COVID VACCINATIONS

*** Important message for patients who had a CORONAVIRUS JAB IN DECEMBER 2020 ***

Second Dose vaccinations have started. You will be invited for yours approx 12 weeks after your 1st vaccine. Please refrain from chasing for a date - you won't be forgotten.

We will continue to rollout and invite all patients for their second vaccine, (12 weeks after the first dose), in date order. As you are probably aware from media reports, there are fewer vaccine deliveries in April. We are completely at the mercy of these deliveries so please bear with us.

In the meantime we continue to make excellent progress, having invited all our patients in the top 9 cohorts for their first vaccine. Indeed we are proud to announce that we are one of the top performing areas. If you are over the age of 50 and haven't heard from us, we ask that you contact us to book your vaccination. We have a large number of patients whom we are unable to reach as their contact details appear out of date.

The latest newsletters explaining the updated position on COVID-19 vaccinations in our area are attached below.

Patient Newsletter - Denmead Practice - updated 3 February 2021

Patient Newsletter - Havant Borough Group

The Government web site will have the most up to date information: www.gov.uk with the MHRA website also providing helpful details. 

The vaccine will greatly reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill though scientists do not yet know if you can still pass the virus on. It is therefore important that you still follow all the current Government advice such as social distancing, wearing a face mask and staying at home.

We are working down a strictly monitored priority order list that has been set out by NHS England. Along with local practices,  we are inviting patients as fast as we can with the vaccine deliveries that are being received across three hub sites. These sites are at Waterlooville, Emsworth and Hayling Island. We have no plans as yet to vaccinate here at our Denmead premises.

We urge you not to contact us but wait to be called.

Why aren't vaccines being given at the Denmead premises?

• the vaccines need specialist storage and preparation which we are unable to provide in our building
• sites must accommodate a huge throughput of patients which we are unable to do here whilst still remaining open for all routine matters for our other patients

Feedback

The vaccination programme is well underway and is receiving some great feedback from our patients, which in turn is putting a smile on the faces of all our staff and volunteers. Patients are impressed at how well organised the 3 hub sites are and how safe they felt when they attended. An example of the feedback is below, this one from Laura, the daughter of a Denmead resident. Many thanks to everyone for their continued support of the practice and staff during these difficult times.    

"I just wanted to send a message to you to thank the amazing volunteers and staff who are administering the COVID-19 vaccine at Emsworth Baptist Church.

I brought my frail 86 year old mother along late yesterday from her home in Denmead and I cannot praise and thank the staff and volunteers enough.

Marshals in high-viz to greet us in the car park and along the entrance route; dozens of people ensuring that we were reassured at every stage of this extremely well organised operation. Everyone was super-efficient and very kind - without being rushed (so important for older folk).

Please could you share my thanks with each and every member of the team and share this publicly if possible.

There is so much negativity out there about how we are dealing with this crisis and yesterday proved to me that this is very often unfounded."

Your Denmead Practice is open!

We encourage you to get in touch if you have any health concerns. We have a new way of working, so if you need to discuss your concerns with a doctor, please book an appointment via the NHS App, use the eConsult service below, or telephone the practice. We ask you not to Email us as this facility is used for the many messages and results from all the hospitals & clinicians and your request may therefore be overlooked.

Full details of our new way of working can be found in the attached document:

Our New Way Of Working

You can also view this helpful NHS video on YouTube:

How to access your GP practice

Volunteer Buddy Service

This service for delivering medication will be stopping on 31st March 2021. Medication will continue to go to our Hambledon Surgery each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for collection by 10am. Please allow three working days from submitting your request until collecting your medication. Alternatively, you can collect from Denmead Health Centre, Monday to Friday 9am to 12.30 or 2.30 to 6pm.

We would like to say a huge thank you to the volunteers for all their help and kindness in giving up their time to deliver the medication to our patients.

Coronavirus, patient support and mental health

The links below will take you to documents which offer a range of useful information and contacts. These provide help and support in relation to COVID-19 and your broader health needs - including mental health and social health needs - during these times.

COVID-19 - Patient Support - 21 March 2021

Mental Health Resources List - 15 November 2020

Havant & Waterlooville Primary Care Network - Patient Social Support information - 1 January 2021

Henry Buddies - support for families with young children

Flu vaccinations 2020/21

Vaccinations clinics commenced in September and have now been completed. However, if you missed our various clinics, do not worry - we can still keep you safe and vaccinate you.

Please call us and we'll be happy to book an appointment

Public Health England recommend that people are vaccinated from December but due to the high volumes, vaccinations have often started early. Be assured that that there is still plenty of time for you to be vaccinated and to be safe.

Patient letter - Flu vaccinations - November-December 2020

Ear irrigation (ear syringing) is no longer available 

From March 2020, due to COVID-19, Ear irrigation (ear syringing) will no longer be available.  

Ear syringing is no longer considered to be the first line treatment for the clearing of ear wax and it is not a funded service within the NHS for General Practice.

For further information and advice, see the attached document:

Ear Wax information

Hayfever - we no longer routinely prescribe hayfever medicines  

In accordance with Government guidelines, we no longer routinely prescribe hayfever medicines. Learn more via this link:

https://www.enhertsccg.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/content_files/Prescribing/Local_Decisions/Over_The_Counter_Medicines/Hayfever%20leaflet.pdf

Prescribing of over the counter medicines is changing 

Clinicians will generally no longer prescribe for medicines which can be obtained over the counter. See the leaflet at the following link for more information:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/1a-over-the-counter-leaflet-print-ready.pdf

Face masks 

Unfortunately we do not have sufficient supplies to be able to issue face masks to patients attending the surgery for an appointment.

We have enough for the GPs and Nurses to wear, which will protect you from us; however, you will need to wear a face mask, bandana or scarf if you are asked to attend the surgery.

** The DISPENSARY opening hours have changed to 9-12.30pm  14.30 - 18.00  All prescription enquiries can only be dealt with during these times. We would ask that payments are made by CARD only

Welcome to The Denmead Practice Online 

There has been a Doctor's surgery in Denmead since 1932. Before the Second World War the Doctors lived in Hambledon and had a branch surgery in Denmead - in fact the branch surgery was one of the cottages next to the present Health Centre.

The first Denmead surgery was in Dr Horn's house, it then moved to Ashling Park Road prior to the current Health Centre, which was built on the old village pond in 1974.

Denmead surgery as it is now, is a semi-rural Dispensing Practice with the branch surgery at Hambledon. The practice operates from Health Authority premises and incorporates on-site community services.

The Practice covers an area of 80 square miles and has a list size of just over 9,600 patients. The workload is covered by a combination of male and female partners plus a supportive Practice team.

Our Primary Health Care Team offers comprehensive care for all our patients in Denmead and surroundings villages.

We try to maintain good continuity of care by offering a professional service by your own doctor. We have a range of in-house services and a network of Community staff who can be called upon by your doctor for specialist care.

As a Practice we participate in research studies from time to time through the Primary Care Research Network.