News

We have had an excellent response to our RSV vaccination programme with almost 400 patients vaccinated so far. Those eligible have all been sent invitations and if you are yet to book an appointment, please get in touch with reception this week.

We will be starting our flu and covid combined clinics in early October and it is advised that RSV is not given at the same time where possible. Any patients wishing to have RSV after the flu and covid vaccination, can be booked in at a later date.

Please remember that we order your individual flu vaccines a year in advance, so it helps to support the practice if you come to us to have them. Income from vaccines is then reinvested n the Practice.

It’s that time of year again – a fresh new batch of medical students will be joining us from Newcastle University as part of their training to become doctors. Their education is greatly enhanced by the interactions they have with our patients so thank you so much for your continued enthusiasm and support in that respect. If anyone would be willing to be called upon to come into the surgery to have students practice their skills in talking to and examining patients, I’d be so grateful if you would let me know via email ga84021@nhs.net or by speaking to reception.

Thank you!

Dr Marshall

This year we will see the introduction of the National RSV Vaccination Programme. RSV stands for Respiratory Syncytial Virus. It typically causes mild cold-like viral symptoms, but in some patients it can cause more severe infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

The rollout starts from 1st September 2024, includes a vaccine for pregnant women over 28 weeks to help protect their newborn babies, a routine programme for those over 75 years and a one-off campaign for those aged 75 to 79 years.

Each year in the UK, RSV accounts for around 30,000 hospitalisations in children aged under 5 and around 9,000 admissions in those over 75.

Pregnant women will be vaccinated via maternity services, so please speak to your midwife. Greystoke will be sending invitations to eligible patients in the other groups to book an appointment in early September. RSV vaccine offers protection for a number of years and is therefore not an annual seasonal vaccine. Similar to shingles vaccination, we are unable to vaccinate patients outside the specified groups.

As with all vaccines, we would ask you to cancel your appointment if you feel very unwell or have a fever. Mild viral illness would not require cancellation. Below is a link to the Government guidance for RSV. If anyone requires a paper copy, they will be available at reception. If you have any questions, please contact us via telephone or through our usual triage system. We will ask you to sign a consent form on arrival. The guidance is to not normally give RSV on the same day as covid and flu vaccinations.

Please see links below for information.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccination-for-older-adults/your-guide-to-the-rsv-vaccine-for-older-adults

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-maternal-vaccination/a-guide-to-rsv-vaccination-for-pregnant-women

Covid and Flu Vaccinations

We will be providing covid and flu vaccinations for all eligible patients in October 2024. We would normally start vaccinating adults in September, but the evidence shows that flu normally peaks in December and January and the Government have therefore specified an October start date. The dates of our adult clinics will be Sunday 6th October and Saturday 12th October. Any patients who are unable to attend on those dates will be offered an appointment in our catch up clinics.

We can give both flu and covid on the same day. We order our flu vaccinations a year in advance (we are now ordering for 2025/56 season), so if you are eligible, please try to attend Greystoke for your vaccination as we have already invested in stock for you! The clinics normally run very efficiently and invitations will be sent out shortly.

Schools will operate their usual nasal flu programmes. Children eligible for GP nasal flu will be contacted with an appointment.

The Greystoke Team would like to announce the very well-deserved retirement of Dr Karen Thompson at the end of August 2024. We will miss her absolute dedication and good humour greatly, but we know she has a very active future planned with family, hobbies and travel.

We would welcome you to send us any kind words relating to your care with Dr Thompson over the years. These can be emailed to our Practice Manager at jenniferdollman@nhs.net

These will be included in a book that will be available in reception for patients to sign with well wishes. Please be aware that your contributions will be seen by other patients.

 

Dr Thompson writes:

The time has come to hang up my stethoscope and retire. I have been very lucky and privileged to work at Greystoke Surgery for 24 years and in Morpeth for 30 years, which means I will miss everyone so much.

I have seen a lot of changes, including moving from a fantastic Victorian House as the ‘Old’ Greystoke to the modern premises we are now in with all of it’s services for us to use. I have loved being a GP and hopefully have helped make a difference for some of you during my career, but now it is time for me to do all of those things I have been wanting to take part in over the years. You might see me out on my bike more or possibly on the Golf course if I can somehow manage to get the clubs to connect with the ball.

I know you are being left in very capable hands and I wish every single one (both patients and staff) the very best for the future!

Dr Karen Thompson

With Dr Karen Thompson retiring, we wanted to take the opportunity to introduce you to our new GP Partner, Dr Jamie Willey. Dr Willey writes:

I grew up and trained in Northumberland, Greystoke being one of my GP training practices. I have since worked in a number surgeries locally before moving back to Greystoke in 2024.

I enjoy all aspects of General Practice but have some special interest training in drug and alcohol misuse as well as an interest in Learning Disability and safeguarding.

In my spare time I have a passion for music. I like to keep fit and get out walking with my wife and dog in the Northumberland countryside.

I am very excited to be joining the Greystoke team!