We are pleased to announce that our flu vaccination clinics are now live and open for bookings. To book your flu vaccine appointment, please phone 07775 152 573, or 07585 258 623. Please note that these numbers are for booking flu vaccine appointments only.

Each year the NHS prepares for the unpredictability of flu. For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery generally within a week.

When are our Flu clinics running?

Clinics will run every Saturday starting the 19th September 2020 and we will also run clinics on Wednesday mornings from the 7^th October. There will be different time and date options available depending on what cohort you are in.

Important Patient Information

*** MUST BE READ PRIOR TO ATTENDING FOR YOUR FLU VACCINATION ***

Coronavirus COVID-19 has meant that we have to carry out flu clinic a little differently this year.

 Advice to patients will be as follows:

• If you are unwell or have a fever or coronavirus symptoms, you must not attend
• Patients to attend on their own where possible
• Please wear a face covering
• Do not bring any belongings with you as you will need to stand.  There is a small amount of seating for those who have limited mobility.
• Attend in light/easily removable clothing
• You will be asked on entering to remove your outer coat to reveal a bare top of an arm ready for your injection.
• Please ensure you have used the toilet before attending for your appointment as ours will be out of action on the flu clinic day.
• Please inform us at the time of booking if you have any mobility problems so that we can accommodate your needs, as you may need to be able to stand for at least 10 mins and negotiate a step on exiting the building.
• DO NOT arrive more than 5mins before your appointment time.
• You will be checked in by a receptionist at the front door no longer than 5mins before your appointment time. If you arrive too early you will be asked to wait in your car.
• On checking in you will be asked to stand on a marker to maintain social distancing in the waiting room. There will be limited chairs available.
• We will be operating a one way system, so you enter via the normal surgery door but then exit via our side doors. This has a step up so you will need to be able to negotiate a step. This is to stop traffic of patients passing each other and to keep everyone safe.
• There will be no ‘Turn up on the day’ allowed. Appointments are bookable via telephone.
• Walk to the practice if you are able to, there will be a small amount of parking spaces available for limited mobility only.  If you do need to drive, please be considerate of others.  There will be a car park attendant on site to manage this.
• Due to the restraints our staff will not be able to help with anything other than the flu vaccine on these days. Please do not ask our staff to get letters, prescriptions, sample bottles or anything else unrelated to your flu vaccine.

PLEASE REMEMBER: NO APPOINTMENT, NO FLU JAB

Please note people in the 50-64 years old age group (that DO NOT already fall into an 'at risk group') will not be vaccinated until at least November 2020 providing there are sufficient vaccines.  This is to ensure that patients who are at most risk are vaccinated first.  We therefore CANNOT vaccinate anyone in this cohort until we receive this further guidance.  We will update you as soon as we can.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Eligibility for flu vaccination at Coleridge Medical Centre:  

• Aged 65 years and over.
• Children 6months-2years in a clinically 'at risk' group (injection).
• Children aged 2 and 3 years on 31 August 2020 (nasal)
• Children 4-17 in a clinically ‘at risk’ group (nasal)
• Living in a long-stay residential care home or another long-stay care facility
• Aged 18-65 years in clinically ‘at risk’ group.
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/who-should-have-flu-vaccine/
• Pregnant women
• Live in a household of someone on the Shielded Patients List for COVID-19
• Carers (receive a carer's allowance, or you're the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill)

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, how you contact us and access us will be different at the moment. This is to limit face-to-face contact whenever possible and help stop the spread of coronavirus. Your GP practice is open and if you need to see your GP or nurse, please ring us on 01404 814447  You can also call NHS 111 or use eConsult which can be accessed via this web site.   Appointments are being delivered face-to-face, online via video link and eConsult and over the telephone.  Please do not come to the surgery unless you have pre-arranged a face to face appointment with a clinician.

If you are due for a check-up, please be assured that we will be in touch. 

Measures are in place to keep you safe from infection during your visit to the surgery.   If you are asked to come into the surgery for a face-to-face appointment, please remember to wear a face covering and keep it on until you leave the building. To remain COVID secure our maximum capacity is ten people in the waiting room at any one time.  Therefore our doors are closed to visitors and access to the practice is via intercom.   Face to face appointments are staggered during the day to avoid congestion.  If through our  telephone appointment or eConsult system,a face to face appointment with a clinician has been booked for you,  please attend on your own unless you need assistance from a carer or parent.   To avoid putting others at risk, please let us know in advance if you subsequently develop any COVID symptoms or are self-isolating due to close contact.    We can then make appropriate and alternative arrangements with you so that you can be seen.

Thank you for your understanding.

We are a friendly and welcoming GP practice located in the historic market town of Ottery St Mary. We look after approximately 16,000 patients who live in Ottery and the surrounding villages. 

We are open Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). You can speak to a Patient Services Adviser on the telephone between 08:30 to 13:30 and 14:00 to 18:00. For face to face enquiries you can call in between 08:00 and 18:30.   

Our Mission Statement

Coleridge Medical Centre – A Healthy Practice

Our Vision

We aim to provide a high quality, caring, safe and friendly atmosphere within which we help members of our community achieve and attain optimum levels of health.

NHS Advice for ALL patients, including stay at home advice   www.NHS.UK

Check if you have coronavirus symptoms  NHS 111 Online

Latest Practice news and access to services  coleridgegp.blogspot.co.uk/

Link to Ottery Help Scheme: if you need help or can offer your services as a volunteer please go to  Ottery Help Scheme contact page  or ring them on 01404 813041 regarding their befriending service or if you are concerned about vulnerable people in the Ottery and district area.  They are working closely with other organisations and will do their best to find you support where needed.

Our aim is to continue to provide safe and effective care while also protecting members of the public and our clinical and administration staff from exposure to CV19.   Please always follow the instructions on our notices and given by our staff.   Please continue to help us to help you as best we can with the resources we have available.

Self isolation, social distancing and shielding - what does it mean?

Established in 1990, the Ottery St Mary Medical Trust has enabled the Coleridge Medical Centre to remain at the cutting edge of general medical practice. 

As the demands on the NHS increase, the generosity of those who have donated to, fundraised for, or left a gift in their will to the Trust, has enabled the GP Partners at the Medical Centre to enhance the care provided to our patients. The Trust has invested the funds received in equipment and services which otherwise would not have been funded by the NHS.

The gifts the Trust receives are an acknowledgement of the care the practice delivers to the community. It is, therefore, fitting that the funds help us provide an even better service for Ottery St Mary and the surrounding villages.

The GP Partners, as Trustees, welcome and will consider all requests and suggestions for purchases that will benefit patients and users of the Medical Centre. The Trust is regulated by the Charity Commission and all purchases must meet the criteria set out in the Trust Deed.

Your donations have undoubtedly helped us provide reassurance, dignity and comfort to our patients, whilst potentially saving lives. From pre-birth to end of life, you have made the difference.

To DONATE to the Ottery St Mary Medical Trust Fund, please do so by following this link.