Winter Flu Vaccination

Winter Flu vaccination programme will start in Sept 2021. The programme will be different from previous years. These will be managed and held by Health and Social Care Partnership who will distribute detailed information soon via local media, social media or local advertisements once finalised.

* Logon to NHS Inform website to check if you are eligible

* You will not get your vaccine from your GP surgery

* You will get your vaccine from a vaccine clinic which will be set up to vaccinate large numbers efficiently

* You will have a  pre-booked appointments or be invited to make a booking at a vaccination clinic. Details of clinics are being finalised.

* Please do not contact the practice for any further information as we don’t have any at this time.

We thank you for your understanding

Improving the Cancer Journey

People affected by cancer in East Lothian now have access to a new service that can offer emotional, practical and financial advice and support.

There are two local link workers who can provide advice, information and support on a whole range of non-medical issues related to having a diagnosis of cancer. The service is open to anyone with cancer and their family or carers, at any stage of the illness.  

To get in touch with the Macmillan Improving the Cancer Journey service or find out more call 07977 307 286  or 07929 784315 or email loth.icj@nhslothian.scot.nhs.uk  

Patient Access to Children’s A&E

The Emergency Department is located in BioQuarter 2 and shouldn’t be accessed from the main hospital entrance.  This information and a map is also available on the RHCYP website:  Departments & Services | Royal Hospital for Children and Young People (nhslothian.scot)

The route (by car) is following the signs for Gate 2 of the BioQuarter with Emergency Department displayed on it – there is a drop off zone directly outside the main entrance of the emergency department. The closest car park is 1B (Gate 1) with the path to ED directly opposite which leads around the outside of the building to the ED entrance. The nearest bus stop is opposite car park 1B and patients should follow the same path.

Covid-19 Vaccines at Dunbar Medical Centre

If you have registered with Cromwell Harbour practice between Feb 20 and Dec 20 and received a shielding letter from the government, could you please inform the practice . Many thanks

Across Lothian, vaccination of the following groups of people is taking place at GP Practices:

• People over 80 years of age

• People aged 75-79

• People who are clinically extremely vulnerable (shielding)

If you, or your relative, or someone you care for is in this groups you / they will receive an invitation from us, either by letter or by phone to have your vaccination here at the practice.

We understand that there is concern that some people in this cohort have not yet been invited for vaccination either at the practice or at home.

You may also be concerned that someone you know in a lower priority group has been invited to be vaccinated at a mass vaccination centre ahead of your own vaccination appointment.

Invitations to mass vaccination centres are being administered nationally and are separate from the GP programme.

Those letters can be sent out quite far ahead of appointments. Our contact with you will be much closer to the date of your appointment as our clinic dates are arranged when each delivery of vaccine arrives. However, we can assure you we are vaccinating as fast as vaccine supplies allow and everyone eligible for vaccination here will be invited to attend as soon as possible.

We are very grateful for your patience while you wait your turn.

For more information about the vaccination programme please see NHS Lothian’s Vaccine Hub website. NHS Inform also has information about the vaccine.

We ask that you do not call your practice to ask for more information – we WILL call you when we have vaccine supplies available and it is your turn – extra calls to our reception teams tie-up our phone lines and reduce the time we have for scheduling appointments for vaccine clinics and other services.

Covid-19 Vaccination

We are delighted to have started our COVID19 Vaccination Clinics.

GPs have been asked to provide vaccines for those aged 80 and over, moving on to those aged 75 – 79 and then those who are shielding.   

You can find out more about the priority groups by clicking here. 

All other groups will be offered appointments via Health Board run services by letter.

The delivery of the vaccine is in small batches and we are not certain when these will arrive. As soon as we have supplies of vaccine our team will contact you to arrange an appointment. 

There is no need for you to contact the practice as we will be in touch with those eligible.  If you have any questions about the COVID Vaccine, please visit NHS Inform by clicking here, or call the national helpline 0800 030 8013 which is open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Covid-19 Vaccine – Information for Unpaid Carers

The Scottish Government has confirmed that unpaid carers aged 16 plus will get priority access to the Covid-19 vaccine. National Carer Organisations have produced a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for unpaid carers to explain what we know currently: Covid-19 Vaccine – Carers FAQ

Carers aged 16 to 65 are in priority group 6. The Scottish Government will write to them (via local carers centres etc.) with details of how to book their appointment. Carers aged 65 plus will be prioritised on the basis of their age (priority groups 2 to 5) and will be contacted by the NHS regarding vaccinations.

Carers will be identified in a variety of ways including via local carers centres such as Carers of East Lothian (CoEL). Please do not contact your GP surgery about accessing the Covid-19 vaccine unless they contact you first or you receive a letter from the Scottish Government or the NHS instructing you to do so.

If you are an unpaid carer living in East Lothian, please check CoEL have your up-to-date contact details. You can call us on 0131 665 0135 or email us at centre@coel.org.uk to make sure you are registered on our database. You can also complete a self-referral form on our website: Online Referral Form

Further information on unpaid carers and the COVID-19 vaccination is available on the  Scottish Government’s COVID-19 advice for unpaid carers webpage. You can also call the Coronavirus Vaccination Helpline on 0800 030 8013 (available 8am – 8pm, 7 days a week).

Walk-In Flu Clinics

60-64 Cohort

East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership will be hosting a number of walk in clinics for this group.   This is open to patients from practices who are not participating in the programme.  

These sessions will operate as a ‘Drop-in’ and no appointment is necessary.

12th & 13th December 2020     8.15am to 5pm

Venue:  Musselburgh Primary Care Centre, Inveresk Road, Musselburgh, Eh21 7BP.  

19th & 20th December 2020    8.15am to 5pm

Venue:   Knox Academy, Pencaitland Road, Haddington, EH41 4DT

To help with queuing and patient flow, we have allocated timeslots by surname.

Please come at the time next to the first letter of your surname.

A – B – 8.15am to 9am              C – D – 9am to 10am

E – H – 10am to 11pm                 I – L – 11am to 12pm

M – N – 12pm to 1.30pm           O – R – 1:30pm to 2:30pm

S – U – 2:30pm to 3:30pm          V – Z – 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Important Information:

  • Arrive on time – please don’t come early
  • Please come at the time set aside for the first initial of your surname
  • Please bring your invite letter with you – if you no longer have this we will require you to bring proof of address and date of birth to ensure you are eligible for vaccination.
  • You may have to wait in a queue – please be patient
  • Our experience team will ensure social distancing and will be wearing protective equipment to protect both you and the team
  • Please wear suitable clothing and have your sleeve rolled up by the time you reach our nursing team
  • Before you receive your flu vaccine, you will be asked some questions to check it’s safe for you to get the vaccine

18-64 at risk cohort

ELHSCP Weekend ‘walk in’ clinics

East Lothian Health and Social Care Partnership will be hosting a number of walk in clinics in December.  Anyone who is 18-64 and in a risk group who has not yet managed to have their flu vaccination can attend.

These sessions will operate as a ‘Drop-in’ and no appointment is necessary.

12th & 13th December 2020     8.15am to 5pm

Venue:  Musselburgh Primary Care Centre, Inveresk Road, Musselburgh, Eh21 7BP.  

19th & 20th December 2020    8.15am to 5pm

Venue:   Knox Academy, Pencaitland Road, Haddington, EH41 4DT

To help with queuing and patient flow, we have allocated timeslots by surname.

Please come at the time next to the first letter of your surname.

A – B – 8.15am to 9am              C – D – 9am to 10am

E – H – 10am to 11pm                 I – L – 11am to 12pm

M – N – 12pm to 1.30pm           O – R – 1:30pm to 2:30pm

S – U – 2:30pm to 3:30pm          V – Z – 3:30pm to 4:30pm

Important Information:

  • Arrive on time – please don’t come early
  • Please come at the time set aside for the first initial of your surname
  • Please bring your invite letter with you – if you no longer have this we will require you to bring proof of address and date of birth to ensure you are eligible for vaccination.
  • You may have to wait in a queue – please be patient
  • Our experience team will ensure social distancing and will be wearing protective equipment to protect both you and the team
  • Please wear suitable clothing and have your sleeve rolled up by the time you reach our nursing team
  • Before you receive your flu vaccine, you will be asked some questions to check it’s safe for you to get the vaccine