Ashfield Surgery
Hello and welcome to our website. We’ve packed it full of useful information in a very easy to use format with the added benefit of several online functions. If you’re new to the area, have a look at our opening times and contact reception.
ON-LINE TRIAGE NOW AVAILABLE - CLICK LINK BELOW:
https://www.patientaccess.com/
LATEST VACCINATION NEWS
UPDATED 30th November 2021
COVID Booster Vaccinations
The government has announced that all people over 18 are now eligible for a COVID-19 booster vaccine. We have been instructed to focus on the most vulnerable patients in the first instance. You will be contacted to invite you for your vaccine when we are ready to give it to you. We kindly ask that you do not call the practice and be assured you will be called in the forthcoming weeks for your vaccine.
Flu Vaccinations at Sutton Town Hall
This year the influenza clinics will be run slightly different to previous years.
We will be co-administering the Influenza Vaccine at the Sutton Town Hall for patient’s registered with the Sutton Coldfield Group Practice (SCGP), Ashfield Surgery, Manor Practice and Hawthorns Surgery.
This is to maximise protection ahead of the winter months.
Appointments are now available for all over 65s and those aged 18 to 64 who have a pre-existing medical condition (Asthma, Diabetes, etc) that makes them eligible for the vaccine. Please contact the practice to book your appointment.
Patients who are housebound will be contacted shortly and arrangements made for their vaccinations too.
Covid-19 Booster Campaign
JCVI advises that for the 2021 COVID-19 booster vaccine programme individuals who received vaccination in Phase 1 of the COVID-19 vaccination programme (priority groups 1 to 9) should be offered a third dose COVID-19 booster vaccine. This includes:
- those living in residential care homes for older adults
- all adults aged 50 years or over
- frontline health and social care workers
- all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 (as set out in the green book), and adult carers
- adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
Patients will be contacted and invited to attend a clinic at Sutton Town Hall. In order to avoid unnecessary queues on the practice phone lines, please refrain from calling and enquiring as to when you will be called. We will be working through all our eligible patients and you will be contacted in due course.
Thank you
Influenza Vaccination
This year the influenza clinics will be run slightly different to previous years. Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the well-publicised delays in vaccine deliveries the vaccines will be administered to those most at risk initially with the intention to vaccinate all patients eligible by the end of the year.
Once more information is made available to us regarding the delivery of the Covid-19 Booster Vaccine then those patients will also be offered the opportunity to have it alongside their influenza vaccine.
Patients aged 70 and over will have started to receive calls to book their influenza vaccinations. Once this cohort has been vaccinated, we will be moving down to the 65+ and those clinically at risk.
We will be co-administering the third dose COVID-19 Booster Vaccine and the Influenza Vaccine at the Sutton Town Hall for patient’s registered with the Sutton Coldfield Group Practice (SCGP), Ashfield Surgery, Manor Practice and Hawthorns Surgery.
This is to maximise protection ahead of the winter months.
For now, please do not contact us to book as we will be contacting you directly when it is time to book your appointment.
#COVID-19Booster #BoosterVaccine #ThirdDose #InfluenzaVaccine #NHS #Vaccination
Appointments at the Practice
Following the latest Government announcement regarding the ending of lockdown measures across the country. We would like to make you aware of how this will affect your visit to the practice from July 19th.
Access to the practice will continue to be by intercom only. Patients with Covid-type symptoms should not attend the practice and instead call us for advice.
Patients should continue to wear masks when visiting the practice in order to help protect yourself, other patients and our staff. Patients arriving without a mask will be offered one before they enter. Those refusing or who are exempt from wearing one will be asked to remain outside until called in for their appointment by the clinician.
Patients arriving for an appointment can use our waiting rooms, but seating remains limited while we maintain social distancing between patients. If the waiting area is full, you will be asked to wait outside. Only patients wearing a mask will be permitted to use the waiting rooms.
To limit the number of patients in our building, patients are asked to arrive no sooner than 10 minutes before their allotted appointment time. Patients arriving too early will be asked to wait outside or come back closer to the time.
While we continue to increase the number of face-to-face appointments available, these are still only bookable following a telephone call with the GP first. Following your telephone consultation, if a face-to-face appointment is necessary, they will arrange this with you on the phone.
Prescriptions will continue to be sent electronically to your nominated Pharmacy. Collection of prescriptions from the surgery will not be available.
We thank you for your continued patience at this time. Our team are working hard to continue to provide you with a safe service and appreciate your cooperation.
Infection prevention control guidelines to remain in place
The highest priority for the NHS remains the safety of staff, patients and visitors. While COVID restrictions will end in many settings in England from 19 July, everyone accessing or visiting healthcare settings must continue to wear a face covering (unless they are exempt) and follow social distancing rules. Public Health England’s infection prevention control guidelines and hospital visiting guidance are therefore set to remain in place for all staff and visitors and across all health services including hospitals, GP practices, dentists, optometrists and pharmacies to ensure patients and staff are protected. Read the infection prevention control guidance in full at:
Travel Vaccinations
Travel vaccinations are temporarily suspended due to the Coronavirus travel ban.
We will notify patients when normal vaccination services resume.
For more information visit NHS.UK
Vaccination Centre
Our local vaccination centre has now moved to a new venue. All future vaccinations will take place here.
Sutton Town Hall
Sutton Council House Annexe
Upper Clifton Road
B73 6AB
Blood Specimen Collection Supply Disruption
A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment used for taking blood tests. NHS England have therefore issued guidance to GPs that all non-urgent blood tests should be halted.
Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems will still get one, but where your GP recommends that it’s safe to do so, then you may be asked to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.
Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.
If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact us as you would normally.
Important Changes at Ashfield Surgery
Ashfield Surgery has listened to the feedback from our patients and we are making the following changes to help improve access to our services.
We have a new call queuing system on our phones which means you will no longer have to call multiple times to get through to us. On our appointment line during busy periods, you have the option to ‘save’ your place in the queue and the system will automatically call you back when you are near the front of the queue.
These changes to the phone system will be fully rolled out by the 26th August 2021.
In addition to making calling the practice easier, we are also making changes to appointment availability in order to give you more choice when booking a routine appointment with your GP.
More appointments will be available to book in advance, both later the same week and several weeks in advance. These appointments will also be available to book online via Patient Access so patients can book their GP appointments outside our normal opening hours.
Appointments will still be available the same day for medically urgent cases. Patients calling the practice are encouraged to explain their needs with the receptionist so that we can book you in with the most appropriate clinician. If you are not comfortable with discussing matters with our staff, we fully understand and will do our best to ensure you are promptly booked with an appropriate clinician.
Changes to the appointments will start to take effect from 1st September 2021. Advanced online appointments will be available to book via Patient Access from 31st August 2021.
If you have any feedback on these changes, we would love to hear from you. You can write to the practice, complete our online form or call and ask to speak to a member of the management team.
Thank you for your continued support.
Matthew Lowe
Practice Manager
NOTICE FOR OUR YOUNG PATIENTS & TEENAGERS DURING LOCK DOWN CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19). CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR HELP AND ADVICE: https://www.kooth.com/
If you suspect that you or someone you have come across may be an adult victim of modern slavery and in need of help, please contact The Salvation Army’s confidential and anonymous referral helpline on 0800 808 3733 – available 365 days a year, 24/7 with interpretation services where needed.
Existing patients can enjoy access to our wide range of services at the touch of a button. Whether managing your appointment or ordering a repeat prescription you can now do both without leaving your home via the internet. You can also save time trying to get through on the phone and view your test results, allergies, adverse reactions and immunisations on-line.
To register forms are available at reception, or download here: On-Line Request Form
Your Health in Safe Hands
The team are here to provide all patients with a professional and caring healthcare experience in friendly and personal surroundings. With discretion and confidentiality guaranteed your welfare is safe, secure and in good hands.
Access
There is full disabled access, with free parking including disabled parking spaces at the entrance to our car park. There are disabled toilet facilities located on the ground floor and a lift to GP consulting rooms, treatment room and minor surgery suite on the first floor.
Access Information Standard
If you require information in a different format, BSL, Interpreter or other communication support, please let the receptionist know. Click here for information poster: AIS Poster
Click here to download a patient request form: AIS Patient Request Form
Chaperone
If you require a chaperone during your consultation, please inform reception when booking your appointment. We will make every endeavor to arrange an appointment to suit you, but please bear in mind this requires co-ordination with a member of the nursing team to be present.
Chaperone Poster
Convenience
The practice has a car park at the rear of the building, and two disabled-only parking spaces at the front. Bus routes - there are local buses that pass nearby, please check local timetables for up-to-date information.
(Site updated 30/11/2021)