Dr Hannah Bryant
'Unfortunately Dr Hannah Bryant has also recently been diagnosed with breast cancer in addition to her brain tumour. She will be off work at present undergoing treatment for this but looks forward to returning in due course. In the interim we will be having locums to offer additional appointments and we hope you can be understanding of this '
COVID Booster vaccinations
Please do not call the practice with general queries about Covid-19 vaccination.
Over 18's
Can receive 2 vaccines as a primary course and a booster vaccine 3 months following receiving their second dose.
Second dose needs to be 8 weeks after first dose was administered and should be the same manufacturer as the first dose.
Over 18's that are immunosuppressed
If you have received a letter stating that you are to receive a fourth booster dose, you can present to clinic with your letter if it has been 3 months since you received your third vaccine.
If you have received a letter about being immunosuppressed and need to book your third vaccine, it needs to be 8 weeks after your second vaccine was administered.
16 & 17 year olds
Can receive 2 vaccines as a primary course and a booster vaccine 3 months following receiving their second dose.
Second dose needs to be 12 weeks after administration and should be the same manufacturer as the first dose.
12-15 year olds
Can receive 2 vaccines as a primary course only. Second dose needs to be administered 12 weeks after the first vaccine.
If a child has been identified as at risk, they would have received a letter from NHS England stating that they should have an 8 week interval between the first and second dose of vaccine.
Children between these ages that are at risk or are a household contact of someone that is immunosuppressed, can receive a booster 3 months after their second dose has been administered.
5-11 year olds
We waiting on advice on when patients of this age can receive their vaccine.
****IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING A RECENT POSITIVE COVID TEST****
If you have recently tested positive for COVID you need to allow a certain amount of time before you receive your next vaccine.
If you are aged over 18, you should leave it 4 weeks from your positive test result to receiving your vaccine. If you are under 18, you need to leave it 12 weeks from your positive test date to receiving your vaccine.
Above is standard guideline and may be altered under medical guidance, proof of which will need to be presented to the vaccination team. Individual cases will be assessed by the vaccination team in support of evidence provided.
If you are not due your vaccine just yet but would like to attend one of our future clinics, please visit our website where we update details of our vaccination clinics.
If you meet the criteria and can come along to our clinic on Sunday 30th January, please be advised the operating time is between 9am and 1pm.
The national booking system has opened for over 30s today and will open for 18-29-year-olds on Wednesday, 15 December. Some local vaccination services will also contact patients directly. The time between your second dose and a booster must be at least three months. You can book using the national booking service by calling 119 or at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/ The national booking service will only show clinics that have appointments available when you visit the site/call 119; but clinics regularly add more dates.
For a full list of all vaccination sites in Kent and Medway, visit https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus/covid19vaccine
GP PRACTICES ARE OPEN - GP practices are open and have been open throughout the pandemic but they are very busy.
· Please treat practice teams with respect, they are trying to help.
· There are other ways of getting in touch than phoning, please use them if you’re able to as this keeps phone lines clearer for those who can’t.
· GP teams have a range of trained clinicians that can help you be seen more quickly.
· GP practice teams have been instrumental in the rollout of the vaccination programme.
Getting in touch with us
We are aware there are significant problems getting through to us on the phone. We are sorry this is the case and would like to explain a little about why that is.
Many GP surgeries across the country are in a similar position. We understand how frustrating it can be for it to take longer than normal.
We would like to reassure you we are working hard to resolve the situation.
There are three things that are challenging us:
1. There has been an unprecedented post-lockdown increase in demand. Part of this is because many of our patients have been managing health issues themselves rather than contacting their doctor over the last year and some hospital procedures and appointments have been necessarily delayed. As confidence in general is returning, patients are now quite rightly contacting us.
2. We have been heavily involved in delivering the country’s largest ever vaccination campaign.
3. We have had to change the way we work to keep things safe for our patients and our staff.
What can you do to help?
- Choose well – can the pharmacy help your symptoms? Call 111 if you are unsure which sort of treatment you need. You can also go online 111.nhs.uk
- Download the NHS app. You can use this to book and cancel appointments and order repeat prescriptions.
- Use our online consultation system, if you are able to.
- Cancel appointments you no longer need.
It’s useful to remember our teams are on the front line and see both the best and the worst of us all. They work incredibly hard to help patients navigate the system, but may not be able to offer you exactly what you want at all times.
Please be patient and courteous, they want to find the best solution as much as you do.
We are grateful for your understanding.
Both the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare productions Regulatory Agency) and WHO (World Health Organisation) have said that the AstraZeneca vaccine is safe.
There is no evidence that the vaccine increases the chances of having clots compared with the risk in the general population. The vaccine protects against severe disease or death from Covid-19 and doctors recommend that patients should continue to have the AstraZeneca vaccine when offered.
There is no guarantee that we will get other vaccines for first doses at this stage. Therefore we would encourage patients to take up any appointment that they are offered to reduce the risk of being infected by Covid-19.
Information regarding COVID vaccinations can be found under 'Clinics and Services'