Note: when you submit an eConsult, an initial response from us will not necessarily mean an appointment or telephone call with a GP.  We will review your request and contact you to explain the next steps.

-  econsult 

        

Easter Bank Holiday Pharmacy Opening Hours - 2024

Good Friday – 29 March

Boots Newport - tel 752908: 10am – 4pm

Day Lewis Carisbrooke - tel 525216: 10am to 1pm

 

Easter Sunday – 31 March

Boots Newport - tel 752908:  2pm – 5pm

 

Easter Monday – 1 April

Boots Newport - tel 752908: 10am – 4pm

  

Boots at Cowes Medical Centre – 7 March 2024

Boots are closing their pharmacy at the medical centre Friday, 8 March 2024.  They have sold their business to Jhoots pharmacy who are yet to confirm when next week they will be up and running.  We also do not yet have any information about their opening hours.

To ensure our patients who have nominated Boots-Cowes as their preferred pharmacy can get their medication during this transition, we will send prescriptions to the 'cloud'.  Having your prescription sent to the 'cloud' means you can go into any pharmacy and ask them to download your prescription and fill it.  You will need to have your NHS number with you to do this.

Boots will transfer any patients who have nominated Boots Cowes as their preferred pharmacy to Jhoots Cowes.  You can of course decide to change your preferred pharmacy.

The pharmacy, be that Boots or Jhoots, is an independent business which just happens to be in the same building as us - the Practice was not involved in this process, nor has any influence over it.  Any concerns or compliments about the pharmacy service should be directed to the pharmacy.

  

Covid Vaccination Clinics – update 19 Jan 2023

 

For those eligible, this will be the last opportunity to have your COVID vaccinations this winter.

 

St Mary’s are running a clinic for children that are eligible for a Covid Vaccination on the 22 January 2023 at Children’s Outpatients, North Hospital between 8am – 11am.  Parents will need to phone the HIOW Covid Helpline on 0330-561-0018 to book an appointment.   

 

There are also walk-in clinics with the option to have your blood pressure checked and get New Year healthy lifestyle advice. Clinics are taking place across the Island:

 

Ventnor Town Council - Town Hall, The Green Room  - Town Hall, 1, Salisbury Gardens, Dudley Rd, Ventnor PO38 1EJ

Thursday 18 January              Clinic Time 10:00 - 13:00

Sandown Town Council - Town Hall - Sandown Town Council, Town Hall, The Broadway Centre, 1 Broadway, Sandown PO36 9GG

Monday 22 January                Clinic Time 10:30 - 13:30

Freshwater Sports Centre - Freshwater Sports Centre, Moa Pl, Freshwater PO40 9XH

Tuesday 23 January                Clinic Time 10:30 - 14:30

Newport PAN Together - Newport PAN Together, Downside Community Centre, Furrlongs, Newport, PO30 2AX

Wednesday 24th January       Clinic Time 13:00 - 16:00

Cowes The Apex, St Faith's Church - The Apex, St Faith's Church, St Faith's Rd, Cowes, Isle of Wight PO31

Thursday 25 January              Clinic Time 10:30 -13:30

Wootton Community Centre Association - Wootton Bridge Community Centre, Brannon Way, Wootton Bridge, Ryde PO33 4NW

Monday 29 January                Clinic Time 13:30 - 16:30

  

 Christmas & New Year opening times – 15 December 2023

Friday 22 December 2023      -   Normal working hours

Monday 25 December 2023   -   Closed

Tuesday 26 December 2023   -   Closed

Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 December 2023   -  Normal working hours

Monday 1 January 2024       -     Closed

Tuesday 2 to Friday 5 January 2024 - Normal working hours

eConsult:

The Practice will not be accepting eConsult requests from:

5pm on Friday 22 December to 8am on Wednesday 27 December 2023

5pm on Friday 29 December to 8am on Tuesday 2 January 2024

If you need urgent help or advice, please contact NHS 111.  If you have a medical emergency, please call 999

Pharmacy:

Open Christmas Day:  Day Lewis - High Street Carisbrooke 10am to 1pm

Open Boxing Day:  Boots Newport 10am to 5pm

Open New Years Day: Day Lewis - High Str Newport 10am to 1pm

  

Diabetes UK – 15 December 2023

Diabetes UK have a helplineonline forum, information about local support groups, and loads of other useful resources. 

Diabetes UK is also arranging a Zoom meeting for patients, on the 23 January 2024 at 6.30pm titled ‘Diabetes and the Menopause’. To join register at: https://diabetes-menopause-2023.eventbrite.com

      

Shingles vaccination programme – from 1 September 2023

Individuals from 70 to 79 years of age who have not received the shingles vaccine before are already eligible for the shingles vaccine and they remain eligible up to their 80th birthday.

Severely immunosuppressed individuals aged 50 years and over who have not received the shingles vaccine before are now eligible.

From 1 September 2023, NHS England is changing the routine age for the shingles programme from routinely offering vaccination at 70 years of age, to routinely offering vaccination at 60 years of age.  This change is being phased in over 10-years:

  • During stage 1 (1 September 2023 to 31 August 2028) the shingles vaccine will be offered to those turning 70 and 65 years of age.
  • During stage 2 (1 September 2028 to 31 August 2033) the shingles vaccine will be offered to those turning 65 and 60 years of age.

Thereafter, from 1 September 2033, the shingles vaccine will be offered routinely to all individuals at 60 years of age.

For more information on why not everyone is eligible at the same time click on the link:  Why you may have to wait for your shingles vaccine - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

   

Free webinar for patients on staying well during cold & flu season – 19 September 2023, 12:00 - 13:00

Join us for a free on-line event on the 19th.  It will be packed full of information on winter wellness, with expert advice from a GP, Dietitian, Health & Wellbeing Coach, Medicines Optimisation and Public Health.

Click on this link to book a space:  

Let’s talk about… Staying well during cold & flu season – Newport Health Centre

  

Covid and Flu vaccination appointments – 31 August 2023

We are now offering the autumn Covid-19 vaccinations and annual flu vaccinations to our eligible patients.  There are over 5,000 eligible patients so we will be offering appointments across many weeks.

Please look out for text messages which enable easy direct appointment booking.  You can have both vaccines at the same time if you are eligible for both. 

If you do not have a smartphone, please call the Practice and select option 4 to make a booking.

  

Autumn Flu & Covid vaccination eligibility– 31 August 2023

Vaccination remains the best way to stay protected against flu and Covid-19.  The Autumn programme is an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness, or caring for those who are, to keep their immunity topped up.   

NHS England has now confirmed that the flu and Covid-19 Autumn booster programme will run from 11 September with the aim to complete this by 15 December 2023.

  

You are eligible for BOTH Covid and flu vaccinations if: you turn 65 years by 31 March 2024, or are immunosuppressed or their close contact, or in a clinical risk group aged 12-64, or a carer*.

 

You are eligible for COVID-19 booster vaccine if you are:

- Residents in a care home for older adults

- All adults aged 65 years and over

- Aged 6 months to 64 years in a clinical risk group,

- Frontline health and social care worker, or staff working in care homes for older adults

- Aged 12 to 64 years who are household contacts of people with immunosuppression (The Practice does not provide appointments for under 16 years as this is a separate service on the Island)

- Aged 16 to 64 years who are carers (*in receipt of carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person)

   

You are eligible for just a flu vaccine if you are:

- pregnant women

- all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2023

- primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6) – this will be provided in-school

     

August Bank holiday opening times - 28 August 2023

Monday, 28 Aug 2023        -  Closed for the Bank Holiday

Tuesday, 29 Aug 2023       -   Open

Wednesday, 30 Aug 2023   -  Open

Thursday, 31 Aug 2023      -  Open

Friday, 1 Sep 2023            -  Open

   

Friends of Cowes Medical Centre event - 21 July 2023 

Join the Friends for a coffee morning, Friday, 21st July 10.30am at Meda, Medham Farm Lane, Northwood, PO31 8PH.  Donations in support of  the Friends of Cowes Medical Centre charity.  There is also the opportunity to purchase individually produced pottery.

   

Abbott FreeStyle LibreLink App - 17 July 2023 

NHSE advise that there appears to be a problem with the Abbott FreeStyle LibreLink app, which monitors glucose levels in DIABETIC patients.  The problem appears to have started after an update to the LibreLink app, which is specific to some Apple iphones in the UK.  The Android version is not affected.

Customers experiencing issues with the iOS app should uninstall and reinstall the app.  For further advice contact the Customer Services team on 0800 170 1177 or visit the website:  https://www.freestyle.abbott/uk-en/iphone.html

  

If you are still having problems with the app or if the readings do not seem appropriate, you should revert to the finger prick test for checking blood sugar levels.

   

Spring Bank holiday opening times - 24 May 2023

Monday 29 May 2023       -  Closed for the Bank Holiday

Tuesday 30 May 2023      -   Open

Wednesday 31 May 2023  -  Open

Thursday 1 June 2023      -  Open

Friday 2 June 2023          -  Open

  

Cervical screening results delayed by approx 8 weeks - 17 April 2023 

Unfortunately due to operational issues with ongoing sickness and vacancies within this Pathology team, the turnaround times for cervical sample results has been affected. These results will be delayed by approximately 8 weeks. They are working closely with NHSE and SQAS to implement a recovery programme in order to reduce the current backlog.  The team apologises for this delay.

      

Older Persons Good Living Show 22 April 2023 10am-4pm

At Ventnor Botanic Gardens.  Free entry, including free entry to the gardens.  Stalls and information from social groups, care and support services, health & wellness on living well in later years.

    

High levels of sickness - 3 April 2023

We continue to experience extremely high levels of sickness across our GPs, ANPs and Patient Advisers.

We apologies as this is severely impacting our service for our patients and will do so up to the Easter weekend.  Please bear with us, we are doing the best we can in very difficult circumstances.

     

High levels of sickness - 30 March 2023

We are experiencing high levels of sickness across our GPs, ANPs and Patient Advisers.

We apologies as this is severely impacting our service for our patients.  Please bear with us, we are doing the best we can in very difficult circumstances.

  

Easter opening times - 30 March 2023

Monday 3 April 2023        -  Open

Tuesday 4 April 2023       -   Open

Wednesday 5 April 2023  -   Open

Thursday 6 April 2023     -    Open

Friday 7 April 2023          -   Closed

Monday 10 April 2023      -   Closed

Tuesday 11 April 2023      -  Normal opening hours until 1 May Bank Holiday

  

Elderly & Immunosuppressed to be offered spring Covid booster jab - 30 March 2023

As directed by NHS England, the Covid-19 spring booster programme will run from 17 April to 30 June, with care home residents being vaccinated as a priority.

The Practice will offer patients aged 75 and over a spring booster jab, along with care home residents and anyone over 18 who is immunosuppressed.  We will post an update on our website when we are informed of the arrangements for immunosuppressed children.

We are setting up Covid spring booster vaccination clinics and will be in touch with eligible patients from 5 April onwards.  This will take a number of weeks as there are over 2,000 eligible patients.

Vaccination remains the best way to stay protected against Covid-19 and the spring booster provides an opportunity for those who are at highest risk of severe illness to keep their immunity topped up.   

    


Healthier Together: Improving the health of children and young people in Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of WightAdvice and guidance during pregnancy and for parents of 0-18 children - 27 January 2023

https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/

The resources on the Healthier Together website have been developed in partnership between parents and healthcare professionals from across Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. You'll find clear information on common  illnesses, including advice on what serious 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what you should do to keep your child comfortable and how long symptoms are likely to last.

   

Friends of Cowes Medical Centre - Annual General Meeting:

Wednesday 25 January 2023 at 2.30pm. 

To be held at the West Chapel, Northwood Cemetery. 

Doors open at 2pm.  Light refreshments supplied.

 

Christmas and New Year opening times - 15 December 2022

Friday 23 December 2022          -        Normal working hours

Monday 26 December 2022        -        Closed

Tuesday 27 December 2022        -       Closed

Wednesday 28 December 2022   -       Normal working hours

Monday 2 January 2023              -       Closed

eConsult:

The Practice will not be accepting eConsult requests from:

5pm on Friday 23 December to 8am on Wednesday 28 December 2022

5pm on Friday 30 December to 8am on Tuesday 2 January 2023

If you need urgent help or advice, please contact NHS 111.  If you have a medical emergency, please call 999

 

A new look for eConsult - 12 December 2022

The eConsult site will soon be getting a new, cleaner look, with a simplified template selection journey. You’ll see these changes take effect after 16th December.

  

Scarlet Fever/Strep A - 7 December 2022

Dr Ranj has made a helpful video on signs and symptoms for Strep A/Scarlet fever click on this YouTube link to view it: (6) What you need to know about Group A Strep (scarlet fever)… - YouTube

If you think you or your child may have Strep A or Scarlet fever please do not hesitate to call us, or if you have difficulty getting through call NHS 111.  We are experiencing a high number of calls and eConsults about this - we do understand your call/enquiry is important. 

   

Responding to increased demand – 7 December 2022

We have increased the number of appointments to respond to the outbreak of scarlet fever/Strep A – we are providing 40 to 50 appointments a day to see these patients, whilst also doing our best for all our other patients who need us.

  

Message from St Mary’s Hospital blood testing service - 4 November 2022

Blood testing service relocation

If your blood test has been requested by a hospital clinician, you will be attending St Mary's Phlebotomy Department to have your bloods taken.

Our blood testing service has now moved to North Hospital. Head to our blood service website page for more information. 

  

Covid and Flu vaccinations - 26 October 2022

We are now offering the autumn Covid vaccination and annual flu vaccination to our eligible patients.

In line with Government guidelines we are working through the age groups.

We are currently taking vaccination bookings for those aged 50 and over. 

Please look out for text messages which enable easy direct appointment booking.

If you do not have a smartphone please call the Practice and select option 4 to make a booking.

  

Covid and Flu vaccinations - 5 October 2022

We are now offering the autumn Covid vaccination and annual flu vaccination to our eligible patients.

In line with Government guidelines we are working through the age groups.

We are currently taking vaccination bookings for those aged 65 and over. 

Please look out for text messages which enable easy direct appointment booking.

If you do not have a smartphone please call the Practice and select option 4 to make a booking.

   

Practice Closure on 19 September 2022

The government has confirmed that Monday, 19th September will be a bank holiday, and NHS England has given permission for GP Practices to close.

Out of respect for her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and to enable our staff to observe this sad day, the Practice will be closed on Monday, 19 September.

If you need assistance when we are closed please call 111, or 999 for a medical emergency.

The Practice will reopen on Tuesday, 20 September.

 

Covid & Flu Vaccination Information - 5 September 2022

Eligible patients can have a free NHS Covid vaccination and a free NHS flu vaccination here at Cowes Medical Centre, with our experienced clinical team.

Our vaccination clinics are due to start at the end of September and are expected to run to the end of the year.  We are scheduling a series of Saturday clinics to deliver most of the vaccinations.

The initial supply of the new Autumn Covid Booster vaccine is limited across all vaccination providers - we are therefore prioritising in the first instance the over 80’s, and care home residents, then the over 75s, as directed by NHS England.

Our vaccination clinics for patients 50 to 64 with no long-term health condition are due to start from mid-October as directed by NHS England.

To ease pressures on our telephone system, we are texting updates to those patients who can receive these and using alternative means of communication for those that can’t.

It is safe to have both vaccines at the same time, and you can let the clinician know in your vaccination appointment if you would like one or other, or both.

 

Autumn booster eligibility:

  • residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults
  • frontline health and social care workers
  • all adults aged 50 years and over
  • persons aged 5 to 49 years in a clinical risk group
  • receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
  • live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

 Note:  Must be at least 91 days since their last Covid vaccination and 28 days from when you last have Covid (if you are aware)

 

Flu Vaccinations eligibility:

  • are in long-stay residential care
  • frontline health or social care worker
  • are 50 and over (including those who'll be 50 by 31 March 2022)
  • have certain health conditions
  • are pregnant
  • receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
  • live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

 Note:

  • We will give nasal flu vaccinations to 2 to 3 year olds
  • School aged children who are eligible will receive their vaccination at School

                 

Prescriptions - 30 March 2022

The Health Minister, Edward Argar, has confirmed that there are no plans to change the cost of prescriptions from 1 April 2022 - so they remain at £9.35.

       

Infection Protection & Control Measures - 24 February 2022

We have been advised that both patients and staff should continue to wear face coverings in health and care settings.   Therefore all staff and patients will need to continue to wear a face covering to keep staff and other patients safe.

         

Free NHS Food Scanner app  - 2 Feb 2022

NHS Food Scanner app

 

Online booking form for Maternity Services – 1 Nov 2021

See 'USEFUL CONTACTS' in the side bar for full information or click: 

https://www.badgernotes.net/SelfReferral/CareLocation/SHIP

    

New telephone system - 5 August 2021

We are pleased to announce that our new telephone system is going live today (5 August).

There may be some disruption during the transition from the old system to the new system, and please bear with us whilst we are getting used to a sophisticated new system.  You will now hear an options message once your call is connected, this will help to ensure that you speak to the appropriate person as quickly as possible. 

    

Major milestone reached as 2 million COVID-19 vaccines delivered across Hampshire and Isle of Wight - 17 June 2021

A major milestone has been reached in the local delivery of the COVID-19 vaccination programme with 2m jabs delivered across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  Latest official data published today (Thursday 17 June) shows that 2,068,810 doses of the vaccine had been delivered locally by the week ending 13 June. 

To date more than 91% of adults aged 30 and over have received their first COVID-19 jab and the vaccination programme continues to roll-out at pace across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.  The milestone has been reached just six months since the launch of the biggest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS.

Anyone aged 21 and over is invited to make an appointment to receive the vaccine by contacting the National Booking Service at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or by calling 119.  Text invitations appear as an alert from 'NHSvaccine', including a web link to the NHS website to make a booking.

         

4 February - new:  Find your NHS number - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

     

NHS England - Advice on how to access GP services:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXHPWbEmp5s&feature=youtu.be

  

eCONSULT - IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Please note any digital image submitted as part of an online consultation, will be stored within your clinical notes.

                                                                   Picture_of_surgery_building_001.jpg

Antibiotics don’t work for everything: antibiotics don’t work for colds or flu because they’re viral infections. https://www.nhs.uk/Video/Pages/antibiotics-dont-work-for-everything.aspx

 

Urgent Care Service:  Anyone needing to see a GP, Monday to Friday between 8.00am and 6.30pm should contact their local GP PracticeAnyone who feels they have an urgent care need out of hours and at weekends should call the NHS 111 service.

(Site updated 25/03/2024)
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