The Westgate Practice

25/07/2025

⭐IMPORTANT UPDATE: Influenza programme and Covid-19 autumn booster 2025⭐

The Westgate Practice are pleased to confirm that we will be offering ELIGIBLE patients their influenza and Covid-19 vaccinations this autumn.

Please Note: There has been a significant change to the national Covid-19 vaccination programme. This is not a practice decision, as eligibility is agreed at a national level on the advice of the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation).

Covid vaccinations will ONLY be offered to adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults and those who are immunosuppressed. This represents a change from the Autumn 2024 programme (which also included adults aged 65-74 and those in a clinical at-risk group) to vaccination of those at highest risk of serious disease. In the current era of high population immunity to Covid-19, additional Covid-19 doses provide very limited, if any, protection against infection and any subsequent onward transmission of infection.

Patients eligible for the Covid19 Vaccination from October 2025:
• adults aged 75 years and over
• residents in a care home for older adults
• Individuals who are immunosuppressed

We will only be administering covid vaccinations alongside flu vaccinations to those patients who are eligible. The practice will NOT deliver covid vaccinations in isolation, even if eligible, as it is not viable to provide such a service.

Based on evidence that the flu vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults, the influenza programme for most patients will commence from the start of October 2025. It is preferable to vaccinate individuals closer to the time when the virus is likely to circulate (which typically peaks in December or January), as this will provide optimal protection during the highest risk period.

Patients eligible for flu from September 2025:
• Pregnant women
• Some immunocompromised patients
• Children aged 2 or 3 years on 31st August 2025

Primary school children (Reception to Year 6) and Secondary school children (Years 7-11) will be offered their vaccination as part of the School Immunisation Programme.

Patients eligible for flu from October 2025:
• Aged 65 years and over
• Aged 18 years to under 65 years in a clinical at-risk group
• Patients in long stay residential care homes
• Carers
• Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
• Frontline health and social care staff (patient contact)

Patients will be invited to book their vaccination(s) via a self-book link within their text invitation.

If you have a mobile number that has changed or has not been provided to the practice, please let us know via our website, selecting General Enquiries. If you do not have a mobile number, the practice will contact you in writing.

We would encourage all our eligible patients to take up the offer of their free vaccination(s) to protect you, your family and friends, and the NHS this winter.

24/07/2025

Samaritans Awareness Day - 24/7

https://www.samaritans.org/support-us/campaign/samaritans-awareness-day/
https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/

22/07/2025

18/07/2025

Patient Triage for same day and non-urgent problems
Frequently Asked Questions (2)

Its almost been two weeks since extending the use of triage online forms in practice. Thank you to our patients who have supported us during this period of transition. Please find below a further set of FAQs that you may find helpful in navigating the process.

1. When and how will I be contacted following my online form submission?
When completing the online form, you can select how you wish to be contacted. We would like to remind patients submitting online medical requests, the practice may telephone on the same day if they assess a problem as requiring a same day appointment. Patients should be available to receive this telephone call and possible same day appointment.

2. I have several medical problems; can these be submitted on the same triage form?
The short answer is no. Appointments are offered on the basis that the clinician can only deal with one problem within the timeframe of one appointment. The self-book appointment link is also based on booking one appointment at a time. We politely ask that patients with more than one problem, think about what they need dealing with first. The practice has the same number of staff and appointments as we did previously, so please be mindful and considerate when using the triage system. We are sure that patients who require help will want to know that others are using the triage system appropriately.

3. I would like to book a nurse appointment, should I use online triage?
The online triage form should ONLY be used for same day and non-urgent medical problems. Please DO NOT use the triage form for feedback or complaints, nursing appointments, travel enquiries, HRT, prescription requests or annual health reviews, etc.

The online triage system also allows the submission of admin requests. These are for enquiries that a member of our Patient Services Team can deal with. We need to ensure that doctors assess health problems ONLY.

4. If triage requests are online, what will the Patient Services Team be doing?
Our Patient Services Team undertake a variety of activities at the practice. For example, staffing reception allows us to arrive patients for their appointments and direct them to the correct waiting areas, assist patients using the healthcare monitor, deal with general enquiries, accept samples requested by clinical staff, take deliveries of stock and post.

Behind-the-scenes, there is a whole raft of administrative work undertaken on a daily basis. These include prescription and medication requests, scanning and adding documents to medical records, completing and sending referrals, dealing with new patient registrations, coding, adding appointments to our clinical system, actioning forms submitted via the website, coordinating care with other healthcare professionals, assisting Drs with triage admin and administrative queries and much more.

16/07/2025

*NEW* Lung Cancer Screening

Residents aged 55-74, who have a smoking history and are registered with a South Staffordshire GP are due to receive a letter from the NHS inviting them to a lung cancer screening appointment over the coming 12 months.

Lung Cancer Screening helps find problems early, usually before you notice anything is wrong, and at a stage when treatment could be simpler and more successful - ultimately saving more lives.

Even if you think your lungs are fine, it is best to get them checked out - this is because our lungs don't have any pain receptors in them meaning symptoms can go unnoticed for some time.

09/07/2025

Alcohol Awareness Week

Alcohol Awareness Week is a national campaign aimed at encouraging open conversations about alcohol use, raising awareness of its risks, and supporting individuals who may be struggling with drinking habits. Observed annually in July, the week offers an important opportunity to reflect on our relationship with alcohol and how it affects our health, families, and communities.

Top tips for reducing your alcohol intake:
* Opt for the smallest serving size
* Alternate between alcohol and non-alcohol drinks
* Add mixers or juices to create a longer drink
* Don't stock up on drinks and keep them about the house
* Drink water first
* Try an alcohol free alternative

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/
https://alcoholchange.org.uk/get-involved/campaigns/alcohol-awareness-week-1

04/07/2025

Patient Triage for same day and non-urgent problems (commencing 8th July 2025)
Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why are you expanding the online triage form to same day problems?
Online triage forms have been in use at Westgate for non-urgent appointments over the past 12 months. This has proven very successful, and we are now wanting all patients to have access to GP advice, regardless or whether they believe their problem to be same day or non-urgent. All forms are assessed by a GP who will then make the clinical decision as to who you should see and when. This means that appointments are allocated to patients based on need, rather than who can get through to the surgery the quickest.

2. What if I don’t have a smartphone or have internet access?
This is not a new process, rather an extension to what we have been doing for the past 12 months for non-urgent appointments. Anyone without access to the form, can get a family or friend to submit a form on their behalf. If this is not possible, you can telephone the practice so that staff can support you by completing the form for you online. There may be a delay doing this at busy times, so finding a way of completing the form yourself or with help from a family member, will allow us to help you more quickly. Please note: this cannot be done at the front desk due to confidentiality issues.

3. Does this process apply for all appointments or enquiries?
The online triage form should only be used when you require an appointment either on the day or in the next few days/weeks to see a healthcare professional. It can also be used for administrative enquires. All other preplanned appointments such as nursing appointments will usually include a self-book link where you can book your appointment from a list of available options. Alternatively, you can ring the surgery after 10.30 to book your appointment. Please do NOT use the online triage form for HRT reviews, prescription requests or annual reviews. Patients should use our website and complete the relevant health form selecting the health review panel on our homepage. Home Visit requests need to be made by telephone before 11am.

4. What are the benefits of triage?
Triage means no longer having to be available at 8am to ring the surgery. Completing the online triage form with as much information as possible from the patient means that the triaging Doctor can make an informed decision about who the patient should see and when. This process is patient centred with the focus being on their needs and priority, resulting in a better outcome for the patient. This method also reduces demand on the telephone, so those who need to contact the practice can do so more easily. We are also better able to manage clinical resource and appointments.

5. When should I expect to hear back from the practice after submitting my form?
For issues deemed as needing a same day assessment, patients will hear back within one working day. For those problems deemed non-urgent, patients should hear back within 72 working hours. If you do not hear anything after this timeframe, please contact the practice.

02/07/2025

Practice Newsletter
Summer 2025

Also available to view on our website or in surgery.

30/06/2025

📢Childhood Immunisation Schedule Changes

The UK childhood vaccination schedule is undergoing a number of significant changes over the next 6 -12 months.

⭐Specific changes from 1st July 2025:
The 2nd dose of Men B vaccine moves from 16 weeks to 12 weeks
The 1st dose of Pneumococcal vaccine will be moved from 12 to 16 weeks
Hib Men C offered at 12 months will be removed for children born on or after 1st July 2024.

⭐Specific changes from 1st January 2026:
A new 18 month appointment will be introduced, offering a 4th dose DTaP/IPV/Hib/HepB
The 2nd dose of MMR will be moved from 3 yrs 4 months to the new 18 month appointment again for children born on or after 1st July 2024.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/routine-childhood-immunisation-schedule/routine-childhood-immunisations-from-1-july-2025-babies-born-from-1-july-2024

27/06/2025

📢Cervical Screening is changing

From 1st July 2025, there are two key updates to the NHS Cervical Screening Programme:

☑️Screening every 5 years (instead of 3) for those aged 25-49 who test HPV Negative at their next appointment

☑️Digital invites and reminders will now be sent via the NHS App for quicker, more convenient access

Cervical Screening saves lives!

https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/06/nhs-rolls-out-more-personalised-cervical-screening-for-millions/
https://news.cancerresearchuk.org/2025/06/10/nhs-england-changes-cervical-screening-to-every-5-years/

23/06/2025

IMPORTANT PRACTICE NEWS

From Tuesday 8th July 2025, the practice will be changing the way urgent appointments for GP's and some other clinicians are booked. Please read the practice statement below (which can also be found on our website www.westgatepractice.co.uk).