Watling Street Primary Care Network News

Flu Vaccination Programme

Watling Street Practice has started its Flu Vaccination Programme in line with NHS England guidelines.

Who Can Get the Flu Jab?

From September 2024:

- Pregnant women

- Children aged 2-3 (as of 31 August 2024)

- Primary & secondary school children (Reception to Year 11)

- Children in clinical risk groups (ages 6 months to 18 years)

From October 2024:

- Adults aged 18-65 in clinical risk groups

- Residents in long-term care homes

- Carers & close contacts of immunocompromised individuals

- Frontline social care workers

Starting in October 2024, we’ll offer Saturday clinics (9 am-5 pm) at our Great Holm site. Weekday clinics are also available across our locations.

We will be contacting housebound and care home patients in due course to arrange their vaccinations.

If you've had your flu jab elsewhere or wish to decline please make the surgery aware.

Stay healthy and get vaccinated!

RSV Vaccination

The RSV vaccine offers protection against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common virus that can cause severe illness in infants and older adults. It is recommended for pregnant women and adults aged 75 to 79.

RSV is a frequent cause of colds and coughs, and most people will contract it several times throughout their lives. While it often clears up on its own, RSV can sometimes lead to more serious conditions, such as pneumonia or bronchiolitis.

If you're eligible for the RSV vaccine and haven't received an invitation, please reach out to us.

For more information, visit: www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/rsv-vaccine/

Living Beyond Cancer Support Group

Thank you to the all patients who joined us for the Living Beyond Cancer Support Group event on 12th September 2024. We truly appreciate your time and we hope you found the resources and discussions helpful.

A big thanks to our Guest Speaker Mitch (Macmillan Consultant Late

Effects Radiographer), Beauty Therapist Natasha for the wonderful hand massages, The Cock Hotel and Dr. Field for all your support. Your contributions made the evening more special for everyone who attended!

We're excited to announce that our next Cancer Care Drop-In is on 25th September, with more details to follow in due course.

Warm regards, Anne and Julie.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Fair

Watling Street Primary Care Network recently participated in a Mental Health and Wellbeing Fair at Long Meadow School. Our team hosted a stand where we promoted our network and informed attendees about the various services we offer to patients.

The event showcased a wide range of services, giving us the opportunity to explore and learn about the offerings available for patients throughout Milton Keynes. Here are a few services we found particularly important to share with everyone:

• Mind BLMK supports young people with mental health issues across Milton Keynes. They have a Young Person’s Sanctuary, which is a safe and inclusive space where you can drop in and chat 365 days a year. No referral is required. To find out more, call 0300 330 0648 or email yps@mind-blmk.org.uk.

• MK Wellbeing Service is a new early intervention provision for young people in Milton Keynes with mild to moderate mental health issues. MK Wellbeing offers a safe and confidential space to discuss mental health and wellbeing. This can be delivered in person, online, over the phone, or at school. Please email cnwl.mkwellbeingservice@nhs.net to find out more.

• More Life offers a free weight management programme to any child above the 91st percentile on the growth chart. The focus of their groups is on maintaining a healthy lifestyle rather than on weight loss, while also making new friends and enjoying fun activities centred on healthy living. For more information or to book a place, call 0808 208 2340 or email morelife.bedsmk@nhs.net.

• Could it be Menopause? Menopause Support has created an essential guide to navigating menopause successfully. You can download your own copy at menopausesupport.co.uk.

Thank you to everyone who visited our stand and spoke with us. We look forward to attending many more events in the future!

MMR Vaccinations

Measles spreads very easily among those who are unvaccinated, especially in nurseries and schools. It can be a very unpleasant illness and, in some cases can lead to hospitalisation and sometimes can cause death. Vaccines are our best line of defence against diseases like measles and help stop outbreaks occurring in the community.

We are calling on all parents and carers to make sure their children are up to date with their 2 MMR doses. You can check if your child is up to date with their MMR vaccines, by either looking in their Child Health Record (PCHR) or red book, or you can contact your GP practice. You can also check your vaccination records on the NHS App.

We will send a text message to eligible people that have an incomplete MMR vaccine course inviting them to a clinic for vaccination. All vaccinations will need to be booked in advance. Please do not turn up to the GP practice directly requesting an MMR vaccination.

The MMR vaccine is free on the NHS, whatever your age.

Mind BLMK- Young Person’s Sanctuary

Mind BLMK are launching a Young Person’s Sanctuary in Milton Keynes.

Please see details below:

Mind BLMK is delighted to be working collaboratively with CAMHS and Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) in Milton Keynes to provide crisis services for young people in need of mental health support.

The sanctuary is launching at CAMHS Eaglestone Health Centre, Standing Way, Milton Keynes MK6 5AZ on Wednesday 24 January, where it will then operate every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 5pm and 10pm, as well as on Saturdays between 4pm and 10pm.

Mind’s Young Person’s Sanctuaries are safe, non-judgemental spaces where young people can come if they find themselves in crisis or mental distress in the evenings. There is no need to call ahead or book an appointment. If you are aged 14-17, simply drop in and you will be met by a trained youth mental health professional who will listen carefully and help identify ways to address the problems you are facing. The teams will also be able to refer and signpost to other services if required.

For more information about the Milton Keynes Young Person’s Sanctuaries, please visit:

Mind BMLK- Young Person's Sanctuary