Blog Post

Flu Clinics

Robinson And Partners • 28 July 2020

Challenges for Flu Clinic 2020

You may have heard the news about this year’s flu vaccine campaign. This year will be a TOUGH year for practices delivering flu vaccines.

Why?

We are still geared up for another wave of Covid-19. We will be doing vaccinations in PPE meaning changes between patients and cleaning of the environment between patients. All that PPE has to be ordered, stored, shared out, restocked and disposed of.
We need to maintain social distancing between patients, so no more crowded waiting rooms with a lovely catch up from others in your community.
Social distancing means we have to make innovative use of our building, with one way in, one way out. Where that’s not possible, practices may look to hold clinics in community centres, town halls, supermarket car parks.
A change of venue would mean notifying CQC, arranging cold chain (to keep the vaccines cold), and LOTS of planning.
The additional group of patients will mean lots more vaccines are needed: practices order the vaccine a year ahead, so we now need to rely on NHSE / Public Health England to supply additional stock.
Everything takes longer: PPE, cleaning, social distancing. So a clinic for 1000 people which used to be done in 3 hours could now take 8 hours or more.
The staff that deliver the vaccines and the administrators who support them during the clinics are already working flat out during the week, and now face the prospect of working additional long shifts at the weekends.
It is unlikely practices will be able to run open clinics this year where patients can just turn up, so practices need to set up some kind of appointment system.
The number of Housebound patients has increased with some patients still needing to shield, and home visits for them take much longer and are much riskier for the staff.
Many practices are running on reduced work force as they have shielding staff, or staff who cannot see patients face to face due to their own risks.

Thank you for reading this far. You may ask what is the point of this post?

The main point is we found out this information the same time as you did, and although we have lots of ideas, there is still lots we need to work out, so please don’t ask to book in yet!

We WILL let you know by text, Facebook, website or letter what the plan is.
It WILL be very different this year.
We WILL do our best as we always do.

We are grateful for your support - please do share as every practice is in the same position.

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Thursfield School visit to Mount Road Practice

by Mount Road Practice PPG • 2 February 2025

Two reception classes from Thursfield Primary School recently visited the surgery as part of their education where they are learning about jobs in the community. The children learnt about the various roles of staff at the surgery. Not only did the visit help them understand more about the jobs at the surgery but it will also hopefully help them feel less anxious when they have to visit the surgery to see the doctor or the nurse in future. They had a great time Role-playing alongside the staff. You can see the pictures by clicking here .

NHS App Workshop - 15th January 2025

by Mount Road Practice PPG • 11 January 2025

Please note that if you want to attend this NHS App Workshop or any future sessions you must contact reception to book a place, as the sessions are by appointment only.

Approach Dementia Support Group Christmas Party

by Mount Road Practice PPG • 29 December 2024

The PPG and Approach organised a Christmas party for attendees of the weekly dementia support group that meets every Thursday at Whitehill Methodist Community Church between 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm. We were also fortunate to have a visit from a choir from Dove Bank Primary School. You can see some pictures from the party with background music from the choir by clicking here .