Measles
As you may have seen from the news and social media there are a rising number of measles cases in the UK, including Birmingham and the Solihull area.
Measles is very contagious and can cause serious illness and complications. Vulnerable groups include unvaccinated individuals, pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and the chronically ill. These groups are more at risk of developing severe complications.
Measles is a preventable illness and all children should receive 2 doses of the MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) at age one year and at around three and a half years old. Adults can also receive the MMR vaccine if they have not had the illness as a child (this will ensure natural immunity) or have not had 2 measles containing vaccines if they are concerned about their risks.
If your child has had 2 doses of MMR then it is very unlikely that they will catch measles.
Please see the NHS Website: Measles - NHS (www.nhs.uk) for further information.
If you think your child may have measles or has been in close contact with someone who has suspected or confirmed measles do not attend the surgery.
Please telephone for advice. You may need to isolate for up to 14 days if you or your child is unvaccinated.
Please book an appointment with one of our nurses if your child is unvaccinated or has not had 2 doses and you would now like them to have the MMR.
If you are unsure if you or your child has had 2 doses of measles containing vaccines, please check children’s red vaccination book or email your queries to the surgery Balsallcommon.practice@nhs.net
Please do not telephone the surgery for vaccination queries as this can block the telephone lines.
New service operating
Are you experiencing muscle or joint pain?
You can now see a Specialist Physiotherapist at the Balsall Common Surgery.
The Physio will support you in being referred for further treatment, helping with pain relief, managing/improving your condition and discuss any worries or concerns.
Please ask one of our Receptionists to book an appointment.
As your GP practice, we have been asked by NHS England to provide you with access to your full primary care medical record going forward from 31st October 2023. This will be via the NHS app and the NHS website if you have a suitable NHS login.
Please note this access is only to your prospective primary care record. This does not include hospital records or results of investigations requested anywhere else as these are not available on the primary care record.
There is likely to be sensitive and personal information within your medical record.
We are supportive of providing you with access to your record, but we wish to do this safely, and make you aware that this is happening so that you can opt out if you so wish.
It is important that you understand the risks that may be involved in having such confidential data, either on your smartphone with the NHS app installed, or online if other people might have access to that information through your devices.
The government has been clear that if a patient does not wish to have access, then we do not have to provide it.