PLEASE NOTE - ANY PATIENTS ATTENDING THE SURGERY WILL NEED TO WEAR A FACE COVERING OR MASK BEFORE ENTERING THE BUILDING - WE APPRECIATE YOUR CO-OPERATION DURING THIS TIME

CORONAVIRUS

FACE MASK EXEMPTIONS

We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks/coverings in various public settings.

GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask/covering.

The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this.

Read more here: 15 July Exemption Letter

Any concerns that you may have been exposed to or become infected with the novel coronavirus you should phone NHS 111 and NOT attend the GP surgery, Pharmacy or hospital Emergency Department unless you are seriously ill.

FLU VACCINATIONS - If you are aged 65 and over or in at at risk group - Please ring the surgery to book an appointment. 

Please note that people in the 50-64-year old age group will not be vaccinated until November and December, providing there is sufficient vaccine, and no appointments will be offered for this age group until then. This is to ensure that those who are most at risk are vaccinated first. If you are 50-64 and you are in one of the other groups which is eligible for the flu vaccination, for example you have a health condition which puts you at risk from the flu, you will be invited earlier.

Your Medicines, Your NHS

Did you know every year in mid Essex an estimated £2 million of unused medicines are wasted?

In March 2019 the Mid Essex Clinical Commissioning Group launched a new campaign around reducing the amount of local medicine waste.

This waste means that people living in mid Essex do not benefit from additional services or treatments that this money could have been better spent on. The £2 million wasted on medicines each year could pay for 566 new hips, 139 more breast cancer drug treatment courses for or 61 more community nurses.

When patients receive medicines that are not intended for them or that have been discontinued, there is also a safety risk in that the medicine may be inadvertently taken by somebody else or taken by the patient without realising it is no longer required. So reducing the wastage of medicines benefits patients from a safety perspective as well as a cost perspective.

That’s why they have launched a campaign called ‘Your Medicines, Your NHS’ to make the public aware of all the big costs involved in prescriptions.

In the first phase of the campaign patients are being encouraged to open their prescription bag in the pharmacy and see if they still need all items in the bag, and if not to hand surplus items back to pharmacy staff before leaving. (If you notice you have surplus after you have left the pharmacy it cannot be returned for use by anyone else, even if it hasn’t been opened.) Patients can reorder the surplus items next time if they still need them.

Paula Wilkinson, Chief Pharmacist for Mid Essex CCG, said: “We are encouraging everyone to reduce medicines wastage. Things can change between putting in your request for repeat medicines and when you collect them and although you are taking your medicines as prescribed stocks may build up. So play your part – ‘Open the Bag’ and hand back any medicines that you do not need.

“The public can get involved by making a pledge to support the campaign or by sending out social media messages with relevant hashtags.’

The official hashtag is #YourMedicinesYourNHS – if you would like to support this campaign please tweet @MidEssexCCG using the official hashtag

PLEASE NOTE THE SURGERY IS NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENT REGISTRATIONS IN THE IMMEDIATE COGGESHALL AREA.  

SEE OUR NEW ONLINE APPOINTMENT BOOKING SERVICE