As you know, the national Covid-19 vaccination programme is now underway. This information is designed to give you an overview of plans for vaccinating priority groups, as well as information about:
- Covid-19 testing in Liverpool
- Using NHS services over the festive period
- Flu vaccinations
Covid-19 vaccinations
Groups of GP practices in Liverpool are starting to invite people over 80 to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.
From this week vaccinations will be offered from a number of local hubs, with GP practices working together to provide the service.
The majority of these centres will be based in existing GP practices, but each one will be vaccinating eligible patients from across their local area – not just patients registered to their own practice. Together they will deliver vaccinations for eligible patients from all of Liverpool’s 85 GP practices.
Vaccinations will not be offered on a drop in basis. All eligible patients will be contacted direct (either by phone or letter) when it is their turn, with an invitation to attend a vaccination appointment and details of where to go.
You do not need to contact your GP practice or any other NHS organisation to request a vaccine.
The advice for protecting yourself and others around you continues to be to follow all of the latest government guidance, and remember: Hands, Face, Space.
- Wash hands – keep washing and/or sanitising your hands regularly
- Cover face – wear a face covering in enclosed spaces (if you are able to)
- Make space – stay at least 2 metres apart from others
You can find more information about the vaccine, including answers to a range of frequently asked questions at: www.nhs.uk/CovidVaccine
Covid-19 testing in Liverpool
In addition to the five existing Covid-19 testing hubs in Liverpool, there will be some extra testing pop-up sites operating during December and January at the following sites:
- The Town Hall
- Liverpool One
- Croxteth Park
- Dingle One Stop Shop
- Kirkdale One Stop Shop
- Old Swan One Stop Shop
All of these sites offer drop-in testing for anyone with NO symptoms – there’s no appointment needed, just turn up. But don’t forget to take your mobile phone, if you have one, and a face covering. We want everyone to get tested regularly, before everyday activities like shopping, or going to the hairdressers or gym, to help us reduce the spread of Covid19 and get life going again.For a full list of local testing centres and opening times, please go to:www.liverpool.gov.uk/
Getting health advice and treatment over Christmas
It’s important to know where to go if you need any health advice or treatment over the Christmas holiday period. During bank holidays, when GP practices will be closed, you should contact NHS 111 in the first instance – unless it’s a medical emergency. NHS 111 will direct you to the most appropriate local health service, which could include an out of hours GP, a local Walk-in Centre, a pharmacy, or a hospital Accident & Emergency (A&E) department. If you’re assessed as needing hospital care, you’ll be given a booked time slot at A&E to reduce waiting times and ensure you are safely socially-distanced from other patients. However, you should still dial 999 in a medical emergency, such as a suspected stroke or heart attack.
Don’t forget that there are also lots of things you can do to help prevent illness over Christmas, such as making sure that you order any repeat prescriptions you might need early so you don’t run out of medication, visiting your pharmacy for advice on home remedies, and getting your free flu vaccine as soon as possible if you’re eligible for one.
For treatment and advice for minor illnesses and injuries you can also still access a Liverpool Walk In Centre by calling 0300 100 1004 to pre-book an appointment. You can find the opening times and more information on Walk-in Centres here. You can also visit a local pharmacist for advice or treatment for a wide range of minor winter illnesses and ailments too. Many offer longer opening hours – including over evening and weekends. You can find the full Christmas opening times for local pharmacies here.
Other useful websites:
- Help with coronavirus symptoms- www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
- Information about local testing – https://liverpool.gov.uk
- More NHS advice on how to stay well over winter – www.nhs.uk/staywell
Have you had your flu vaccination?
Getting the flu vaccination is still one of the best things you can do to protect your own health and the health of your loved ones this winter. Anyone in one of the following groups is eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine this year:
- Pregnant women
- People aged 50+
- Those with long-term conditions eg. diabetes, asthma or other respiratory conditions
- Those living in residential care homes or other long-stay care facilities
- Those in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or the main carer of an older or disabled person
- Those with a learning disability
- All health and social care workers (via their employer)
- Anyone who was previously on the government’s Shielded Patient List, and their other household members
If you are eligible and you haven’t yet had your flu vaccination, please contact your GP practice or local pharmacy now to make an appointment and get protected.
Health Survey for BAME community
Cheshire & Merseyside Health Care Partnership, in collaboration with NHS England, Public Health England and Champs Public Health Collaborative is leading a new piece of research looking to develop an in-depth understanding of the impact COVID-19 has had on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities across the region. The Partnership is inviting people from all BAME communities to take part in this important health and wellbeing survey, which you can access online here: https://www.
The survey, which can be translated and provided in other formats if required, will run until the third week in January, with all completed versions being entered into a prize draw to win one of 20 x £50 Amazon vouchers. Please share this opportunity to participate with others too.
We’d like to take this opportunity to wish you a happy and healthy Christmas time.
From all at NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group and me, Emma.
Published On: 21st December 2020
