Author: Mary

Hodnet Medical Practice website has recently published an advance reminder for patients wishing to receive a flu injection:

“Flu jabs – that time of year again! To help you to stay healthy and prevent the spread of flu among family, friends and work colleagues, taking advantage of the winter flu jab at the surgery is a good first step. Flu is contagious and it can be passed through coughing, sneezing or by touching infected surfaces or people. Most flu outbreaks usually happen in late autumn or winter, and, for most people, it’s an unpleasant but not a life-threatening condition. We will be holding Flu clinics in October – actual dates will be released nearer the time, dependant upon the manufacturers’ supply of the vaccine. Please ring the surgery at the beginning of October for more information and to book an appointment.”

Update Sept. 2018: This work has been delayed – more details here.
Patients at Hodnet Medical Centre may wish to be aware of the following information which has just been posted on the Practice website:

A new telephone system is scheduled to be installed at Hodnet Medical Centre week beginning Monday 30th July. The migration from the old network provider to the new should be completed by 27th August, however it is expected that on our “Go Live” date (27th August) the lines will not be available between 1-3pm. We apologise for any difficulty that you may experience in contacting the Surgery during this period of migration. Thank you

Hodnet Medical Centre’s website carried the following announcement on 18th July regarding the formal closure of the branch surgery at Ellerdine:

Dear Patient/Householder,
HODNET MEDICAL PRACTICE REQUEST FORMAL CLOSURE OF ELLERDINE BRANCH SURGERY
The practice formally applied to NHS England to close the Ellerdine surgery with effect from 31st May 2016. The branch surgery has not actually functioned since March 2008, and remains closed.
To date, we have not been in a position to resume our previous service, but have continued to maintain a weekly drug delivery and repeat medication slip collection service.
Since the branch surgery closed in March 2008, the increasing pressures of general practice, and current problems recruiting and retaining doctors , have resulted in our resources now stretched to a point where we feel unable to resume the previous level of service.
We can offer better capacity at Hodnet, with a larger physical presence, more consulting rooms and good clinical supervision, support and dispensing facilities.
We have followed the procedure required to present and support our application. This has involved consultation with the Patient Participation Group, Parish Councillors, Ellerdine Village Hall Committee, representatives from both NHS England and Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.
Shropshire Commissioning Group has now informed us that they support our application, and the formal closure has taken immediate effect.
Delivery of repeat medication, and collection of repeat request slips will cease with the final date being Thursday 18th October 2018, and from this date it will be necessary to collect your medication from Hodnet. Medical Centre. Similarly, your repeat prescription slips will need to be delivered to Hodnet, unless ordered on line. Please ask at reception if you would like to register to order your repeat medication on line.
Dr N Raichura & Dr J Mehta

Hodnet Medical Centre’s website provides the following information about imminent changes to the provision of out of hours medical help or advice. From 17th July, the NHS 111 service will replace the current out-of-hours GP telephone access service provided by Shropdoc in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. See below for more details:

NHS 111 service to take calls out-of-hours across Telford & Wrekin and Shropshire
From Tuesday 17 July 2018, patients across Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire who need urgent out-of-hours medical help or advice will need to call 111.
The NHS 111 service will replace the current out-of-hours GP telephone access service provided by Shropdoc in Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin in line with national policy to provide a consistent, integrated approach to urgent care; but any patients that need to see a clinician out-of-hours will still be seen by a local GP or other appropriate clinician.
NHS 111 is much more than a helpline – if you’re worried about an urgent medical concern, you can call 111 to speak to a fully trained adviser.
Depending on the situation, the NHS 111 team can connect you to generalist and specialist nurses, or even a GP or pharmacist, and can arrange face-to-face appointments should you need one.
It is free and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
There is also a new ‘ASK NHS’ app that has been designed that provides improved access to NHS 111 and other local NHS services. Advice is delivered by the virtual clinician ‘Olivia’ and she takes you through the steps of the symptom checker which can result in the booking of a GP appointment, access to NHS choices, a call back from a clinical expert or access to self-care.
You can download the ‘Ask NHS’ app via Google Play (for Android phones) or Apple App Store (for iPhones). If you need more guidance on how to download the app please click here
If you are a patient living in Wales you should continue to use the Shropdoc number.