Covid-19 Vaccinations
We are very excited to report that we have now vaccinated approximately 10,000 patients at our SWIFT PCN Vaccination Site at Knowle West Healthy Living Centre, 2 Downton Road, BS4 1WH!
Our Vaccination Team are working tirelessly to invite all eligible patients for vaccination as soon as we possibly can. We are required to offer vaccines in strict order of priority and unfortunately we cannot make exceptions.
We know patients are keen to be vaccinated but please wait until we contact you which will either be by text, phone or letter. We will contact you as soon as we are able to offer you an appointment.
Our Navigation Team are unable to answer questions, offer vaccine advice or book vaccine appointments. We hope you will understand that the practice cannot handle a significant increase in call volumes due to vaccine queries which is why we have a separate Vaccination Team.
Thank you for your patience and understanding. No one will be left behind
Unpaid Carers
The vaccination programme is now vaccinating people with underlying health conditions and unpaid carers. Unpaid carers are defined as those who are eligible for a carer’s allowance, or those who are the sole or main carer of an elderly or disabled person who is at increased risk of COVID-19 mortality and therefore clinically vulnerable. To be eligible, carers must deliver personal care to the individual at risk. This does not include for example, shopping or cleaning.
If you are already registered as a carer with either your GP or the local authority or you are eligible for carers allowance you do not have to do anything. You will be invited for a vaccination either by your GP or through the COVID-19 Vaccination National Booking Service. Please wait until you are called directly.
Please do not be concerned if you are invited for vaccination more than once. For example, if you are registered as a carer with your GP and you receive carer’s allowance, you may receive 2 invitations. Please only book one appointment.
If you are not registered with any of these bodies or you do not receive carers allowance then you will also have the opportunity to be vaccinated. A national system is being developed which will enable you to self -identify as a carer and book a vaccination. Further information on this system will be available in the coming weeks but in the meantime it is very important that you do not contact your GP or local authority directly to request a vaccination. Carers looking for additional support should contact the relevant Carers Support Organisation. They can be contacted via info@carerssupportcentre.org.uk and 0117 965 2200 for Bristol and South Gloucestershire or carersupport@alliancehomes.org.uk 03000 120 120, option 3 for North Somerset.
We will be prioritising vaccination based on risk and therefore those with underlying health conditions or on the shielded patient list (clinically extremely vulnerable) will be vaccinated as a priority. Please do not be concerned if you are not contacted immediately for vaccination or have to wait a short while to book an appointment. We remain committed to vaccinating everyone who is eligible in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire as soon as possible.
We are Still Here For You
During this Covid-19 pandemic, the safety of our patients and staff is paramount. We are following national and local guidance around how we can best offer healthcare and safely resume services. We also have to link in to what other hospitals and services are doing.
We are still limited in relation to the number of people we can have in the practice at any one time to ensure a safe environment for our patients and staff. For these reasons;
- Patients with appointments gain entry to the practice via the buzzer and intercom to the right of the doors into the practice. Our doors remain closed at this time
- Please do not arrive more than 5 minutes ahead of your appointment time as we may have to ask you to wait outside
- All patients are asked to wear a face mask whilst in the practice. Please discuss with our Navigation Team in advance if you cannot wear a mask
- The majority of consultations will be by telephone or video, initially at least. Rest assured that if a clinician needs to see you face to face, arrangements will be made. You may also be asked to send in photographs where this is likely to help a clinician
Don’t let worries about Covid-19 stop you seeking medical help when you need it. If you or a loved one has signs of a serious condition or illness like a stroke or severe chest pain get help straight away by going to A&E or calling 999 https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-go-to-ae/
Thank you for your support. Stay safe.
What's New for August 2020?
Care Navigation
Like many other practices we are, from Monday 3rd August 2020, introducing Care Navigation alongside a new appointment system, which will help us to make the best use of the resources available and ensure that patients;
- receive the most appropriate care
- from the most appropriate health care professional
- at the most appropriate time
Our Navigation Team are not medically trained but, at the request of our GPs, they will ask some questions to enable them to navigate patients to the most appropriate source of help
Please help them to help you by providing a brief description of your concern and answering any questions they may ask. Information provided is dealt with in the strictest of confidence.
For information about appointments please see our Appointments page
Helping You To Better Health
Here at Bedminster Family Practice we offer a full general practice service and run specialist clinics for diabetes, COPD, coronary heart disease and asthma sufferers and for minor surgery.
We aim to treat all our patients promptly, courteously and in complete confidence. We believe it is important that you know who you are speaking to and so our practice staff wear name badges and also identify themselves on the telephone.
Your Health and Local Services
The Bristol service finder app can help you find your nearest, most appropriate health service using GPS mapping, wherever you are in England. Click this link to find out more
HEALTH AT HOME PUBLIC CAMPAIGN
The general public have been asked to stay at home as much as possible. If people need an NHS service, they should try to do it online from home first (unless it is a serious or life-threatening emergency, they feel very unwell, or to attend ongoing treatment and have been told to do so). The Health at Home campaign signposts the public to useful information about how to contact their GP, order repeat prescriptions, manage their wellbeing & existing conditions – without leaving their home.
Important update:
Urine samples left at reception desk
Please note that urine samples can no longer be accepted by our receptionists unless the sample has been requested by a doctor or nurse. Safe testing and interpretation can only be provided if a doctor or nurse recommends a test. If you believe you need any form of medical test please arrange a nurse or doctor appointment to allow for a proper assessment and management plan.
Login to Patient Access Online Services for booking appointments and ordering prescriptions
Special educational needs and disability (SEND)
A child or young person has special educational needs and disabilities if they have a learning difficulty and/or a disability that means they need special health and education support, shortened to SEND. Further information can be found by visiting https://www.bristol.gov.uk/web/bristol-local-offer/about
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9awWjd66-rQ&list=PLCnBBaWxNNLXqxJoWGxes6i4fS3V4PF6i
(Site updated 22/02/2021)