Tuesday 9th February 2010

Swine Flu

If you are suffering with flu-like symptoms, or believe you may have swine flu, DO NOT come to the surgery. Please stay at home and telephone the National Pandemic Flu Service on 0800 1 513 100 (text-phone 0800 1 513 200), they will tell you what you should do next.

Current information on Swine flu (Updated: 6:59 pm Tuesday 1st December 2009)

Assess your symptoms online or find Swine flu antiviral collection points in this area

HPV Vaccinations

New HPV Immunisation Programme

We are running a series of HPV vaccination clinics for girls born between 1^st September 1991 and 31^st August 1993. These clinics have already started. If you have received a letter from us, but have not yet booked your first appointment, please contact the surgery.

The immunisation programme consists of three vaccinations, over a 6-month period. The vaccine helps protect against cervical cancer. You can find out more information at the HPV Immunisation website.

Third HPV Vaccinations

If you are a girl born between 1^st September 1990 and 31^st August 1991 and you received your first and second HPV vaccination in February and March 2009, you should, by now, have been given your third vaccination to complete the course. If you have not yet had your third vaccination, and have not already booked an appointment for this, please contact the surgery and make an appointment as soon as possible. Please note that your third vaccination should not occur earlier than six months after your first. If you are unsure please either ask a receptionist, when you telephone, or ask to speak to a nurse.

Please telephone reception to make a suitable appointment for your third HPV vaccination.

MMR Catchup programme

The Gillies Health Centre is running a series of 'catchup' clinics for children, and young people under 18 years of age, who missed their routine MMR vaccinations. If, according to our records, your child is in this category we will send you an appointment (You may have already received this).

You can find out more about MMR vaccinations at MMR immunisations. For more general information about immunisations visit NHS Immunisation Information.

Cancelling an Appointment

If you need to cancel an appointment you can do this here. Letting us know if you are unable to attend means we can make the appointment available for another patient.

Breast Screening

Women aged 70 and over are entitled to free screening. If you have not been screened for three years or more and would like to make an appointment, please telephone The Breast Screening Unit on 01962 824841.

Women aged between 50 & 70 are automatically recalled for breast screening every three years. We have just been informed of the next date that women registered at Gillies will be recalled; February 2010. You will receive a letter shortly before, inviting you to attend.

Pneumococcal Vaccinations

If you are aged 65, or over, please ask at reception about a free pneumococcal vaccination.