Patient News

Long term conditions (LTCs) are physical health conditions that cannot be cured but can be controlled with lifestyle changes, medication or other treatments. They often have a big impact on person’s life. Over the course of year, our patients, who have already been diagnosed with one of the long term conditions, will receive an invitation from us to have a yearly health check, a discussion appointment and a follow-up appointment. Your clinician, jointly with you, try to identify what is important to you health and wellbeing, set personal goals and decide on actions which will help you to successfully manage your condition. This new approach will launch in October 2023. 

LTC appointments overview

As all our weekend flu appointments have now been booked we have added more appointments during the week.

Burnt Oak – Tuesdays, 17th Oct

Stanmore – Friday, 20th Oct

You can also request to have your flu vaccine during any of your GP/nurse appointments 

2 and 3 years old (born between 1st Sep 2019 to 31st Aug 2021) are eligible for nasal flu. Protect your child and book their appointment. 

Eligibility criteria

Children flu vaccination

The opening hours of Barnet’s two walk-in centres at Edgware Community Hospital and Finchley Memorial Hospital are temporarily changing.

From 11 September 2023 until 31 March 2024, the opening hours will be:

1.    Edgware Community Hospital walk-in centre: 8am to 8pm (last patient booking at 7pm). Address. Burnt Oak, Broadway, Edgware, HA8 0AD. Telephone: 020 8952 2381

2.    Finchley Memorial Hospital walk-in centre: 8am to 8pm (last patient booking at 7pm).Address  Granville Road London N12 0JE. Phone. 020 8349 7500

Both walk-in centres are available to children and adults needing urgent care for minor injuries and illnesses. Patients with urgent but not life-threatening conditions are encouraged to visit the NHS 111 service online or call NHS 111 first.

Your doctor has been joined by a host of different health professionals to make sure you get the support and treatment you need.

GP practices have evolved. Nowadays there are not only more ways to get an appointment, but also more health experts you may be able to see. 

Most surgeries now have their own website, so as well as calling them, you can go online to book a consultation and order repeat prescriptions, too.

And you might not always see a doctor first because new health and care staff have been introduced into GP surgeries.

In fact, 29,000 extra health and care roles have been filled. This ensures that people can be seen by the right professional first time.

So, if it’s appropriate, you may be offered an appointment with a physiotherapist, paramedic or nurse.

Or you may be advised to see someone outside of the surgery, such as a pharmacist or optician.

Not only does this get you the help you need as quickly as possible, it also helps tackle the ‘8am rush’ for an appointment. And it frees GPs to concentrate on the complex and serious cases that really need their expertise.

Please read the entire article on - How to get the right care from your GP practice | metro.co.uk

Measles cases on the rise in England and across Europe. Make sure you and your family are protected against becoming seriously unwell with measles by checking you are up to date with the MMR vaccine.

Across England, on average one in ten children are not up to date with their MMR vaccinations, with some areas of the country as low as two in five, putting thousands of children at risk of catching measles and the disease spreading in unvaccinated communities. 

Just two doses of the MMR vaccine gives you and your family lifelong protection against catching measles. The first vaccine is given at age one year an the second at age 3 years and 4 months old. If you’ve missed any doses it’s not too late to catch up. Contact you’re GP Practice today to book an appointment to get up to date. 

If you are unsure if you or your child are up to date check your child's red book or GP records and make an appointment to catch up any missed doses. 

For Frequently Asked Questions on Measles and MMR vaccine please see here

For more information on the NHS vaccination schedule, please visit.

We have put extra vaccination clinics up – please call the surgery to book your child’s appointment

The NHS in North Central London (NCL - Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield, and Haringey) is carrying out a review of musculoskeletal (MSK) healthcare services. We have completed our discovery phase and have developed a Case for Change document setting out the reasons why we need to make changes to the services we provide and detailing proposals for what needs changing.

If you have experience of MSK services as a patient or carer and live in North Central London, we would like to share what we have learnt with you and hear your views via an online engagement forum on 4 July 2023, 4pm to 5pm on Microsoft Teams. Please complete this online survey to receive an invitation https://forms.office.com/e/8WnVPxL42B  (closes 3 July 2023). 

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect the joints, bones, muscles, and include rarer autoimmune diseases as well as back pain. Management of MSK conditions may involving seeing the following healthcare professionals in NHS services: physiotherapists, podiatrists, pain specialists, rheumatologists, orthopaedic surgeons, occupational therapists, hand therapists, and orthotists. 

If you cannot make the engagement forum but would still like to be kept updated with the review work that we are undertaking, please also fill out the form above.

If you have any further enquiries or have trouble accessing the online surveys/forms, please email the MSK Review Team at nclicb.msk@nhs.net.

From 1 July 2023, if you want to make a complaint about GPs, dentists, opticians, and pharmacies in North Central London, you will need to contact North Central London Integrated Care Board instead (NCL ICB) of NHS England.

There are two ways you can make a complaint:

1. You can complain directly to the GP surgery, dental surgery, optician or pharmacy (the provider of the service); or
2. You can complain to NCL ICB as the organisation that paid for the service or care you received. You can do this by:

Telephone: 020 3198 9743

E-mail:nclicb.complaints@nhs.net

Post: North Central London Integrated Care Board

   Complaints Team

      Laycock PDC

      Laycock Street

      London

      N1 1TH

If you have a formal complaint to make, it is always advisable to try and resolve any issues directly with the provider in the first instance. You will still be able to do this after 1 July.

Visit NCL ICB’s website for more information about the changes.

Barnet has been accepted into the UK Network of Age-Friendly Communities - a growing movement led by the World Health Organisation.

An Age-Friendly Community is a place that enables people to age well and live a good later life - somewhere that people can stay living in their homes, take part in activities they value and contribute to their communities for as long as possible.

The Age-Friendly Community initiative in Barnet is being led by Age UK Barnet and supported by Barnet Council.

To kickstart the project, Age UK Barnet is seeking the views of Barnet residents. Age UK is keen to find out what is currently being done well in Barnet and where there is room for improvement. 

The results of this research will help Age UK Barnet to build a strategy to enhance and improve community life in Barnet in areas such as housing, outdoor spaces and social inclusion. 

Take the survey – and win £50!

If you are interested in being involved with the initial research, please complete the survey by the 4 August 2023. Click here or follow the QR code below.

The survey should take around 10 minutes of your time and to thank you for taking part, Barnet residents who complete the survey will have the option of entering a prize draw for a chance to win a £50 gift card.

If you require a paper copy, contact the Age-friendly coordinator Pippa on 07379 331807, or visit your local library.

If you pay for NHS prescribed HRT medicine 3 or more times in 12 months, a HRT Prescription Prepayment Certificate could save you money.

Each item on an NHS prescription usually costs £9.65. You can buy an HRT PPC for a one-off payment of £19.30 (the cost of two single items).

The HRT PPC covers an unlimited number of certain HRT medicines for 12 months. 

Check this Link to check your eligibility: NHS Hormone Replacement Therapy Prescription Prepayment Certificate (HRT PPC) | NHSBSA.

We are very much aware that there is large media attention surrounding recent announcement that drug Semaglutide has been approved for NHS use in weight loss. However, Semaglutide (Wegovy®) is not commercially available in the UK and a period of implementation is needed as with any new national guidelines. We kindly ask patients not to contact the practice in requesting this particular drug for weight loss.  

Today is Social Prescribing Day, an annual celebration of social prescribing, recognising link workers, local community groups, providers, and regional and national organisations who support people’s health and wellbeing. This video explains what social prescribing represents. Watling Medical Centre, as a part of Primary Care Network, has two social prescribers, Berenice and Summar. Please do contact the surgery to ask for their help if you need it. 

Please see the full alert on the website here

Refugees and migrants remain among the most vulnerable members of society and very often have a variety of health needs. One of our Trainee GPs, Dr Iram Hasan, has done an audit on Healthcare access for refugees and asylum seekers. The result of her audit is a compilation of very useful information presented as a handbook, please check it here.

We are still offering seasonal flu vaccines to any eligible patients. 

Why flu vaccination is important

Flu vaccination is important because, while flu is unpleasant for most people, it can be dangerous and even life threatening for some people, particularly those with certain health conditions.

The best time to have your flu vaccine is in the autumn or early winter before flu starts spreading. But you can get your vaccine later.

Who can have the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is given free on the NHS to adults who:

• are 50 and over (including those who will be 50 by 31 March 2023)
• have certain health conditions
• are pregnant
• are in long-stay residential care
• receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
• live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system, such as someone living with HIV, someone who has had a transplant, or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Please see the latest UKHSA update on Scarlet Fever and invasive Group A strep here

click here: for 5 ways to protect your under 5s this winter - UK Health Security Agency

NHS Launches New Online Site Finder for Monkeypox Vaccines 

The NHS has today launched a new online vaccine site finder to make it as easy as possible for eligible people to get their monkeypox jab.

Almost 50,000 people have so far been vaccinated for monkeypox since the NHS rolled out the programme at speed once the first cases were identified.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the UK Consensus Group estimate around 95,000 people in England are eligible, but only half of these are in contact with sexual health services.

The online service means that anyone who is eligible can go online and find their nearest site and find information on how they can get an appointment. 

In line with UKHSA guidance those at greatest risk of exposure are eligible. This includes high risk gay, bisexual and/or men who have sex with men (GBMSM), along with specific frontline staff and those who have been in close contact with a confirmed case.

There are already almost 100 sites on the monkeypox vaccine site finder across England and those eligible can find their nearest one at www.nhs.uk/find-a-monkeypox-vaccination  – the site finder allows people to receive their vaccination confidentially if they choose to.

Until now, the NHS and sexual health services have been contacting men who are likely to be at higher risk of infection to get protected, because for example, they had an appointment, including for PrEP.

Now anyone eligible is being asked to come forward for a first dose as more supply becomes available and receive the vaccine. 

The NHS and UKHSA yesterday announced the urgent offer of an additional polio dose to London children, following the discovery of poliovirus in local sewage. We are Awaiting information on vaccine delivery, and we will contact all eligible patients in due course. You do not need to contact your GP at this stage. For more information please see: https://nclhealthandcare.org.uk/keeping-well/baby-and-childhood-vaccinations/polio/ 

This is to inform you that all patients and visitors coming to our surgery as well as our own staff should continue to wear face covering. This is to ensure that those most vulnerable are protected. 

Advice in your region:

England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | Ireland

Get the latest NHS information and advice about coronavirus (COVID-19).

Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms

Find out about the main symptoms of coronavirus and what to do if you have them.

Self-isolation and treatment if you have coronavirus symptoms

Advice about staying at home (self-isolation) and treatment for you and anyone you live with.

Testing and tracing

Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service.

People at high risk

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

Social distancing and changes to everyday life

Advice about avoiding close contact with other people (social distancing), looking after your wellbeing and using the NHS and other services during coronavirus.

GOV.UK: coronavirus – guidance and support

Government information and advice.
 

EMIS Health have received reports from both Patient Access users and people who have never registered for the service, that they have received Covid passport emails purporting to be from Patient Access.

They would like to share the following guidance from Patient Access:

• EMIS Health advise users of Patient Access to check the name and email address of the sender; all emails from Patient Access will come via an email address that ends in @patientaccess.com.

• EMIS Health advise users never to click on any log in links that you receive via email but to visit the site via the address bar of your browser instead so that you know you are on the genuine Patient Access log in page. You can find more information and guidance on our information security page here: https://www.patientaccess.com/security

• EMIS Health strongly advise users to set up their Memorable Word security feature, as well as using biometrics (fingerprint ID) if they use the app.

• Email addresses used to register for Patient Access account are secure. They do not share any data and no data is ever saved or stored on any device you use to access Patient Access

If I die, it will be your fault,” is just one of the many abusive comments heard by GP reception staff throughout the UK. The survey of 571 practice managers, revealed more than 75% of staff suffer daily abuse from patients. With the majority (78%) facing threatening behaviour, racist or sexist abuse from patients, and 83% reporting having called the police for help, the Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) launch their campaign to end all abuse towards general practice staff. The survey showed that 83% have had to remove a patient from the surgery due to multiple incidents towards their team. 

Much abuse goes unreported and national annual data on physical assaults against NHS staff are no longer published. The ‘If I die it will be your fault’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the zero-tolerance approach to abuse and encourage all practice staff to feel confident about reporting incidents. 

Do you want to take part in a research study and help protect you and your community against vaccine-preventable diseases? Find out more here

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 for further details.

Spring booster vaccinations are now available. You may get a text message link to book with us, or alternatively, all eligible patients can book locally via the government website  

Book or manage a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

The JCVI recommends a spring booster should be given around 6 months after the last vaccine dose to:

• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults, and
• individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed (defined as immunosuppressed in tables 3 or 4).

Vaccination should ideally be given around six months from any previous dose. 

Those eligible, will receive a letter from NHS England. 

Once we have a clinic available, we will be sending SMS messages 

‘Watling Medical Centre has a vibrant Patient Participation Group (PPG). The PPGs function is to provide a conduit for exchange of information and views between the patients & the practice.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the PPG or are simply interested in seeing how we operate, then why not join us for our 

AGM and Ordinary meetings which are being held on 
Thursday, 24th March 2022.
AGM agenda and Ordinary meeting agenda
Request your PPG meeting participation Zoom invite by e-mailing us on wmc.ppg@nhs.net ‘

Mr Michael Grossman, Watling Medical Centre PPG Chair

We wish to extend our sincere apologies to any patients whose appointments we have had to cancel. We are currently experiencing high levels of staff sickness due to the effects of the ongoing pandemic. 

We are working to resolve this, and will be in touch with you to rearrange your appointments as soon as we are able to. Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding.

Barnet Mencap will be presenting a workshop for carers of adults with disabilities who live in the London Borough of Barnet.

Date: Monday 6th June 2022
Time: 11.00am - 1pm
Where: St Paul’s Centre
50 Long Lane
Finchley
London N3 2PU

With guest speakers from the London Borough of Barnet, we will be talking about Mental Capacity and Best Interest decisions which should be in place when you are making medical decisions for the person that you care for. We will also be talking about vaccine hesitancy.

Please come along as the information that you will find out from this workshop will be very beneficial. There will be a light lunch provided.

Please let us know if you will be attending. You can do so by contacting Rose Goodman on:

0208 349 3842 or 07879 465085 (text or call)
E-mail: rose.goodman@barnetmencap.org.uk

As a local GP practice, we see the impact the pandemic and cost of living crises have created on our local borough residents. Watling Medical Centre staff will be running 5k and 10k runs at Regents Park this year to raise funds for Colindale foodbank. The Colindale foodbank works with local partner organisations and issues food vouchers to those most in need. Their food vouchers can then be exchanged for a minimum of three days emergency supplies to those who find themselves in acute crises.

To support the foodbank and us please donate if you can.

We have realised that vast number of appointments booked directly by patients online, could be managed by a different staff member (nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist or even an admin staff member). We do understand that having online appointments facility is convenient for some of our patients, but we are trying to encourage patients to use e-Consults instead. Submitted e-Consult is triaged by one of our nurses and gives us a chance to direct your request to the most appropriate person. 

As a result, we will not be opening any appointments online as of 1st July 2022. 

Sanja Todorovic

Practice Manager

Watling Medical Centre