Today we have another guest post from the team over at the Simpson Centre which highlights two things - how much hard work is going on, much unseen and how not everyone is being as thoughtful during these trying times... Read the update below ...
The Simpson Centre and Penn Surgery have been working hard over the last 12 months to provide the best service we can, in spite of the challenges and limitations due to COVID-19. The surgeries have remained open throughout (although the waiting rooms have not) and we continue to offer pre-bookable and a large number of urgent/on the day appointments.
We have run our biggest ever flu vaccination programme and are now (alongside neighbouring practices) running a COVID vaccination programme at Adams Park. This has been very successful to date, to the point that we have already begun to send invitations to priority group 8 (those aged 55-60). To minimise the impact on our regular service the vaccination programme is largely being staffed by regular staff on their days off, retired members of the team and volunteers.
As other vaccination centres have begun to come online in recent weeks, the pace has increased further and some of our patients may find that they have received invitations for a vaccine from several different sources.
In spite of this, we understand that lots of people have had and will continue to have concerns about their own specific situation and feel that they should have the vaccine sooner. We have tried to adhere to the government guidelines regarding vaccine priority as closely as possible.
Second vaccine doses will be arranged 11-12 weeks after the first dose. Typically we only get a few days’ notice before vaccine deliveries so we cannot give out second dose appointments until the week before they are due. Everybody who had their first vaccination through the practice will be contacted by text or telephone call to be invited for their second.
With all of this going on, the volume of queries and calls that the practice receives is extremely high. We are doing our very best to deal with this increased workload but at times this has been very difficult and we recognise that it has been difficult to get through to the practice and that the waiting time to speak to a doctor is longer than usual.
Generally, people have been very understanding about the pressures we are working under but this has not always been the case and we would like to take this opportunity to remind people that we are all working very hard and appreciate your continued support.
From the Partners.