Coronavirus updates 

Important notice 

We have been notified that there are a small number of people in Diss and the Roydon area who have tested positive for the South African variant of COVID 19.

We are open for business as usual but if you have concerns about coming to the surgery please phone us.

Those attending for COVID vaccines in Poringland or any of the mass vaccination centres should attend.

We recommend that all adults should be taking Vitamin D, especially over the winter months.  These are readily available in supermarkets, chemists and online.  Vitamin D is safe to take with prescribed medications.

Vaccinations 

Important information regarding Covid-19 appointment letters 

As well as being offered vaccination appointments at local GP practices and community hubs, patients aged 70+ and 80+ (and health and care frontline staff) are now receiving letters from NHS England inviting them to use the national booking system for an appointment at Castle Quarter in Norwich.

If you:

1)   Have already had a first vaccination and been given an appointment for a second vaccination then please keep this appointment and attend the same place where you had your first vaccination.

2)   Have a confirmed appointment with your local GP practice or community hub for a first vaccine then please keep this appointment and ignore the letter sent by NHS England.

3)   Have received a letter from NHS England offering you an appointment at Castle Quarter in Norwich and have not previously been offered an appointment from your GP practice or a community hub then you can choose to either:

 a) Book a vaccination at Castle Quarter through the national appointment system using the telephone number and website address provided in the NHS England letter

          OR

 b) Wait until a local GP Practice or community hub contacts you with an appointment.  You shouldn’t have to wait too long as this process is underway.

We apologise for any confusion and thank you for your patience.

 
Primary Care Network Statement

Covid-19 Vaccinations for patients registered at:

 Attleborough Surgeries
 Old Mill Surgery, Poringland
 Heathgate Medical Practice, Poringland
 Chet Valley Medical Practice, Loddon
 Church Hill Surgery, Pulham Market
 Diss, The Lawns Surgery
 Diss, Parish Fields Surgery
 Harleston Medical Practice
 Long Stratton Medical Partnership

GP surgeries have been asked to support NHS England to deliver the largest vaccination programme the country has seen in a number of years and we are all supporting the national campaign.
Unlike other vaccination programmes, such as flu, we are unable to provide vaccination from each Practice, with NHS England asking groups of Practices to come together and provide vaccination from a central location to that grouping of Practices.

In our group of Practices, the vaccination centre will be in Poringland and we are currently establishing our centre in line with NHS and Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards to ensure safe vaccination.
Vaccine supply will be limited in the first instance and there are characteristics of the vaccine that mean we are restricted in the number of patients we can vaccinate safely in a day.

For example, all patients vaccinated are required to remain under observation in the centre for 15 minutes after receiving their vaccination and of course we need to also respect social distancing guidelines during this time.

The Government has announced the priority groups for vaccination and we are starting with invitations to those patients. Those in eligible groups will received a call from one of our booking team, which we are hoping will start the week commencing 11th January.

Please do not call your surgery, we will contact you. This will keep surgery telephone lines free for other patient need.

Face coverings 

We are asking anyone attending the Health Centre, for any reason, to wear some sort of face covering. This can be a mask if you have one, if you do not then a scarf or similar wrapped over your mouth and nose is acceptable. Please also ensure that you stand in front of the temperature reader before you enter further.  Thank you

We would like to hear from you if you are unwell and we will book you a telephone consultation with the doctor.  

Symptom Checker for School Attendance

If you are unsure whether your child should attend school please use the symptom checker above

Patients can call 119 to request a corona test

Please be aware until further notice you will not be able to self book appointments online via the website due to the coronavirus.

For more information including symptoms, support, social distancing and groups who are at risk of severe illness-

click here to visit the nhs website

click here  to visit the government website

Advice to parents and carers on children’s health regarding the coronavirus can be found in the leaflet.Click here 

Please click here for an update including IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND YOUR INFORMATION 

All routine appointments will now be done over the telephone, please do not come in to the surgery.

Please be aware due to Coronavirus our normal opening time’s may vary, please call reception on 01379 642021 to check.

We would like to say a big THANKYOU to everyone who has kindly donated PPE, goggles, visors, scrubs and other items to help us recently. We really appreciate your ongoing support at this time.

Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis

Please use the link below if you would like further information

https://norfolkandwaveneypartnership.org.uk/our-work/better_care_for_people/cancer.html

A welcome from the Partners  

Dr Pantazis, Dr Pe, Dr Lawton and Ann Steele give a warm welcome to our patients and visitors. Thank you for looking at our website which we hope will provide you with an overview of the services we offer.  

Our dedicated team are here to treat those minor ailments that occur as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions and clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues. The technology also means you can now do a lot of things from the comfort of your home such as order a repeat prescription or cancel an appointment.

There is wheelchair access to the health Centre and the WC has been adapted for physically disabled patients.

Tell us what you think of the services we offer through the Friends and Family Test. 

To register as a patient, you can visit our surgery reception where we will help complete the registration formalities.  

If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact us on 01379 642021.        

What’s Happening at the Surgery

Fax machine 

Please be aware as from the 1st of April our fax machine will no longer be in use.

For general enquires please contact us via lawns.mp@nhs.net

For medication enquires pleased contact us via lawns.dispensary@nhs.net  

The Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) is changing 

The next phase of EPS (Phase 4) is being introduced at GP practices in England. This will mean that almost all of your prescriptions will be signed and sent electronically. 

If you do not have a nominated chosen chemist you will be given a printed token (not  prescription) which you can take to your chosen chemist in England. The chemist will then download the signed EPS prescription from the NHS spine using the token.   

For more information please speak to dispensary at the surgery or visit www.nhs.uk 

Please be advised that our receptionists have been instructed to ask you for a brief description of why you are calling so that we can prioritise your call and direct you to the most appropriate clinician. Please help by answering their questions.