Orchid House Surgery Updates

📰 September 2025

💉 Flu & Covid Vaccinations

We are holding clinics at the surgery for flu and Covid vaccinations:

Flu & Covid Clinics (Ages 65+/75+)
📅 Saturday 4th October
📅 Saturday 11th October
Flu Clinic (Under 65s)
📅 Tuesday 7th October

👉 Eligibility:

Flu vaccine – you must be 65 or over on 31st March 2026.
Covid vaccine – you must be 75 or over on 31st January 2026.

Additional clinics will be available if you are unable to attend the above dates. Please support your practice by booking with us when appointments are released.

🏠 Housebound patients and care home residents will be visited by the Primary Care Network team to receive their vaccinations.

👩‍⚕️ Staff Update

We’re pleased to confirm that Dr Green has now joined us permanently.
Dr George Williams has joined as our latest GP trainee until February.
Abbey Baker has joined the team as our new phlebotomist, following Sharon’s departure.
Tina, our valued receptionist, will be leaving soon – and we look forward to welcoming two new reception team members shortly.

🙏 Respect for Our Staff

We kindly remind patients that all of our staff are highly trained and competent in their roles. Recently, we have had some inappropriate behaviour and comments directed towards clinical staff. Please be respectful and refrain from making comments about age or personal matters.

📑 Referrals

If you are waiting for a referral, you can check waiting times here:
🔗 www.myplannedcare.nhs.uk

Please note that waiting times across the NHS remain long in some areas.

👶 Support for Parents & Expectant Mothers

For advice and guidance if you are pregnant or need support for your child, please visit:
🔗 www.healthiertogether.nhs.uk

🌐 Online Services – Moving Forward

From 1st October 2025, eConsult will be replaced with SystmConnect.
This service will be available via our practice website and the NHS App.

You can use SystmConnect for:

Medication requests (48hr processing time)
Fit note requests (backdated if needed, but not future-dated)
Routine queries (you may be signposted to alternative services, receive a message, or be offered an appointment)

⚠️ Please only contact the surgery again if your symptoms change or worsen.

📲 Digital Appointments & Communication

We are beginning to send appointment booking links by text or email, including those for long-term condition reviews.

This helps us reduce costs and adapt to changes in postal services.
👉 Please check that your contact details are up to date so you don’t miss important communications.

✨ Thank you for your continued support as we move into a busy winter season.

June 2025 – Update

🌸 Orchid House Surgery News & Volunteer Call-Out 🌸

🚗 Join Our Orchid House Community Drivers!

We’ve launched a new patient-led volunteer driver scheme – thanks to our amazing Patient Participation Group!

The Orchid House Community Drivers help patients get to medical appointments if they don’t have transport or can’t afford taxi fares.
Our volunteers are already making a real difference – but we need more help to grow!

✅ Have a full, clean driving licence?
✅ Own a car?
✅ Can spare an hour or two a month?

👉 Email: oh.ppg@nhs.net to join!
🧾 Petrol fees are reimbursed.
💜 Volunteer as much or as little as you like.

👩‍⚕️ Staff Update

We’re sad to share that Dr Dogan has now left the surgery and we wish him the best for the future!
But we’re thrilled that Dr Green will be staying with us permanently as a salaried GP. We know many of you will be pleased to hear this!

We will have a new GP trainee starting in August when Dr Green finishes her training.

Our lovely nurse Victoria who has been on maternity leave, has decided not to return to Orchid House Surgery and we wish her all the best for the future!

📲 Text Messages from the Surgery

You may receive texts from us about:

Cancer care follow-ups as part of our support for research
Cervical smear questionnaire to find out why patients choose not to attend screening
Routine blood test clinics – we are trialling some self-book links to allow patients the ability to book straightforward blood tests themselves

These messages are designed to help us better care for you. Got questions? Just ask us!

💉 Coming Soon: Flu & Covid Vaccines

We’ll soon be texting you about flu and covid vaccinations for this season.
Both will hopefully be done at the surgery, so please keep an eye out and let us know your preferences.

Your support helps us continue delivering care where it’s needed most.
Let’s keep our community safe together!

🚫 Mounjaro (Weight Loss Injection) – Please Read

We are aware of increasing public interest in Mounjaro (tirzepatide) for weight loss.
However, this medication is not currently available in Dorset, and it is only prescribed on the NHS under very strict clinical criteria.

This will only be available for patients who