Appointments are still available on evenings and weekends if you need one; that’s the message from local GP surgeries as children head back to school across Wakefield. Simply call your GP practice number as usual, and your call will automatically go through to GP Care Wakefield, Wakefield’s evening and weekend GP service.

GP Care is staffed by local GPs and nurses and is open for same-day appointments and advice every Monday to Friday, 5pm to 9.30pm, Saturdays 9am to 5pm, Sundays 9am to 1pm and on bank holidays, 9am to 3pm. Outside these times, call 111 or 999 for life-threatening emergencies.

Children who could benefit from extra support to manage their symptoms this winter may also be referred to a new children’s observation hub after their appointment. Staffed by local GPs and nurses, the hub team helps parents and carers monitor their child’s symptoms safely at home, providing advice, assessments and reassurance by phone, video and in-person to avoid unnecessary hospital trips and help youngsters get better at home.

If you are the parent or carer of an ill child eligible for care in the hub this winter, your GP or nurse will give you further information at your appointment.

The NHS wants to give people better ways to see their personal health information online. We know that people want to be able to access their health records. It can help you see test results faster. It also lets you read and review notes from your appointments in your own time.

We’re now letting you see all the information within your health record dated from 31st October 2023 onwards. If you are over 16 and have an online account, such as through the NHS App, NHS website, or other GP online services and apps, you will now automatically be able to see all future information entered on your medical record. Some people can already access this feature, this won’t  change for you.

This means that you will be able to see records from your appointments, as well as test results and any letters that are saved on your records. This only applies to records from your doctor (GP), not from hospitals or other specialists, although you will be able to see any letters that hospitals or specialists send to your doctor (GP). You will only be able to see information from31st October 2023. For most people, access will be automatic, and you won’t need to do anything.

Your doctor (GP) may talk to you to discuss test results before you are able to see some of your information on the app. Your doctor (GP) may also talk to you before you are given full record access to make sure that having access is of benefit to you. If you are concerned that seeing your records is not right for you, you should speak to your practice.

These changes only apply to people with online accounts. If you do not want an online account, you can still access your GP health record by requesting this information via reception. The changes also only apply to personal information about you. If you are a carer and would like to see information about someone you care for, speak to reception staff.

The NHS App, website and other online services are all very secure.  You’ll  need to make sure you protect your login details. Do not  share your password with anyone as they will then have access to your personal information.

If you do not want to see your health record, or if you would like more information about these changes, please speak to your GP or reception staff. You can also read more by going to www.nhs.uk/gp-record.

Help keep yourself and the people you care for safe this autumn and winter. GET YOUR FLU VACCINATION.

Please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment.

Those eligible for NHS free flu vaccine in 2023/24 are:

– Those aged 65 years and over

– Those aged 6 months to under 65 years in clinical risk groups

– Pregnant women

– All children aged 2 or 3 years on 31.08.23

– Primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)

– Those in long-stay residential care homes

– Carers in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person.

– Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

– Frontline workers in a social care setting without an employer led occupational health scheme.

The Covid-19 Autumn/Winter vaccination campaign has now come to an end. However, if you are newly diagnosed as being immunosuppressed or are pregnant, you may still be eligible for a vaccine. Therefore, please contact the surgery on 01924 668977 so we can advise further.

For further information on COVID-19 vaccinations please visit: www.westyorkshire.icb.nhs.uk/covidvaccination

Extra appointments available at evenings and weekends

Did you know you can now book same-day and routine appointments on evenings and weekends through Wakefield Districts’ GP Care Wakefield service?

Lupset Health Centre works with other practices in West Wakefield to provide these extra appointments from a number of sites across the district. Staffed by local GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals, you can get:

• Same-day appointments for urgent issues
• Routine GP appointments
• Routine nurse appointments
• Dressings and clip removals
• Blood tests
• ECGs
• Long-term condition reviews
• Cervical smears
• Spirometry
• B12 injections
• Repeat contraception reviews

Locations

To keep up to date with any information regarding GP Care Wakefield, please follow this link to Conexus Healthcare website https://conexus-healthcare.org/#

FAQs

Is this part of the NHS? Yes, GP Care Wakefield is an NHS Service provided by Conexus Healthcare on behalf of all primary care networks and practices across Wakefield District.

How is GP Care Wakefield staffed? By clinical and practice staff who work in the local area.

Will GP Care Wakefield have access to my medical records? Yes, clinical staff who work in GP Care can access your record to provide the safest care. You will be asked to consent to share your records if this isn’t already in place and notes from your GP Care Wakefield appointment is available to your own GP.

Why is Lupset Health Centre not running this service? GP Care Wakefield is an additional service to complement existing GP services at our practice. By running the service from convenient locations across the district, staff from local practices can sustainably provide these extra appointments and offer you a wider range of services.

I have an appointment with GP Care Wakefield but can’t make it. If you need to cancel your appointment, please call your GP practice number as usual and speak to the reception team.

I prefer to see a female doctor, can I request this? Yes, you can request this, however, they cannot always guarantee this.

What is I need a referral or scan? GP Care Wakefield can order scans, tests, prescribe electronically, and make referrals to the hospital and related services if you need them.

I have feedback or a complaint about the GP Care Wakefield Service. Please get in touch with the GP Care Wakefield team. By knowing about the problem, they can try their best to solve it straight away for you.

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