Covid Vaccinations Update 18th January
We are very happy to announce that Covid vaccinations will start at Etchingham village hall on Wednesday 20th January. We realise it has been a long wait but we have a number of vaccination deliveries due this week so we will be able to vaccinate large numbers of the over 80 group in the coming days. We are then expecting further supplies the following week which hopefully will mean that everyone over 80 will be vaccinated very shortly.
We will be contacting people in the comiing days by phone to offer them an appointment.
When everyone over 80 has received their appointments we will then start vaccinating the age group between 75 and 79..
At the current time there is no facility to vaccinate patients in their homes, therefore we would strongy encourage everyone to accept their appointment at Etchingham. We realise that getting to Etchingham will be a struggle for some people but it is going to be the best way of guaranteeing you receive your vaccine as soon as possible. The surgery has a limited number of wheelchairs and we are happy to loan those to patients who have problems with mobility. Please only ask to use these if it is absolutely necessary and obvioulsy can you return them as soon as you have been for your appointment so they can be used for other people. Please ask the surgery when you have your appointment to enquire about using a wheelchair.
People in residential homes for the elderly and nursing homes are in priority group 1 and we are very happy to report that all residents in these facilities throughout Rother with be vaccinated this week.
We realise that some couples are in different age groups. For people aged over 80 if their partner is over 70 they will be able attend for their vaccine at the same time.
We have had a large number of questions about why the vaccines can't be done at Northiam. The regulations from NHS England state that all Covid vaccinations must be given in a locality based vaccination centre which for us is Rother, which stretches from Burwash to Rye. People may have seen vaccines being given from GP surgeries on the news these tend to be larger GP practices which will be acting as the vaccination centre for their locality. We are still hoping the regulations will change to allow the vaccine to be given at individual general practice level but there is no certainty that this will happen and we would therefore strongly encourage everyone to attend Etchingham if they are offered an appointment there.
The vaccination groups are listed below.
Vaccination groups
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residents in a care home for older adults and their carers
- all those 80 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers
- all those 75 years of age and over
- all those 70 years of age and over and clinically extremely vulnerable individuals
- all those 65 years of age and over
- all individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality
- all those 60 years of age and over
- all those 55 years of age and over
- all those 50 years of age and over
Covid vaccinations scams.
We have been advised that some patients have been receiving scam texts and emails about the Covid vaccine. Please click on this link for more information. Covid scam
Covid Testing - If you have one of these symptoms book a test
With the easing of lockdown it is very important that any new cases are picked up early so that the individual can self isolate and their contacts contacted by the NHS Track & Trace service.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you've noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms. Therefore if you develop any of these symptoms please arrange a test as soon as possible. Click here BOOK COVID TEST
More information is available on the NHS website.
Should your child be going to school?
If you have concerns about your child's health and are concerned about sending them to school this simple flowchart may help in making a decision.
Medication Reviews - A red sticker on your prescription
Surgery Appointments - Continuing initial telephone triage
Medication - still a 5 day turnaround
Due to the need for social distancing our capacity in the dispensary is still reduced so we will continue to operate a five working day turnaround for repeat prescriptions. We are trying to increase our capacity and aim to return to a three day turnaround in the future.
Community Help and Support - do you need help?
We are aware that some people are having trouble collecting their medicines or going to the shops. There are a number of voluntary organisations that are helping people collect medicines, run errands or contacting people on their own.
If you need help with collecting your medicines in Northiam Northiam Together operate 'Helping Hands' service staffed by volunteer. Please call 07522 473173 to request assistance.
Northiam Talking: This is a service for people who are feeling isolated at the moment while stuck at home. It can put people in touch with others in a similar situation by phone, email, Facetime or Skype. For more details email northiamtalking@gmail.com
For the villages of Beckley, Peasmarsh, Udimore, Broad Oak and Brede please contact Rye Mutual Staplecross & Ewhurst Green Chatburn8@icloud.com
If you have any questions about your prescriptions or medication then please still contact the surgery.
Northiam Surgery 01797 252140
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Broad Oak Surgery 01424 882394
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Northiam Surgery Opening Hours Monday to Thursday 8.30 - 6.30
Friday 8.30 - 5.00 Saturday 9 - 10.00 |
Broad Oak Opening Times
Monday 8.30 - 1.00
Tuesday 8.30 - 1.00 Wednesday 8.30 - 12 & 1.30 - 6.30 Thursday 8.30 - 1.00 Friday 8.30 - 11.00 |