Flu Information
For patient’s aged 65 and over:
We have now received our final batch of flu vaccines for patients aged 65 and over. We will continue to call all those patients in this category, however, you are more than welcome to call and book an appointment at either Tavyside Health Centre or Lifton Branch Surgery.
For patients aged 18 to 65 who are ‘clinically at risk’
We are still waiting to receive more vaccines for patients who are eligible in this age cohort. Due to the national demand this year there has been a massive uptake, meaning we depleted our vaccines faster than we ever have before. We will of course inform patients when we receive more of these vaccines.
For patients aged two to 18:
We will contact you directly to invite your child in for their seasonal influenza vaccine. Children aged 2-3 years old we vaccinate or any child who is clinically at risk. For children in years reception and year one through to year seven are done via Virgin Care. If your child has yet to receive this vaccine or missed out, please contact 0300 247 0082
For those aged 50-65 and are NOT ‘clinically at risk’
We have received no further guidance for patients in this age category, therefore, will keep those who in this category informed as and when we know.
Thank you for your continued support during these difficult times.
Tavyside Health Centre
COVID-19 Update
Free TALKWORKS for Challenging Times Workshop
Why am I being asked to wait to have my flu vaccine?
FLU INVITES
FLU 2020/2021 CAMPAIGN
Flu vaccine invitations are starting to go out today by text and letter.
Due to how the clinics will be operating this year, you may find that you receive an invite, however your spouse, partner or other family member may not initially receive one. Please do not worry, they will be invited, however, they will be asked to attend at a different time. If you do get separate invites and you rely on each other to attend the Tavistock site, please contact us on receipt of your invite.
Phlebotomy Service
Flu Campaign 2020/2021 and COVID-19
UPDATE*
*We are receiving a high number of calls in regards to this years upcoming flu campaign. This year, we will be contacting all patients in relation to their appointments. For more information please read the below.
At Tavyside Health Centre our staff and patients health is our top priority and we are committed to ensuring that everyone is protected and safe when visiting the Practice’s during the COVID-19 pandemic. You will experience some changes at our annual flu clinics this year whilst we maintain social distancing guidelines.
All eligible flu vaccine patients will be contacted soon with a designated date and time slot. We ask where possible that you keep to the time slot you are allocated, unless you are for any reason out of the area. Due to high volumes of patients who will wish to have the vaccine this year it will not be possible to change allocated time slots easily.
Patients will attend the Practice at their allocated date/time and enter the surgery following the signs. You will join a socially distanced waiting line and check in with reception who will assign you to a clinician. You will be provided with a ticket explaining which booth you need to attend to receive your vaccine.
We will be admitting a maximum of 10 patients at a time in 15 minute time slots, at the end of each 15 minute time slot, we will wash down all surfaces and allow the clinicians to wash their hands and change PPE.
Vaccine deliveries permitting, we anticipate commencing our flu campaign in September and you will hear from us by text, email or letter. If you are housebound or have reduced mobility, please contact the Practice as soon as possible and ask to speak with our Operations Lead who will add you to the home visit list.
Many thanks for your continued support during these difficult and unprecedented times.
Face Masks
We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks 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, whether in regard to their use on public transport or in any other setting as required by legislation.
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.
In the case of face mask use on public transport, the responsibility for issuing exemptions lies with the transport provider not your GP. Similarly, practices are under no obligation to provide letters of support for anyone who does not fall under the list of exemptions but considers them to have another reason to be exempted.
Government advice on the use of face coverings on public transport can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/…/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guid…
Some people don’t have to wear a face covering including for health, age or equality reasons. Some staff may not wear a face covering if it is not required for their job.
– Devon LMC
Booking a GP appointment
Since the beginning of COVID-19, many healthcare settings have had to change the way in which they work and constantly adapt to the changes surrounding the pandemic. We quickly changed to an all telephone style system where all patients would call in on the day before 11am and ask to speak with a doctor, they would receive a call and if deemed necessary would be seen in the Practice. This was appropriate during lockdown but as people are returning to school and work we feel the time is right to move forward to a ‘new normal’ while continuing to provide timely care and protect our patients.
So what is going to change?
There are going to be small gradual changes as the situation evolves. We still encourage all patients who wish to to call before 11am and ask to speak with the on call doctor (duty). We will however be adding routine telephone/video consultations which will be available to book online or by calling the Practice. Some time slots will be after 17:30 and at the weekends up to a week in advance and we ask that these slots are kept for patients who are unable to accept a call during the day.
eConsult
We highly encourage all patients to complete an eConsult wherever possible. All you need is internet access and you DO NOT need to sign up to use this service. eConsult can be found on our website’s homepage www.tavyside.org.
eConsults are not only beneficial to patients but also very beneficial to the Practice. If you complete an eConsult before 16:30, you will get a response the same day, if submitted after 16:30, you will have a response by the end of the next working day. With eConsult, it gives the patient the ability to put all their symptoms down and allows the GP to respond with all the information in front of them, phone calls do not always have this luxury.
Routine face-to-face GP appointments will remain unavailable at present.
If you need a nursing appointment, please contact the Practice on 01822 613517