Update in dietary advice to only consume smoked fish if thoroughly cooked to reduce risk of listeriosis in people who are vulnerable to infection, due to an ongoing outbreak linked to smoked fish - April 2022

L. monocytogenes is an uncommon cause of food poisoning. The presentation can range from asymptomatic infection, or mild gastroenteritis to severe sepsis or meningoencephalitis in people aged over 65, those who are, immunocompromised and those with underlying systemic illness like liver or renal disease. Listeriosis can cause miscarriages and still births in pregnant individuals who may be asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms of listeriosis. Newborn babies may acquire perinatal infection including neonatal sepsis and meningitis.
L. monocytogenes can be spread through consumption of contaminated food. The best way for patients in vulnerable groups to protect themselves is to follow the guidance on what foods should be avoided and what foods should be handled with care, and to follow advice on appropriate handling, storage and preparation of foods.
NHS Digital webpages are updated to reflect smoked fish as a high risk product for listeriosis, and advise that vulnerable patients only consume smoked fish if it is thoroughly cooked.  Please visit Listeriosis - NHS (www.nhs.uk) which also includes details on specific actions people can take when handling, storing and preparing foods to reduce their risk of listeriosis.  While food chain investigations have not revealed any contamination that breaches the legal threshold for L. monocytogenes, it is important that high-risk patients are aware of the risks and are advised how to safely consume these products.

COVID-19

As part of our response to COVID-19 and in light of the increased transmissibility of the new variant, Omicron, we have made some key changes to how we are currently working.

The measures described below are in line with national guidance and ensures we can continue to provide care whilst keeping our patients and staff safe.

All appointments will now be telephone or video based first, with face-to-face appointments offered where there is a clinical need to do so. This helps to ensure that patients are only attending the practice in person if absolutely necessary, keeping everyone as safe as possible. When you call to book an appointment, you may be asked a series of questions around what you’re calling for. This will be to ensure you are directed to the most appropriate service or health professional for your condition, so please do provide as much detail as you can.

For those who are invited to attend our practice in person, please be assured that we are continuing to follow strict infection control and social distancing measures to keep you as safe as possible. As part of this, we ask that you wear a face covering at all times whilst in the practice. If you have any COVID-19 symptoms, or received a positive PCR test result or if you meet the criteria for self-isolation, please do not attend.

Given the significant demand our services are currently experiencing, and following the national ask to clinically prioritise the most urgent services such as vaccines, urgent care, immunisations, cancer and high risk patients, some of our routine services may not be available as quickly as you are used to. We apologise for any inconvenience but assure you that we are working hard to provide care in the safest and most effective ways.

Don’t forget, you can download the NHS App or use online services for things like prescriptions or other healthcare needs. You can also use 111.nhs.uk or call 111 for urgent but non-life threatening concerns.

Your local pharmacy is also available to support with minor conditions or to provide further advice. For vaccine or COVID testing queries, you can call 119 where a trained call handler will be able to support you to book vaccine appointments, including boosters, or get a free PCR or lateral flow test.

For more information on the services 119 provides visit the NHS website or for more information on vaccination clinics near you, visit the Birmingham and Solihull COVID vaccine website.

These measures will be reviewed on a regular basis and as soon as it is safe to do so, we will return to offering more face-to-face appointments. We thank you for your patience.

In line with the Government’s announcement, the NHS is aiming to offer every adult the chance to book a COVID-19 booster vaccine by the end of the year. This means our practice is now prioritising the booster rollout.

As part of this, some of our routine services may be stood down temporarily to allow us to focus on protecting as many patients as possible.

We are still there for anyone who may need care for an urgent need, but would ask for patience as we support this key national priority over the coming weeks. We hope to be able to stand back up any services as soon as possible and will update this page as soon as we know more.

Please don’t forget there are many services available for you, depending on your condition. These include:

• Self-care – This is the best choice to treat minor illnesses and injuries such as hangovers, coughs, colds, grazes, small cuts or sore throats. Many of these can be treated at home, simply with over-the-counter medicines and plenty of rest.
• Pharmacy – Pharmacists can give advice on and treat a range of symptoms. They can support you with things such as diarrhoea, earaches, painful coughs, sticky eyes, teething and rashes.
• NHS 111 – You can access 111 online or via the telephone. This is for any urgent but non-life threatening health concerns. They will be able to signpost you to the relevant service and provide advice where appropriate, or book you in to an Urgent Treatment Centre.
• A&E / 999 – You should only attend A&E or dial 999 in a life-threatening emergency such as severe bleeding, breathing difficulties and severe chest pain.

If you are now eligible for your COVID-19 booster please book it as soon as you can. It is vital as many people as possible get boosted as soon as possible. Please do not ring the practice regarding your boosters, instead visit https://www.birminghamandsolihullcovidvaccine.nhs.uk/ or call 119 to book an appointment or to find a walk-in clinic near you. You can also find out more about who is eligible, how the vaccine is given and other frequently asked questions. If you are a housebound patient, there is a community team which will be coming out to you to vaccinate you, so please do not contact your GP as the team will be making contact with you.

NHS Digital (NHSD) extract update as of July 2021

The current NHS Digital (NHSD) extract of GP data for Research purposes (known as the GPDPR) has been delayed due to NHSD wishing to review the way in which this data will be collected, to conduct more public involvement and information about the plans and change the way in which patients can opt out of the extract of their GP data.

 Currently the only way to opt out is to complete a Type 1 opt out form and return this to the practice by the 1^st September.  However, this extract will not be taken until the NHSD have changed the way it will take the data and respect the patient’s choice for using their data.  NHSD are introducing the following changes to the opt out process which will mean that patients will be able to change their opt-out status at any time::-

• Patients do not need to register a Type 1 opt-out by 1st September to ensure their GP data will not be uploaded.

• NHS Digital will create the technical means to allow GP data that has previously been uploaded to the system via the GPDPR collection to be deleted when someone registers a Type 1 opt-out.

• The plan to retire Type 1 opt-outs will be deferred for at least 12 months while we get the new arrangements up and running and will not be implemented without consultation with the RCGP, the BMA and the National Data Guardian. 

This means that you can opt out at any time in the future and NHSD will delete data that they already have taken for research purposes, the deadline of the 01/09/2021 has been delayed until a new system of opt out is developed.  Hopefully, this will be a simple centralised approach via the NHS app or NHS website to avoid paper form and administration work for your GP.

 We will update you when we know more about the NHSD plans to change how you can control who has access to your data.

RECENT NEWS REGARDING BUTTON BATTERIES - KEEP CHILDREN SAFE

COVID - 19 INFORMATION

Evidencing COVID-19 vaccinations for international travel

Thank you for contacting the surgery enquiring about COVID vaccination certification.

We are unable to issue this certificate at the practice.

Please see the below link for further information.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

Proof of your vaccination status will be available on the NHSapp.

The NHSapp can be downloaded from

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/nhs-app/id1388411277 - for iphone

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nhs.online.nhsonline - for android

Alternatively, you can call the NHS helpline on 119 (from 17 May) and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine, the letter may to take up to 5 days to reach you.

Thank you for your co-operation. 

Accessing Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Your local NHS in Birmingham and Solihull is still here for you, but how you access services has changed due to COVID-19.

If you are feeling unwell or if you have any health symptoms that you are worried about, please contact your local GP practice online through their website or call them in the first instance. You can no longer walk-in to your GP practice without an appointment.

If treatment is not possible through an online triage or a telephone consultation, a face-to-face appointment will be arranged for you.

Your local GP is open and fully operational, but these measures have been put in place to maintain and control social distancing and to keep local people and NHS staff safe.

If you are suffering a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999 immediately.

Please visit the NHS Birmingham and Solihull CCG website for more information.

Contacting your GP

The coronavirus outbreak means that GPs are talking to people on the phone or online. This is to reduce the risk of coronavirus to them and their patients. When you speak to them, they will ask about your symptoms and tell you if you need to go into the surgery to see a GP.

They may suggest that you keep an eye on your symptoms and arrange another appointment to check in with them after a certain amount of time. Make sure you know when and how to contact them. And contact them again if your symptoms get worse or don’t get better.

Getting the most out of your telephone appointment

When you speak to the doctor, it can be difficult to remember everything you want to say especially on the phone. These tips will help you get the most out of your appointment.

Tips

• Find a quiet part of the house to take the call – your doctor will hopefully give you an idea of what time of day they will call you.
• Ask someone to listen in for support - they could also ask questions and help you remember what the doctor says
• Before the call write down your symptoms including when they started, when they happen and how often you have them.
• Write down if anything makes them worse or better.
• Tell them if you are worried about cancer in particular.
• Tell them if you have any family history of cancer.
• Ask them to explain anything you don’t understand.

Questions you might want to ask your GP

• Do I need to see a specialist? Is it urgent?
• When will I see them?
• Where will I see them?
• Will I find out about my appointments by post or telephone?
• Do I need tests? What will they involve?
• How long should I expect to wait?
• Where can I find out more about tests?
• Do I have to do anything in to prepare for this test? When will I get the results and who will tell me?
• When will I get the results and who will tell me?

Your GP might not be able to answer all of your questions. They will tell you what they can at this point. Not knowing is difficult to cope with and can make you anxious.

Seeing a specialist and having cancer tests

GPs can still make urgent referrals to specialists or for tests if they’re worried you might have cancer. The hospital should contact you to tell you more about your appointment. Your first appointment might be a telephone appointment with the specialist doctor.

Hospital teams might need to prioritise tests and appointments so they can see those most in need. They will base any decisions on the symptoms people have and the risk of them being cancer. They will talk to you about the possible risks of delaying a test until the risks of COVID-19 are over.

If you need to wait to have tests your team will put you on a list to make sure you do have the test when it is possible.

If they don't think you need any tests or a referral or they want to delay it

Questions you might want to ask:

• Can you explain why I don’t need to have tests or see a specialist?
• Is there anything I can do to help myself?
• Do I need to see you again?
• Who do I contact if my symptoms continue or get worse, especially during the night or at weekends?

Coronavirus Outbreak