News & Newsletters

4th Oct

FLU & COVID AUTUM VACCINATION PROGRAMME 2024

The practice will be taking part in the flu vaccination programme as usual this year and most eligible patients will already have received their invites to our flu clinics taking place over the coming weeks at the practice. If you have received your invitation and not yet booked your appointment or you believe you are eligible and have not received an invitation then please contact the practice soon as appointments are filling up fast!

However, this year, we made the difficult decision NOT to take part in the covid vaccination programme, this is in line with most local practices and the majority across the UK. A combination of complex reasons led to the decision and it was not made without much thought. We appreciate that this will be disappointing for our patients and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Eligible patients can book their covid vaccine by calling 119 or online via nhs.uk

17th Sep

Gender Identity Clinics

There have been reports of some GICs (Gender Identity Clinics) asking GPs to review patients who had already been referred to the GIC, due to long waiting times. It is the responsibility of GICs to manage their waiting lists – not the practices – and they should be approaching patients directly to support them in the waiting period. Our GPs are not obliged to prescribe bridging prescriptions, but they may be able to support you in other ways along with members of our Personalised Care Team. Please feel free to enquire at the surgery if you would like more support.

Please see links below for information on support services available to those experiencing gender dysphoria.

https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/

https://genderedintelligence.co.uk/

https://www.akt.org.uk/

https://galop.org.uk/

https://mindout.org.uk/get-support/trans-and-gender-diverse-services/

https://lgbt.foundation/

https://thekitetrust.org.uk/

https://centre33.org.uk/help/sexuality-and-gender/

13th Aug

Are QEMP GPs/The Practice on strike?

Many of you will have read the headlines and heard on the news recently that ‘GPs are striking’

The headlines, as is often the case, are not quite right

GP partners/contractors in England have voted overwhelmingly in favour of collective action against the current GP contract imposed against us which is under-funded, unsafe and unworkable. This situation has caused hundreds of practices to close nationally, including in Cambridge. Seven in ten eligible members voted in the non-statutory ballot, with an overwhelming 98.3% of members voting yes, indicating that they are willing to take Industrial Action to save general practice. QEMP partners were included in those voting 'yes'

However, this is not 'strike' action - the GPs won't be walking out and refusing to work. Instead the BMA has put together a list of 10 suggested actions that practices could take. Individual practices can use their discretion on which actions they take and this may vary.

One of the actions that has been well publicised in the press is a measure to limit patient contacts to 25 per GP per day as part of safer working guidelines. We will continue to respond to clinical emergencies but do aim to cap our numbers on the day to safe levels. This means that it is possible you will be directed to other commissioned services that can help you if you contact the practice and we have exceeded our safe working capacity for that day.

More information is available on our website, in the waiting area and on the BMA website:

https://www.bma.org.uk/GPsOnYourSide

We hope you will support us in these actions to ensure the viability of General Practice and QEMP going forward.

GP Partners

Queen Edith Medical Practice

August 2024

13th Aug