Practice and Patient Participation Group Newsletter September 2026

Autumn vaccination time

It’s flu and COVID vaccination season again.

We are contacting everyone now to book in for your flu and covid vaccinations if you are eligible.  If you are not sure about your eligibility, please check the NHS website as this explains very clearly who is eligible for each vaccine, especially if you are checking about specific conditions.

Flu and COVID vaccination eligibility

• Age 75 and over – flu and COVID
• Care home residents – flu and COVID
• Patients with a weakened immune system (immunosuppressed) such as being an organ transplant recipient or undergoing chemotherapy – flu and COVID
• Patients Aged 65-74 – flu
• Pregnant women – flu
• Patients aged 18 to 65 who are clinically at risk due to long-term health conditions - flu
• Children aged 2 and 3 – nasal flu vaccine known as a “sniff”

School children are eligible for flu vaccination, but these will be carried out by the school or by the pharmacies if you miss your school clinic.

NHS App and access to your practice medical record

The NHS App is a great tool to help you manage your health.  Many patients can see basic information in the app but have not enabled it to be able to view vaccinations, consultation entries, documents including letters from the hospital and blood test results.  

To see more in the app, you need to verify your ID and link with the surgery and we will help you get set up. If you need help with this, please get in touch and one of our reception team can help you get online.

You could also get in touch with Didcot library who run Digital Helper sessions on Monday and Saturday mornings.

Pharmacy First

The Pharmacy First scheme means you can go and see a pharmacist about several minor illnesses and conditions you would previously have had to see your GP about. You can visit your pharmacist for a consultation, and they will treat you and prescribe medication if necessary. If your condition is more serious you will be referred to a GP or hospital.

What conditions can you see your pharmacist about?

• Earache – 1 to 17 years
• Impetigo – 1 year and over
• Infected insect bites – 1 year and over
• Shingles – 18 years and over
• Sinusitis – 12 years and over
• Sore throat – 5 years and over
• Uncomplicated urinary tract infections – women 16-64 years

Anyone not within these age ranges should see their GP.

There are also many existing conditions which you have already been able to see your pharmacist about. These include:

• Aches and pains – such as, back pain, headache and period pain
• Accidents – such as, sprains, minor cuts, and grazes
• Colds, flu and other infections – such as, cough, congestion, fevers and/or temperature
• Ear care – such as, ear wax
• Eye care – such as, conjunctivitis, styes
• Hay fever – which is not controlled by standard over-the-counter treatments
• Rashes
• Skin problems – such as, athlete’s foot, cold sores, or mild eczema or psoriasis
• Stomach aches – such as, constipation, diarrhoea, or indigestion

How to see your pharmacist

More than 10,000 pharmacies across the UK are part of the Pharmacy First scheme – that’s more than 9 out of every 10. Generally, you can just walk into your closest or preferred pharmacy and ask for an appointment – or they will see you straightaway if there is availability. If you’d prefer, you can call and ask for a video consultation with the pharmacist.

You may also be referred to a pharmacy appointment from:

• NHS 111 – online, telephone and the NHS App
• Integrated urgent care clinical assessment services
• Urgent treatment centres
• A&E
• 999
• Your GP

To find out your nearest pharmacy and check if it is part of the scheme go to NHS Pharmacy Finder or just walk in.

Published: Sep 1, 2026