News from the Patient Participation Group - September 2025

 

Welcome to our autumn newsletter which includes an update from the Practice as well as information on a variety of topics including Winter Vaccinations and registering with a GP when moving away to university.

 
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Update from the Practice

At the PPG meeting on July 28th members received the news, which many of you will now know, that Dr Stephen Miller will be retiring at the end of September after 30 years with the Practice. Dr Miller has also been the lead partner for the PPG since 2014 when it changed to being patient led.

With his encouragement and investment, the group has strengthened its role, working in partnership with the Practice to improve services, communications and health awareness. We will miss him, but send him all our good wishes for a happy and well-deserved retirement.  There is a book at Reception for patients’ personal messages. 

Sarah Coates, the practice nurse who has looked after so many of us, has also left Paxton Green after 30 years.  We wish her a long and happy retirement.

 

The 2025 GP Patient Survey

This was sent out by NHS England to a sample of patients aged 16 or over registered with GP practices in England from December 30th 2024 to April 1st 2025. Questions related to patients’ experience at their last appointment and accessing their practice website.

461 surveys were sent out to Paxton Green patients, with 141 returned.  Results showed patient satisfaction above the national average in all areas except the ease of contacting the Practice through the website. The ease of contacting the Practice through the website will be looked into, but could be explained by the way that Paxton Green operates with the daily telephone advice line making it possible for patients to speak directly to a GP every day. 

 
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Winter vaccinations

The flu and COVID-19 vaccines are offered on the NHS every year in autumn or early winter to people who need extra protection from these illnesses.  This year the COVID-19 vaccine will be offered to people aged 75 and older and individuals over 6 months in age who are immunosuppressed.  The flu vaccine will be offered as follows:

From 1 September:

  • pregnant women
  • all children aged 2 or 3 years on 31 August 2025
  • primary school aged children (from Reception to Year 6)
  • secondary school aged children (from Year 7 to Year 11)
  • all children in clinical risk groups aged from 6 months to less than 18 years

From October:

  • those aged 65 years and over
  • those aged 18 years to under 65 years in clinical risk groups 
  • those in long-stay residential care homes
  • carers and close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
  • frontline workers in a social care setting 

Vaccinations will be available at GP surgeries, pharmacies and walk in centres.  Paxton Green will be running Saturday vaccination clinics and will contact those who are eligible to offer bookable appointments nearer the time.  School age children will be vaccinated at school.

 

The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

London has the lowest uptake of HPV across regions of England. Lambeth’s overall HPV vaccination coverage is lower than the London average.

This is a concern, as the HPV vaccine helps protect against several types of cancer and other illnesses caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

All children aged 12 to 13 (Year 8) are offered the HPV vaccine at school. If missed at that age, it’s available free on the NHS for all girls under 25 and boys born after 1 September 2006.

For more information, call the Schools Vaccination Team on 020 8614 5495 or 020 8614 5496.

 

Moving away from home to university?

If so, it's important to register with a GP near your term-time address as follows:

  • Check your university’s website for an on-campus medical centre and use their online registration form.  You will be asked for personal details. 
  • If you’re living off campus, you can find a local GP using the NHS Find a GP tool here.
  • You will need to complete a registration form and provide proof of address and photo ID.
  • When you register with a new practice, your medical records will automatically be transferred from your previous GP.
  • Try to register within the first few weeks of term, ideally before winter when demand for appointments increases.
  • Many universities and local areas also offer mental health and sexual health services, often without needing a GP referral.

If you need medical advice when you are home for the holidays, you should still contact your new GP or NHS 111. If necessary, you can be re-registered at Paxton Green.

 

National Self Care Week – November 17th-23rd

The theme for 2025 is Mind and Body. Good nutrition and regular exercise support our general wellbeing and the Self Care Forum produces many excellent factsheets on a wide range of topics including how to look after ourselves in winter. These can downloaded here.

You can also access a great deal of helpful information and tips on the NHS website.

healthy-eating
 

Women’s Health – heavy menstrual bleeding

The second of four free events covering different aspects of women’s health is on Tuesday September 16th, 12.30pm to 3.30pm at Myatt’s Field North Centre, 24 Crawshay Road, SW9 6FZ.

All events include a presentation by a specialist/consultant, health checks and signposting to support.  For more information see here.

 
reception

TV screens in the waiting room

These display a considerable amount  of useful information. The slides are updated from time to time and so if you have any comments or suggestions for new health topics to be considered by the Practice, please send them, entitled “TV Screens” to here.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter.  Our quarterly newsletters are intended for all Paxton Green patients and come out at the beginning of March, June, September and December.  Look out for them on the Practice website and the PPG noticeboard in the waiting area.

If you are not already a member of the Patient Participation Group, why not consider joining us as we progress our work with the Practice to improve its services and the patient experience at Paxton Green. Our meetings are held face-to-face and online and meeting papers, including minutes, are sent to all members whether or not they can attend.  To read more about us and enrol go to our PPG page.

The next meeting of the PPG is scheduled for Monday October 27th 3.30pm to 5pm.

Published: Sep 1, 2025