Meningitis (Meningococcal Disease) Update

Following recent reports of meningococcal disease cases in Kent, health authorities have advised that there are currently no changes to meningitis vaccination guidance.

Patients should continue to follow the routine UK vaccination schedule and ensure vaccinations are up to date.

Patient helpline, run by UKHSA, is now available.

Patients can call 0344 225 3861, Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, if they have no symptoms but are concerned they have been in contact with a confirmed case or have a general enquiry.

The MenB vaccine was introduced into the NHS childhood programme in 2015.

Older children and adults may not have received this vaccine and there is no NHS catch-up programme, although it can be accessed privately through high street pharmacies, private GP providers and travel clinics. For those aged over 2 years, the vaccination course consists of 2 doses.

Teenagers and students under 25 can still receive free MenACWY and MMR vaccines if these were missed. This is particularly important before starting university or college.

The MenB vaccine does not protect against all types of meningitis, so please be aware of symptoms and seek urgent medical advice if concerned.

If you are unsure about your or your child’s vaccination status, please contact the practice.

What is meningitis? Symptoms, risks and how to protect yourself – UK Health Security Agency

NHS vaccinations and when to have them – NHS

Please visit the Vaccine Knowledge website for information on who should have the vaccine

Welcome to The Willows Medical Practice

Our Practice Ethos is to strive to deliver high quality, compassionate care and to put our patients first.

We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help and give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format. It has been designed with the patient’s needs at the forefront of everything, from checking surgery times to letting us know what you think of us.

Our dedicated team are here to treat those minor ailments that occur as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions and clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues. The technology also means you can now do a lot of things from the comfort of your home such as online electronic consultation, order a repeat prescription, book or cancel an appointment.

Please note we offer SAME DAY APPOINTMENT which may include Face to Face, Telephone and Online Triage. You do not have to come to surgery as appointments can be made by calling our dedicated appointments line.

Patients are registered with a Named GP at the practice, but you can choose any clinician on the day you wish to see if they are available. We will always try to allocate your chosen clinician, but you may have to see another clinician if nature of your illness is urgent.

We have seen a significant increase in the number of patients contacting us for some help.

We are trying our best to get to everyone as soon as we can and we are working hard to keep everyone safe by prioritizing our work, dealing with the most urgent issues first.

We still strongly encourage you to get in contact with us if you have any of the symptoms the NHS has advertised are of concern. Please make use of the NHS website to look up your symptoms and contact us if it advises you to do so.

Visit: www.nhs.uk

24/7, wherever you are, the app lets you conveniently order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record, and quickly check symptoms.

You can also book, cancel and track appointments at your GP surgery with ease. And access to NHS 111 online means no more wondering if you need urgent attention.

It’s free and owned by the NHS so you know your personal data is always secure. You can find it in in Google and Apple app stores.

Your NHS, your way. Download the NHS App.

Download the NHS App on the Apple app store.

Download the NHS App on the Google Play store.

How to Switch on Message Notifications in the NHS App

Once you have downloaded the app then follow the instructions as below:

The NHS App now lets you receive direct, secure messages from your GP practice. Messages are safe, reliable and not limited or expensive like traditional SMS text messages. Make sure to turn on notifications in your NHS App. Follow the step-by-step instructions:

• Open the NHS App on your smartphone
• Tap More in the top right Tap Account and settings
• Tap Manage notifications Toggle on Send me notifications about new messages

Position statement on the prescribing of selected travel vaccines
Following the local Spending NHS Money Wisely public consultation, the Governing Bodies of the BHR CCGs met in common on 29th June 2017 to agree changes to prescribing across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge.

From 10th July 2017

Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge Clinical Commissioning Groups (BHR CCGs) no longer supports the prescribing of these vaccines for travel:
 Hepatitis A&B combined
 Hepatitis B
 Meningococcal meningitis
 Japanese encephalitis
 Rabies
 Tick-borne encephalitis
 Tuberculosis
 Yellow fever

Decision
 The decision to stop prescribing hepatitis A and B combined, hepatitis B, meningococcal meningitis, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis, tuberculosis, yellow fever vaccines applies only if they are being prescribed for travel purposes
 Restricting the prescribing of these vaccines for travel applies to ALL patients across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. BHR CCGs have agreed NO exceptions to this recommendation. It should be noted that prescribing of these vaccines outside of travel purposes is still permitted on the NHS
 GP practices may charge a registered patient for immunisation with these vaccines if requested for travel, or the patient may be given a private prescription to obtain the vaccines
 Please note the following vaccines are still available to be prescribed on the NHS for travel - cholera, diphtheria, polio and tetanus booster, hepatitis A, typhoid.
 Provision of travel advice: NHS patients are entitled to receive advice on recommended immunisations and malaria prophylaxis free of charge
This decision was made because:
 BHR CCGs have agreed to enforce the current NHS restriction for prescribing of travel vaccines on the NHS, which has been very loosely adhered to locally
 BHR CCGs have a duty to spend taxpayer’s money wisely, to make sure they get the best value possible – especially when NHS funding is being severely squeezed and more patients are being seen with more complex health issues than ever before