NEW: Covid Booster vaccinations for 40-49 year olds
The NHS has announced that booster vaccinations will start to become available for anyone aged 40-49 from 22nd November 2021. The National Booking system will start to contact patients who have had an interval of at least 6 months from their 2nd vaccination. We advise patients to book via the National booking system to find an appointment at the dedicated mass vaccination centres which are open 7 days a week from 8am -8pm. Please do not contact the practice unless you have special needs or are unable to access the dedicated vaccination centres.
NEW: 2nd dose Covid vaccinations for 16-17 year olds
The JCVI have now recommended a second dose for 16-17 year olds at a minimum interval of 12 weeks after their 1st dose. You will be able to book an appointment for this online via the national booking system or grab a jab at a dedicated mass vaccination centre open 7 days a week 8am-8pm. Please do not contact the practice unless you have special needs or are unable to access the dedicated vaccination centres.
NEW: Covid vaccinations - Medical exemptions
The Government has outlined the process whereby people who are unable to be vaccinated on medical grounds, will be able to get formal notification of their medical exemption from vaccination to prevent them from being disadvantaged for travel, employment and access to venues. Further information on this process is available on https://www.gov.uk/guidance/covid-19-medical-exemptions-proving-you-are-unable-to-get-vaccinated.
Please note that there is an advance fee payable to the practice of £44 per exemption application.
Covid booster jabs
Covid booster jabs are available if it is at least 6 months after the date of your second vaccination. The national booking system sends out text messages to invite you to book in to their dedicated vaccination centres at Bromsgrove, Malvern and Worcester. You can chose whether you wish to attend a dedicated vaccination centre which are open 7 days a week 8am-8pm. The national booking system text message will contain a link to click on to book in for a booster at one of their clinics or you can search for grab a jab. Our Practice staff are continuing to provide some covid booster jabs but we are needing to deliver this on top of our usual General Practice commitments and our annual flu vaccinations, so our capacity is currently very limited. We recommend booking through the national booking system or attending a walk in centre to get quicker access to your booster.
If you have any queries relating to the covid booster, please email corbett.medical@nhs.net. Thank you.
Flu clinic update - next clinics 20th November.
We are currently able to offer flu jabs to any eligible patients which now includes all patients over the age of 50.
Shared Care Record delivering better, safer care for all our patients
We wanted to let you know that we are finally connecting our systems to offer joined-up health and care records, which will enable better, safer care and treatment for all our patients. As a GP, it is difficult to provide joined-up care with so many separate systems for handling patient information. These were not connected, meaning that you often had to repeat your story each time you received care at a different organisation, or with a different health professional.
The Shared Care Record means up-to-date records will be immediately available to professionals caring for you as a patient, when you need direct care. It will mean, for instance, a doctor in a hospital, or a paramedic who attends a 999 call will be able to confidentially access the same crucial information that we can at the Practice, such as details of any allergies and current medications, bringing potentially life-saving benefits.
Robust security measures are in place to protect your health information and all staff must follow the law on keeping your information confidential. The Shared Care Record is not the same as the General Practice Data for Planning and Research Directions (GPDPR), which is a national NHS Digital initiative to use GP practice data for research and planning purposes. The Shared Care Record is a local initiative to share information with organisations directly involved in your care to ensure that you receive prompt and appropriate treatment when you need it.
For more information, please visit: https://herefordshireandworcestershireccg.nhs.uk/health-services/shared-care-record
These Q&A have been compiled with support from our Patient Participation Group. If you have a question that this sheet doesn't cover, please email us at Corbett.Medical@nhs.net.
Removal of children and young people from the shielded list
The former Deputy Chief Medical Officer of England Professor Jennifer Harries commissioned studies looking at the impact of COVID-19 on children and young people. These studies found that children and young people, including those originally considered to be clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), are at very low risk of becoming seriously unwell from the virus. This information was then discussed at an expert panel who recommended that all children and young people under the age of 18 should no longer be considered CEV and be removed from the Shielded Patient List, the national database of people considered clinically extremely vulnerable. This recommendation was presented to the Chief Medical Officers of the UK who agreed with the recommendation more...
NHS Data Sharing
The launch of the General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDfR) data collection has been postponed until September 2021 in order to provide more time for NHS digital to better communicate how this data will be used and allow patients to Opt out of data sharing should they wish to do so.
For more information about GDPfR or to learn how to opt-out please click here
Your covid vaccination status
Your vaccination status is available on:
- The NHS app which you can download from app stores
- The NHS website https://www.nhs.uk
- 119 by requesting a paper letter
If you don't already use our online services, you will need to register for them, which requires an identity check and verification.
If you cannot access online services and you have had both doses of the vaccine, you can request a paper letter by calling 119. Please only call 119 if you are due to travel outside the UK in the near future and had your second covid vaccination at least 5 working days ago. Please allow up to 7 working days to receive this letter.
Please do not contact the practice unless specifically instructed to do so by 119. As a rule the practice cannot provide you with a letter to demonstrate your vaccination status.
If travelling overseas, please check the GOv.UK website for the most up todate information on demonstrating your covid-19 vaccination status when travelling abroad. Please plan ahead and allow enough time to collect this information.
Share your covid19 status service
Text messages for covid vaccinations
We are aware of and apologise for, any confusion arising from text messages and the location of your vaccination clinic. The software used to generate the text message invitation and booking link refers to the Corbett Medical Practice. It does not allow us to show when a clinic is being held at Droitwich Medical Centre instead of at our own practice. The initial invitation message will refer to the correct location, and either the day before or the day of the appointment you will be sent a text message with a video link. This message will also confirm the correct location you should attend. Unfortunately we are unable to edit the third party software message at this point to make the correct location clearer.
Healthwatch Worcestershire survey
The Healthwatch worcestershire team are requesting your feedback in a survey regarding your experiences of hospital discharge. to complete this please follow these links:
Patients: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/patienthospdischarge Carers: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/carershospdischarge
Clinic arrangements for 1st doses
We are currently offering patients aged 18 years or older their first vaccination. Initial invitations are sent out via text message. Please ensure that you have provided us with your current mobile number to receive an invitation. If you have not been contacted, please get in touch with us via Corbett.Medical@nhs.net. Thank you.
Clinic arrangements for 2nd doses
We appreciate that many of you are anxious to know the arrangements for having your 2nd Covid19 vaccination dose. Currently we are working to an 8 week schedule between 1st and 2nd doses.
Covid-19 vaccination programme
The Droitwich practices are working together to deliver the Covid-19 vaccinations. The dedicated vaccination clinics are operating out of the Droitwich Medical Centre in the town centre next to the police station, and at The Corbett Medical Practice. The Corbett team work out of both of these locations to administer the vaccination programme to our patients.
The Droitwich practices are allocated a limited supply of vaccines to start administering them to our patients following the JCVI priority groups and are currently offering vaccinations to those aged 34 or more, those clinically considered at higher risk and frontline healthcare workers and carers.
Please contact our Reception team on 01905 795566 to book your appointment.
About the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine
Video: Introduction to our covid-19 vaccination programme
Who gets the vaccine first?
Please look at this Germ Defence website created by a team of Doctors and scientists providing advice that has been proven to reduce the spread of viruses in the home. It can help you plan how to protect yourself and members of your family from infection by COVID19 and the flu. People who have followed this Germ Defence advice had fewer and less severe illnesses and so did the people they lived with.
Covid-19 vaccine programme:
Following the announcement of the new vaccine, Practices are starting to get information through. There are some significant practical considerations to work through as we work out how the vaccinations will be delivered locally. As soon as we have arrangements confirmed, we will communicate this and contact patients directly to invite them to attend. You do not need to contact the practice, as we are unable to make any bookings at present.
Flu vaccinations
Please watch our video for an outline of how we will deliver our vaccination programme this year.
Corbett Medical Practice - working through the Covid19 crisis
The Practice is continuing to provide a service throughout the current pandemic. We are having to constantly adjust our way of working to new information, guidelines and demands but the practice team is now working steadily to start building our range of services back up. We have had to fully embrace new ways of working and introduce more digital solutions to help us keep our patients and staff safe by working remotely whenever possible. Whilst we are beginning to see more patients back on site at The Corbett Medical Practice, numbers are still very limited and we are needing to take precautions. Consequently we need you to:
- only come to the Practice if you have a face to face appointment booked
- ring the door bell 2 minutes before your appointment time to be let in
- wear a mask (a home-made cloth mask is sufficient)
- come into the practice alone (unless you are a child or have special needs)
Coronavirus - Covid19
The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff, while also ensuring services are still available to the public. Key information
(Sick) Fit notes for those in isolation due to Covid -19 Coronavirus.
You do not need to contact your GP for fit notes if you are unwell and in isolation. These will be issued via 111 NHS online, see https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note
Changes to the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS)
We are upgrading to the next phase of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) which will mean that almost all our prescriptions will be processed electronically from 10/06/2020
Electronic prescriptions help save the NHS money.
You will receive your prescriptions in the same way as you do now.
Read more about EPS on the NHS website.
Receiving encypted information from the Practice
As the Practice uses more digital methods of working with you, we may need to send you information via email in a secure way. Please see this guide to help you understand how to access an email that the Practice has sent you securely.
Photographs to support remote consultations
As we are now frequently conducting telephone consultations, you may be asked to provide a photograph of your skin condition. This needs to be as clear as possible to help the GP to advise you appropriately. Please see this simple guide on how to photograph your skin condition.
Wearing a mask
To help protect you and our staff members, if you do need to come to the practice to be seen, we ask that you wear a mask or other face covering (such as a scarf) to cover your nose and mouth. Please see this link to see how you can make your own mask.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) response: additional information included in SCR by default
To help the NHS to respond to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we are including additional information in Summary Care Records for patients by default, unless they have previously told the NHS that they did not want their information to be shared. Further information.
Beware of scammers
There is heightened coverage around the Coronavirus outbreak around the world, which is now severely impacting on the UK and the NHS. Unfortunately fraudsters are targeting these circumstances to take advantage of public fear and concern.
We have been made aware that our patients are receiving phone calls, texts and letters from fraudsters. They will try and obtain your personal details and in particular your NHS number.
Scammers are sophisticated, opportunistic and will try many ways to get the information they want. They often target the vulnerable.
If you are suspicious, do not give any details over the phone, hang up and then ring your GP practice to confirm.
Childhood vaccinations
It is essential that we maintain our childhood vaccination programme during the current Coronavirus situation, to prevent an outbreak of childhood diseases such as measles at this time. The full range of childhood vaccinations are available and catch up vaccines are also available for children who may not have completed their full course previously. If you would like further information, are unclear on your child's vaccination status or have any further queries - we encourage parents to speak to our nursing team.
MMR catch up programme
NHS England are launching a catch up programme for children aged 10 or 11 years who did not have or previously did not complete both of the MMR vaccines as part of their routine childhood vaccinations.
Children will be invited to attend the practice for their MMR. But you do not need to wait for an invitation. If your child missed out or you are uncertain please just contact the practice and we can check their records and book them in with one of our Nurses.
Please help stop the spread of Measles. This is a serious disease that can have very serious consequences.
See https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine-when-needed/ for more information.
Lifestyle Advisor service
Droitwich and Ombersley Practices are delighted to introduce a new lifestyle advisory service in conjunction with Onside Advocacy. You can self refer into this service at any time to work towards becoming healthier and happier... more
Improved Access Appointments
In addition to the practice’s normal opening hours, you can also book an appointment to see a local clinician in the evenings or on Saturday and Sunday at locations across South Worcestershire.
GP practices are working together to provide Improved Access appointments to our patients. This means that your Improved Access appointment may be with a different GP, nurse or based in a different location or practice than you are used to, and some of these appointments are telephone only.
These appointments are pre-bookable by contacting the surgery during our opening times – when calling please ask for an Improved Access appointment and our receptionists will help you to find a convenient appointment.
Alternatively you can now call a dedicated number direct to book an appointment 01905 789061. This line is open weekdays 6.30 - 8pm and weekends 8 - 12am.
Online consultations
Register for our new on-line consultation system via Doctorlink. This allows you to check your symptoms 24/7 and will confirm if you need to see a GP. Click Doctorlink to get started.
CQC Annual regulatory review
Further to our inspection in 2016 where the Practice was awarded an overall 'Outstanding' rating, CQC conducted a further routine annual review in May 2019. The Practice maintains it's 'Outstanding' status and will undergo another routine review in 12 months time.
Veteran Friendly Accreditation
The Corbett Medical Practice is now an Accredited Veteran Friendly Practice. Please do make the Practice aware if you are now or ever have been a member of the armed forces. The Practice can then ensure that you are linked in with relevant services.
Prescribing restrictions
The following items are no longer available on prescription in Worcestershire:
- gluten-free goods,
- infant milk and formula,
- over-the-counter medicines
- oral nutritional supplements
Please be aware that this is not a practice decision and part of a county-wide imperative. Further information
Complaints
If you need to register a complaint please contact: The Complaints Team, NHS South Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group, Barnsley Hall, Barnsley Hall Road, Bromsgrove B61 0TX
Complaints.RBCCG-WFCCG@nhs.net
CQC report - "Outstanding" - May 2016
The practice hosted a team of CQC inspectors in February 2016 who assessed the all aspects of the practice's performance and service provision via an indepth site inspection and series of detailed interviews with practice staff, patient representatives and community healthcare providers in conjunction with clinical outcome data, performance indicators and patient feedback. The practice has been awarded an overall rating of Outstanding having acheived "Outstanding" in 3 and 2 "Good" in the 5 categories assessed.
See the CQC press release and full CQC inspection report - Corbett Medical Practice for further details.