AUTUMN 2023 NEWSLETTER

annettejohnson - 29th September 202316th October 2023

WANSFORD SURGERY AUTUMN 2023 NEWSLETTER

Covid Boosters

Am I eligible for an autumn Covid booster?

The following people are eligible for an autumn Covid booster:

Residents in care homes for older adults
All adults aged 65 years and over
People aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the Covid-19 chapter of the UKHSA Green Book on Immunisation
frontline health and social care workers.
People aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression, as defined in the UKHSA Green Book
People aged 16 to 64 years who are carers, as defined in the UKHSA Green Book, and staff working in care homes for older adults

This is because the risk of severe Covid continues to be strongly associated with increasing age and underlying health conditions.

When is the booster available and how do I book an appointment?

Vaccinations will begin on 11 September for those most at risk, including adult care home residents and people who are immunosuppressed.
From 18 September, the NHS will start to invite people in priority order of risk and those eligible will be able to book an appointment on the National Booking Service.
Further information is available here.

Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANP’s)

We are happy to announce that we have recently appointed 2 ANP’s. ANP’s are trained advance health practitioners who have undertaken additional education to enable them to provide advance patient care and to prescribe, They are an important part of the general practice tea,. In providing the care for patients they follow the ‘Core Capabilities Framework for Advanced Clinical Practices (Nurses) working in General Practice which has been produced in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners (GP’s). ANP’s are able to take a full medical history, carry out physical assessments and examinations, make a diagnosis and carry out treatment, including the prescribing of medicines, plan any required follow up treatment, refer patients where necessary, can advise whether your condition requires you to take time off work and can provide ‘fit notes’. If your appointment is directed to an ANP it is because they are trained to assess and examine you for the condition you have described. Examples of these conditions are acute (not ongoing) back and joint pain, wounds, scalds, burns, rashes, shingles, oral thrush, infections such as chest, ear, throat, sinus, skin infections such as boils and abscess’, diarrhoea and vomiting, constipation, piles, depression, some gynaecological conditions. This list is not exhaustive. Some patients, often those with complex and long-standing medical problems may need an appointment with at GP afterwards, however the ANP is usually able to assess the situation and in some cases organise initial blood tests and other investigations prior to arranging a follow up with your GP.