Chopwell Medical Practice

Dear patients,

The surgery is to be closed on the following dates for the Easter Bank Holidays:

Friday the 2nd of April 2021 (Bank Holiday)
Saturday the 3rd of April 2021 (Weekend)
Sunday the 4th of April 2021 (Weekend)
Monday the 5th of April 2021 (Bank Holiday)

If you need urgent medical advice during the time that the practice is closed please ring 01207 561736 or NHS 111. If you have a serious medical emergency please contact the emergency services by dialing 112 or 999.

The practice is starting to send out text messages inviting patients to book a COVID vaccine online. Strict numbers of invitations are being sent, depending on how many vaccines the Blaydon Primary Care site is expecting. We are inviting our patients in priority order, so it is important that you do not share the link to anyone else. People not registered at the practice and not in the current invitation list will have their appointment cancelled, and will not receive a vaccine even if they turn up at Blaydon.

The text will say: Chopwell Surgery invites you to book a COVID vaccine at Blaydon by going to [link]. We are prioritising invites, so do not forward this link to anyone else. To verify this message visit our website. If you have difficulties booking please call the surgery.

Some patients may have already received letters from Newcastle Vaccination Centre based at the Centre For Life inviting them to attend for their first COVID-19 vaccine. If you have your vaccines administered at the Centre For Life the surgery will be notified but if you would prefer to have your vaccine at Blaydon Primary Care Centre the practice will be in contact with you to arrange an appointment as you will only be removed from our vaccine call list if we have been informed that you have already been given the injections elsewhere. Patients who receive letters from the Centre For Life who are already booked to attend Blaydon Primary Care Centre should still attend the Centre on Shibdon Road as prearranged by the surgery. Thank you.

Dear patients,

Please remain vigilant. No one should be contacting you to ask for payment details for the COVID-19 vaccine.

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/18963603.scammers-target-older-people-awaiting-covid-19-vaccine/

Patients with prearranged COVID-19 vaccination appointments for Blaydon Primary Care Centre are advised to watch this video. Thank you

Dear patients, the surgery is currently working with a number of other local Gateshead practices to support the COVID-19 Vaccine Programme.

A single hub site has been nominated by each group of surgeries to deliver a mass vaccination programme within their network area. The details for our nominated site are currently being worked through and as soon as we have further information we will share this with you.

The priority is to vaccinate our patients as safely and as efficiently as possible whilst at the same time keeping GP services operational and safe too. We expect to be asked to give the vaccine at short notice with rules about who can have the injection first. We may need the support of the community to bring patients to the hubs to receive their vaccine.

The practice will do its best for you, but we ask that you please do not call the surgery to book a COVID-19 vaccination yet. We will inform you as soon as we are able to offer your cohort (as decided by NHS England) the vaccine, with details on how to arrange an appointment.

This work may affect our clinical team’s ability to sustain a full level of day to day services and could possibly lead to delays or cancellation of clinics.

Thank you to all our patients for your continued support.

Chopwell Primary Healthcare Centre

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-what-to-expect-after-vaccination/what-to-expect-after-your-covid-19-vaccination

The NHS needs more people who were seriously ill with COVID to donate plasma in Newcastle.

You may have higher antibody levels, which could save lives.

Donation is safe, easy and your body quickly replaces the antibodies.

www.nhsbt.nhs.uk

Notice for Patients

Free flu vaccination programme rolled out to over 50s from the 1st of December 2020 by NHS England.

Please make an appointment as we will be running the Flu clinic almost every day.

People aged 50 to 64 will get free flu vaccine from the 1st of December as part of expanded flu vaccination programme this winter.

COVID means getting a flu jab is more important than ever this year so we are delivering our largest ever flu vaccination programme. Free vaccinations for people aged 50 to 64 years will now be available from GPs and pharmacies.