IMPORTANT NOTICE

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the surgery building is temporarily out of action.  Please call the surgery to book appointments / collections / drop off any paperwork in the usual way.

All clinical staff are working as usual and will contact patients as per our usual policy

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus - a high temp, continuous cough, loss of sense of taste or smell please dial 119

Covid 19 Vaccine

Covid Appointments for covid vaccinations are being booked by our local Primary Care network group.

The covid vaccination programme is currently being rolled out across west essex in a phased approach.

You will be contacted by text or phone call when you are eligible to receive the vaccine.

You will be contacted when stocks become available and sent info with how to book your appointment.

Covid vaccination appointments will be offered to the target groups and booked in order as per government guidelines.

The Surgery will not be booking these appointments directly so please do not call reception to book your vaccination.

For those patients who do not have a mobile, be assured that we will be contacting them directly on their landlines.

Please do NOT contact the surgery prior to receiving a text message or letter as this will only block our telephone lines preventing access for patients who require medical help.

Both clinical and administrative surgery staff are also working at the COVID vaccine centre at St Margaret’s Hospital to ensure that our patients are vaccinated asap.

All surgery staff have Lateral Flow Tests twice weekly and we are still seeing patients face-to-face as appropriate.

Flu vaccination

Patients over 50 who still wish to have the flu vaccine please call us to book your appointment before the end of March. If you have received this elsewhere or do not want this, please inform the surgery.

Smear tests

Please call the surgery to book your appointment

Childhood immunisations

Please call the surgery to book appointments for your children.

Chronic diseases

Chronic diseases such as:- asthma, COPD and Diabetes are still being managed over the telephone where appropriate and face to face where needed. Please contact the surgery to discuss.

We are not currently offering ear irrigation as advised by our CCG. If you are in any pain or discomfort do make an appointment with the Doctor to discuss.

It is important that our patients do see medical advice if they are concerned.

If you are unable to make an appointment directly when the surgery is closed, contact NHS 111 and call 999 with any medical emergency like breathing problems or chest pain or signs of a stroke or sepsis.

Click here for current COVID vaccination information

Flu Vaccinations

Important Patient Information

Face coverings

Please ensure that when you attend the surgery for any appointment you wear your own face coverings / mask. The surgery does not provide exemption certificates for not wearing a mask.

GOV.UK Guidance on homemade face coverings can be found on the links below.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own

Blood tests

Routine blood tests for St Margaret’s and PAH must be booked using their booking system either by telephone or email. Monday-Friday 8.30-4.30 you can contact the team on 01279-827-163

To book an appointment you can also email paht.bloodtestappointments@nhs.net

You will be contacted within 1-2 working days with your appointment day and time.

Our staff

As our surgery door remains closed during this time, please respect our staff and do not bang on the front door.  The staff will have seen you and ask that you telephone the surgery either when you arrive for an appointment or if you wish to speak to a member of our team. Please be patient - as you can imagine, the phones are constantly busy and we will of course endeavour to answer your call as soon as is possible.

Please do not ask our staff to carry out any surgery-related issues out of surgery time or out of their working environment.  Some of our staff do live in the village and we would ask you to respect their private time whilst they are not at work.

Thank you again to our patients for your many words of support during this time.  It is very comforting and they are very much appreciated by our staff.

Important Patient Information: Non-Covid emergencies

• Please don’t ignore medical emergencies.
• The surgery is still open for telephone and video consultations with both the GPs and nurse.
• Any patients with chronic diseases, contact the surgery to book an appointment
• We are still giving baby and children’s immunisations – contact the surgery to book an appointment

Click here for details of other services available to provide help and support to carers and vulnerable people within the community

Important Patient Information

• We will now be triaging all appointments when you call to make an appointment.
• Please do not come into the surgery to post your repeat prescription.
• Please use the box outside the surgery (which is emptied regularly).
• We will not now be printing prescriptions at the surgery.
• If you do not already have a nominated pharmacy please telephone the surgery to arrange this.

If you are needing a self isolation note for your employer please click here to download a letter you can complete.

Thanks to the grand fundraising efforts of our PPG the new Railex filing system has been now fitted and filled

The baby changing unit is also in place ready for use when the surgery opens.

The spirometer and ECG machines are being used and the hydraulic patient couch is now operational.

We look forward to working with our PPG again when the surgery re-opens to continue our fundraising efforts to help our community in the surgery.

Thank you to our patients for your many words of support during this time.  It is very comforting and they are very much appreciated by our staff.

Many thanks

Abridge Surgery Team

Data Protection Act - Patient Information

Click here for the details including the full policy

ABRIDGE SURGERY HOSPITAL DISCHARGE AND OUTPATIENT PRESCRIPTIONS

 Please be aware that the Surgery will no longer be fulfilling any hospital discharge or outpatient prescriptions in accordance with West Essex CCG requirements.

Any prescriptions that have been given to you upon hospital discharge or from outpatients must be fulfilled by the discharging hospital and NOT Abridge Surgery.

 Unfortunately if you present your hospital discharge prescription at the Surgery you will be asked to return to the hospital to collect your medication.

Thank you in advance for your understanding

Abridge Surgery & West Essex CCG

Patient Information

 In accordance with NHS England guidance, our patient referrals may be discussed with colleagues and West Essex CCG representatives.