FLU AND COVID VACCINATIONS AUTUMN 2023

If you think that you are eligible for Covid or Flu vaccinations, please look at the links below, then if you still think that you are eligible, then please call us.

You can now book elsewhere for Covid Vaccinations by using the NHS App, by calling 119, or by using this website: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/covid-19-services/covid-19-vaccination-services/book-covid-19-vaccination/

For more information about Flu Vaccination and whether you are eligible, please have a look at this:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-flu-immunisation-programme-plan/national-flu-immunisation-programme-2023-to-2024-letter

You can get Flu Vaccinations from many pharmacies for free if you are eligible, but for payment if you want one, and are not eligible.

ASTHMA:

COVID: This year, only poorly controlled asthmatics are eligible for the Covid Vaccination Nationally (needed 2 courses of oral steroids or had hospital admission in the last 2 years)

FLU: This year (like previous years) asthmatics who need a regular preventer steroid inhaler are eligible.

7/11/23

CHILD FLU VACCINATIONS 2023

We are having mini nasal spray flu vaccine clinics at Balham Park Surgery for:

• children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023 (born between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2021)

School Age Children (from Reception to Year 11) will be vaccinated in their school. Schools have started vaccinating children in November 2023. Please contact the school to find out more about it.

7/11/23

TRINITY MEDICAL CENTRE CLOSURE ON 31/7/23 -IMPACT ON BALHAM PARK SURGERY SERVICES

All patients who were registered with Trinity Medical Centre have started the process of registering with a new local GP surgery of their choice before 31 July 2023.

This is going to impact on our services. As you know the NHS, in particular GP practices are struggling to recruit and retain clinical and non-clinical staff. We are also facing this challenge. We will be trying our best to cope with this increased workload as best we can. Please bear with us as we work through this latest challenge.

GP SERVICES AFFECTED BY JUNIOR DOCTOR STRIKES

As we are a training practice, we have 4-5 doctors who have been working as fully qualified doctors for over 4 years, but are finishing off their GP training as GP Registrars at Balham Park Surgery. They are Junior Doctors. Strikes therefore impact on the service that we provide. Please support us to navigate through these tough times.

7/11/23

PROSTATE CANCER PSA TESTING 

We know that some men are at higher risk of prostate cancer:

-Men aged 50-70 years of age

-Men of Afro Caribbean Origin aged 45-70

-Men with a family history of Prostate cancer aged 45-70

You can check your risk by using Prostate Cancer UK’s risk checker: https://prostatecanceruk.org/gp-risk-u02454

If after checking, you want to book a PSA blood test, then please use the NHS app or contact us to book a blood test appointment.

Please look at this website for instructions about what to avoid for 48 hours before you have your PSA test taken https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/prostate-cancer/should-i-have-psa-test/

APPOINTMENT OPTIONS

Please look at the following options to help you decide how you can choose the most appropriate option:

Please use Direct Booking using the NHS App (or other Online patient access apps) for the following types of appointments:

1. Book a Face to Face appointment directly for a Physiotherapist. This is most appropriate for any Musculoskeletal/Joint Pain problem.
2. Book a Face to Face appointment directly with a Health Care Assistant for a Blood Pressure Measurement, Dressing reviews, or Stich Removal, and HCA Diabetes Reviews.
3. Book a Face to Face appointment directly with a Practice Nurse for Child Immunisations, Smear tests, Contraception, Diabetes Review, COPD or Asthma Review, Travel Advice.
4. To request to book an appointment with a GP. please use Accurx NHS Triage click here –> https://florey.accurx.com/p/H85066

For anything else or if you are unsure, please use Accurx NHS Triage to contact our Care Navigator Team who will get back to you within 2 working days.

For Urgent issues, please call the surgery when we are open on 020 8772 8772.

Please remember that we are trying to care for you without subsequently impacting on the puntuality of subsequent patient appointments. Thank you for your kind understanding.