flu Vaccine has arrived!
Our booking line will open tomorrow morning (29/09/2021) and we are expecting the line to be busy.
Where possible, please utilise the online booking facility for those who have registered with the NHS or Patient Access app.
For patients who already have appointments and are coming in to see us, we will be also be giving vaccinations during our face-to-face appointments, whether that be with the GP, Urgent Care Team or Nursing Team.
Please do let the clinician know you would like a jab when you see them!
We are also contacting all patients via, text, phone or letter.
Thank you all for your patience and continued support.
From Wednesday the 8th of September the baby clinic will no longer be running at St Mary’s Church but is back to Chard Baptist Church by appointment only from 10am to 11.40.
To book an appointment clients need to phone the Health Visitors on 03007906839. I have attached a new flyer to replace the previous one.
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All GP practices are affected by the current national shortage of blood tubes and are taking urgent steps alongside our hospitals to prioritise their use for people with the greatest clinical need. This includes testing for serious conditions such as cancer.
"We are following national guidance which has been issued in response to the shortage. As a result, we may need to cancel and delay a number of patient appointments for blood tests deemed routine or non-urgent. If you have a routine blood test appointment your GP surgery will be in touch directly if they need to cancel your appointment, this will be by phone or by text message.
Please be assured that appointments will be rescheduled once the situation has improved, and in line with national guidance. There are a few things you can do if you are affected by this change:
- Check our website for updates – we will be sharing the latest patient information as we receive it.
- Check your phone for messages from your GP practice.
- Please don’t call or contact your GP practice with questions about routine blood tests – practices are experiencing exceptional levels of demand at the moment, and your cooperation will help practice staff to focus on reaching those without smartphone or internet access with this critical information.
- Do get in touch with your GP practice online if your condition worsens or changes so that the surgery can prioritise your blood test if necessary following clinical review.
The changes are likely to be in place for at least four weeks. We will keep you updated as the national situation changes. We fully understand the frustration this is likely to cause and apologise for the inconvenience."
From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available through the NHS COVID Pass service from:
You will need to register to use the online services, if you have not already. It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified.
If you cannot access the online services, and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take up to 7 working days for the letter to arrive.
This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status. Please do not contact the practice about your COVID-19 vaccination status unless you have been advised to by the 119 service.
When you're planning your travel, you should check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is enough time to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status before you are due to travel.
27th August 2020
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Important Patient Information
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Please do not attend the surgery if you have any symptoms of COVID-19
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As of Thursday 27th August 2020, Essex House Medical Centre will be operating a new one way system. Patients with pre-booked appointments only will now be allowed into the building through the main front entrance, one patient at a time.
Patients are advised not to arrive early for their appointment. You will need to wear a face mask. Only the booked patient will be allowed into the surgery. If the appointment is for a child, please ensure only one parent/carer attends with them.
Each patient arriving for a pre-booked appointment will need to enter the initial front door and press the intercom button located on the wall to their right.
The Receptionist will log you in and give access to the building. As you enter the main building you will be asked to stop and sanitise your hands using the gel provided. You will also need to have your temperature taken at this point. If your temperature is 38 degrees or above: your appointment will be unable to proceed and you will be asked to leave the building by the rear exit. The GP will then telephone you to assess you and agree what to do next.
The waiting area is marked out to accommodate social distancing and you will need to wait in the marked locations laid out on the floor. Due to the limitations of space no seating will be provided other than a single seat for any disabled patient who may be booked for an appointment. Please be aware that there are no toilet facilities available for use whilst you are in the surgery.
The calling board will be operating and you will be called for your appointment by your name appearing on the television screen as usual. No printed tickets will be issued at this present time.
Once your appointment is completed you will need to leave by the back exit door. Unfortunately at this present time if you need to make any further appointments you will have to contact reception via the telephone.
We thank you for your patience and understanding for any ‘teething’ issues that may come to light as we open the surgery for the first time in several months.
17th July 2020
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Under Wearing a Face Mask - exemptions
SOMERSET LOCAL MEDICAL COMMITTEE have advised the following:
The LMC consulted the General Practitioners Committee and received the following reply. "We specifically raised this with NHS England and there is full agreement that GPs should not be approached to write these. We would encourage practices to decline... It is actually rather difficult to envisage any circumstance in which the wearing of a face mask would be genuinely medically contra-indicated."
Please do not request a letter from your GP to support exemption from wearing a face mask.
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