IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT – COVID-19 BOOSTERS
Statement on behalf of the Boston Primary Care Network GP Practices
The Sidings Medical Practice, Parkside Surgery, Greyfriars Surgery,
Liquorpond St Surgery, Kirton Medical Centre, Swineshead Medical Group
Earlier this year GP Practices in Boston worked together to provide a hugely successful Covid-19 vaccination centre. In the first 5 months of 2021 we gave over 31,000 first and second doses to the patients of Boston.
More recently we have also mobilised our teams to administer Covid Booster vaccines to all eligible Care Home residents and House Bound patients.
In line with the Government’s emergency announcement, the NHS is working to offer every adult the chance to book a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year. This means our practices now need to prioritise the booster rollout.
As part of this, some of our routine services may be stood down for a short period of time to allow us to focus on protecting as many patients as possible. If you have an existing appointment, please attend it as usual unless we contact you.
Please do not call us to book your COVID booster. We will be contacting you by text message or phone call over the coming days.
We are still here for you if we feel you need to be seen urgently but would ask for patience as we support the booster programme over the coming weeks. We will be unable to respond to routine queries as quickly as normal. We hope to be able to be back running normal services as soon as possible and will update this page as soon as we know more.
These measures are short-term, we are doing this with the full support of NHS England and Lincolnshire CCG to put up our best defence for you and your loved ones.
Please don’t forget there are many services available for you, depending on your condition. These include:
· Self-care – This is the best choice to treat minor illnesses and injuries such as hangovers, coughs, colds, grazes, small cuts, or sore throats. Many of these can be treated at home, simply with over-the-counter medicines and plenty of rest. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/your-medicine-cabinet/
· Pharmacy – Pharmacists can give advice on and treat a range of symptoms. They can support you with things such as diarrhoea, earaches, painful coughs, sticky eyes, teething and rashes. To find your nearest pharmacy call 111 or visit https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy
· NHS 111 – You can access 111 online or via the telephone. This is for any urgent but non-life threatening health concerns. They will be able to signpost you to the relevant service and provide advice where appropriate, or book you into an Urgent Treatment Centre.
· A&E / 999 – You should only attend A&E or dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency such as severe bleeding, breathing difficulties and severe chest pain.
We thank the community of Boston and surrounding areas for your ongoing support and ask that you continue to bear with us. Stay safe.
General Practice Data for Planning and Research (GPDPR)
The data held in the GP medical records of patients is used every day to support health and care planning and research in England, helping to find better treatments and improve patient outcomes for everyone. NHS Digital has developed a new way to collect this data, called the General Practice Data for Planning and Research data collection.
This practice is supporting vita health and care planning and research by sharing your data with NHS Digital. For more information about this see our Privacy Notice or visit:
https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/data-collections-and-data-sets/data-collections/general-practice-data-for-planning-and-research
Please note the opt-out position has been withdrawn and patients do not need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.
If you wish to fill out an opt out form you can do so by downloading the form below and either emailing us at LECCG.Greyfriars@nhs.net or by sending back to us in the post.
Type+1+Opt-out+form.docx
Greyfriars Surgery is still open and we encourage people to get in touch for any health concerns that cannot be dealt with at home by the individual, their family or friends, or the local pharmacy.
If you think you need to see a doctor, nurse, or other health professional, please call the surgery on (01205) 311133 to book an appointment to speak to a clinician.
Please only visit the surgery in person if you have an appointment.
Routine vaccinations and immunisations are important and are available at the surgery.
Make prescription requests online or by calling our dedicated prescription line on (01205) 319856 which is open between 10.00am and 4.00pm Monday to Friday.
If you need to be seen face-to-face then you will be given an appointment to come to the surgery and this will be provided in a Covid-safe way.
These changes are happening to keep staff and patients safe.
We want to discourage people from queuing outside a GP surgery and waiting in the waiting area, to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
If you have any coronavirus symptoms, DO NOT come into the practice - self isolate and seek help via NHS 111 or 111.nhs.uk
Your local NHS services want to make sure you get the right medical advice quickly and easily.
As more and more get out and about to enjoy Lincolnshire as lockdown is loosened, our services are getting much busier.
But we can help you, help us by contacting our services in a different way Talk Before You Walk.
Instead of visiting your local Urgent Treatment Centre, GP or hospital Accident and Emergency Department in person, we’d like you to:
If you need to see your GP, please call or make an appointment with them online.
Why Talk Before You Walk?
- It’s safer. You don’t need to queue and think about social distancing.
- It’s more convenient. Our medical experts can book you an appointment if you need one.
- It’s free, fast and friendly. You can ring us anytime 24/7 at a time that fits in with your life.
- It’s professional. You get expert medical help and advice from dedicated clinicians.
What do I do in an emergency?
Call 999 if you are facing a life or death situation such as:
- A loss of consciousness
- Acute confused state and fits that are not stopping
- Chest pain and breathing difficulties
- Severe bleeding that cannot be stopped
- Severe burns or scalds
- Severe allergic reactions
- Stroke
- Major trauma such as a road traffic accident
Get the medical advice you need quickly, simply and easily
#TalkBeforeYouWalk