One of the best ways to protect your child against diseases like measles, rubella, tetanus and meningitis is through immunisations.

As well as protecting your own child, you’re also protecting others by preventing the spread of disease.

Vaccinations are offered free of charge in the UK – and you should receive notification when your child is due a routine vaccine by your GP practice. 

If you have any concerns that your child has not received their routine vaccinations, please contact us.

For more information visit: Vaccinations for children – Start for Life – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Childhood flu vaccinations – information for Muslim parents

Influenza (or flu) is a common and highly infectious disease caused by different strains of the influenza virus.

There are two types of vaccines that protect against flu:

1. Nasal spray Vaccine – contains porcine (pork) gelatine
2. Injectable Vaccines – do not contain porcine derived products

It is acknowledged that some groups within the British Muslim community may consider porcine-containing products to be forbidden. 

Whilst children commonly receive the nasal spray vaccine, there is also an injectable vaccine available to children. Please contact us to discuss these options so that you can ensure your child is protected against flu and the severe illness it can cause.

What is this service about? 

When you call the practice, you will be asked about your symptoms. If they indicate that you can best be helped by a pharmacist, you will be offered a same day private consultation with a community pharmacist offering this service.

Community pharmacists have already successfully seen thousands of patients for a consultation for a minor illness, following a call to NHS 111. This new way of arranging consultations with the pharmacist by a GP practice, has been successfully piloted around the county.

Why are you doing this? 

Pharmacists are qualified healthcare professionals and experts in medicines. They can offer clinical advice and over-the-counter medicines for all sorts of minor illnesses, and a same day consultation can be arranged quickly and at a time to suit you.

This in turns frees up GP appointments for those people with more complex symptoms who really need to see a GP.

What happens when I see the community pharmacist?

We will share your personal details with the pharmacist and details of your minor illness and the pharmacist will contact you to arrange your consultation on the same day, or at a time that suits you.

You may be seen in person in a private consulting room, if the pharmacist thinks it appropriate, or your consultation may be carried out over the phone or via video. You will be asked about your medical history and symptoms and current medication, in the same way the GP would ask you about them.

Usually, the pharmacist will provide you with advice and can sell you with an over the counter product where needed, if you choose. They will also send details of your consultation back to us for our records.

If the pharmacist feels you need to be seen by a GP urgently, they will call us to ensure you are seen, or they will advise you to contact the hospital Emergency Department if deemed necessary. You may also be referred back to us to arrange a non-urgent appointment or follow up.

What if I get free prescriptions from my GP?

Your pharmacist will provide you with advice on how to treat your symptoms, which may include a medicine or product. Medicines that can be purchased in a pharmacy to treat minor illnesses, are usually inexpensive and would not normally be prescribed by your GP anyway. You are free to choose if you wish to make a purchase or not.

What happens if I don’t want to see the pharmacist?

We want to ensure that you are offered an appointment with the most appropriate qualified health care professional based on your symptoms. If you have minor illness symptoms that can be treated the same day through a consultation with a qualified community pharmacist, but do not want to accept this referral, you will be offered a routine appointment with your GP at a future date.

What if the patient is my child?

Children aged over one years are eligible to use this service and can be seen by the pharmacist. Children who are able to make their own decision about their health may be seen unaccompanied.

Why is this a good thing for patients?

Community pharmacies are local, open longer hours than the GP practice and can offer you the same consultation outcome at a time that is more convenient for you. If the pharmacist thinks you need to see the GP, they can help arrange an urgent appointment for you.

Patients who have already used the service liked the convenience of having a consultation on the same day, or a day that suited them, at a pharmacy of their choice. 78% of people who had a consultation with a community pharmacist were successfully helped

Some services provided are not covered under our contract with the NHS and therefore attract charges. Examples include the following:

• Medicals for pre-employment, sports and driving requirements (HGV, PSV etc.)
• Insurance claim forms
• Prescriptions for taking medication abroad
• Private sick notes
• Vaccination certificates

The fees charged are based on the British Medical Association (BMA) suggested scales and our reception staff will be happy to advise you about them along with appointment availability. 

If you require any vaccinations relating to foreign travel you need to complete a form at reception or download the one below. This will be handed to the practice nurse to check your records to see which vaccines you require. This will include which countries and areas within countries that you are visiting to determine what vaccinations are required.

There is further information about countries and vaccinations required on the links below.

Europe & Russia	North America
Central America	South America
Caribbean	Africa
Middle East	Central Asia
East Asia	Australasia and Pacific

It is important to complete the form as early as possible as you will need to start the vaccinations at least 6 weeks prior to travel. These vaccines have to be ordered as they are not a stock vaccine.

Some travel vaccines are ordered on a private prescription and these incur a charge over and above the normal prescription charge. This is because not all travel vaccinations are included in the services provided by the NHS.

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Travel Health Questionnaire

To help us offer the appropriate advice, please give details of where you are travelling and for how long at each destination to reception when booking your appointment.

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Travelling in Europe

If you are travelling to Europe the EU has published useful information for travellers on the European website.

Please speak to one of our reception team to book an appropriate appointment with a relevant clinician to discuss any concerns you have relating to sexual health, contraception etc.

Smokers who wish to stop can see the HCA for advice and help. Pharmacological help such as nicotine patches or tablets may be prescribed. Appointments can be made without seeing the doctor first.

Where necessary, the doctor will refer you to mental health services.

If physiotherapy is necessary, the doctor will refer you. We also have First Contact Practitioners operating at our main sites throughout the week.

We perform other minor surgical procedures when appropriate. Please make an appointment with the doctor first for assessment.

There is a machine in all of our sites for routine blood pressures and also for when a GP has requested a re-check. These are very easy to use and reception staff can assist if necessary. All results will be passed to your GP.