September 2024 Patient Newsletter
📆 August wrap up
As always, August was a busy month here at Tudor Lodge! The team:
- Answered 2,942 calls.
- Processed 2,393 online requests (that’s an average of 77 requests a day).
- Delivered 2,951 appointments (face-to-face and telephone).
- Processed 1,453 prescriptions.
💉Walk-in flu clinics
Flu vaccinations for pregnant women, and all children’s flu cohorts, will take place in September. The main flu and COVID-19 vaccination campaign will commence on Thursday 3 October 2024
We plan to hold flu clinics on Saturdays for eligible patients so keep a lookout for further information.
See if you’re eligible for the flu vaccination this winter.
See if you’re eligible for the COVID-19 booster this winter.
🤰🏻Pregnancy vaccines
We are inviting pregnant women to book their pregnancy vaccines at the surgery. The NHS recommends that pregnant women have the RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) at 28 weeks and Pertussis (whooping cough) at 20 weeks and flu as soon as you can.
Vaccinations in pregnancy – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
👩🏾💻 Managing your appointments online
At Tudor Lodge Health Centre, we’re committed to making it easy for you to book appointments online. You can visit our website and click the “Make an Appointment” tab or “Contact us about your request” to submit your appointment needs. A clinician will review your request to determine the best timeframe, type of appointment, and the most suitable healthcare professional to see you.
Our friendly reception team will then contact you with the doctor’s recommendations and book your appointment within the specified timeframe.
😵💫 Feeling Dizzy? When to see your GP
Dizziness is a common symptom that many of us experience from time to time. While it’s often nothing serious, it can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition.
If you’re experiencing persistent or severe dizziness, it’s important to seek medical advice. The team at Tudor Lodge is here to help. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with your GP.
Common Causes of Dizziness:
- Inner ear problems
- Circulation issues
- Neurological conditions
- Medication side effects
- Anxiety and stress
More information about dizziness and its causes can be found here.
❌ Free up appointments: cancel any you no longer need
Our team works hard to ensure everyone who needs an appointment gets one. You can help us to reduce waiting times by cancelling appointments you no longer need. Last month, 56 GP appointments, 65 nurse appointments and 14 other appointments were wasted because patients didn’t let us know they no longer required the appointment. That’s 34.5 hours of appointments that could have been used by people waiting for one.
We always ask patients to give us plenty of notice (more than an hour) if you need to cancel your appointment:
- Use your NHS account (through the NHS website or NHS App).
- Reply CANCEL to your appointment reminder text message.
- Phone us on 020 8780 0125 during opening hours.
We have begun removing patients who violate this policy despite warnings.
📰 Surgery news
Dr Eade left us unexpectedly in August due to a change in personal circumstances. Dr Dod continues to work with us until 26 September, after which we welcome back Dr Abi from maternity leave.
We are continuing to review our demand and capacity data as a team and alongside patient feedback, with a view to moving to 15-minute slots in line with British Medical Association guidance. We’ll keep you posted on these developments.
🏥 Annual
reviews for patients with chronic diseases
If you have a chronic disease such as asthma, diabetes or COPD, we will invite you for your annual medical reviews during your birth month. Please book your appointment promptly once you receive your text message invite. If you do not receive an invite, please contact the practice.
👨🏽🎓 Starting University? Don’t forget to register with a GP!
As you gear up for Freshers Week, don’t forget about your health! Registering with a GP near your university is essential for accessing essential healthcare services.
Why register with a GP?
- Repeat prescriptions: Easily refill your medication.
- Vaccinations: Stay up-to-date on essential vaccinations.
- General health advice: Get guidance from a healthcare professional.
How to register:
- Find a GP practice: Search online for practices near your university.
- Visit the practice: Bring identification and proof of address.
- Complete registration forms: Provide your personal details.
Registering with a GP is a simple process that can make a big difference to your health and well-being during your university years.
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