The Westgate Vaccination

The Westgate Vaccination

Special

September 2016

		Seasonal Flu Clinics 2016 - 2017 This year our walk in clinics for eligible adults (no appointment necessary) are at: Greenhill Health Centre Saturday 8th October 2016 & Saturday 5th November 2016 from 9.30am till 1.00pm or The Shenstone Surgery Tuesday 25th October 2016 from 12.30pm till 1.30pm
Flu Immunisations for Children
The doctors of the Westgate Practice would like to invite children to attend a Seasonal Flu Clinic if they are aged 2 to 5 years and were: Born on or between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2014 Please book an appointment for your child/children for one of our clinics held at Greenhill Health Centre		Additional Child Flu Immunisations
Saturday 8th October 2016 & Saturday 5th November 2016 from 9.30am till 1.00pm For further information on both child and adult Flu vaccines see our Practice website at: www.westgatepractice.co.uk or the posters and leaflets at the surgeries		Your child can also be vaccinated if they have any of the following conditions: •Lung problems, including asthma •Heart problems •Kidney problems •Liver problems •Previous stroke or TIA •Diabetes, (including diet controlled) or •Have a condition, or are receiving treatment, which makes them susceptible to infections.
Have you had a Shingles Vaccination? If you have not yet had a Shingles vaccination (you only need to have this once) and were born between the following dates: 2^nd September 1936 to 1^st September 1938 or 2^nd September 1942 to 1^st September 1946 Make an appointment to have this done. You will be able to have your Flu jab at the same time.
The Men ACWY Vaccine for Young People If you are aged 18 or a Fresher going to university (up to the age of 25), make an appointment to have the ACWY vaccination The vaccine will protect you against four different causes of meningitis and septicaemia.
Aged 65 or over and not had a Pneumococcal Vaccination? Make an appointment to have this ‘once only’ vaccination and have your Flu jab done at the same time.
Why does the Receptionist sometimes ask me what my appointment is for – it’s none of her business?
	At the Westgate Practice, like most surgeries in the UK we have different health care professionals including doctors, practice nurses, advanced nurse practitioners, health care assistants and phlebotomists. We also have access to the extended primary care health team which includes district nurses, health visitors, school nurses, community matron, podiatrists, physiotherapists and midwives. To try to improve the appropriate use of the different members of the team we have trained
our office staff, who are non-medical, to ask a few questions to clarify which member of the team to book the patient with. This is a change from usual historical practice when office staff would not enquire as to the nature of the patient’s medical complaint. The office staff have a list of conditions to which they can refer when booking appointments, and are made aware they are not to give medical advice or make any clinical decisions and must seek advice if not sure.
And finally some Practice News… Dr Venuri Gunatilake has had a baby boy. Mother and son are doing well.