Health alert — 18 March 2026 Meningococcal disease outbreak linked to University of Kent and Canterbury 

What has happened

Between 13 and 16 March 2026, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed 15 cases of invasive meningococcal disease in the South East of England. Most cases involve students from the University of Kent and sixth-form students from local secondary schools in the Canterbury area. A number of cases are linked to attendance at a Canterbury nightclub (Club Chemistry) on 5–7 March. Two people have sadly died. The situation is being actively monitored and guidance may be updated.

This outbreak is centred in Canterbury. UKHSA are leading the response.

Symptoms to be aware of:

Meningococcal disease can cause meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning). Symptoms can develop rapidly and may include:

• Fever
• Severe headache
• Rash that does not fade under a glass
• Vomiting
• Cold hands and feet
• Limb pain
• Drowsiness or confusion
• Rapid deterioration

If you or someone you are with develops these symptoms Call 999 immediately. Do not wait. Early treatment saves lives.

Who is eligible for preventive antibiotics (chemoprophylaxis)

Preventive antibiotics are not for the general public. They are for specific close contacts only, as defined by UKHSA. This includes:

• Students living on Canterbury campus (University of Kent)
• Staff living or working in affected halls of residence
• Anyone who attended Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5th, 6th or 7th March 2026
• Close contacts directly identified by UKHSA

If you fall into one of these groups please contact the UKHSA on 03442253861. For all other patients, preventive antibiotics are not currently indicated.

Vaccination: what you should know:

There are several meningitis vaccines offered free on the NHS. No single vaccine protects against all strains, which is why awareness of symptoms remains important regardless of vaccination status.

MenB vaccine Offered to babies at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 year. Added to the NHS schedule in 2015 – if you were born before 1 May 2015, you will not have received this as part of the NHS programme. There is currently no NHS catch-up programme for MenB.

MenACWY vaccine Routinely offered to teenagers in school Years 9 and 10 (around age 14). Protects against strains A, C, W and Y, but not MenB. If you missed your adolescent dose, you can receive it free on the NHS up to your 25th birthday.

A note on vaccination queries We are aware that many patients are getting in touch about their vaccination status in response to this outbreak. At present, we have not received instruction from NHS England to undertake any additional catch-up vaccination programme in response to this specific outbreak. If you are under 25 and believe you have missed your routine MenACWY dose, please raise this at your next routine appointment and we will check and update your records at that time.

Catch-up clinics are being held during for children who have not yet received their DTP (diphtheria, tetanus and polio), MMR or MenACWY vaccinations, or who have missed appointments to receive these. These clinics are available to book now, please contact our reception team.

These clinics are for children who have not received their DTP, MMR or MenACWY vaccinations in accordance with the national schedule or the red book. They are not booster appointments, and they do not provide the MenB vaccine. Please do not book if your child has already received these vaccinations.

Further information and support

For general advice and queries, the following resources are available:

Our service is regulated and inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Please offer feedback on care you have received from us via

Give Feedback on Care

https://www.cqc.org.uk/give-feedback-on-care/start?id=PPVGFOCProviderchannel2023

You can also call CQC on 03000 616161

Carers Wellbeing Workshop Corby click here to read more.

As part of the 2025/2026 GP contract, all GP practices across our Primary Care Network are required to publish the You and Your General Practice (YYGP) Patient Charter by 1 October 2025.

This national Patient Charter has been developed to help build a stronger, more respectful partnership between patients and their healthcare teams.

What is the YYGP Patient Charter?

The YYGP Patient Charter sets out:

• What you, as a patient, can expect from your GP practice
• What we, as your healthcare providers, ask of you in return

By working together, we can ensure you get the best possible care – while supporting the needs of our wider community and helping the NHS work more effectively for everyone.

Read the Patient Charter

To learn more about what to expect from your GP practice – and how you can help us deliver the best care – please click the link below to read the full guide:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/you-and-your-general-practice-english/

Translated versions are also available on the link below:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/you-and-your-general-practice-english/#translated-versions

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 you 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.