Welcome to the second of our weekly newsletters. We regard it as a priority that all our patients are kept fully informed of all developments at Buckshaw Village Surgery, Croston and Adlington Medical Centres and our sites at Lostock Hall. We hope last week’s initial newsletter proved informative and that these regular updates will continue to prove useful.
Covid Vaccination Programme
Our Covid vaccination programme continues to proceed and we are making every effort to roll out the programme as swiftly and efficiently as possible.
The operation is based at our vaccination hub Buckshaw Village Surgery and is being carried out in priority order using the cohort system reflecting Government guidelines.
All patients across the group have been classified into cohorts and are being contacted in order to arrange appointments, with further clinics being arranged as soon as new vaccine supplies become available.
We are currently vaccinating cohort 6 patients ie remaining patients aged 65 and over and those aged 16-64 with underlying health conditions, and will very shortly be moving on to cohort 7 which is patients aged 60-64.
Our second dose vaccination programme is still on course to begin next Thursday, March 11 and eligible patients are now being contacted in respect of their second appointment.
Please check our website and Facebook page for further updates.
Phone system
As reported last week, we have made a significant investment in a new phone system for all our sites across the group in an effort to address problems experienced by patients attempting to contact us by phone.
A large part of the system has now been fitted and new lines laid, and staff training is now taking place in preparation for the system coming into full operation in the very near future.
Current services
Please be advised that despite the unprecedented challenges provided by the Covid situation, the majority of our regular clinics and services are continuing as normal.
Urgent and routine appointments with GPs, nurse practitioners and practice nurses can be made in the normal way.
In addition, our regular baby clinics, midwife appointments, podiatry and first contact physio clinics are proceeding as normal, though some of these clinics which usually take place at Buckshaw Village Surgery may be moved to other sites due to the Buckshaw site being dedicated to the Covid vaccine rollout.
Patients are also reminded that in the light of the current Covid situation, ALL initial GP appointments are by telephone triage.
If a face-to-face follow up appointment is then required, this will then be arranged.
First Contact Physiotherapists
We now employ two First Contact Physiotherapists, Paul Sanderson and Jonathan Thomas. They are able to deal with a range of muscular and skeletal complaints including sciatica, osteoarthritis and other related issues, along with back, shoulder, arm and leg pain.
Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment. Initial consultations will be by phone due to the Covid situation.