Clarification re COVID vaccinations:
We are aware some patients aged 80 and over have received invitations from NHS England directly to book appointments for COVID vaccinations in central hubs. Please note that:
We have completed 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccinations to over 95% of our patients aged 80 and over. Please ignore the NHSE letter if you have had both doses already from us.
Some of our patients aged 80 and over have only had their first dose of the vaccine - you must have both doses from the same source. If you only had your first dose from us please ignore the national letter as we will contact you for your second dose.
Only a handful of our patients aged 80 and over have not had any of their COVID vaccinnes - if you are one of those patients please contact us ASAP. You can book with national sites but will also have to have the second dose with the national site as well.
We are incredibly proud of our team and the North Watford PCN in getting to this stage and are extremely thankful to the team of volunteers who have been supporting the clinics.
Frontline Healthcare Staff
Please click on the link below for Green Book clarification of eligibility for a COVID-19 vaccination:
Your COVID recovery - click on link below for helpful information if you are recovering from COVID:
COVID Vaccination Clinics
Please click on the link below for the most recent guidance from the UK Chief Medical Officers re COVID vaccinations:
Please be assured that the surgery will contact patients in line with the vaccination programme. We have started with the most vulnerable age group (over 80s) and as vaccine becomes available we will be contacting patients aged 75 and over. Please do not telephone the surgery until we have invited you to make an appointment for your vaccination. This will help us keep the phone lines open for patients wishing to make routine GP and nurse appointments.
Please click on the links below for further information:
When, how, where, will ? - answers to your questions
This leaflet explains about the COVID-19 vaccination, who is eligible and who needs to have the vaccine to protect them from Coronavirus
Information for people who have had their first COVID-19 vaccination
This leaflet contains important information to keep you safe while isolating at home.
Flu and Covid-19 vaccination
You still need to get the flu jab if you're getting the COVID-19 vaccine as the COVID vaccine will not protect you against the flu or stop you spreading the flu virus. You should still get your flu jab at the earliest opportunity to protect yourself and those around you.
Flu Vaccination Programme 2020
50-64 YEAR OLD VACCINATIONS - We have been asked by the Government to vaccinate this additional age group this winter and held our first clinic on 12th December 2020. Further clinics will be added shortly.
IMPORTANT - Prior to attending your appointment you are required to read a patient leaflet with regards to the vaccination being used - Flublok. This medicinal product does not have a UK marketing authorisation but has been given authorisation for temporary supply by the UK Department of Health and Social Care and the Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency for immunisation against influenza. Flublok is licensed for use in the USA by the Food and Drug Administration.
Distributor: Sanofi, 410 Thames Valley Park Drive, Reading, Berkshire RG6 1PT, UK
Reporting of Side Effects As with any new medicine in the UK this product will be closely monitored to allow quick identification of new safety information. You can help by reporting any side effects you may get. See the end of section 4 of the leaflet for how to report side effects.
To read the full leaflet please click on the link below or pick up a copy in the lobby at the surgery. Please read all of this leaflet carefully before you attend for your vaccination as it contains important information for you. By attending this is taken as consent for having your flu vaccination. Thank you.
https://products.mhra.gov.uk/search/?search=flublok
Understandably this year’s flu clinics are being run a little differently to past years.
If on the day of your appointment you have any of the following: (1) a high fever over 37.8, (2) a new continuous cough or (3) a loss or change of your sense of smell or taste, then please do not attend and contact the surgery to rebook.
Please note that we will not open our doors until 9.00 am for the morning clinic and 2.00 pm for the afternoon clinic so please do not come before then, especially if the weather is wet!
Clinics
- All patients will be booked 3 minute appointments
- Please do not bring extra people with you unless they are carers
- There will be a one way system around the building and 1 outdoor sheltered station
- We ask that patients arrive at their given time as queuing will be outside. Please bring umbrella for wet weather
- There will be marshals both inside and outside the surgery
- You will be screened by one of the marshals. If you answer positive to any of the checks you will be asked to go home and arrange a covid test whilst isolating and await the results
- When entering the building please remove your coat and outer garments so that your arm is available for vaccination. Please wear a short sleeved top
- The clinician will be wearing a mask in line with current guidelines
- You will be asked to stand for your vaccine but a chair will be available if needed. The clinician will wipe down any surfaces that have been in contact with patients.
- Once you have had your vaccine a marshal will show you the way out. If you feel faint please let them know.
We appreciate your co-operation with safe distancing and assure you that measures have been taken to keep all our patients safe during this busy time.
Accessing your GP
To support general practice Primary Care have created an animation video to help explain to patients how you can continue to access GP services, including how to get in contact, the different ways care may be delivered and how face-to-face appointments have changed. Please click on the link below:
YouTube video
111 First
The 111 First campaign asks people to call 111 first for non-emergency issues, rather than heading straight to hospital. 111 can assess the situation and book patients in to their local emergency department, urgent treatment centre or refer to the GP. Please click on the links below for further information:
111 First article
Please click on the heading above for full details of the free Henry Healthy families programme online starting in January 2021
Using the NHS and Other Health Services during Coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/social-distancing/using-the-nhs-and-other-health-services/
We have answers to lots of questions and concerns about COVID testing, self-isolation, schools and work. Please click on the link below:
https://hertsvalleysccg.nhs.uk/your-health-and-services/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-what-you-need-know/coronavirus-QandA
Important information for patients
We are open for booked appointments only. It is not possible to book appointments or discuss queries through the front door so please call the surgery on 01923 262363 and a receptionist will be happy to help you. Should you need to provide a urine sample, bottles and forms can be picked up and returned to the basket in our lobby, along with repeat prescription requests. Please ensure that if you come into the surgery you wear a mask,or scarf. Thank you.
Appointments
In line with all practices in the locality, we are currently only offering book on day appointments, ie there are no advance booking appointments.
When you call to make an appointment with a GP or nurse we will ask you to tell us why you need medical help. This will help us decide how best we can help you.
If appropriate, we will book you a telephone consultation and the GP will call you back the same day. The GP may offer you a video consultation or, if they need to see you face to face, they will arrange this with you. DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY UNLESS THE GP ASKS YOU TO.
Please do not contact the practice for medical help linked to coronavirus. Simply follow the latest Government advice on coronavirus further down this page.
Online services
At present you are unable to book appointments on line other than for the flu vaccination but please do use other online services, including:
Ordering repeat prescriptions – please only order what you need
Checking your medical record
AccuRx Video Consultations
The Practice is using AccuRx to carry out video consultations. The consultation is not stored or recorded within the AccuRx system, the clinical staff member is required to record observations and outcomes of the consultation directly into patient records in the same way as a face to face consultation. (as of 12/03/20)
Photographs
Please note, if the GP requests that you send in photographs relating to your condition, these will be saved securely on your medical record. Please do not send photographs of an intimate nature.
Repeat Prescriptions
We aim to send all prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions, through the electronic prescription service (EPS) to your nominated pharmacy. If you do not have a nominated pharmacy you can choose one online or ask your usual pharmacy to set this up for you. If you currently manage you own prescription requests and your prescription cannot be sent through EPS to a nominated pharmacy, you will need to contact the practice either online, via the telephone or by completing a request slip and placing it in the secure box in our front lobby.
Home Deliveries - Please be aware that home deliveries by community pharmacies is not an NHS funded service and you may be charged.
Updated 19/05/2020
Information for Cancer Patients with specific advice relating to Covid-19:
https://www.macmillan.org.uk
- East of England Cancer Alliance Patient Information
https://www.canceralliance.co.uk/patient-information.aspx
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer
https://www.cancercaremap.org/
- Healthwatch Hertfordshire
https://www.healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk/
Cervical Screening Update
During Covid-19 routine cervical screening was put on hold, however it is now up and running again. Many women may be concerned about delays to their screening and you may find the links below helpful. They offer advice and reassurance including FAQs and videos from the Jo's Trust website. Please be reassured that the risk from delaying screening by a few months is very small but we do recommend that all those on recall do now attend.
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/coronavirus/videos
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/coronavirus/faqs
https://www.jostrust.org.uk/coronavirus
If you or anyone in your household has a high temperature or a new and continuous cough or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of smell or taste, even if those symptoms are mild, you should all stay at home. Don’t go to your GP or hospital; instead go to nhs.uk to check your symptoms and follow the specialist medical advice.
For medical help linked to coronavirus you can also contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service.
Only call 111 if you cannot get online.
If you need medical help for any reason, do not visit the GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. For advice if a child is unwell or injured click on the following link:
Covid-19 Advice for parents when child is unwell or injured
If you need help or advice not related to coronavirus:
for health information and advice, use the NHS website or our surgery website
for urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service – only call 111 if you're unable to get help online
for life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance
Results of National GP Patient Survey 2019 - click here - Survey Results
NHS England updated information for patients around continuity of medicines supply in the event of a no-deal EU exit. (on nhs.uk) Medicines Supply
WHY US? Reasons to join Vine House
- Long established practice within the heart of the village
- All Partner practice delivering high quality primary care services
- Quick and easy registration process for new patients
- Early morning and weekend appointments available
- Urgent bookable appointments every weekday morning with an urgent walk-in clinic every weekday afternoon
Care Quality Commission
Opening Times
| Opening Times | Telephones Open |
Monday | 08.00 - 18.30 | 08.00-18.30 |
Tuesday | 08.00 - 18.30 | 08.00-18.30 |
Wednesday | *07.00 - 18.30 | 08.00-18.30 |
Thursday | 08.00 - 18.30 | 08.00-18.30 |
Friday | 08.00 - 18.30 | 08.00-18.30 |
Saturday | open - see below | telephone lines closed |
Sunday | open - see below | telephone lines closed |
*open for booked appointments only between 07.00-08.00. The surgery will fully open at 08.00.
Early opening - one week per month we open at 07.30. The surgery will fully open at 08.00.
We are leading Watford Extended Access opening on Saturdays and Sundays with pre-booked appointments most weekends:
Saturdays between 08.00 and 19.00, Sundays between 09:00 and 13:00 and some weekday evenings up to 10.00 pm. These appointments can only be booked by a receptionist as they use a different booking system.
If you cannot attend your appointment at short notice on the day when the surgery telephone lines are closed, please call 07478 306994.
Please ask at reception for further details.
My care Record - privacy notice and opt out form - please see "news"


(Site updated 15/01/2021)