We are now booking in Flu Vaccinations. If you are aged 65+, or you turn 65 before 31^st March 2024 OR if you are aged 18-64 and you are in the ‘at risk’ category you can book your flu vaccination either via Online Access (such as the NHS app or Patient Access) or you can call us on 01454 412167 and press option 5 for the Flu Line.

If you are not sure if you are eligible please follow this link for more information Flu vaccine – NHS (www.nhs.uk), if you are then still unsure then call the Surgery and we can check your records.

If you would like to decline your Flu Vaccination, please give the Surgery a call so that we can take you off our list.

We are also booking in children Flu Vaccinations for those are are aged 2-3 and also if they are under 18 and in the At Risk category, please call us on 01454 412167 and press option 5 for the Flu Line to book in an appointment.

• Healthcare Assistant (24 hours)

Please see our Current Vacancies page for more information.

As of the 1st November all prescriptions for Streamside Surgery practice will be dealt with by the new PCN Prescription Hub – Severnvale Presciption Hub.

Please see the below image for more information on how this will work and how you can order your prescription requests.

To contact them for medication queries ONLY please call 01454 205099, lines will be open from 10am-12:30 and 14:30-17:30.

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We can make a digital referral to an NHS Community Pharmacist for a consultation at a convenient pharmacy, where the patient will receive pharmacist advice and treatment for a range of minor illnesses. Should the patient need to be escalated or referred to an alternative service, the pharmacist can arrange this. The service is helping to alleviate pressure on GP appointments and emergency departments, in addition to harnessing the skills and medicines knowledge of pharmacists.

Following on from recent news and social media speculation about NHS Digital and data sharing as a number of posts are circulating on social media about the national data opt-out, containing incorrect information. We thought it may be helpful to provide some key information and links to help you with your decision making and if you might be now thinking of opting out of sharing any of your data as it’s your choice.

Understanding the national data opt-out – NHS Digital

Although, sometimes information about your health and care does helps the NHS to improve your individual care, speed up diagnosis, plan your local services and research new treatments, you still have the option to decline sharing data that goes beyond the provision of your direct care.

✅ Have a look at our Privacy Notice which explains what we do with your data and who we share it with

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✅ There is also a great webpage from NHS Digital with FAQs and mythbusting.
https://digital.nhs.uk/…/nat…/mythbusting-social-media-posts

We do not

• We do not sell health and care data
• We do not share data with marketing and insurance companies

Please see the ICO webpage for more information about your rights Your data matters | ICO

If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact our Data Protection Officer Kelly@almc.co.uk

You may notice over the next few weeks that Patient Access are having an update. They will be emailing all Patient Access users gradually over the next 3 weeks to inform them of these updates and asking them to contact their Support team rather than their GP practice if they have any questions. We have been told that if some patients contact the surgery then to simply ask them to visit here where they can contact us directly.

If you have any further questions on this please do not hesitate to visit the patient access contact us page.

Please see below the updates that have come from Patient Access that will be implemented by the end of July.

Patient Access – Security PIN code

Two important new security measures will be implemented in Patient Access by the end of July. Please read the information below which explains what these measures are and why we are introducing them.

1 – Security PIN code

In line with data security best practice, we are introducing an additional authentication step for use when signing in to Patient Access. Users will be asked to create a five-digit security PIN code that they will need to enter when signing in to the app, as well as their user ID/email and password.

You can read more about Patient Access security PIN codes.

2 – Mobile phone number prompt

We will be asking all Patient Access users to provide us with a mobile phone number if they have not done so already. This is so that we can further authenticate them if they need to reset their password. Users do not have to provide us with their mobile phone number – it is an optional security measure – but we highly recommend that they do so to help further protect their data.

Find more information about adding and verifying mobile numbers.

Security measures

The security of personal data is of utmost importance to us. We realise how sensitive any information relating to our users’ health is, and we are dedicated to ensuring its safety and privacy. We hope you agree that the introduction of these new measures is important in providing further protection to our users’ data.

What is Social Prescribing?

Social prescribing is a national NHS England programme, and is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support.

Social prescribing works for a wide range of people, including people:

• with one or more long-term conditions
• who need support with their mental health
• who are lonely or isolated
• who have complex social needs which affect their wellbeing.

Southern Brooks, in partnership with DHI, has been commissioned to deliver support within GP Practices in South Gloucestershire. Our Social Prescribing Link Workers are based within the Practice, and GPs can refer patients directly to them. Patients are offered 4-6 one-to-one appointments with their Link Worker, who will help them to access relevant services, support, and community groups.

NHS England has produced a summary guide to Social Prescribing, which you can read HERE.

If you would like to be referred to a Social Prescribing Link Worker, please speak to your GP.

Social Prescribing During Covid

The Social Prescribing Service is continuing to run remotely throughout the COVID-19 social distancing measures.

The link workers continue to be able to access, sign post and refer into the necessary services to improve people’s wellbeing.

Social Prescribing was designed to reduce levels of social isolation, and despite current restrictions we are continuing to do so. Social distancing measures do not mean that we have to be disconnected and the link workers are working with people that are struggling through this period.

We have been helping people struggling with their children during school closure, helping with money and welfare issues, including helping to secure grants for those in financial hardship,  and have gained support for mental health and well-being from a variety of organisations and community groups.

Now that restrictions are lifting, and the weather is bright, our link workers are meeting people out in their communities for face to face conversations in open spaces where social distancing measures can be followed safely.

We are busy building a portfolio of ‘green’ activities and community groups that can be joined and enjoyed while adhering to government advice.

NHS Cervical Screening Programme has received reports of a possible scam.

Some women are being contacted by text message, claiming to be from the call and recall service to advise they are overdue for screening. The message asks them to call a mobile number and provide personal details.

These messages are not from the NHS Cervical Screening Programme.

The Action Fraud Line has been contacted.

All services should ensure that staff dealing with queries from general practices and the public:

• are aware of the situation
• handle any suspicious calls and concerns by:
• reporting them according to local organisational policies
• alerting the screening and immunisation team (SIT) and the screening quality assurance service (SQAS)

All practices are required to provide all their patients with a named GP who will have overall responsibility for the care and support that the surgery provides to them.  This does not prevent patients from seeing any GP in the practice as is currently offered.  Any patients wishing to know their named GP can ring into the practice and ask the Reception Staff for the details, should any patient wish to change their named GP this can be done at the same time.

Any issues with this please ask to speak to Steph Celso (Practice Manager) or Jane Sprackman (Practice Administrator).

 

INTRODUCTION TO SUMMARY CARE RECORDS (SCR)
The NHS in England is now using an electronic record called the Summary Care Record (SCR), which is being used to support patient care.
All the settings where you receive health care keep their own medical records about you. These places can often only share information from your records by letter, fax or phone. At times, this can delay information sharing and this can impact decision making and slow down treatment.
The Summary Care Record is a copy of key information held in your GP record. It provides authorised healthcare staff with faster, secure access to essential information about you – when you need unplanned care or when your GP practice is closed. The availability of Summary Care records will improve the safety and quality of your care.

ABOUT YOUR SUMMARY CARE RECORD
Your SCR contains important information about any medicines you are taking, any allergies you suffer from and any bad reactions to medicines that you have previously experiences.

Allowing authorised healthcare staff to have access to this information will improve decision making by doctors and other healthcare professionals and has prevented mistakes being made when patients are being cared for in an emergency or when their GP practice is closed.

Your SCR also includes your name, address, date of birth and your unique NHS number to help identify you corrently.

For more information about Summary Care Records you can
– talk to the staff at your GP Practice
– visit www.nhscarerecords.nhs.uk
– phone the Health and Social Care Information Centre on 0300 303 5678.

HOW DOES THE NHS PROTECT MY CONFIDENTIALITY
By law, everyone working for the NHS in England (or on their behalf) must respect your confidentiality and keep all information about you secure. The NHS Care Record Guarantee for England specifies how the NHS will collect, store and allow access to your electronic records. It details your choices for how your information is stored and viewed.
The NHS care Record Guarantee is available online at
http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/scr/intro

WHAT ARE MY CHOICES
You can choose to have an SCR or you can choose to opt out.

If you choose to have a SCR and are registered with a GP Practice, you do not need to do anything as a Summary Care Record is created for you.

If you choose to opt out of having a SCR you need to let the Practice know by filling in and returning an opt-out form. Opt-out forms are available from your GP Practice or online at
http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/scr/library/optout.pdf