**Telephone 01224 562888 for all appointment requests**

All appointments with a GP or the Nurse Practitioner will be by telephone initially.

Please note that we no longer use eConsult

It is still absolutely vital that we continue to operate differently to protect all of our most vulnerable patients and members of the Primary Care Team.

The majority of appointments are either over the phone or via video (Near Me) with face-to-face appointments reserved for those with the greatest need.

An outbreak of Covid-19 in your GP practice could see our services hugely and adversely impacted for our entire patient population of 7200 patients.

A short Q&A guide below produced by NHS Grampian explains why things are not ‘back to normal’.

Primary Care:  Why are GP Practices still working differently?

The Pandemic is over!  It is not over yet and the modelling suggests there is a 3^rd wave on its way. We must protect your Primary Care Team and vulnerable patients by keeping contact to a minimum.

How are practices working now?  All appointment requests for urgent care are being triaged - this means that people with the greatest need are being seen first.

What is Triage?  The Duty medic will assess every “on the day” request for urgent care and decide who needs to be seen in person, who needs a phone consultation, who needs to be seen via video and who can be directed to a community pharmacist, etc.

How do we triage?  Duty clinicians will look at all the information available and make an assessment loosely based on:

'Hear it' - phone consult,

'See it' - video consult (Near Me)

'Feel it' - face to face appointment

Why do receptionists ask personal questions?  Put simply, because they have been asked to! Anyone that is tasked with answering a call at a GP practice must maintain strict confidence and only ask questions to help you get the right treatment.

What about emergencies? If it is a genuine medical emergency then you should call 999 and ask for an ambulance.  If you need emergency care but are not in imminent danger then you should call 111

Where else can I get help? NHS Inform has a wealth of information to help you help yourself: https://www.nhsinform.scot/ Community Pharmacists (chemists) can help with many common ailments and illnesses and can prescribe some medicines too.

Please be patient.  Primary Care Teams have been working incredibly hard throughout the Pandemic. Many of our team are exhausted and they really are doing their best to help you. We, just like you, want to get back to as close as normal as possible as soon as possible, but we are not there yet.

COVID STATUS CERTIFICATIONS (COVID PASSPORTS)

Vaccination status scheme launched

A service that allows people travelling abroad to access their record of vaccination status themselves has launched. Only those planning to travel to a country or territory where a record of vaccination status is needed as an entry requirement should download the record or request it. While there are no countries currently requiring vaccination status to travel, international travel restrictions can change quickly requiring such measures to be in place. The measures are intended to ease the burden on the NHS by removing the need for people to ask their GP for a status record. As Scotland’s vaccination programme progresses, vaccination status will be replaced by digital COVID Status Certificates, which will include vaccination and testing data to be used for outbound international travel.  People will be able access their COVID-19 Vaccine Status online, by logging on to www.nhsinform.scot/covid19status. A Freephone Covid Status Helpline will allow people to get the record posted to them. It can be contacted on 0808 196 8565.

COVID-19 VACCINATIONS  -  PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE PRACTICE

NHS Grampian have received an additional supply of the Moderna vaccine.  They are running special, Moderna only, drop-in clinics at P&J Live from today (Monday 26 July), while stocks last.  Anyone aged 18 or over and still to receive their first dose and anyone awaiting a second dose of Moderna (it must be at least 8 weeks from your first dose) is warmly invited to attend.

Pfizer and Astra Zeneca appointments and drop-ins and scheduled appointments for Moderna will proceed as planned.

Moderna is only available at P&J Live. These clinics will run subject to available supplies – NHS Grampian will advise via social media if/when this opportunity will end.

At busy times people attending may be asked to come back later.  P&J Live is open 9am-6pm.

In addition, they have a number of community drop-in clinics in Aberdeen this week – at the Healthy Hoose (Middlefield), Seaton Community Church, and Elphinstone Hall (University of Aberdeen). These clinics are open to anyone over the age of 18, for first dose drop-in only. Further information on these clinics is available on the NHS Grampian website - click here.

Are you 18 years or over?  All adults in Scotland should now have received their first COVID-19 vaccine appointment.

Drop-in clinics are now available for anyone aged 18 years or over who lives in Aberdeen City to receive their:

• First COVID-19 vaccination
• Second dose vaccinations only for those past 8 weeks since their first dose

Details of Drop-in clinics in Aberdeen city are available by clicking here.

To register for or book an appointment:-

You can self-register online for an appointment to be sent to you by text or email by clicking here.

If you would like to book your free vaccination, please call the Aberdeen COVID-19 contact centre free on 0800 0304 713, open Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm, to book an appointment.

SCAM WARNING

Please see below link for posters and information guide that has been developed to raise awareness of the most common vaccination scams.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/resources-for-raising-awareness-about-vaccine-fraud

Info for Patients on Blood Thinning Medication.

Patients with bleeding disorders or people taking medication to thin the blood or reduce bleeding should consult their specialist for advice on vaccinations.

NHS Grampian advice NOT to phone your GP.

• Patients who are prescribed blood thinning medication including warfarin, aspirin, clopidogrel, rivarovxaban, edoxaban and apixiban should not be concerned about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and should attend their appointment to receive this important immunisation.
• There is no need to contact your general practice for advice regarding blood thinning medication prior to attending for COVID-19 immunisation.
• Vaccinators will ask a question relating to this prior to administering an injection.
• Patients on blood thinning medication may bruise more readily, the vaccinator will simply apply more pressure after immunisation to the injection site for a bit longer than average.  Reassuringly, the needle the COVID-19 vaccine is given with is very small and causes minimal trauma.
• If the individual receives medication/treatment to reduce bleeding, for example treatment for haemophilia, intramuscular vaccination can be scheduled shortly after such medication/treatment is administered.  Please call the number on your letter to rearrange your appointment if required.

RIGHT CARE RIGHT PLACE - A GUIDE TO NHS SCOTLAND SERVICES

Coronavirus has changed how NHS Scotland works and how we access services to keep everyone safe. It’s important we all know how to get the right care, safely. Please see the link below which will help explain which NHS service to use for different health concerns, and how to look after your health and the people you care for.

Right Place Right Care

NEW FRONT DOOR INTERCOM SYSTEM

In line with NHS Grampian Covid-19 guidance, we are still advised to restrict access to the building.   We now have a video intercom system at the front door to simplify things when you have a need to come to the Practice.  Please press the buzzer on the panel at the left side of the door to speak to the Receptionist.  Entry is only by prior arrangement.  The intercom system replaces the previous system of phoning a mobile telephone number.

Disappointingly in recent months we have seen an alarming rise in abusive and aggressive behaviour.  On a daily basis, members of our Team have been subjected to an increase in verbal abuse, aggression, shouting and derogatory comments from patients or relatives.  This is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.

The Practice follows NHS Grampian's Zero Tolerance policy.  Anyone deemed to have breached this will receive a warning from the Practice.  Repeated warnings may require your removal from the Practice list.  In keeping with this policy episodes of threatening behaviour, intimidation or violence may result in police involvement and immediate patient removal (and yes this has happened!).  Please remember that all telephone calls are recorded.

We recognise the real difficulties and frustrations that Covid-19 has caused for everyone.  Despite significant restrictions we have continued to provide critical services under guidance from NHS Grampian and the Scottish Government throughout the pandemic.  This has seen the introduction of new ways of accessing healthcare, which we have had to implement and learn quickly,

Please treat our Team members with civility, kindness and respect. They are here trying to help you.

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The Doctors, Nurses and Practice staff of the Hamilton Medical Group welcome you to the surgery as a patient. We provide care to our current patient population of around 7200 patients. 

The Practice is located just a 10 minute walk from Union Street at the very centre of Aberdeen.  We are well served by a variety of bus routes  (11, 13 and X17) and have parking facilities behind the surgery, which can be accessed via Queens Road or Queens Lane North.