WE WILL BE CLOSED FOR STAFF TRAINING ON WEDNESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY 2025 FROM 1PM

With patients' needs at the heart of everything we do, our website has been designed to make it easy for you to gain instant access to the information you need. As well as specific practice details such as opening hours and how to register, you’ll find a wealth of useful pages covering a wide range of health issues along with links to other relevant medical organisations.

Christmas and New Year Opening

The surgery and dispensary will be open as usual apart from the bank holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.

New Dispensing IT System

November saw the introduction of a new dispensing IT system which is designed to enhance safe prescribing.  As with any change there is a period of learning and this system is no different. Our prescribing clinical staff, our dispensary team and you, the patients, are all having to adapt to the new process.  The system connects to both our clinical system and the national spine providing an audit trail from the point a medication is prescribed or requested to the point of issue in dispensary or at a pharmacy.

The system benefits our patients who we are unable to dispense to due to their physical address.  This system electronically sends their prescription to their nominated pharmacy without the need to come and collect a physical prescription.  It also benefits our dispensing patients who go on holiday and need a prescription sent to a phamarcy whilst they are away.

The system also complies with NHS England's focus to increase the use of the NHS app (and other online access portals) as it is simple for patients to submit repeat medication requests through the app.  For patients who don't have online access to their record yet, repeat medication requests can continue to be sent by email to kmicb.prescriptionswoodchurch@nhs.net or written requests can be put into the post box.

As part of the NHS's drive to be more sustainable and green a repeat slip is no longer routinely printed and put into your prescription bag saving both paper and ink.  However, if you are unable to use any of the above options to request your medication, please ask for a 'right hand side' to be printed when you collect your prescription which you can tick and put in the post box as previously.

NB there is a built-in messaging system that should notify you when your prescription is ready, however there are some gremlins within.  We apologise to the people that received multiple messages and have opted out of this until we know it is working properly.

Difficulties with Medication

If you experience difficulty taking your medications, please make the dispensary team aware.  They can arrange a referral to the Community Medicines team who will come out and assess your individual requirements.

***FLU AND COVID VACCINES***

We have now held our scheduled flu and Covid clinics for the Autumn booster campaign.  We do still have a small amount of adult flu vaccine available.  Please ask the nurse during your appointment if you would like one or book in with reception.  We no longer have Covid vaccines available so if you're eligible you will need to book here:  Book, change, or cancel a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online - NHS.

***RSV VACCINES***

We are NOW BOOKING eligible patients for RSV vaccines.  Please contact reception to book.  We will also be inviting patients by self-booking text message.  Details of the vaccine are available here: RSV guide for pregnant women and here: RSV guide for older adults

Proof of Covid Vaccine Status

Please see Covid-19 Vaccines tab.

Mental and Physical Well Being

Of course we’re not just here for when you are unwell. Our team of healthcare professionals and back-up staff offer a number of clinics and services to promote good health and wellbeing whatever your medical condition.  This is a website which provides links to getting local help, mental wellbeing support and staying active: http://www.connectingashfordrural.co.uk/

Change to Weekend Urgent Care Service and Minor Injury Provision - November 2020

Following a change in national policy, the minor injury service and the rural weekend service (held at Tenterden and Hamstreet surgeries) have been stopped by the CCG as of 31st October 2020.  A new Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) will start on 1st November at William Harvey Hospital and has been set up to deal with minor illnesses and minor injuries which would normally have been dealt with at this surgery.  it will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week including bank holidays.

From 1st November, appointments for the following minor illnesses (out of hours) and minor injuries (at all times) will be dealt with at the UTC and appointments should be booked by calling 111.

The service will deal with:

Strains and sprains, skin infections and rashes, eye problems, coughs and colds, feverish illness in adults and children, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, emergency contraception, suspected broken limbs, minor head injuries, cuts and grazes, bites and stings, minor scalds and burns, ear and throat infections.

Any complaints, queries or concerns about this change in service provision should be directed to Kent & Medway CCG: kmccg.ek.urgentandemergencycareteam@nhs.net.

For any other health issues which are not included in the above list, please continue to contact the surgery in the normal way either by calling reception or by submitting and eConsult via the practice website.

Join In

We hope you enjoy having a look around the site and familiarising yourself with some of the online features such as ordering a repeat prescription. Whatever your thoughts, be sure to let us know via our feedback function. Comments and suggestions are always a great way of helping us continue to enhance the way we look after you.

Access

There is good wheelchair access to the surgery but should you experience any problems please discuss this with our receptionist.

Click here to access the Health Help Now app.