Patient Newsletter - Winter 2025

 

Follow us on Facebook for our latest news

We want to inform you about some important changes regarding our Facebook presence. Recently, our surgery Facebook page was hacked.

We have been working with Facebook to try to recover the page, but unfortunately we have been unsuccessful. After careful consideration, we have decided to set up a new Facebook page. This means that we will no longer use the old page but will continue to work with Facebook to try and close it down.

To stay connected with us and receive all the latest updates, news, and information, we kindly ask you to like and follow our new Facebook page. Please could you also unfollow our old Facebook page.

We appreciate your understanding and support during this transition.

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Keep in touch with the Patient Participation Group

We are a small group of volunteer patients who meet with the Practice staff on a regular basis with the aim of improving the patient experience.

If you have any feedback you would like us to share with the Practice, you can contact us directly by email.

We have recently launched our own Facebook Group ‘Lakeside St Neots Patient Group’ in order to reach the wider patient population so please search for us on Facebook.

 
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Don’t forget your flu vaccine!

This winter we are seeing more and more flu cases. Flu, or influenza, is a contagious illness that can make you feel very unwell. It can range from mild to severe and sometimes cause serious health problems. The peak time for flu and other winter illnesses is in December and January, so it's important to take steps to protect yourself and others. 

Why you should get the flu vaccine

The flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting the flu. It helps reduce your chances of catching the flu and spreading it to those around you, especially people who are more vulnerable, like the elderly, young children, pregnant women, and those with health issues. 

Who can get the flu vaccine? 

  • Pregnant women 
  • Children who are 2 or 3 years old. We can also offer the vaccine to children aged 6 months to under 18 years with certain health conditions.
  • Individuals aged 65 years and over
  • Individuals aged 18 to under 65 years in clinical risk groups 
  • Residents of long-stay residential care homes 
  • Carers receiving carer’s allowance or those who are primary carers for an elderly or disabled person 
  • Close contacts of immuno-compromised individuals 
  • Frontline social care workers without an employer-led occupational health scheme 
  • All frontline healthcare workers (clinical and non-clinical) with patient contact 

How to book your vaccine

We have been notifying eligible patients since September to ensure no one misses out. If you believe you are eligible but haven’t been notified, please contact us to book your flu vaccine. If you were notified and initially decided not to get the vaccine but have now changed your mind, please contact us to book your appointment.

 

Over 75? Book your RSV vaccination with us...

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that tends to circulate during the winter. While the symptoms are mild for many, RSV can be more severe in children under 5 and older adults. 

RSV vaccine eligibility:

  • Everyone turning 75 years old on or after 1 September 2024 will be offered a single dose of the RSV vaccine.
  • Individuals aged 75 to 79 are also eligible in the first year as part of a catch-up programme.
  • Pregnant women can have a free RSV vaccine in each pregnancy, to protect their babies.

Booking your appointment

We are now notifying eligible patients. Eligible patients can book their RSV vaccine appointment at our surgery as soon as they receive an invitation which will be sent via an SMS message. If you think you are eligible but haven’t received an invitation yet then please contact us using Anima or alternatively call on 01536 518886 after 10am and we’ll be able to book you in.

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Queen's Nurse Award

Holly Robinson, the Lead Nurse at St Neots, has become a Queen’s Nurse, a title given to those who demonstrate ‘a high level of commitment to patient care and nursin.

She said: ‘Working here has really opened my eyes to the scope of work that is involved in General Practice Nursing and so coming to St Neots has been a really good move for me, with lots of scope to develop and make a difference to my colleagues and patients.’

‘It is a really good nursing team here and everyone works really hard. It is about making sure that we have the right coverage at sites to deal with patient demand, and also specialist nurses, such as those dealing with long term conditions, such as diabetes, asthmas and COPD. It is about developing the team and making sure that we respond to our patients’ needs. '

 

Pharmacy First

Did you know that you can now get treatment for seven common conditions directly from your local pharmacy, without the need for a GP appointment or prescription. Find out more here.

Published: Feb 4, 2025