News

This month the practice will commence its spring covid booster campaign. Patients aged 75 and over and patients who are over the age of 18 and immunosuppressed will be eligible to have the vaccine at the practice.  Patients under the age of 18 who are not immunosuppressed will have to arrange their vaccine elsewhere. 

Routine childhood immunisations are given to children at the following ages:

Eight weeks old

Twelve weeks old

Sixteen weeks old

One year old (on or after first birthday)

Three years and four months

For full details of routine childhood immunisations and what vaccinations are given each time please click here

Vaccinations are the most important thing we can do to protect our children against ill health and prevent catching infectious diseases. For more information on childhood vaccinations please click here

If your child is soon to be due or overdue for any of the above vaccinations, please contact the practice to organise an appointment with our practice nurses.

If you struggle to bring your children in during the weekdays the practice does offer Saturday appointments for vaccinations. If you would like to bring your child on a Saturday please contact the practice and we can add them to our waiting list and will then contact when the next available Saturday clinic is set up.

If you do not wish for your child to have a particular set of vaccinations in the schedule or the entire schedule, please let the practice know. If you have already informed the practice this should be recorded already. You will then receive a letter confirming this.

Please note: your children will be invited for any vaccination campaigns outside of the declined schedules for example the current MMR catch up.

If you are new to the country and your children had vaccinations in a different country it is important that you provide a copy of vaccination record to the practice to ensure that your child’s vaccination history is fully recorded and any missing vaccinations can be administered.

Friday 1st December is World AIDs Day. World AIDs Day is a day where people globally stand together to show strength and solidarity against the stigma of HIV and to remember those we have lost. In the UK, more than 105,000 people are living with HIV, globally an estimated 38 million people are. Since the 1980’s an more than 35 million lives have tragically been lost to the disease.

Since the Global epidemic began in the 1980’s medicine has advance meaning that today people with HIV in UK can expect to live a long and healthy life and that we are moving towards HIV transmissions stopping for good.

PrEP has been introduced in recent years and is a medication that reduced chances of getting HIV from sexual intercourse or injection drug use. PrEP is available in Lincolnshire through LISH. For more information on PrEP and to see if you are eligible or wish to access this you can use the link: https://lincolnshiresexualhealth.nhs.uk/about-us/prep-pre-exposure-prophylaxis

Testing for HIV is also easily accessible. Positive Health in Lincoln (situated on Newland) offer free and confidential HIV and syphilis testing. This is available the first Monday of every month between 2pm and 6pm. To book an anonymous appointment you can call them on 01522 513999. For more information you can use the link: https://www.positivehealthlincs.com/help/drop-ins/

From 31st October 2023 all patients are being given online account access to their future, or prospective, full general practice health record including free text, letters and documents.

Patients will see new information once it is entered, or filed, onto their record in the clinical system. Patients will not see their historic, or past, health record information unless they have already been given access to it by their general practice.

This will be made visible to patients through the NHS App or existing GP online services apps that already securely provide patients with access to this health information.

If you would like details to be able to log in to our online services or the NHS app - please contact reception.

The practice's contraceptive procedure waiting list is re-open! 
If you would like to have an implant or coil insertion/removal/replacement please make contact with the practice and we can add you to our waiting list. We will then be in contact with you with an appointment. 

If you currently have a coil and would like it removing you can contact the practice anytime to arrange a routine appointment with our practice nurse. 

For more information on different forms of contraception - please use the link below: 
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception/

Covid Autumn Booster for 5-11 year olds who are clinically at risk

The NHS in Lincolnshire has started to offer the booster for children aged 5-11 in clinical risk groups. These can be booked through the National Booking Services online or by calling 119 to book an appointment. The clinics for these ages will be held at Weighing Rooms vaccination centre, Carholme Road, Lincoln.

Patients are now able to book themselves in for their cervical screenings online. Patients who are eligible and due will receive a text message inviting them to book in for an appointment. This text message will include a link which patients can go on to book in for an appointment at a date and time convenient for them.

Chaperones are available for the appointment if a patient would prefer one. Patients will need to know the date of their last menstrual period for the appointment.

Currently getting prescriptions for HRT?

Did you know you can apply for a HRT prescription prepayment certificate (HRT PPC) through the government website? The cost of this is £19.30 and the certificate lasts for 12 months - meaning you will be saving money if you get two or more prescriptions in a year! The certificate covers a majority of HRT medicines. For full list of eligible medicines and to apply for a certificate use the link below: https://www.gov.uk/get-a-ppc/hrt-ppc

If you are on more more medications than just HRT there is also a link for a prescription prepayment certificate which costs £111.60 for 12 months and covers all prescriptions!

Please note: from Monday 7th August Clinic 7 (Phlebotomy Clinic) at Lincoln County Hospital will not longer be accepting walk ins for blood test. Instead they will be moving to an appointment system. To organise an appointment for a blood test at Lincoln County Hospital you will need to go to https://www.nlg.nhs.uk/services/pathology/ and then follow the link under Blood tests—Lincoln Services. Alternatively, if you cannot book online you will need to call the booking line on 01522 573754. This phone line is available Monday to Friday between the hours of 14.30 and 15.30. 

A county wide support group is available for anyone affected by a secondary breast cancer diagnosis. The group offers peer support in an open and friendly place - somewhere you can just be yourself!

There are guest speakers offering advice on nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, and more. There will also be access to further support through the hospital teams and a chance to make new friends. 

If you would like to join the groups or find out more you can email the service on: sbc.supportgroup@stbarnabashospice.co.uk. 

The meetings are held in Lincoln (St Barnabas Wellbeing Centre, Hawthorn Road, Lincoln, LN2 4QX) and also in Boston (St Barnabas Wellbeing Centre, Novak House, Endeavour Park, Wyberton Fen, Boston, PE21 7TT) between 12pm and 2pm. The upcoming dates are: 

Monday 12th June

Monday 10th July

Monday 14th August

Monday 11th September

Monday 9th October

Monday 13th November

Monday 11th December 

It has come to our attention that patients have been using an email address (sms.brayford@nhs.net) in order to make contact with the practice and send information to the practice. 

We would like to make all patients aware that this email is not a manned email that is checked. This is an email set up so the practice are able to send sms messages to patients. Any emails sent to this address will not be seen or actioned. Similarly, the sms service is a no-reply service meaning if you respond to an sms it will not be received by the practice. 

If you are wanting to send an email to the practice please use the main contact email (LIWCCG.mailbrayfordmedicalpractice@nhs.net). 

This week is National HIV Testing week and Positive Health located across the road from the practice are doing appointments for free and confidential HIV and syphilis testing all this week, between 9.30am and 2.30pm.

To organise a test appointment with them please call the office on 01522 513 999.

How Are You (H.A.Y.) Lincolnshire is a family of websites that bring together everything in the local community that boosts wellbeing.

Connecting with others, getting active, learning a new skill, being creative, seeking professional support, exploring the outdoors, volunteering – all of these things (and more) can improve our wellbeing. However, it isn’t always easy to know what is out there locally or to feel comfortable trying something new.

H.A.Y. is all about helping you look after you. The websites provide not just listings of local activities, groups and services but also video introductions to group organisers and taster clips of what to expect. H.A.Y. aims to support you both finding out what you might like to get involved in and in taking those first steps.

From yoga to singing, sports clubs to arts groups, or perhaps somewhere to talk or get a cup of tea, H.A.Y. brings you ideas of local things to do to get a wellbeing boost. Plus a wide range of local professional support.

How Are You Lincolnshire | H.A.Y. Home (haylincolnshire.co.uk)

The rising cost of living (rising household energy bills, inflation and interest rates) is adversely affecting people’s mental health and wellbeing. Many charities and campaign groups are warning that people on the lowest and lower incomes have been hit the hardest.

We have also heard from you about the impact the rising cost of living is having on people.

As a result, we have started a piece of work to assess the wider health impacts of the cost of living on people and to be able to make appropriate recommendations to health and care services.

Healthwatch Lincolnshire would like to better understand what impact the rising cost-of-living is having on people in our community’s overall wellbeing and ability to access essential health and care services.

Sharing your experiences will help us to identify important issues, and work with the NHS and social care services to improve support for those that need it most. Please do your bit to help yourself and the whole community through these tough times by filling in our quick confidential survey.

To take part in the survey please click on the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/2LKC3HQ

Participating in our short online survey will take about ten minutes to complete or additionally, we would welcome visiting your group to speak to people.  For more information, please contact info@healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk

Copies of the survey in any other format can be requested by contacting us by email at info@healthwatchlincolnshire.co.uk or by phone 01205 820 892. People can also contact us to talk through the questions with a member of the team if they would prefer to do this.

Do you or someone you know think you may have symptoms or signs of any of the following: ADHD, Dementia, Sleep Apnoea?

If yes and you would like this to be looked into – the practice now has pathways in place for this! You can access the pathways simply by contacting reception, filling an eConsult or emailing the practice. We would then send you the information we require from you. This would then be reviewed by a clinician at the practice and we would be in contact with follow up.

Its as simple as that!

Taking part in Veganuary this January? Or undertaking a Vegan diet?

Below is a link with information on how to maintain health eating whilst undertaking a vegan diet - so you continue to have a varied and balanced diet getting the nutrients you need. 

• eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day
• base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates (choose wholegrain where possible)
• have some fortified dairy alternatives, such as soya drinks and yoghurts (choose lower-fat and lower-sugar options)
• eat some beans, pulses and other proteins
• eat nuts and seeds rich in omega-3 fatty acids (such as walnuts) every day
• choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat in small amounts
• have fortified foods or supplements containing nutrients that are more difficult to get through a vegan diet, including vitamin D, vitamin B12, iodine, selenium, calcium and iron
• drink plenty of fluids (the government recommends 6 to 8 cups or glasses a day)

The vegan diet - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Below is a news article from Lincolnshire LMC with regards to Children's Nasal Flu: 

"Analysis by the UK Health Security Agency suggests a nasal spray vaccine that offers protection to children against flu may also help reduce the rate of Group A Streptococcus infections.

The live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) is a nasal spray offered each season to most school-aged children to help protect them against flu (NHS England has also confirmed to GPC England that practices can order more LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine) if required).

The new study looked back at data from the rollout of the nasal flu vaccine from 2013 to 2017, for primary school children in several areas of the country.  UKHSA compared rates of Group A Strep (GAS) infections in the areas where it is was incrementally rolled out to other areas to measure the vaccine’s impact.  The study found that incidence of GAS was lower in areas where the LAIV vaccine was delivered compared to areas where it was not.

In 2 to 4-year-olds, rates of GAS were 73.5 per 100,000 children in areas where LAIV was delivered, compared to 93 per 100,000 children in other areas.  In 5 to 10-year-olds, rates of GAS were 50.3 per 100,000 children in pilot areas, compared to 57.8 per 100,000 in non-pilot areas.

There was no difference in scarlet fever or invasive Group A Strep (iGAS) notifications.

Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, Consultant Epidemiologist for Immunisation and Countermeasures at UKHSA, said: “Our findings suggest that the nasal spray vaccine programme, which offers very good protection against flu, may also help contribute to reductions in the rates of GAS infections among children.  “Children who catch influenza are at greater risk from subsequent infections, including Group A Strep, so these findings provide yet more reasons for parents of eligible children to bring them forward for the flu vaccine.  “This is particularly important at this time when we are seeing unusually high rates of Group A Strep infection across the population.”

The nasal spray flu vaccine given to school-aged children and pre-schoolers has an excellent safety record and has been given to millions of children in the UK and worldwide.

It is not too late for children to get the flu vaccine. Parents/guardians of any reception and primary school aged children who missed their vaccination should contact their local school-aged vaccination service, or ask at their school if you are unsure.

This winter we are offering the vaccine to secondary school aged children from school years 7, 8 and 9 in December and January so if you have yet to send back your consent form it’s not too late.  Parents/guardians of children aged 2 and 3 and children in a high-risk group can make an appointment through their GP surgery."

Loneliness is an issue that can affect us all at any point in our lives – and can feel particularly hard during the festive season. But there are lots of small things you can do to lift someone out of loneliness, and it might help you feel less lonely too. Visit ChristmasTogether.co.uk or search ‘Every Mind Matters / Loneliness’ for more information.

Our PCN pharmacy team are in the process of changing patients brand of Salbutamol reliever inhaler to an equally effective brand containing the same amount of active ingredient - Salamol. The inhaler switch is a way of reducing carbon footprint. 

Message from our PCN Pharmacy team:

"The NHS are working toward reducing the Carbon Footprint by reviewing their prescribing pattern, the document 'Delivering a 'Net Zero' National Health Service' highlights the long-term plan to reduce carbon emissions. 

Metered dose inhalers (MDIs) use hydrofluoroalkanes (HFA) propellants which are potent greenhouse gases, 1000 – 3000 times more potent than carbon dioxide. MDIs account for almost 25% of a GP's prescribing Carbon Footprint. 

Salbutamol (Ventolin) inhalers have more than double the carbon footprint of other Salbutamol MDIs, so we have switched your inhaler to the brand Salamol which delivers the same amount of the active ingredient and works in the same way and requires the same technique to use. Salamol has a much smaller carbon footprint. The container is slightly smaller, but contains the same number of doses, and exactly the same drug, salbutamol. It is likely that your pharmacy may have already dispensed this brand to you in the past. 

If your repeat slip had your inhaler listed under the generic drug name "salbutamol" the pharmacy could dispense either Ventolin or Salamol, with this change the inhaler that will be dispensed will always be the Salamol brand.  

If you would like to reduce your carbon footprint further, replacing with a dry powder inhaler can be discussed at your next asthma/COPD review.  We have taken the decision to not switch to a dry powder at this point as, although the drug component would be identical, dry powders inhalers are not compatible with spacer devices, and also require a different technique to use. 

Please always ensure that you take any used or unwanted inhalers back to your Community Pharmacy for appropriate disposal. Inhalers should not be put into household waste as this allows release of remaining gasses into the atmosphere. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Pharmacy team at the surgery" 

Instead of doing a secret Santa this year, the staff at Brayford Medical Practice are doing a collection to donate to a local food bank. We would like to open the collection up to patients who may want to contribute to our collection, and we will then donate to a local food bank from the practice as a whole. 

If patients wish to donate the collection box can be found in our waiting room and will be there until Wednesday 14th December. Things that can be donated include tinned items (vegetables, fruit, meats, fish, meals, soup); cupboard items (pasta, rice, bakes beans, condiments etc); drinks such as UHT milk and juice; tea, coffee and sugar; biscuits, sweets, crisps; toiletries; sanitary products' baby items' pet food and more.