Newsletter - July 2021

Published: 08 June 2021

A&E is not an alternative to a GP appointment. If we are closed, please call 111.

Proof of Vaccine – NHS App
From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel.  A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine.  Vaccine status will be available from:

• the NHS App which you can download from app stores

It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified so you can use this service.

If you cannot access this online service, and you have had 2 vaccines, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119.  Only call 119 if you are due to travel abroad in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago.  It may take 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status.

When you're planning your travel, check the latest information on gov.uk website.  Make sure there is time to get proof of your vaccination status before you leave.

Staffing and GP
At the end of May Dr Jankovic left the practice after a long career at Willingham.

Our rapidly expanding team are delighted to welcome Dr Greg Trilling and Dr Vidhya Viswam to the practice as permanent GPs.  They are already settling in well and proving to be a big asset to the surgery.

Many of you will be aware that Dr Brown is expecting her second child in the summer, and will be going on maternity leave from the beginning of August.  You will be seeing some familiar faces in the surgery including Dr Suter as she continues to locum for the practice to keep us fully staffed.

Coils and implants
We are working hard to reduce waiting times for contraceptive implants and coils at the surgery.  We now have 3 GP’s that are trained in this procedure.

Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented demand on the surgery during the pandemic, we do have a long waiting list for these procedures.

Patients have the option to self-refer into the iCaSH service by phoning 0300 300 3030 to be assessed.  Clinics are available in Huntingdon and Cambridge.

For further information please see https://www.icash.nhs.uk/where-to-go/icash-cambridgeshire

PPG
The Patient Participation Group (PPG) play a vital role in linking the community to the surgery, voicing your concerns and asking questions which are important to you.

Meetings had to be cancelled during the pandemic, however we are planning on having an online PPG meeting via zoom/Microsoft teams to re-engage patients and answer any concerns.

If you are interested in joining our PPG please email willinghammedicalpractice@nhs.net

Carers' Meeting
Due to the pandemic, the carers' meetings are still cancelled until further notice.  They will be reinstated as soon as it is safe to do so.  In the meantime, we would like to continue to support carers in our local community in any way possible.  If you are a carer for someone and need advice and financial or emotional support, please contact Sue Lawson at susan.lawson7@nhs.net or 01954 260230.