Important Information for Our Patients: Respiratory Swab Testing for Disease Surveillance

As we approach the winter months, if you experience symptoms of a cold, flu, or any respiratory illness, you may be invited to participate in a virology surveillance programme by providing a nose and throat swab. This is entirely voluntary, but it plays a crucial role in monitoring the spread of respiratory viruses such as flu and COVID-19.

What is Disease Surveillance?
Disease surveillance involves collecting virology swabs from volunteer patients to help monitor the population’s immunity to infectious diseases. Currently, we are focused on COVID-19 and respiratory viruses, and your participation will assist public health authorities in understanding how these illnesses are affecting our community.

Why Am I Being Swabbed?
If you are asked to provide a nose and throat swab, it’s because your clinician suspects you may have, or have recently had, a respiratory illness such as flu, COVID-19 or RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). These samples help track the spread of these viruses and assess how well vaccines are working.

Why is Virology Surveillance Important?
The anticipated impact of flu and COVID-19 on the NHS during the winter is significant. By taking part, you will help inform key public health decisions that could influence how we manage these illnesses and protect vulnerable groups.

What Happens Next?
If you consent, you will be asked to provide a nasal and throat swab. The sample will then be sent to the laboratory for testing. These results will be used to monitor the spread of respiratory viruses and provide important data for vaccine research.

Confidentiality and Your Data
Your privacy is important to us. While your swab will be labelled with your details, your identity will not be shared with researchers. The data will be securely processed, and your information will be anonymised to protect your privacy.

Do I Have to Take Part?
Participation is entirely voluntary. If you choose not to provide a swab, it will not be collected. You are under no obligation to take part.

Your contribution is invaluable in helping to protect public health. Thank you for your participation!

Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones with the RSV Vaccine

The RSV vaccine is an important tool to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can lead to severe illness, especially in babies and older adults. Here’s everything you need to know about the RSV vaccine.

What is RSV and Why is the Vaccine Important?

RSV is a frequent cause of coughs and colds, affecting most people several times throughout their lives. While it usually clears up on its own, RSV can lead to serious complications, such as:

• Pneumonia: A lung infection that can be life-threatening.
• Bronchiolitis: A chest infection that primarily affects babies.

For those with underlying health conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), RSV can worsen symptoms and lead to hospitalisation.

The RSV vaccine significantly reduces the risk of severe respiratory illnesses like pneumonia and bronchiolitis, providing essential protection for vulnerable groups.

Who Should Get the RSV Vaccine?

The RSV vaccine is recommended for:

• Pregnant Women: To help protect babies after birth, the vaccine is recommended from 28 weeks of pregnancy.
• Adults Aged 75 to 79: Older adults in this age range are also at higher risk of severe RSV complications and should receive the vaccine.

Eligibility for Adults 80+

If you turned 80 on or after September 1, 2024, you are eligible for the RSV vaccine until August 31, 2025. However, if you turned 80 before this date, you are no longer eligible for the vaccine.

How to Get the RSV Vaccine

• Pregnant Women: You are eligible from 28 weeks and will be sent a text invite. You can also speak to our reception team to schedule your vaccine as soon as possible.
• Adults Aged 75 to 79: We will contact you to invite you for your vaccine. Please wait for your invite, or ring reception on 01200 401680, if you haven't heard from us.

What to Expect When Getting the RSV Vaccine

The RSV vaccine is administered via injection into the upper arm. Unlike flu or COVID-19 vaccines, it is offered year-round. If you’re pregnant, you should receive the vaccine during each pregnancy to protect your baby for their first six months of life. Adults aged 75 to 79 only need one dose, which provides protection for several years.

Can I Get the RSV Vaccine with Other Vaccines?

Yes, the RSV vaccine can be given alongside other vaccines. Pregnant women can have it with the whooping cough or flu vaccines, while older adults can receive it with vaccines like the shingles or pneumococcal vaccine. However, flu or COVID-19 vaccines are usually administered separately unless a doctor deems it necessary.

Who Should Avoid the RSV Vaccine?

The RSV vaccine is safe for most people, but you should not receive it if:

• You’ve had a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to a previous dose or any ingredient in the vaccine.

If you are feeling unwell with a high temperature, it’s recommended to wait until you’re better before getting vaccinated.

Is the RSV Vaccine Safe?

Yes, the RSV vaccine has been rigorously tested and approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Studies show that it is much safer to receive the vaccine during pregnancy than risk your baby getting RSV.

The most common side effects are mild, including pain at the injection site, headache, or body aches. Serious side effects are rare.

Learn More About the RSV Vaccine

For more detailed information on the RSV vaccine, visit the following resources:

• A guide to RSV vaccination for pregnant women
• Your guide to the RSV vaccine for older adults

Protect yourself and your loved ones - ring our reception team on 01200 401680, to schedule your vaccine.

‘We are taking part in the national collective action; we will continue to provide safe levels of clinical care for our patients.’

Dear Patients

We wanted to give you an update in relation to our decision to support the National Collective Action being taken by GP practices across the country.

For clarity we are NOT striking nor are we taking Industrial Action!

We can assure you that this is a collective response to ever increasing demands and pressures placed on primary care. With inadequate funding to meet those demands.

We will continue to work within our GP contract however there will be some small changes to support the national collective action.

GPs Are on Your Side:

We’re taking this action because general practice is collapsing in England.

Practices are struggling to stay open, and patients are waiting far too long for an appointment.

This is because general practice isn’t getting nearly enough funding to handle demand.

It also means that many practices can’t afford to hire the extra GPs they need, like locums, trained GPs who want to see patients.

Currently (for 2024/25), only 6% of the overall NHS budget goes to core (guaranteed) funding for general practice.

This equates to just £107.57 per year for each patient, whatever their health needs. That’s less than the cost of an annual TV licence. Or, it equates to just 30p a day – less than the cost of an apple.

We need safety, stability, and hope. Safety now, stability in next year’s contract, and hope in long-term commitments to support our profession.

GPs and patients want the same thing: to be able to see their familiar family doctor quickly and easily, in a surgery that is safe, well-staffed and local to them.

We are excited to share the results from our June 2024, Friends and Family response data:

• Overall Recommendation Rate: Over 96% of patients who took the test stated that they found our service very good or good.
• Key Themes:
  • Positives: Patients praised our caring and knowledgeable staff and highlighted our clean and comfortable premises.
  • Areas for Improvement: Some patients mentioned a delay in being seen by the clinician/waiting times.

Actions We're Taking

In response to your feedback, we are implementing the following changes:

• Reduced Wait Times: We are optimising our scheduling system to ensure that appointment wait times are minimised.

Addressing Unforeseen Circumstances

Occasionally, unforeseen circumstances arise that require GPs to spend extended consultation time with certain patients or to prioritise urgent situations or emergencies. Regrettably, this is unavoidable and cannot be mitigated, as our foremost priority is to ensure that every patient receives the necessary care and attention. While this may occasionally lead to delays, please be assured that should you require additional time with your GP, it will be accommodated. Your health and well-being are our utmost priorities, and we are dedicated to addressing your concerns comprehensively and thoroughly.