Willingham Medical Practice – March Newsletter
Willingham 01954 260230 Longstanton 01954 207600 Dispensary 01954 207602
Website: www.willinghammedicalpractice.nhs.net
District Nurse Team: 0330 726 0077 Health Visitors: 0300 029 5050
A&E is not an alternative to a GP appointment. When the surgery is closed please call 111 for medical assistance, or 999 for a life threatening emergency. For urgent mental health support, please call 111 and select option 2
Surgery Closure
Please note the surgery will be CLOSED from 1pm on WEDNESDAY 19th MARCH for whole staff training.
Please plan ahead and make sure you have enough medication to last, remembering to order your repeats at least THREE working days before collection.
Cancelling Appointments
We understand that sometimes plans change and you may find you are unable to attend the surgery for a pre-booked appointment. We respectfully ask that you contact the surgery by telephone to let us know if you can no longer make it. You will not have to hold for any period of time, just press option 3 which will allow you to leave a message. Please do not cancel appointments last minute via email as, when we are very busy, we are unable to monitor the email inbox.
If it’s not an emergency, you might be able to head to your local pharmacy rather than attending a GP appointment.
Your Local Pharmacist
Your local pharmacist can help you with range of services, advice and treatment this winter.
From blood pressure checks to vaccinations, and from advice on minor illnesses and injuries to over-the-counter medication. Just walk in and speak to their team.
Hospital Medication
We would like to remind our patients that the best place to collect any medication prescribed by clinical staff whilst visiting the hospital is from the pharmacy located in the hospital itself. We understand that queues and waiting times are often long and frustrating but by not waiting to collect will only cause further delays. To clarify, the dispensary are unable to dispense any hospital requested medication without a clinic letter and these letters are often not received in the surgery for a few days after a clinic appointment/hospital attendance. In addition, the dispensary does not stock hospital medication so it has to be ordered in, which can sometimes take days, again causing further delays. So, please collect your medication from the hospital pharmacy to ensure that there is no interruption to your care.
Patient Participation Group (PPG) Meetings
The PPG brings together patients, GPs and staff from a GP practice. They meet to discuss issues relating to their surgery and the services provided to patients. This allows GPs and staff to work with patients to plan services which best meet the needs of the people who use those services. All of our patients are welcome.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 12th March, 7-9pm at the Willingham Medical Practice.
First Contact Physiotherapist
The role of the First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) is to assess patients with soft tissue, muscle and joint pain and to decide on the most appropriate management pathway. This could include onward referrals to other services without the need for a further GP appointment. FCPs are physiotherapists with expertise in the assessment and management of Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions. We have FCP appointments available at both the Willingham and Longstanton surgeries. Please telephone our reception team to book your appointment.
Vaccinations
| The Flu Vaccine is available until 31/03/25 for all pregnant women (including those women who become pregnant during the influenza season), individuals aged 65 years or over (including those becoming age 65 years by 31/03/25) and individuals aged 18 years to under 65 years in a clinical risk group category |
| The Nasal Flu Vaccine is available until 31/03/25 for all those aged 2 or 3 years on 31/08/24 (with a date of birth on or after 01/09/20 and on or before 31/08/22) |
| The Pneumococcal Vaccine is available year round for everyone who is aged 65 years and over. |
| The RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) Vaccine is available year round for everyone who is aged between 75 and 79 years of age and for all pregnant women who are over 28 weeks. |
| The Shingles Vaccine is available year round for everyone who is aged between 70 and 79 years of age and have never received a shingles vaccine, for individuals who reach the age of 65 or 70 years of age during the period 01/09/23 and 31/08/2028 (these individuals should be vaccinated on or after (but not before) their 65th or 70th birthday), individuals who are aged 50 years and above and meet the definition of severe immunosuppression and for those who are aged between 18 and 49 years and receiving a stem cell transplant. |
Carers Meetings
If you are a carer for someone and need advice and financial or emotional support, please come along to our carers support meeting on Wednesday 5th March, at the Wilford Furlong Centre in Willingham, where we will be holding a drop in session between 2pm and 4pm. Please come along and get some support from other people in the local community. Refreshments are provided, there’s no need to pre-book and it’s completely FREE! Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month and for more information please contact susan.lawson7@nhs.net
