Latest News

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NHS COVID-19 VACCINATION PROGRAMME UPDATE

We know that everyone is eager to find out when they will get their Covid vaccination and that this is an anxious time. The NHS is working very hard to invite people who are eligible to have their vaccination, as quickly as possible. If you are aged over 50 you can now book your vaccination through the surgery or the National Booking Service, online, or by calling 119.

Please support us by ensuring your contact details are up to date, so we can contact you quickly when it is time to have your vaccination.  We are contacting eligible people by phone, letter or text message – if you have already booked an appointment at a large vaccination centre, please tell us so we can update our records.

As soon as you are invited – please confirm your appointment date and time.  You must attend all booked appointments to ensure that precious vaccines are not wasted and we can invite everyone as quickly as possible.

** If you already have an appointment over the coming weeks, whether for your first or second dose, this remains in place and it’s really important that you attend it as planned

You can get your COVID vaccination if:

• You are aged 50 or over
• you are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
• you are an eligible frontline health or social care worker
• you have a condition that puts you at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
• you have a learning disability
• you are a main carer for someone at high risk from coronavirus

**Oxford Astrazeneca update**

On 7 April 2021, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued new advice, concluding a possible link between the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca and extremely rare, unlikely to occur blood clots. It concluded that the benefits of vaccination continue to outweigh any risks but advised careful consideration be given to people who are at higher risk of specific types of blood clots because of their medical condition.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has weighed the relative balance of benefits and risks of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and advise that:

• the benefits of prompt vaccination with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine far outweigh the risk of adverse events for individuals 30 years of age and over and those who have underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease. 
• It is preferable for adults aged under 30 years without underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease, to be offered an alternative COVID-19 vaccine, if available. People may make an informed choice to receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to receive earlier protection.

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You can use this service to book your coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination at the Bath and West Showground, Taunton Racecourse or one of our pharmacy sites in Yeovil, Taunton or Bruton if any of the following apply to you:

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Where do private carers (paid care workers), who are employed via a direct payment, sit within the priority list?

Personal Assistants or private carers are covered in the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation) list under priority 2 – you can find out more here.

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If you are attending any appointment in a care setting such as here at Essex House Medical Centre or a Hospital or Vaccination Centre, you will need to wear a surgical face mask. This is in addition to social distancing and hand hygiene.

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Covid Testing available for unpaid carers in Somerset

I would like to inform you of the availability of Covid testing through a number of Lateral Flow Testing (LFT) sites across the county.  These testing sites can now be accessed by un-paid carers in Somerset. These tests screen individuals for Sars CoV- 2, the virus that causes Covid19. We are keen to target these tests to workforces and people within the community where they can have most impact, by protecting some of our most vulnerable residents and also to prevent asymptomatic transmission amongst staff and enable care and support to continue.

The test is very straightforward and you will be supervised by a trained member of staff to complete the swabbing yourself.  A swab is a small piece of soft, absorbent material on a plastic stick that is used to take a sample from your nose and throat.

Staff in the hub will process the specimen whilst you wait in the car (takes about 30 minutes to get the result)

There is a booking system that has been set up and you can access this through the links below depending on the site you wish you visit.

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Bridgwater: Bridgwater & Albion Rugby Football Club (Bath Road, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 4TZ

https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/BridgwaterLFTtest@somersetcc.onmicrosoft.com/bookings/

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Taunton: Broughton House, Taunton, TA1 2PP

https://tauntonlft.somerset.gov.uk/

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Shepton Mallet: 19 Commercial Road, Shepton Mallet

https://sheptonlft.somerset.gov.uk/

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Yeovil: Royal Naval Air Station

https://yeovillft.somerset.gov.uk/

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Please do not call or turn up at the surgery or the local hospital to enquire about COVID vaccinations.

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We know that patients and all health and care staff are eager to find out when they will receive their COVID vaccination. The NHS is prioritising vaccinating those people who experts have agreed will benefit from it the most and we are systematically working through all eligible groups according to the national priorities.

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Please be assured that we will contact you directly, when it is your turn to book your vaccination and we will answer all your questions at your appointment.

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Health and care teams across Somerset are working exceptionally hard to roll out our local vaccination programme in Somerset in line with the JCVI’s prioritisation and we are continuing to vaccinate people aged 80 and over, care home residents and staff, as well as widening out the offer to frontline health and social care staff.

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Please continue to attend any vaccination appointments as planned. If there are any changes we will contact you direct – please do not call the surgery.

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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 27^th 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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