Great Oakley Medical Centre will be hosting flu vaccinations clinics starting at the beginning of October 2025.

Patients over the age of 65 are all eligible to have the vaccine and can contact the surgery now to book an appointment.

For patients under the age of 65 and who wish to have the vaccine please contact the surgery to check if you are eligible.

Dates for vaccinations are:

• Saturday 4 October 2025
• Saturday 11 October 2025
• Saturday 18 October 2025

From 8.00am until 4.20pm

Total Triage System

Great Oakley Medical Centre will be making a significant change to our appointment system that will improve the way our surgery delivers care to all our patients.  From Friday 1 August 2025 we will adapt to the Total Triage system, this is a new approach recommended by NHS England to improve patient accessibility and quality of care within Primary Care Services.

What is Total Triage?

Total Triage uses an online consultation system in which patients submit their symptoms or request to their GP practice electronically.  A senior clinician will review all medical requests and assign to the most appropriate resource based on the information provided by the patient, this could be a Doctor, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Pharmacist, Physiotherapist etc and assess how best to manage the request i.e. a face-to-face appointment, a telephone consultation or online advice.  Practices are then able to manage demand via a single workflow, prioritising care based on need, rather than on a first come first served basis.  This approach helps ensure equity of access for digital and non-digital users.  It can also free up the phone lines for those who cannot go online. 

Submitting your request

The quickest way to submit your online request is by following any of the below options:

•     Select the NHS App on your smartphone or other electronic device.  
•     If you do not have access to the NHS App you can simply scan the QR code below which will take you directly to the online triage form.

•     On our website, click on either the Contact Us or the Appointments tab which states Submit a New Request, then choose ‘I have a Medical Request’
•      If you are a non-digital user or find it difficult to use online access you can call the surgery during our open hours and a member of the reception team will fill out the form on your behalf.

After your form is submitted

All medical requests are reviewed by a senior clinician who will assign the request to the most appropriate resource based on the information provided by the patient. You may be offered a consultation via telephone or face to face or you may be sent a text message which requires an action or further information.

What is the benefit to you?

• Improving access to care: by prioritising patients, waiting times for those with urgent medical needs is reduced. Patients receive timely care, leading to better outcomes. Triage ensures that limited healthcare resources are allocated to patients who need them urgently.
• Improving patient safety: triaging helps to identify high risk patients early, allowing healthcare providers to intervene promptly, preventing complications and reducing the risk of adverse events.
• Convenience: Requests can be submitted throughout the day, reducing the current 8.00am telephone rush and eliminating unnecessary travel and potential travel costs.  You can access wherever you want from any device, unlike a telephone call you complete a total triage form at a pace that suits you.
• Better patient experience: Improves communication and ensures that everyone receives the care most suited for them.

What if you have trouble using the new system?

If you have any accessibility needs, no on-line access at home or you are unable to use digital services, you will be able to call reception, but please note that we will no longer be able to book you an appointment directly over the telephone or in person at the reception desk, staff will assist you by completing the online form on your behalf.  Please be advised that if your request one of our reception team to complete it on your behalf your query will not be dealt with any quicker than you filling in an online form yourself, this new Total Triage system will be fair for all our patients since all forms will be in the same queue.

We understand that change can be difficult, but we are confident that this new way of working will benefit all of our patients.

We have received many requests to make appointments with clinicians for the Mounjaro weight loss injection to be prescribed. In Northamptonshire Mounjaro is currently not available on NHS prescription for weight loss. This is understandably leaving patients feeling disappointed and frustrated.

We are aware that many patients are obtaining Mounjaro through private organisations and although they may notify us that you have been prescribed this injection, the safe prescribing and monitoring of this medication remains the responsibility of the private organisation and not the GP practice. Please ensure all medical history and medications have been fully declared to the prescriber, to enable them to make a safe decision whether this medication is suitable for you.

Please understand that GP practices must follow the guidelines set by our local ICB and NHS England.

We can certainly support you for weight and lifestyle management in other ways.

Thank you

Great Oakley Medical Centre

SHARPS BOXES – NEW DISPOSAL PROCEDURE - The Diabetes Centre no longer take these

Patient are to go to the following website / call council  - THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS and sharps bins will be collected from patients home

https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-street-cleansing

• Bins
• Commercial and Clinical Waste
• Clinical and hygiene waste
• Scroll to bottom of page – request a collection
• Complete form and a collection date will be given

Alternatively patients can call: 01536 410333

Thank you

The surgery are offering MMR vaccines to patients aged 18-25 who have not previously had this vaccine when they were younger. We will be contacting patients within this cohort in due course, however if you believe you have not had the MMR vaccine and would like to do so, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment with one of our nursing team.

If you have a child who previously missed their MMR vaccine and you would like them to be vaccinated, please contact the surgery to arrange an appointment with one of our nurses.