NEWS ABOUT BLOOD TESTS

A supplier to the NHS has advised us of a global shortage of some equipment we use for taking blood tests.

Anyone who needs a test for urgent health problems will still get one but where your Clinician recommends it’s safe to do so, we may be in touch with you to ask you to come back for a test at a later date, or your appointment may be rescheduled.

Given the nature of the shortage, we cannot give an exact date for when the test will be rescheduled, but please be assured that if your condition or symptoms require it, then you will get a test, and we will be re-booking your test when supplies become more easily available.

If your condition or symptoms change or get worse, please contact the NHS as you would normally.

Vaccinations for 16 - 17 year olds

We are aware that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation has recommended the extension of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to 16 and 17 year olds. We are awaiting further guidance from NHS England on when the programme will commence and how the vaccinations will be administered to this age group.

Please do not contact your GP – eligible young people will be contacted when the programme commences to advise on the next steps.

Online Services

Now we have the new IT system installed at the Practice Patient Access no longer works as it is not compatible. The NHS app can be downloaded or an alternative to Patient Access is available called systmonline. Please email the Surgery rather than phoning at HARDCCG.DrAkesterPractice@nhs.net if you would like setting up for this and we will respond as quickly as we can. Thank you for your patience.

We have been receiving a lot of calls today from patients who have received a letter about covid vaccination asking them for lots of personal information, including their bank details.

We would NEVER ask for your bank details. We have informed the police about this, but would be grateful if you could share the information about this scam far and wide to protect patients and also allow our phone lines to not be overrun with these queries.

Please send any examples of such letters to report@phishing.gov.uk

Thank you

We regret to inform you that for the time being the surgery will not be open on Saturday mornings. Extended access has currently been suspended across the Harrogate and rural area until a coordinated plan is in place which ensures the safety of patients and staff. We will be contributing to any coordinated solution for the benefit of all patients. Though extended access has reduced we have significantly altered our service in many ways to increase capacity across the week. 

We are really pleased to have set up an effective telephone service and are now able to offer video consultations. We will also be rolling out text messaging. If you would like to receive blood results etc. by text then please let staff know at the time of request. We also hope to soon provide a facility for online non-urgent queries so watch this space! 

Thank you all as ever for your understanding and support.

All at Dr Akester & Partners

We currently have plenty of availability for a telephone appointment with our local physiotherapy team.



If you are struggling with a muscular or joint injury, or low back pain, and think you would benefit from their advice please call the surgery to make an appointment with them. They are not seeing patients face to face - but it is amazing how much can be done to help start improving things, even at a distance!



There is also a website full of useful tips and information that might be helpful.



https://www.harrogatehealthhub.co.uk/

Contact Details

Kirkby Malzeard Surgery

The Holroyd Surgery
Main Street
Kirkby Malzeard
Ripon
HG4 3SE

Tel: 01765 658298
Fax: 01765 658846

Masham Surgery

The Surgery
Market Place
Masham
Ripon
HG4 4DZ

Tel: 01765 689317
Fax: 01765 689993

Email: Hardccg.drakesterpractice@nhs.net

Please note this email is not to be used for medical queries. Thank you.

Yorkshire Health Network Extended Access

Extra appointments are being provided in the evening and at weekends from premises in Harrogate and Ripon, making it easier for you to get an appointment at a time that suits you. The service is an extension of your GP practice and offers pre-bookable, routine primary care appointments with a range of clinicians including, GPs, nurses, pharmacists and healthcare assistants.

Click here to download an information leaflet about this service (PDF, 179KB)