New Reading University Students

Welcome to all new students joining in September 2021. It is really important that you register with a GP when you start university.

Our staff will be at the university to help you register with us during Welcome Week.  You will find us in Palmer Building and around campus - look out for our purple tops and hoodies.

We will be on campus from the 16th to the 23rd of September or visit our student page for online registration

Register online (students only) via the pre-registration link

FLU SEASON 2021-22

There is a flu clinic on Saturday the 25th of September. Due to the type of vaccine and amount we have received, texts and letters are being sent out to patients in the eligible cohort.

Please don’t ring us to book a flub jab appointment unless we have contacted you by text or letter – we will be in touch with eligible patients as soon as we receive the vaccine. Once you have received a letter or text from us, please book online via Patient Access. If you do not have access to this, call us on 0118 9874551 after 10am.  Anyone calling to book before 10am will be asked to call back after that time to allow the reception team to book patients for on the day appointments with clinicians.

Patients eligible for a free NHS flu vaccination include:-

• Patients aged 50 years and older (age on 21 March 2022)
• Patients aged 6 months to 49 years in clinical risk groups (those with chronic conditions such as respiratory disease, heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, neurological disease, diabetes, morbid obesity)
• Immunocompromised/immunosuppressed patients and their household contacts
• Children aged two or three years on 31 August 2021
• Pregnant women
• Carers for those who may be at risk
• Patients with a learning disability
• Frontline health and social care workers

Please click here for more details about the flu vaccination programme 

Achieving a high vaccination uptake will be an important priority this coming autumn to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with influenza and to reduce hospitalisations during a time when the NHS and social care may gain be managing winter outbreaks of Covid-19.

We do not have any information on Covid booster vaccinations at this time

Instructions on arrival for your flu vaccination clinic

• There will be no parking on site due to the larger than usual clinics, please park elsewhere or use the on-street parking where possible
• Come wearing a face mask if you are able to wear one
• Do not come for your appointment if you have any Covid symptoms and please give us notice if you are unable to make it so we can allocate your appointment to another patient
• Have your sleeve rolled up ready for vaccination

Staying safe when visiting your GP surgery

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination status for travelling abroad

For all enquiries about obtaining proof of your Coronavirus vaccination status, please click here for information on how to request this.

Do not contact your GP surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your COVID-19 vaccine record.

Click here for many Covid vaccine FAQs

Click here for information about the NHS Covid pass

For any requests for letters to bring forward Covid vaccinations to less than 8 weeks, we are unable to provide these unless it is for medical reasons. If this applies, call the Covid message line on 0118 2148243.

COVID 19 VACCINATION CLINICS

Please read the information on the Covid 19 vaccination programme here.

Instructions for arrival at the University Medical Practice for your vaccination

We do not have any further clinics for first doses, please book online or call 119. Please do not phone the main practice number as they will be unable to assist with these enquiries. Any queries about existing Covid 19 vaccination appointments, please telephone 0118 2148243 and leave a message and you will be contacted within 2 working days by the practice.

Patients visiting the practice for other appointments

Dear patients

To ensure the practice is Covid secure we need to ensure the following:

- there is 2 metre distancing between staff and patients (except during a clinical examination)

- face coverings are used where possible

When you ring the bell at the University Practice you will be asked a series of Covid safety questions. You will be offered a seat in the downstairs or upstairs waiting rooms depending on where the clinician is working. However if they are fully occupied you will be asked to wait outside until one is free.

When you ring the bell at the Whitley Villa surgery the same applies regarding the downstairs waiting room.

Priority seating will be given to the old and frail.

You can also choose to wait outside for your appointment if you prefer.

In light of this, please do not arrive early for your appointment and please wear suitable outdoor clothing in case all the seats are occupied and may need to wait outside for your appointment.

Patients booking telephone appointments on-line

The clinicians will always try to contact you at the booked time but please be aware that this may be up to 2 hours after the time slot booked due to the current situation.  Do not call the practice to chase your appointment until 2 hours after the appointment time have passed.  We apologise for any inconvenience and that you for your patience at this time.

If you have a pre-booked appointment, please ring the bell and you will be spoken to via the intercom by the receptionist.

Please do not come to the surgery to collect a prescription as they are sent electronically directly to pharmacies.

Please do not attend the practice to make an appointment, instead please call 0118 9874551.

If you have an urgent medical need, please contact the surgery by phone on 0118 9874551. If you are unable to get through, call 111 or if it is an emergency, call 999

DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY WITHOUT CONTACTING US BY PHONE FIRST

Please ask for your prescriptions to be sent electronically to the pharmacy of your choice to avoid needing to come to the practice in person.

Do not visit the practice without calling beforehand and being advised you can do so.  Do not come to the practice to ask questions of our staff on the front door, this is an unnecessary risk to staff and to you.  Any necessary questions, please email or phone the practice.

These steps have been taken to reduce footfall and to protect all our patients.

Link to useful information for patients 

Link for vulnerable people in Reading https://www.reading.gov.uk/coronavirussupport

Link for vulnerable people in Wokingham http://citizensadvicewokingham.org.uk/coronavirus/

STOP!

Do not enter the medical practice if you think you have been in contact with coronavirus.

The latest Coronavirus information for members of the public can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public

Minor Illness Appointments​

Doctor's appointments are available for more complex, ongoing conditions only.

For minor illness appointments, for conditions such as a chest infection, urinary tract infection, tonsillitis, sinusitis etc please call the surgery on 0118 9874551 to arrange an appointment with a member of our minor illness team.  Please note that our appointments are monitored to ensure they are booked in with the appropriate clinician.  If you book an appointment with a doctor and the condition is deemed to be minor illness, we will make every effort to contact you to advise you when your appointment has been re-booked with one of our highly trained clinicians but please bear in mind, that we may not always be able to contact you to let you know we have done this before you arrive for your appointment.

GP Online Service

Have you tried out the new facility for online health advice via Patient Access? Patients can check symptoms and be signposted to web-based information about their condition. The Online Health Advice feature gives access to a wealth of medical information including articles and videos.

By filling in a simple health enquiry form, patients can read information on how to treat their symptoms and what to do next. The form will then come through to the surgery who will review the information provided and respond within 48 hours. If the information provided by the patient indicates an urgent need for medical attention, they will be directed appropriately.

How does it work?

Sign into or register for Patient Access at www.patientaccess.com. Search for your symptoms or condition and select the results that match.

Read through the relevant health information and guidance tailored to your results. Once you’ve read the advice, if you still need help, submit the details through the online form and a relevant staff member at the surgery will review it.

They will then advise if you need to contact elsewhere (999, NHS 111 or your pharmacy) based on your symptoms.
  

We are confident that our website will provide clear and concise help and give our patients the information they require in an easy and convenient format. It has been designed with the patient’s needs at the forefront of everything, from checking surgery times to letting us know what you think of us.

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Serving You

Our dedicated team are here to treat those minor ailments that occur as well as providing specialist management of long-term conditions and clinics covering a wide range of healthcare issues. The technology also means you can now do a lot of things from the comfort of your home such as order a repeat prescription or cancel an appointment.

Partners in Care

Once registered, patients and healthcare professionals work together to ensure the most appropriate care is provided. This partnership philosophy extends even further and our active patient group exists to make sure that patient needs and the practice offering are always heading in the same direction.

Practice Leaflet

Download our practice leaflet here