Are you feeling lonely this winter? Loneliness has no common cause. Sometimes it can be triggered by a life event or change in situation, or it may not be triggered by anything at all. We all experience feeling lonely in different ways. It's really important to remember that loneliness and difficult feelings can pass. Sometimes it can feel easier to reach out to someone else who may be feeling lonely. There are plenty of simple actions you can take to help lift someone out of loneliness and in doing so, it might help you to feel less lonely too. Find out more about the steps you can take to help yourself and those around you and where you can find further support.

Find out more at https://www.nhs.uk/every-mind-matters/lifes-challenges/loneliness/

Do you have enough medicine for over the festive period? Make sure you order your repeat prescription early, especially as some local pharmacies might have different opening times. Please find the pharmacy opening times via the link below.

Find out bank holiday pharmacy opening times at http://ow.ly/jTlo50LKRUC

The practice will be closed on the following days

Monday 26th December 2022

Tuesday 27th December 2022

Monday 2nd January 2023

We would request for all prescription requests to be put in by Monday 19th December 2022.

• The Children’s Hospital Emergency Department is incredibly busy – those who are not seriously ill will face very long waits to be seen and may need to go elsewhere for help.
• Remember, the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department can’t help with dental or eye issues. For an eye emergency, please attend the Midland Eye Centre at Dudley Road open 9am-7pm.  NHS 111 can help with finding and accessing an Emergency Dentist
• There are things you can try before visiting, such as:
• View our ‘virtual consultations’ to hear our doctors’ advice on the most common reasons people come to the Emergency Department. Click here.
• Visit Healthier Together, a website recommended by our doctors, which has advice and resources for parents and young people. Click here.
• Visit 111 online (for children aged 5 and over) answer questions about your symptoms on the website and they will tell you what to do next.
• Take these simple steps to keep well this winter:

• Wash your hands regularly just like you did during the pandemic
• Get your flu jab and COVID-19 booster

Are you due your COVID or FLU vaccination? Please contact the GP Practice to book your appointment. 

Downsfield Medical Centre will be providing free Flu and COVID vaccinations for eligible patients. Please see the NHS website for full details.

Patients 65 years, 18–64 years old, who are clinically at risk, and other eligible adult groups – in line with this year’s Government and JVCI guidance – will be invited for joint COVID and Flu vaccinations. These clinics are curently being held at the Chelmsley Wood Primary Care Centre and are bookable directly via your own GP Surgery.  

The local NHS is urging adults with long-term health conditions to take up the offer of a free flu jab and COVID-19 booster as soon as possible to protect them this winter.

Those at higher risk of serious symptoms from flu and COVID-19 include people with lung problems including asthma or COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder), people with heart disease, chronic kidney or liver disease, cancer, a weakened immune system or people who have had a stroke or those living with dementia.

These individuals may suffer more severely if they catch either flu or Covid-19 but vaccination will help reduce this risk.

Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter, which is why it’s sometimes called seasonal flu. It is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly.

Colds are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold.

The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness, healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days but, for some, the disease can lead to hospitalization, permanent disability or even death.

For more information visit :  http://www.nhs.uk/flujab

Flu vaccination provides the best protection against an unpredictable virus which infects many people

The vaccination is free and recommended yearly for those most at risk from flu.

Flu occurs every year, usually in the winter, which is why it’s sometimes called seasonal flu. It is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly.

Colds are much less serious and usually start gradually with a stuffy or runny nose and a sore throat. A bad bout of flu can be much worse than a heavy cold.

The most common symptoms of flu are fever, chills, headache, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, and extreme tiredness, healthy individuals usually recover within 2 to 7 days but, for some, the disease can lead to hospitalization, permanent disability or even death.

For more information visit :  http://www.nhs.uk/flujab

Flu vaccination provides the best protection against an unpredictable virus which infects many people

The vaccination is free and recommended yearly for those most at risk from flu.

Monkeypox is a rare infection that's mainly found in parts of west or central Africa. There have been some recent cases in the UK. For further information please click on the below link 

Please do not attend the surgery or any other clinical setting should you have suspected symptoms. 

Click here for more information

Changes to our appointment system as of Monday 16th May 2022

As of Monday 16th May 2022, you will now be able to request a face to face appointment on booking. The reception staff will offer you a choice of appointment, a face to face appointment, telephone triage appointment or video consultation. The appointment booking procedure will remain as bookings over the telephone only, we would like to limit any booking's being made at the reception desk. The reception staff may still ask you to provide a reason for the appointment to ensure the appointment has been booked correctly.

Repeat prescription slips can now be dropped off at reception, you can also request your medication online and via the telephone.