September sees the start of our Flu Vaccination program. We encourage those who are eligible for a free NHS flu vaccine to take up the offer (patients aged 65 and over and eligible patients at high risk, e.g., with certain long-term health conditions).

If you are aged between 18 - 64 Please check your eligibility status on the NHS website here before you book as we are only able to vaccinate those patients that meet the eligibility criteria.

The flu vaccination is also available to pregnant women, carers and frontline health and social care workers or those who live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to weakened immune system. Children aged 2 and 3 will be eligible for vaccination at the surgery, children in primary school will be vaccinated through the school programme. Usually children aged 2 – 17 are offered the vaccine as a nasal spray.

Special arrangements are made for patients who are housebound or in residential or nursing care homes.

Covid-19 vaccinations will also be offered at the flu vaccination appointment to patients aged 65 and older, pregnant patients and those patients that are immunocompromised.

How to book your appointment

• Text messages will be sent out to all eligible patients with a mobile number on record with a booking link during September.
• For those patients aged 65 and over who do not have a registered mobile number with the surgery, please telephone us after 2 p.m. on 01373 830316 or 01373 464731.
• In person at Reception desk in Fromefield or Beckington Surgery.

*Please note if you are not eligible to have a free NHS flu vaccination but would like to pay privately for one, this can be done at some pharmacies which you would need to organise yourself.

The A36 Warminster Road will be fully closed between Limpley Stoke and Monkton Coombe from 10am, Monday 12 August 2024 til spring 2025.

Please plan ahead, follow the signed diversions, and leave plenty of time for your journey to the surgery.

For further information from National Highways click here.

IMPORTANT!

AUTOMATIC REPEAT PRESCRIPTIONS VIA A COMMUNITY PHARMACY WILL NO LONGER BE POSSIBLE

Reasons for the change in the way prescriptions are being managed in Frome

We hope that the change in the way patients request repeat prescriptions will improve patient safety. When patients are responsible for ordering their own repeat prescriptions, rather than relying on a local community pharmacy to do it for them automatically, it increases their understanding of the medications they are taking and is safer for patients.

Patients of the Beckington Family Practice will need to request repeat prescriptions in one of three ways, all of which many patients have been using for some time now.

Patients can:

submit their request via the NHS App/Patient Access

submit their request via the Beckington Family Practice website https://www.beckingtonfamilypractice.co.uk/prescriptions

drop a copy of their paper repeat prescription into the reception desk at Fromefield or Beckington surgeries

Support available to patients who need help with using NHS app or online form

The change will be fully implemented from 31st July 2024, we are encouraging patients to start managing their own prescription requests from now. This gives patients the chance to download the NHS App if they aren’t already using it or to try the online prescription request form, available on the practice website. It also means patients have time to get help with either of these options, if needed.

Patients can attend digital health drop-in sessions for:

Help with downloading and using the NHS App

Setting up linked profiles (also sometimes called Proxy Access) on the NHS App, which is particularly useful for family or friends who support patients with their prescription requests

Using the online prescription request forms available on our website

The digital cafe takes place every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. in the cafe at the Cheese & Grain. No appointments are needed but patients are asked to bring their mobile phone or tablet with them if coming along to one of these sessions

Local community pharmacies around Frome will stop accepting repeat prescriptions from 31st July but any that are already in circulation will be accepted by the practice until 30th September to give the new system time to take effect.

Some pharmacies may however choose to stop providing this service before these dates.

OPENING HOURS

PLEASE NOTE FROMEFIELD SURGERY NEW OPENING HOURS WITH EFFECT FROM 1^ST JULY 2024

FROMEFIELD SURGERY

OPENING HOURS

  8.30 A.M. - 6.00 P.M.

Telephone lines closed between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.

ST LUKE’S SURGERY

(ST LUKE’S SURGERY OPENING HOURS REMAIN UNCHANGED)

OPENING HOURS  

 8.30 A.M. - 6.30 P.M.

Telephone lines closed between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.

ST LUKE’S DISPENSARY

OPENING HOURS

9.00 A.M. - 1.00 P.M. and 2.00 P.M. - 6.00 P.M.

Telephone lines closed between 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m.

We are closed between 6.30 p.m. and 8.00 a.m. and also during weekends and bank holidays, if you require medical assistance during these times please dial 111

In an EMERGENCY dial 999

Please note with effect from 1st March 2024

There will be a £10.00 (cash only) fully refundable (on return) charge
for the loan of a blood pressure monitor.

Due to high demand please return the monitor as soon as possible.

Thank you for your co-operation.

MANAGING YOUR REFERRAL

(for patients who have created an NHS login)

Receiving your first appointment request information by Email

You are now able to receive your first outpatient appointment request information via email, instead of the traditional letter. This email will come from e-RS, not the GP practice email. It is sent to the email address registered when you created your NHS login (for more information click on creating an NHS login click here). This makes it easier and quicker for you to securely access your digital health and care services with one username and password. 

You will receive an email with a link which will take you to an NHS login screen to enter your access details. Once you have successfully logged in, you will see your home page for MYR (Manage your referral) where you can book or manage your appointment. Should an appointment be unavailable you can still put the request in, and the provider will contact you when an appointment is available.

The wearing of a mask in the surgery is now optional, however we suggest you wear one if you have respiratory symptoms.

Please speak to a member of the Reception Team if you need one.

The latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that scarlet fever cases continue to remain higher than we would typically see at this time of year.

For further information regarding Strep-A and Scarlet Fever from Public Health England click here.

Dr Sara Bridges offers words of advice and guidance on knowing the signs of Scarlet Fever and Group A Strep, and what to do if you are worried.

Please click on the following link to watch the video. Here

Or alternatively, click on the following link to the NHS Somerset Parent Zone web page for more information: Here

A new service to help you be seen more quickly via your local pharmacist for treatment of minor conditions

We have introduced a new, same-day, GP community pharmacy consultation service to help you receive quality care and support for minor health conditions, more quickly through accessing care via your community pharmacist.

It is estimated that 1000 GP appointments have already been freed up by the new Community Pharmacy Consultation Service.

For more information on the Community Pharmacy Consultation Service, visit our website