Notice Board
Updated 22/2/2009
Swine Flu
So far we have vaccinated almost 1,200 patients against the disease and patients who are eligible for the vaccination have been contacted.
The Department of Health have confirmed that patients, aged over 6 months, who have one of the following conditions should be given the opportunity of having the vaccine: -
- Chronic lung disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic heart disease
- Chronic liver disease
- Chronic neurological diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- Immunocompromised - caused by a disease or treatment for a disease. This includes people who live with immunocompromised patients.
In addition the Department of Health have recommended that pregnant women (at any stage of pregancy) should be vaccinated against swine flu.
If you fulfill any of the above criteria and have not received an invitation then please contact the surgery to make an appointment.
Please note that depending on circumstances some patients will require two doses of the vaccine.
Vaccination of children over 6 months of age and under 5.
You may of heard through the media that the Department of Health has decided to offer the vaccination against swine flu to all children in the above age range.
Children of this age seem to be particularly vulnerable to severe illness as a result of swine flu. Children under the age of 5 have significantly higher rates of hospitalisation than older children. They also have higher rates of admission to critical care and sadly some young children have died of the disease.
Again invitations have been sent and if you would like your child to be protected against swine flu then please contact reception to make an appointment.
The majority of children will only need one injection of half the adult dose.
Patients aged over 65.
At the present time, unlike the seasonal flu vaccination, patients aged 65 and over are only eligible for the vaccination should they fall into one of the above categories.
If you would like information regarding swine flu
The latest information is available on www.nhs.uk or by contacting the Swine Flu Information line on 0800 1 513 513.
If you have flu-like symptoms and are concerned that you may have swine flu:
Stay at home and check your symptoms through the National Pandemic Flu website,www.pandemicflu.direct.gov.uk or by phoning 0800 1 513 513.
If you are still concerned then please telephone the surgery and ask to speak to the on-call doctor. The receptionist will take a few basic details and arrange for the doctor to call you back. To reduce the risk of spreading the virus please do not visit the surgery unless advised to do so.
Seasonal Flu
Please see the Influenza vaccination tab for further information.
Our annual influenza vaccination campaign started at the end of September and is now drawing to a close.
If you are entitled to a vaccination and have not had it yet you are not to late, however, it is important that you contact reception within the next few days to make an appointment.
The seasonal flu vaccination can be given at the same time as the vaccination against swine flu.
Summary Care Records
The NHS is currently modernising the way that patients health information is both stored and managed with part of this process being the introduction of 'Summary Care Records' (SCR). Lakenham was the first surgery in the county to introduce Summary Care Records for it's patients.
Summary Care Records are an electronic record of a patients medical history. Initially SCRs will hold basic information such as any medication currently being taken, any known allergies and whether in the past the patient has had an adverse reaction to treatment.
In time it is expected that the information held will build to include other appropriate health related issues.
The aim of the scheme is to help provide better and safer healthcare giving any, authorised healthcare professional access to the SCR. There are clear policies in place as to who, and under what circumstances, can access the information.
Anyone who registers with the practice will automatically benefit from having a SCR unless they decide to 'opt-out' of the scheme. Details of how to do this are available at reception.
Further information is available from www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk or bv contacting the NHS Norfolk Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0800 587 4132 (email:pals@norfolk.nhs.uk). Advisers are available on weekdays between 9am and 5pm.
Saturday Opening
Appointments are available to be 'pre-booked' with a doctor or nurse on selected Saturday mornings. These are normally available on alternate Saturdays but please note that other than for these appointments the surgery is closed.
Saturday morning appointments have been primarily designed to help patients who find it difficult to attend the surgery during the week.
In March appointments are available on the 6th & 20th.
