Due to the continuing unpredicatability of staff sickness due to COVID-19 and associated healthcare setting isolation guidelines our daily clinical capacity continues to be significantly reduced at times.

Please consider if your community pharmacist can help with minor ailments or visit www.nhs.uk for medical advice

PLEASE NOTE members of our reception and administration team are available at the practice to assist if you have no internet accessibility and we continue to use our intercom and meet and greet facility.

Vaccination Update - including SPRING BOOSTERS 

All queries regarding COVID vaccinations must be directed to 119

The surgery do not have any access to vaccinations and the team will signpost you to 119

You will be contacted by NHS England to make an appointment if you are eligible - all over 75 year olds are also eligible however time criteria applies

Following the end to mandatory social distancing and mask wearing in daily life, please be advised that if you are visiting a healthcare setting such as our GP surgery, community clinic or hospital, you will still be required to wear a facemask and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Despite any changes coming into force in the community, current guidance remains in place in hospitals, GP and other primary care buildings and services in central Lancashire, and will not change at this time.  

Therefore, all health and social care staff, volunteers, patients and visitors will still be required to continue to follow the below: 

• HANDS:Wash hands regularly with soap and water or hand gel if hand washing facilities are not available 
• FACE:Wear a face covering in practice buildings  
• SPACE:Stay at least 2m away from people wherever possible and ensure you follow the social distancing measures in place 

Thank you for helping us continue to keep our patients and staff safe during these continued challenging times. 

The coronavirus (COVID-19) booster vaccine programme is continuing to be rolled out across the country.

A booster dose helps improve the protection you have from your first two doses of the vaccine and gives you longer-term protection against getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

You'll be offered a booster dose no earlier than 6 months after you had your 2nd dose. The NHS knows who is eligible and will invite you to book your booster vaccination programme when it is your turn. You’ll be able to book an appointment at a vaccination centre of your choice. This could be a larger vaccination centre or pharmacy

Those currently eligible to receive a booster dose includes:

• people aged 50 and over
• people who live and work in care homes
• frontline health and social care workers
• people aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts them at high risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19
• people aged 16 and over who are a main carer for someone at high risk from COVID-19
• people aged 16 and over who live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

People who are pregnant and in one of the eligible groups can also get a booster dose.

People who work for an NHS trust or a care home will usually get their booster dose through their employer – but they can book via the national booking system by self-declaring as a member of health and social care staff.

If you or your family member is housebound then specific arrangements will be made to make sure you receive the booster vaccination at home. It can take longer for the home visiting team to visit everyone on their list so please be patient.  There is no need to contact the practice.

If you have not yet been contacted to book your booster dose then please do not worry. You will be invited to do so as soon as possible. You do not need to contact your local GP or any other NHS service at this stage.

The NHS has initially been prioritising boosters for those most at risk, such as care and nursing home residents. Over the coming weeks more and more people, including housebound individuals, will be invited to book an appointment for the booster dose.

In the meantime, if you know you are eligible and would prefer not to wait then you can book an appointment via the national booking system online.

Further information about COVID-19 vaccines is available at: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine

Patients 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 from:

• the NHS App which you can download from app stores

• the NHS website

It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified so you can use this service.

If you cannot access the online services, and you have had 2 vaccines, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel abroad in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

Vaccine passes are not the GP’s responsibility – GP Practice’s have no control over the system or how it is implemented. This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status.

When you’re planning your travel, check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is time to get  proof of your vaccination status before you leave.

Frequently asked questions

Who do I contact if I have a problem with the app or getting a letter?

You must contact 119

When I try to view my record it says I need some information from my GP – how do I get this?

This information is related to Online Access. You do not need this information to view your COVID Vaccine status – you are most likely looking in the wrong part of the app. Call 119 for help.

However we are happy to set up online access for you so that you can view your results and other parts of your medical record. See here for more information.

I had one or both of my vaccines abroad – will I be able to get a vaccine pass on the app or as a letter? 

No – the system is not built to allow for the recording of vaccines given outside of the UK. We can add the information to your GP record but this will not be reflected on the national system on which the COVID pass is based.

I had one or both of my vaccines in another part of the UK (Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland) – will I be able to get a vaccine pass on the app or as a letter?

No – COVID vaccination data is held on different systems in the different countries so will not appear on the app. If you had both vaccines in one of the other UK countries then you might be able to request a letter as proof.

For Scotland: https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/after-your-vaccine/get-a-record- of-your-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-status

For Wales: https://gov.wales/get-nhs-covid-pass-show-your-vaccination-status-travel

For Northern Ireland: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/get-covid-19-vaccination-northern- ireland

I had my vaccine as part of a clinical trial – will I be able to get a vaccine pass on the app or as a letter?

You should have received a print-out confirming your vaccination as part of the trial, and this should be used as your evidence of being vaccinated.