Woolpit Health Centre

06/08/2025

Did you know that if our telephone lines are busy, you can use our call-back function?

You won’t lose your place in the queue, one of our Care Navigators will call you back as soon as they’re available.

We regularly monitor our phone system, including a live dashboard that shows how many callers are waiting, how many have disconnected, and the longest wait times.

Recently, we’ve seen an increase in these numbers.

To help improve your experience, we encourage you to take advantage of our call-back option whenever the lines are busy. It’s an easy and convenient way to avoid waiting on hold.

Just make sure you stay near your phone so you don't miss the call.

06/08/2025

2025-26 Autumn / Winter Flu and COVID Vaccination Campaign

In line with government guidance, the main 2025-26 autumn / winter flu and COVID vaccination campaign commences on 1st October.

Please note, eligibility for the seasonal flu vaccination remains the same as previous years, however eligibility for a COVID booster is different and aligns to the spring campaign.

Eligibility for a Flu Vaccination
• 65 years and over;
• 18 – 64 years at clinical risk;
• Those in long stay residential care homes;
• Carers of elderly or disabled persons;
• Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals;
• Frontline workers in a social care setting.

Eligibility for a COVID Booster
• Residents in a care home for older adults;
• All adults aged 75 years and over;
• Patients aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed.

At Woolpit Health Centre we will kick off the campaign with two large clinics as follows:

Wednesday 1st October – Flu ONLY for eligible patients under the age of 75 years

Saturday 4th October – COVID and Flu for patients over the age of 75 years ONLY

Eligible patients will receive an invitation via SMS or letter.

Housebound patients will be notified of their vaccination date by telephone.

During this busy time, we try hard to minimise disruption to our core primary care services. This includes protecting our Care Navigation / Reception team so that they can remain focused on supporting patients who need triaging into urgent and routine appointments.

We have a small team who are dedicated to managing our vaccination programmes. During the season they handle large numbers of telephone and email enquiries.

Request to Patients
1. Please wait for your invitation via SMS or letter.
2. Upon receipt please only contact the team if you need to change your appointment or cannot use the SMS booking link.
3. Our preference is for email contact as this keeps the phone line free and is an efficient way to communicate. Our email address is woolpit.covid19queries@nhs.net
4. If you need to phone our dedicated vaccine line, the number is 01359 243941.
5. Finally, we ask you please to be patient, whichever way you contact us we will get back to you. There is no need to leave multiple messages, this only slows down our responses. Be reassured, we have plenty of vaccine and plenty of appointments.

We look forward to another successful vaccination season.

05/08/2025

We are currently experiencing a delayed workload due to the implementation of our new dispensing system. We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your patience as we work to improve our service.

04/08/2025

** Important Notice **

We are currently managing staff shortages at the Health Centre today. This may lead to longer waiting times and delays in responding to phone calls and appointment requests.

We kindly ask for your patience and understanding during this time. Our team is working hard to provide the best service we can, and we appreciate your support.

Thank you for bearing with us.

15/07/2025

Practice Closure - Today

From 12:30 to 18:30, this Practice will be closed for important clinical education and training purposes.

Please note that Reception will be closed during this time.

Emergency cover will be provided, please telephone 111 to access these services:

• Telephone triage
• Face-to-face appointments at Drovers House in Bury St Edmunds or Unity Healthcare (Greenfields Way), Haverhill

Our Pharmacy will be open as normal.

14/07/2025

We are receiving multiple requests a day for appointments for patients asking if they can be prescribed weight loss injections.

We would like to remind patients that GPs in Suffolk are NOT currently allowed by SNEE ICB to prescribe these for weight loss. We would be grateful if patients do not request appointments for this reason.

Patients can self-refer for support from Feel Good Suffolk with their weight.

Thank you for your understanding.

Update 1 July 2025 We have added a text description to the flowchart added in the previous update. For more information please see the update from the 23 June 2025 below. Update: 23 June 2025 Access to obesity management medications from 23 June 2025 via new community outreach service From 23 June 2...

14/07/2025

14/07/2025

Practice Closure - Tuesday 15th July 2025

From 12:30 to 18:30, this Practice will be closed for important clinical education and training purposes.

Please note that Reception will be closed during this time.

Emergency cover will be provided, please telephone 111 to access these services:

• Telephone triage
• Face-to-face appointments at Drovers House in Bury St Edmunds or Unity Healthcare (Greenfields Way), Haverhill

Our Pharmacy will be open as normal.

08/07/2025

30/06/2025

Anaphylaxis is a preventable threat! This we’re raising awareness of recognising the signs of anaphylaxis and what to do in this emergency situation. Often referred to as the ABC, you can look out for the following:

Airway – swelling in the throat/tongue, tightness in the throat
Breathing – sudden onset wheezing or breathing difficulties
Circulation – faint, sudden fatigue, confusion, pale clammy skin, even loss of consciousness

Signs and symptoms of a serious allergic reaction are usually classed as anaphylaxis, causing changes to a person's breathing, heart rate & blood pressure.

27/06/2025

LGBTQ+ individuals often face unique challenges and disparities in healthcare. Patients are at the heart of our inclusive and welcoming practice. At Woolpit Health Centre, we welcome everyone and strive to provide a safe, supportive and caring environment. We believe in fairness and equality, and value diversity in our staff and patients

24/06/2025

If you’re a trans man, you’re non-binary or intersex, and you have a cervix, you’ll still be at risk of cervical cancer and it’s important to remember to attend your screening appointment. https://eveappeal.org.uk/information-and-advice/preventing-cancer/information-for-trans-and-non-binary-people/