Kings Medical Practice News www.kingmedicalpractice.co.uk

Please note the practice is closed over the Bank Holiday period, Good Friday , Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. If you require assistance during this time please ring our normal number 01924 223909 where you will be put through to GP Care Wakefield our extended hours service run by Wakefield GPs. This is open 7 days per week every day of the year as follows: Monday- Friday 6-10pm Saturday Sunday and Bank Holidays 9-3pm This provides telephone advice, a triage service to signpost you to the correct care but may include a same day GP or Nurse Practitioner appointment or a routine care appointment. Outside of these hours please call 111 where you may be signposted to care with a GP, pharmacist or Optician or referred to hospital if required. Please call 999 if you feel your problem is an emergency. Please note these services are NOT for routine repeat prescriptions so please contact the prescription team at the practice before 01/04/2021 to ensure adequate supply of medications ov...

Hundreds of NHS patients have received personal, specialised care thanks to a new service set up during the coronavirus pandemic. Stroke Connect, a partnership with the NHS and the Stroke Association provides stroke survivors with support and advice in the early days following hospital discharge, without having to leave the house. Experts have said that the new offer is providing a ‘lifeline’ during the pandemic and has helped more than 500 people to rebuild their lives after having a stroke since it launched last month. Patients are contacted for an initial call within a few days of discharge from hospital, from a trained ‘Stroke Association Connector’, an expert in supporting people after stroke. The connector provides reassurance, support with immediate concerns and links the stroke survivor to support they can access in the long-term as part of their recovery journey as well as signposting them to other sources of support. A further call is offered within the month to check in...

Turning Point Talking Therapies There are  new online workshops launching on the 4 June 2020  This NHS funded program, in partnership with NHS Wakefield CCG, will be delivered by Turning Point Talking Therapies by trained therapists via the video platform Webex Cloud.  They will be delivering webinars on:  Managing Anxiety and Worry during Covid-19  Wellbeing Whilst Working during Covid-19  Mindfulness during Covid-19  Sleep during Covid-19  These are open for anyone aged 16 and over, registered with a GP in the Wakefield District. People can find out more by phoning 01924 234 860, emailing wakefield.talking@turningpoint.co.uk or by visiting the website https://talking.turning-point.co.uk/wakefield/ 

Normally October -April each year we are advising adults and children over 1 year take a daily supplement of Vitamin D to maintain healthy levels. Vitamin D helps to control the amount of calcium and phosphate in our bodies. Both are needed for healthy bones, teeth and muscles. Vitamin D is found naturally in a small number of foods, including oily fish, red meat, liver and egg yolks. It's also found in fortified foods like breakfast cereals and fat spreads. However, it's difficult for us to get the recommended amount of vitamin D from food alone. Our main source of vitamin D is from the action of sunlight on our skin. At present, due to the Stay at Home advice, you may not be getting enough vitamin D from sunlight if you’re indoors most of the day. There have been some news reports about vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus. However, there is no evidence that this is the case. As a precaution, all babies under one year should have a daily 8.5-10mcg vitamin D ...

During the coronavirus crisis, parents and carers up and down the country have been doing the right thing by keeping children with minor ailments at home. Early reports show that self-isolation measures in place are making a difference to virus-related hospital admissions. The NHS is under immense pressure, with around 15 times the amount of people trying to access NHS 111 for advice and guidance. Children with febrile symptoms, lethargy and vomiting may be mistaken as a COVID-19 patient. While COVID-19 is infectious to children it is rarely serious and children do not always present with common symptoms. If a child is unwell, they are likely to be unwell for reasons not related to COVID-19. There are increasing concerns that children and families are not accessing medical advice and review when it is needed. We want to make sure that children are getting a quick diagnosis as soon as possible (right care, right time and right place). We want our patients to know that we are he...

Information for patients on consulting by video   The practice has started using online and video consultations as a route you can consult with our clinical staff during the Coronavirus pandemic. This supports the Government advice of social distancing and isolation.   YOU WILL NOT NEED A CONULTATION IF YOU REQUIRE GENERAL ADVICE ABOUT CORONAVIRUS INCLUDING SYMPTOMS, SELF CARE, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SELF-ISOLATION ADVICE. INSTEAD PUT ‘NHS CORONAVIRUS’ INTO GOOGLE OR VISIT THE PRACTICE WEBSITE, KINGS MEDICAL PRACTICE UNDER PATIENT INFORMATION.   Please follow the guide to see if a video consultation is right for you:   You only need a video consultation if a telephone consultation cant be performed Video consultations provide more visual information and the doctor or nurse may decide therefore this is the best method to consult Your doctor or nurse may be self isolating and working by video You will need a good internet connection ...

In addition to the previous advice, the latest guidance provides advice regarding additional areas affected. The NHS in England and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal. The risk to the general public is moderate. If you have arrived back to the UK from mainland China, Thailand, Japan, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Macau within 14 days, follow the specific advice for returning travellers. The NHS 111 service is experiencing very high volumes of calls Please use the following links instead: For information about Coronavirus but don't think you have been affected go to https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/   Anyone worried that they may have coronavirus or may have come into contact with someone who has https:/...

Important Information for patients: If you have travelled from, or had contact with anyone who has travelled from the following countries to the UK in the last 14 days, and you develop symptoms of cough fever or shortness of breath you should immediately: stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area China Thailand Japan Republic of Korea Hong Kong Taiwan Singapore Malaysia Macau If you have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei Province in the last 14 days you should immediately: stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area Please follow this advice even if you do not have symptoms of the virus Please DO NOT come to the Practice -call 111 who will advise further

Ordering of repeat prescriptions   Over many years as a Practice we have continued to accept repeat prescription requests by telephone for our patients. With increasing demand, due to rising patient numbers, rising prescription items and the complexity of medication regimes, there is now increasing evidence of safety issues caused by using telephone requests.   Safety of our patients is of paramount importance and following revised Department of Health guidance, we will therefore be reducing access to telephone requests from November 1 st 2019 with a planned withdrawal of this service from January1st 2020.   The repeat prescription line will be now be open from 10am to 3pm Monday-Friday daily. Please do not call outside of these hours for a repeat prescription. If this is the case you will be asked to call back the following day during the hours the line is open or you will be directed to other safer ways to request a repeat prescr...

Due to vaccine supply issues caused by delays from the manufacturer and how the Department of Health have allocated supplies we unfortunately have to cancel our scheduled clinic for the 26th October 2019. Additionally we are unable to supply the intra-nasal spray vaccine given to children <18 years this Saturday 19th October 2019. Please do not bring your child  (2-18years) for flu vaccination this Saturday. We will be contacting patients who are affected and will inform patients when the vaccine is supplied to the practice to re-arrange their appointment. PLEASE NOTE:   We will providing vaccination  to all adults over 18 years in the at risk groups and the over 65 age group as planned on the 19th October 2019. If you are in either of these adult groups and were scheduled to attend on the 26th October please attend the session this Saturday 19th October instead to receive your vaccination. If you haven't yet booked into any clinic please do not attend on...

Flu Vaccinations 2019 It is the time of year to start our Flu vaccination programme for all those eligible to receive it. Please note, as was the case last year, there is a different vaccine for those aged over 65 years Flu vaccine supply is delivered throughout September so please do NOT attend the first clinic if you are under 65 years as we may not have received your vaccine by this first date. Therefore our Flu sessions for patients are: Saturday 12th October 08.00 – 11.30 OVER 65 ONLY For everyone eligible:  OVER 65, UNDER 65 ‘at risk',  2 - 3 YEAR OLDS (including if your child is 3 up to 31/8/19) Saturday 19th October 08.00 – 11.30 Saturday 26th October 08.00 – 11.30 There will be a catch up date in November TBA for those who have not yet attended There will be a programme of delivery for registered housebound and Care Home patients who will be notified directly. PLEASE CONTACT King’s Medical Practice on 01924 223909 and select option 1 as soo...

Patients can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet.   You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more.   If you already use SystmOnline you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well.   For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp

Please note the practice is closed over the Bank Holiday period, Good Friday , Easter Saturday and Easter Monday. If you require assistance during this time please ring our normal number 01924 223909 where you will be put through to GP Care Wakefield our extended hours service run by Wakefield GPs. This is open 7 days per week every day of the year as follows: Monday- Friday 6-10pm Saturday Sunday and Bank Holidays 9-3pm This provides telephone advice, a triage service to signpost you to the correct care but may include a same day GP or Nurse Practitioner appointment or a routine care appointment. Outside of these hours please call 111 where you may be signposted to care with a GP, pharmacist or Optician or referred to hospital if required. Please call 999 if you feel your problem is an emergency. Please note these services are NOT for routine repeat prescriptions so please contact the prescription team at the practice before 18/4/19 to ensure adequate supply of medications ...

The MIX www.themix.org.uk Helpline 08088084994 or text THEMIX to 85258 for crisis support. Website offers 1 to1 chat plus advice and support on a range of issues for young people under 25. Kooth.com 24/7 access to self-help materials and daily online counselling available over the holiday period for young people Samaritans.org 116 123 for any adults: 'We offer a safe place for you to talk any time you like, in your own way – about whatever’s getting to you'

We are open as normal throughout the Christmas period except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years day. If you require medical advice and if necessary access to a GP appointment during this time please ring our normal telephone number 01924 223909 where you will put through to GP Care Wakefield between 0.900-15.00. Outside of these hours please ring 111 Please note these services are not for repeat prescriptions so please contact the prescription team at the practice before the 19/12/18 to ensure adequate supply of medications for the Christmas period. Please also remember GP Care Wakefield is available for same day appointments Monday - Friday 6pm-10pm outside of these dates. Pharmacy bank holiday opening is as follows: Exel High St Normanton: Christmas Day 09.00-11.00, Boxing Day 09.00-15.00 Asda Castleford Boxing Day 0.900-18.00, New Years Day 10.00-17.00 On behalf of Kings Medical Practice I would like to wish all our patients a safe and happy Christmas and N...

😓To anyone who has not yet had their flu vaccination: please contact the practice as soon as possible and we will arrange for you to have you flu vaccination. If you are uncertain if you qualify for a flu vaccination please see our previous blogs which advise or check the NHS choices website for more details ( https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/#who-should-get-the-flu-vaccine )

We are trying to increase convenient access to your results. One of the ways we can do this is through SMS text messaging where you will receive the outcome and advice regarding your result direct to your mobile. In order to do this we need to verify your mobile phone details, your preferred method of contact and your consent to text messaging. If you prefer you can chose to have contact by telephone or letter instead and for those who are registered with SystmOne Online services you can choose to have access to your results online. Staff will be asking your preferences over the coming weeks and months. However please contact us if you wish to notify us of your preferences now or you have any further questions by ringing our office manager Mandy Lavin on 01924 228091 or email mandy.lavin@nhs.net

We have now received supplies of flu vaccine for children 2 and 3 years old and children in the at risk groups 2-17 years. Therefore children can now attend any of the advertised flu vaccination clinics. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Unfortunately we have just learned that the supplier of the flu vaccines for children are now unable to guarantee delivery of vaccines for the vaccination dates previously advertised. This applies to all children 2 and 3 years old and all children in the 'at risk' groups between 2 and 17 years old. Babies 6 months- 2 years are NOT affected. We believe the vaccine will be available from 13th October and will update you as soon as we are able, hopefully within the next week.

It's that time of year again for us to start the vaccination programme for Flu, for those individuals at risk of complications for contracting the Influenza virus. This year the vaccination programme has changed with a different vaccine for those aged over 65 years to the rest of the adult population. The vaccine has been developed specifically because this age group are offered increase immunity compared to the vaccine which is effective for other adults in at risk groups. The vaccine given to adults less than 65 years is the most suitable and effective vaccine for that age group. Again vaccination via a nasal spray will be offered to children between the age of 2-17 years in at risk groups. Babies between 6 months- 2 years in an at risk group will be offered the adult vaccine as the nasal spray is not licensed for use below the age of 2 years. The supply of the new vaccine for older adults above 65 years means that you should try and attend the clinic we have arranged as d...