Patient News
New treatments for patients at highest risk of severe disease from Covid 19 infection are available for non-hospitalised patients from Thursday 16 December.
The treatments include Neutralising monoclonal antibodies (nMABs) given by injection, or antiviral tablets which are swallowed. These treatments being given to patients at a dedicated clinic, known as the Covid Medical Delivery Unit.
GP practices cannot prescribe these treatments and they are only licenced for patients with the highest risk with COVID-19.
People who can benefit from these treatments will receive a letter or email telling them in advance, they may be eligible for these treatments if they test PCR positive for Covid-19. They also may be contacted by their specialist consultant.
Information about the treatments can be found on the NHS website:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/treatments-for-coronavirus/ .
We are facing high demand at the moment so please only contact the surgery about new treatments for Covid-19, if you have a medical condition that means you are very high risk and have tested positive for Covid-19.
Covid antiviral trials
If you have tested positive for Covid-19 and would like to take part in trials using antiviral treatments the surgery recommends you to self-refer to the PANORAMIC study where the study organisers will assess your eligibility.
The NHS vaccination programme will offer every adult the chance to book a covid-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year to protect the nation against the Omicron variant.
As part of the biggest and fastest vaccine programme in health service history, online bookings are available for all those in their 30s and above from today.
The best way to get your vaccine is by booking online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119 – please do keep checking availability as appointments are loaded onto the system every day. The website and phoneline are understandably very busy and we thank you for your patience when booking.
The national booking service will then open up to everyone aged 18 and over from Wednesday this week.
The NHS is prioritising bookings for boosters and is urging people to book a slot to guarantee their vital jab. Some sites offer walk-in appointments where no appointment is needed. Please check here for clinics with walk-in availability and their opening hours www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins
GP teams have been asked to clinically prioritise their services to free up maximal capacity to support the covid-19 vaccination programme, alongside delivering critical appointments such as cancer, urgent and emergency care. This might mean that for some people, routine appointments are postponed as part of the national mission to roll out boosters.
Scientists are very concerned about the spread of Omicron due to the speed with which it spreads and because two doses do not appear to provide much protection but thankfully, a booster dramatically improves this.That is why the Government has asked the NHS to prioritise boosters over other routine care.
We appreciate your support and understanding – and urge you to come forward for your vaccination as soon as possible.
Following a Government announcement on 29th November, the NHS is developing plans to extend the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme to include everyone aged 18 and over.
12 to 15 year olds will also be offered a second dose of the vaccine and an additional booster will be available for people who are immunosuppressed.
People will become eligible for their booster three months after their second dose (reduced from six months).
For now, all you need to do is wait to be contacted by the NHS. Please help us to help all patients by not contacting your GP practice about your booster or attending vaccination sites.
If you are over 40 or a health and social care worker, and are eligible for your booster, go online to www.nhs.uk or call 119 to book your appointment.
Visit www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins to see all the places you can go for a walk-in appointment.
EMIS Health have received reports from both Patient Access users and people who have never registered for the service, that they have received Covid passport emails purporting to be from Patient Access.
They would like to share the following guidance from Patient Access:
- EMIS Health advise users of Patient Access to check the name and email address of the sender; all emails from Patient Access will come via an email address that ends in @patientaccess.com.
- EMIS Health advise users never to click on any log in links that you receive via email but to visit the site via the address bar of your browser instead so that you know you are on the genuine Patient Access log in page. You can find more information and guidance on our information security page here: https://www.patientaccess.com/security
- EMIS Health strongly advise users to set up their Memorable Word security feature, as well as using biometrics (fingerprint ID) if they use the app.
- Email addresses used to register for Patient Access account are secure. They do not share any data and no data is ever saved or stored on any device you use to access Patient Access.
Please note:
- when requesting a consultation at the surgery, we will select the clinician best equipped to help with your particular problem. This may be a GP, but may equally be a Nurse Practitioner, Physiotherapist, Pharmacist, Healthcare Assistant or Practice Nurse. Each of them has areas in which they specialise and for particular types of problem, may well be better placed to help you than a GP might.
- The surgery is receiving more than twice as many requests now than prior to the Covid emergency and so you may have to wait longer for your call to be answered.
- It is quicker to fill out an AccuRx appointment request on-line. If you receive a message to say that AccuRx is not available, you will need to try again from 8.00 AM the following working day.
If you have a problem that cannot wait until the next day, even if AccuRx is not available at that time, please ring the surgery and one of our reception staff will complete an AccuRx form for you and pass it to the Duty Doctor. It is then the responsibility of the Duty Doctor to decide whether the problem being reported requires a same day response.
The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules.
Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected.
Read the infection prevention control guidance for further details.
As you know, General Practice has seen a huge digital front end transformation during the pandemic. This was designed by commissioners to help give patients broader, and more responsive access to healthcare. Langstone Way Surgery have tried to embrace this, as we see the potential benefits to patients.
Based on Practice decision to better manage patient care, online consultation service will not be available during the weekends. However, the self-help functionality and local service referrals will be available. If the matter is urgent, patients should call 111 or, if it is an emergency, they should attend their local A&E.
Patients will still be able to access the AccuRx system from Monday to Friday as usual. Like any change, we will be continuously evaluating how this impacts you and would welcome further feedback as we move forward.
Please note that due to pressure of demand, we may not be able to get back to you quite as quickly as we would like. Please bear with us. If we cannot get back to you by the end of the next working day, we will do so within 48 hours.
Please note also that if you have an health problem over the weekend, you should phone 111 for assistance. This will ensure you receive a faster response to help you sort out your problem. AccuRx forms submitted at the weekend would not be seen by a clinician until Monday morning and so any response to an AccuRx received at the weekend would be delayed.
Thank you for your understanding.
Please use AccuRx to access assistance from your doctor or nurse. If you can fill out a form on-line yourself, you can provide lots of details about your problem, including photos or reports and the more details you can provide, the easier and quicker it will be for the clinician to help you. You can do this from a computer or smartphone or via the NHS App.
If you do not have internet access, please ring the surgery and one of our receptonists will complete a shorter AccuRx form with you, but this will not be the more detailed version you can complete yourself, so, if you can, go on-line and give it a try. It really is quite easy!
Advice in your region:
England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland
Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).
Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms
Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.
Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms
Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.
Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.
Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.
Social distancing and changes to everyday life
Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.
GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support
Government information and advice.
If you are a carer and you wish to contact the surgery in regard to the person you care for, please do not complete an AccuRx form for the person you are caring for. Use our Carer’s form instead.
The AccuRx form is for use by the patient themself, either for themself or for their child. It is not suitable to be used for another adult on their behalf. Thank you.