Noticeboard

Chastleton Mission Statement
At Chastleton, our mission is to provide the highest possible standard of care to all of our patients.

Out of Hours
If you require urgent attention or advice, telephone 111. If possible, have a pen and paper handy.

Test Results
Please could you telephone the surgery for your results on 0191 3846171 between 2pm and 4pm Monday to Friday.

Named Accountable GP
All patients now have a named accountable GP who is responsible for patients overall care at the practice. If you wish to know who your named accountable GP is, please ask at reception. Please note that although all patients have been allocated a named accountable GP, patients are able to see any GP they like and are not restricted to the GP they have been allocated.

We Teach Medical Students
We are a teaching practice for Sunderland University medical students and are proud to be involved in training tomorrow's doctors. As a result, students may lead or observe your appointment. If you would rather not see medical students, please inform reception. Your care will in no way be affected by this.

Job Vacancy - Registered Vaccinator Roles

Dear all,

The Covid-19 vaccination program has progressed at rather breakneck pace over the last 11 weeks or so. In February alone the 3 practices gave in excess of 8000 vaccines – both Pfizer and AstraZeneca from Brandon Lane vaccination site and practices such as Chastleton. We have depended on the enthusiasm and dedication of our existing medical and nursing staff, working voluntary overtime well into the evening, on days off and at weekends.

At the same time, the workload in the practice has continued unabated and certainly from April all other services and contracts will be expected to be delivered in full. However, at the same time, the vaccination program continues to expand, with more population covered, 2^nd doses scheduled, the possibility of booster doses at some point in the future and of course, the next flu vaccination program is about 6 months away now!

Its clear that the program is unsustainable with our current workforce and we would like to recruit and train a workforce of additional registered staff (nurses, doctors, and other registered healthcare staff) to help us deliver the ongoing Covid vaccination programme. These staff might be recently retired, part-time, or simply willing to work some additional hours in evenings or weekends. The role would be pretty flexible with either zero hours or a minimum number of contacted hours as suits the individual. The term again is quite flexible again to suit the applicants.

Because we work predominantly under PGDs, staff do still have to be registered with a regulatory body or re-join the temporary register of their professional body for the duration of the program.

There is some mandatory training –mostly around CRP, anaphylaxis, immunisation and the specific covid vaccination program. Its all online through electronic learning for health. It might take a few hours (3-4 in total) I’m afraid. You would need to complete what’s called a core competency assessment which we would go through together. We would of course provide practical training too.

If you are able to join us in helping us continue to deliver the COVID-19 vaccination programme we would be delighted to hear back from you by email to NDUCCG.a83036-eds@nhs.net.

Attached is a formal job description and person specification.

Thank you,

Dr Clifford

Vaccinator JD & PS

Update - 16th March 2021

Response to COVID-19 Vaccine Oxford-AstraZeneca media reports

The UK Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe, have said that evidence DOES NOT suggest that the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab is linked to blood clots.

People should still go and get their COVID-19 vaccine when asked to do so.

Zero Tolerance

Please be kind. Abuse towards staff at Chastleton will NOT be tolerated. Remember it is not okay:

To raise your voice
To physically threaten
To swear or intimidate

At Chastleton, our staff come to work to care for others, and it is important for all members of the public and our staff to be treated with courtesy and respect.

In line with the rest of the NHS and to ensure this is fully observed, we support the NHS Zero Tolerance Policy. This means that aggressive or violent behaviour towards our staff or any member of the public within our Practice premises will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Where unacceptable behaviour occurs, either in person or over the telephone, a letter will be sent from the Practice Manager advising that this behaviour will not be tolerated.

Any future violation of this policy will result in removal from the Practice patient list.

We feel sure that you will understand that proper behaviour is absolutely necessary for our staff and patients and that non-observance will not be accepted.

#pleasebekind

Visiting the surgery

If you have been invited to attend the surgery by one of our clinicians we ask that you wear a face covering (that covers both your nose and mouth) to help protect yourself, other patients, our clinicians and other staff members.

The safety of all is of paramount importance to us.

Thank you.

Coronavirus and Travel Plans

The surgery is currently receiving a lot of requests for travel cancellation forms from people who want to cancel their trips due to the risk of contracting coronavirus.

Please Click Here for advice from the Foreign Office regarding travelling to specific areas of the world. Depending on your specific travel insurance policy, most insurance companies will cover cancelled trips to countries to which the Foreign Office advise not to travel. No certificate from your GP is required.

In addition, please be advised that the surgery is unable to provide letters or certificates to travel insurance companies supporting requests for refunds by patients who, without any significant medical illness, cancel their travel insurance.

Armed Forces Veterans

Chastleton Medical Group are looking to actively improve the care provided for Armed Forces Veterans. Please let the Doctor or Receptionist know if you are a veteran. Please follow the link for more information.

Priority NHS Treatment for Veterans

Evening & Weekend GP Appointments

Need to see a GP in the evening or weekends?

GPs in central Durham are working together to offer extra GP, Nurse and Health Care Assistant appointments from 6.30pm to 9pm on weekday evenings as well as Saturday and Sunday. This service is based at Meadowfield Surgery and is only accessible by appointment.

Contact the surgery to book an available evening or weekend appointment.

(Site updated 16/03/2021)