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Meningitis Information
We are aware of the recent meningitis B (MenB) outbreak in Kent and understand this may be worrying for parents. The MenB vaccine was introduced into the routine NHS childhood vaccination schedule in September 2015 and is given to babies at 8 weeks, 12 weeks and 1 year of age.
This means that children born before mid-2015 will not routinely have received the MenB vaccine unless they were in a specific clinical risk group. MenB vaccination is not part of the school-based immunisation programme, so older children and teenagers are not usually vaccinated.
In most cases, children born after this date will have been offered the vaccine as part of their routine childhood immunisations, and if your child is up to date with these, they are likely to have received appropriate protection in line with current NHS guidance. Please see link to NHS Guidance here - Meningitis - Vaccination - NHS
The NHS does not offer the MenB vaccine outside of the routine programme or specific clinical risk groups, so we are not able to provide it on request. Some families may wish to explore private vaccination options.
Any changes to the national immunisation schedule or additional vaccination recommendations will be communicated to GP practices by NHS vaccination services, and we will contact eligible patients directly if required.
A patient helpline run by UKHSA is now available; Patients can call 0344 225 3861 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm if they have no symptoms but are concerned they have been in contact with a confirmed case or have a general enquiry. If your child is unwell or you are concerned about symptoms, please seek urgent medical advice in the usual way.
To provide exceptional, professional, patient centred healthcare that improves the health and wellbeing of our patients.
WEIGHT LOSS INJECTIONS
The NHS will shortly be allowing GPs to prescribe weight loss injections, but there will be very strict criteria for the first cohort and unfortunately the majority of our patients will not be eligible for several years. The criteria is:-
A BMI of 40 or more PLUS 4 of the following medical conditions:-
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol)
Cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart attack, angina, peripheral vascular disease)
Obstructive sleep apnoea
Type 2 diabetes
PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT US ABOUT THESE REQUESTS, we will identify the patients who meet the criteria and contact them directly to ask if they would like to consider it.
For further information please visit the ICB website:- Weight Management :: Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System
NHS Symptom Checker.
Sometimes it’s better to seek medical help, especially if your problems are persistent or are getting worse - but it’s always good to know what to do and where to go to try and manage your health without contacting your GP practice.