Immunisations

Helping patients with IMMUNISATIONS to get the best out of the NHS 

This web-site is about helping you to understand how you can get the best out of the practice and other resources. Terms highlighted in RED are key words that you should find in your own medical record. Staff are highlighted in BLUE. Equipment is highlighted in GREEN.

You may ask why?
The most recent patient survey has shown that patients want to be able to see the clinician sooner (ie less than 2 weeks) and on time (ie not have to wait an hour for a scheduled appointment) and feel that all their concerns have been met. It has been independently confirmed that the practice already offers more appointments than the average to its patients.

So how can we meet the demand?
Being prepared for the consultation greatly helps as does recognising the length of the appointment slot and helping the clinician to stay within the time limit. 

You may ask how?
There are some simple steps that are essential for you to understand that will help you on your journey of discovery for your health and well-being:

1. What is this about?
   This is about showing you how to check whether you or your child is up-to-date with your immunisations and any issues you may have that you wish to consider.
2. What does that condition mean?
   Here are some links for immunisations that you may wish to see:
   • NHS Choices:
   • Summary info:
   • NHS Immunisation:
   • MMR: the facts
3. What help is available for you to use?
   Immunisations are primarily given by the nurses.
   Nurse Practitioner Appanah is our nursing lead on immunisations and has a great deal of experience although al our nurses are trained and run immunisation clinics. The doctors are also available to answer any further questions or concerns that you may have but we recommend that you speak to the nurses first and see the above websites for any specific information.The health of you and your loved ones are our primary concern.
4. What does immunisation mean for you?
   It is important that you get yourself and your children immunised before they succumb to a potential life threatening condition. Viral illness and non-specific rashes are quite common particularly in childhood. Knowing you or your child has been immunised significantly reduces the risks of them contracting a severe illness which could affect them for the rest of their life or even lead to their death. We are aware that a number of our patients in the at risk group have not been immunised and consequently the risk of a problem arising is high. We are trying our hardest to encourage you to get vaccinated. It is important you heed this advice whilst you and your loved one is well.  This information should be in your GP-held record for you to see.
5. What needs to happen now and in the future?
   • Look at the websites above that give the immunisation schedule and check if you have had all the ones that you need.
   • Think about the issues that are raised on the websites before the time comes for  you or your loved one to be immunised.
   • If you have any issues or are not sure about the immunisations, then discuss it with the nurse first or the doctor if you are still not happy.
6. What can you do to help?
   As this is a new way of working, it is worth discussing this with the nurse to see how this can be done the first time you decide to take control.
   • Get access to your GP-held record. Without knowing what is in your records and what you need to do, it will be very hard to know what to do when and with who. This is an essential first step for anybody with any condition or who wants the best from the practice.
   • It is important to understand where you are getting information about immunisations. Not all opinions are equal. We are here to help you to understand what is right for you and your child.
   • Look at the web page – pre-consultation care – and go through it prior to your review with the clinician. This can help us to understand your needs better and what you want out of the consultation. You may wish to print out specific aspects of the material you have read and maybe even give it to the nurse or doctor to see prior to the consultation so that we also have time to understand the issue and how best to respond to it. Understanding your needs is key to a successful outcome of the medication review. See the above mentioned websites to help you to understand what your needs are. Initially you may need the clinician to help you understand how to look at the websites and what they mean for you.
7. How are we doing?
   The Quality Outcomes Framework was set up so that practices can look at how successful they are in delivering services to their practice population and also give an opportunity to see how we compare with others around the country. This data is readily available from here (www.qof.ic.nhs.uk/search.asp). Overall we got 996 points out of a maximum of 1000 last year indicating that we are a very high performing practice across the board which is reassuring for you and us. Whilst immunisation is not part of the Quality and Outcomes Framework, we still have a duty to ensure all our at risk patients are immunised. As you can see from the table below, we are not doing well in certain categories. Any help you can provide to help us ensure everybody is immunised will be greatly appreciated. This is an area where we need your help to ensure everybody stays healthy and leads a normal life.
   
8. How can you help us do even better and help other patients too?
   This is very important. In your journey of discovery about your health, you may come across odd things that do not make sense about the way the practice runs and you may have a better suggestion. Or you may come across something new that we have not considered that helps you even more. Tell us about it next time you see a clinician or preferably write it down and hand it in or send it as a comment to the Patient Participation Group (PPG) so that they can bring it up with the practice the next time we meet up. Even better, why don’t you join the PPG and become an active member. We are always on the look out for new members and new ideas.

We often seen young babies and children with non-specific rashes. Occasionally we come across a child with a rash who has not been immunised. That causes a great deal of fear for the parents as well as the clinician trying to treat them. And what about the pregnant mother who has been sat in the waiting room or on the bus next to that child that may have measles. What about the unborn baby inside the mother and what risks they might have through no fault of their own. This may be only one child but do you really want that child to be yours or that of your loved one? Get access to your GP-held electronic health records and check that you are up-to-date with your immunisations – you never know it might save your life one day!

Most importantly,  by working together and understanding each other’s needs better, we can help you to get the best out of the practice and the wider NHS.