As a valued patient, we wanted to share our current position, and ask for your understanding as we head into winter.

The NHS is struggling to cope with demand throughout the UK, we’re seeing more patients than ever before, and often with fewer staff. It is also unable to recruit and retain into certain positions due to workload pressures and increasing patient demands. Ongoing and increasing verbal and physical abuse from patients is driving staff to leave primary care completely.

It’s been widely reported in the media that access to healthcare services is difficult. Sadly, it is likely that this will be increasingly challenging during the winter months. We just want to explain our position to you and reassure you that we’re doing all we can to support our patients.

Boundaries Surgery promise that our clinical and administrative teams:

• Continue to support your needs as promptly and safely as we can while providing the highest-quality care
• Understand that many of our patients are now suffering with more healthcare-related problems and have had these longer due to the NHS backlog
• Promote efficiency and try to recruit where there are any staffing gaps
• Play our part in ensuring we’re here for you and the community

However, we also ask that you please help us by showing our staff respect.  

Recent statistics from the Institute of General Practice Managers (IGPM) show that there has been a huge surge in primary care staff receiving abuse, and we need to highlight our concerns to you. Please note:

• 78% of primary care staff have reported that they have received either threatening behaviour or racist or sexist abuse from patients
• 83% of all GP practices have needed to call the police because of a patient’s unwarranted behaviour; in some extreme cases, staff have been hospitalised

We’re heading into the busiest time of the year, and we’re all here to ensure that our patients are the priority.

Thank you for working with us to create a safe, respectful healthcare environment.

IMPORTANT NEWS FROM A31 PRIMARY CARE NETWORK

(Boundaries Surgery, Chawton Park Surgery, The Wilson Practice)

NHS England has issued guidance on the Autumn Covid booster campaign and in response, we have been working with our primary care colleagues across North Hampshire to plan how we will deliver the vaccination.

We had hoped to be able to offer vaccination services for both Flu and Covid-19 at the local practices. However, for the following reasons this will not possible:

• A bivalent vaccine (one which protects against both the original virus and the newer Omicron variant) is the only type of vaccine that will be given during the Autumn booster programme. This is a hugely positive step as it will provide better Frustratingly at the National level there will be tight control on how this vaccine is distributed. We expect our supplies in September to be small and there to be a shortage compared to the eligible population.
• The Moderna bivalent vaccine has only recently been approved by Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) so we are still awaiting further guidance on giving both Flu and Covid vaccines at the same time and whether there will be a need for an observation period. This makes planning our delivery very difficult.

We do have good supply of Flu vaccine from the middle of September. As the plans and supply of COVID-19 bivalent vaccine are so unpredictable at this point, we do not want to cause delay to patients having their flu vaccine. Historically the A31 PCN Practices have run efficient Flu clinics and will continue to do so; you will be contacted by your practice and we expect most of our patients will have their Flu jab in their practice as normal.

Regarding bivalent COVID-19 vaccine in autumn, the limited supply of bivalent Moderna vaccines we receive in September will be prioritised for our most vulnerable patients including: care home residents, the staff that care for them and our housebound patients living independently as per national advice. Any further supply left over will be available at the Festival Place site in Basingstoke; you can have both COVID-19 and Flu vaccinations there if you have not already received a Flu jab at your practice. Invitations will be sent from the national centre via text, email and letter and each group will be called in priority order. Appointments will be booked via the National Booking System (www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination at any time or call 119 between 7am and 11pm 7 days per week). Appointments will only be released when stocks of vaccine are available so we ask you, please, for your patience as this process unfolds. We will be providing limited pop up clinics locally for those who are most in need and cannot travel to the vaccination centre to Basingstoke.

We will continue to review and refresh our plans for local vaccinations as the campaign progresses. This is likely to be hugely dependent upon national factors such as the supply of vaccine and the Pfizer vaccine being authorised for use by the JCVI, along with the timing of vaccine deliveries and workforce availability which are also significant factors to consider.

We will keep you updated of developments as the situation changes. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Phio

You can refer yourself to the musculoskeletal (MSK) service without having to see a GP, using Phio, a state-of-the-art digital assessment tool which is accessible, online, 24/7 (you must have access to a mobile phone to proceed with this).  Phio will take you through a series of questions, and will generate a referral to the MSK service where appropriate*.  After this is reviewed, you will be offered an appointment with the most appropriate service, such as telephone or face-to-face physiotherapy, or you may be invited for further assessment of your problem.

To get started with your assessment click the Phio link above.

*The majority of MSK problems can be self-referred, but some may require further assessment before a referral is appropriate, so you may be directed to see another healthcare professional first.