The Junction Surgery

UPDATE TO COVID 19 VACCINATION BOOKING

Updated guidance on use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine for under 40s -  

The Joint Committee for Vaccinations & Immunisations has updated its guidance for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. It has recommended that people under 40 are offered an alternative vaccination where available and where this will not cause delays to people having the vaccine.

This follows ongoing reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a rare blood-clotting condition since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Both the JCVI and MHRA have emphasised that the risk is extremely small – just over 10 people in every million have developed this condition - and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.

However, given current vaccines supplies and that infection rates are increasingly coming under control in the UK, the JCVI has recommended taking this precautionary measure for younger people. This takes into account that this rare condition is seen more often in younger people and that the risks from COVID-19 decrease with age.

The latest guidance is as follows:

Everyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine should still have a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, irrespective of age, unless they suffered any serious side effects after their first vaccination. Having the second dose is very important as it will give you higher and longer lasting protection.

People over 40 or who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease should still be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The benefits in protecting them against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition.

People aged 18-39 who do not have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease will be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine where available. It is important that you have the vaccination as soon as possible to protect you and to reduce the chance of passing on the virus.

People under 40 can still choose to have the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine if this will mean they can be protected more quickly and they have been made aware of the guidance.

Please see the updated leaflet below that has been produced by Public Health England and the NHS to answer any questions you may have

Leaflet on COVID-19 vaccination and blood clottingCovid-19 vaccinations

 The NHS has now moved to the second phase of the vaccine rollout – people under 50.  Vaccinations will be offered people according to their age.

 Getting an appointment

Currently, anyone aged 44 and over can book a vaccination online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination. If you are not able to book online you can call 119 free of charge, between 7am and 11pm seven days a week. As the age limit reduces, this will be updated on the booking homepage. 

 If you would prefer to have your vaccination at the centre run by local GP practices you do not need to do anything – we will contact you when we have appointments available. We know lots of people will be eager to get protected but please do not contact your GP practice for an appointment. People will not be able to make an appointment unless they have been invited and you might stop someone who needs medical help getting through to us.

 Getting your second vaccination

People need two doses of the vaccine to make sure they get maximum protection. If you had your first dose at a GP centre, you will be contacted by your practice when it is time for your second dose. This will usually be 11-12 weeks after your first vaccination. Again, please don’t contact the practice for an appointment, unless it is over 11 weeks since you had your first vaccination.

For more information about the vaccine, please visit www.nhs.uk or  www.kirkleesccg.nhs.uk/your-health/health-campaigns/covid-19-vaccination

Finding your NHS number

You can still book an appointment if you don’t have your NHS number, provided you are registered with a GP practice. However, it will be quicker if you have your number: this will be on any letter or document you have received from the NHS, including prescriptions, or you can find it online at

www.nhs.uk/find-nhs-number

 Registering with a GP

You can find a GP practice on the NHS.uk website. You will need to fill in a form to register - for some practices you can do this on their website so check there first. Alternatively, you can download a GMS1 registration form on GOV.UK or arrange a time to pick up a registration form from the GP surgery. If you have problems registering with a GP practice, call the NHS England Customer Contact Centre on 0300 311 22 33.

What is eConsult?

eConsult is an online consultation service that allows patients to contact our practice to ask for medical help or advice, or for administrative requests.
Please note:  All identifiable patient medical data will pass straight to us at the practice. eConsult will not have access to any of this information. Find out more on their website.

How does it work?

If you want to request anything from the practice, click on the eConsult banner and select the right option for you. Fill out the online form, which asks similar questions to what a GP would ask during an appointment. Every eConsult is then reviewed by our own team and we will be able to decide on the right care for you. We will respond to every eConsult by the end of the next working day, if not sooner.

If you need an appointment we will make sure you get one.

Why have we started using eConsult?

eConsult takes a detailed set of information about your symptoms or request, so we can look after patients based on their need, not who can get into the practice first, or ring the practice first.
For many patients this will mean they won’t have to come into the practice helping to keep you, our patients, and our staff safe and healthy.

Active Signposting Choose the right healthcare professional

is one of the 10 high impact actions that practices can take to free up GP time, according to NHS England, providing patients with a first point of contact which directs them to the most appropriate source of help’, which is not always the GP. All our staff will be trained in the art of redirecting patients ensuring that patients see the right healthcare professional in the right place at the right time. It requires the receptionist to be skilled and confident in sensitively ascertaining the nature of the patient’s need and exploring with them safe and appropriate options.’ These might include sources of advice and help from within or outside of the surgery.

The aim is to free up GP time and improve the patient experience by ensuring they go to the service that best meet their health needs faster.

A patient will still always be offered the option of seeing their GP, But now the general practice frontline staff will highlight an alternative healthcare professional or service they could access that could be more appropriate.

This could be a choice of practice or specialist nurse, pharmacist, physiotherapist, or services such as 111 (to access an emergency dentist), social services, mental health support, minor ailments, community acute ophthalmology, contraception and sexual health, smoking cessation, a wide range of community support and voluntary services for carers, the elderly and more.

More details of the services available will be published shortly. The links below will take you to their websites.

Kirklees Gateway to Care             Improving Access to Psychological Therapies

Thriving Kirklees                          Better In Kirklees

The NHS Constitution

The team at the Junction Surgery have been providing high quality care for patients in Moldgreen and surrounding areas for many years. In 2006 we moved to a large purpose built surgery which allows us to offer a wide range of services to our patients.

We are a team of three doctors who have a wide range of specialist clinical interests. We have one male doctor - Dr Ali and three female doctors Dr Ahmad, Dr Naseem and Dr Kapoor (currently on maternity leave)

MISSION STATEMENT

The Junction surgery aims to provide unprecendented care and services to the population of Moldgreen and its surrounding area. Our focus is on high quality, holistic care and treatment encouraging patient participation, engagement and feedback. Constantly embracing new technology and resources to give the ultimate patient experience. 

Appointments can be made by calling at the surgery, telephoning 01484 500759 or 01484 451188 between 8.15am and 6.30pm weekdays, or booking online. We are pleased to announce the provision of extended hours from April 2014 with a late surgery every Monday and a early morning surgery on Wednesday. These appointments are bookable in advance. Please ask at reception for further details. 

The Surgery premises have suitable access for disabled patients. We also have a portable induction loop to assist patients with  hearing impairments.

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PATIENT NOTICE

DUE TO SEVERAL UPSETTING INCIDENTS WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PATIENTS THAT THE JUNCTION SURGERY IS NOT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE AND THAT PATIENTS UNREASONABLY DEMANDING EMERGENCY TREATMENT WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE. WE WILL HOWEVER TRY AND ACCOMMODATE REQUESTS FOR APPOINTMENTS WHERE URGENT TREATMENT MAY BE NECESSARY WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

WE OPERATE A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY IN LINE WITH NHS RECOMMENDATIONS AND REPEAT OFFENDERS WILL BE REMOVED FROM OUR LIST.

A GP PRACTICE IS WHERE DOCTORS SEE ROUTINE MEDICAL CONDITIONS, REFERING ON TO SECONDARY CARE (HOSPITAL) WHERE REQUIRED. THERE IS NO COMPULSION FOR A DOCTOR TO REFER ONTO SECONDARY CARE IF HE/SHE FEELS THAT THIS IS NOT APPROPRIATE.

REQUESTS FOR SICK NOTES AND PRESCRIPTIONS REQUIRE 24 HOURS FOR PROCESSING, PRIVATE FORMS OR LETTERS REQUIRE MUCH LONGER AND MAY TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO PROCESS. DEMANDS FOR THESE BEING PROCESSED SOONER WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND MAY BE REFUSED ENTIRELY.

WE ASK THAT PATIENTS TAKE THIS INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN ATTENDING THE SURGERY.

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Get Well, Keep Well

Our team of healthcare professionals and back-up staff offer a number of clinics and services to promote good health and wellbeing whatever your medical condition.

On Line Services

Please do familiarise yourself with some of the online features such as ordering a repeat prescription or booking an appointment. Simply register at reception for these services and use the links below once the receptionist has given you the log-in details. 

GP Privacy Notice