Author: globaladmin

The changes to the routine childhood immunisation schedule are designed to provide even better protection for babies and young children across the UK. These updates are based on the latest medical advice and will come into effect in phases, starting from July 2025, with further adjustments from January 2026.

Our priority is always to ensure your child receives the best possible protection against preventable diseases. We understand that changes to schedules can sometimes lead to questions, and we’re here to help.

What’s Changed from 1st July 2025?

Here’s a summary of the key modifications to the vaccination programme:

• Meningitis B (MenB) Vaccine:
  • Old Schedule: Given at 8 weeks and 16 weeks.
  • New Schedule: Now given at 8 weeks and 12 weeks. This change aims to protect babies earlier, when they are most vulnerable to this serious infection.
• Pneumococcal (PCV13) Vaccine:
  • Old Schedule: Given at 12 weeks.
  • New Schedule: Now given at 16 weeks. This adjustment helps to reduce the number of injections administered at the 12-week appointment, making it more comfortable for your baby.
• Hib/MenC Vaccine:
  • This vaccine will be phased out for children born after 1st July 2024 due to the reduced need for it within the updated schedule.
• Hepatitis B (selective group only):
  • For babies identified as being at risk of Hepatitis B, the final dose will now be included in the new 18-month appointment, rather than requiring a separate booster at 12 months.
• Introducing a New 18-Month Appointment (from January 2026):
  • For babies born after 1st July 2024, a significant new appointment will be introduced at 18 months of age.
  • This appointment will include:
    • A booster vaccine (hexavalent) to provide continued protection.
• The second dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, if not already given at the 3 year 4-month appointment.

What Stays the Same?

• 8-week appointment:
  • There are no changes to the vaccines given at the 8-week appointment.
• 3 year 4-month appointment:
  • This appointment will still include the dTaP/IPV (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, and inactivated polio) vaccine and the second MMR dose, if it hasn’t been administered at the 18-month appointment.

Why are These Changes Being Made?

These updates to the childhood immunisation schedule are being implemented to:

• Protect babies earlier when they are most at risk from certain diseases.
• Simplify the overall vaccine schedule, making it easier to follow.
• Reduce the number of injections given at individual visits, improving the experience for young children and their parents.

Where Can You Find More Information?

We understand you may have questions about these changes. Our team is available to discuss the updated schedule with you and address any concerns you may have.

For comprehensive information on all childhood immunisations and the updated schedule, please visit the official NHS vaccinations website:

• NHS Vaccinations: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/

Please download this sheet with the opening times of Pharmacies during the May and August 2025 Bank Holidays:

Pharmacy Opening Hours during the May and August Bank Holidays 2025

(Effective from 1 March 2025)

Sometimes the care of a patient is shared between two doctors, usually a GP and a specialist, and there is a formalised written ‘shared care agreement’ setting out the position of each, to which both parties have willingly agreed. Where these arrangements are in place, GP providers can arrange the prescriptions and appropriate investigations, and the results are fully dealt with by clinicians with the necessary competence under the shared care arrangement. There is NHS guidance available about this.

Shared Care with private providers is not recommended due to the general NHS constitution principle of keeping as clear a separation as possible between private and NHS care. Shared Care is currently set up as an NHS service, and entering into a shared care arrangement may have implications around governance and quality assurance as well as promoting health inequalities. A private patient seeking access to shared care should therefore have their care completely transferred to the NHS. Shared care may be appropriate where private providers are providing commissioned NHS services and where appropriate shared care arrangements are in place.

All shared care arrangements are voluntary, so even where agreements are in place, practices can decline shared care requests on clinical and capacity grounds. The responsibility for the patient’s care and ongoing prescribing then remains the responsibility of the private provider.

If you are under the care of a private specialist, we will not be able to enter into a shared care agreement. You can ask us to refer you to an in-person NHS mental health team, but while waiting to see them, you will need to obtain your treatment from your private specialist directly.

The above statement also applies to Third party providers working under right to choose.

We will not carry out tests that private providers want you to have, any tests that private providers need to be done must be completed by them. The Right to Choose providers are also commissioned to do things like physical checks and blood tests and therefore this is also something that they should provide. If they are an online/remote provider, you will need to discuss this fully with them on how to proceed.

If you have started treatment with a private provider, you will either need to:

• • approach the Practice to request a referral to an NHS specialist
  • or continue to receive your treatment directly from your private provider indefinitely

Please note that there may be a significant delay in having your diagnosis reviewed by the NHS team and them agreeing to participate in a shared care agreement. During this time, you will need to continue to receive your treatment directly from your private provider. The Practice is not able or obliged in any way to provide a “bridging” prescription.

Well done to our wonderful team on raising £84 for Save the Children on Christmas Jumper Day 2024

Attendees: Dr Brown, Louise Armstrong, Debbie Bailey (South Durham Health Federation), CC (Age UK) John Kelly, (Social Prescribing Link Worker) GP, MN, MS, AS.

Introductions: Dr Brown introduced himself and explained that today’s meeting would follow a different format as we welcome guest speakers Charles Chapman and John Kelly.

Updates since last meeting:

Dr Brown told members that there has been little change since the last meeting. The main change has been that long standing receptionist Linda had now retired and that we now have 2 new receptionists in post.

John Kelly (Social Prescribing Link Team Lead.)

Dr Brown introduced John to the group. John explained the role of social prescribing link worker and how this service works hand in hand with the 3 GP surgeries in our PCN. John explained that the team can support patients with social issues such as housing, social isolation, debt management etc. Patients can be referred by their GP but can also be referred by other agencies or staff members at the practice. The team then help the patient to identify their needs and signpost them into the correct direction for support. MN asked John how patients know about this service and another PPG member stated this was something they did not know existed. Dr Brown explained that if a patient comes to him and mentions a social problem then he can direct them to John. John explained that posters had been put in all surgery waiting rooms and advertised on social media. John acknowledged that there is a group of patients who do not use social media or come into the surgery that may not be aware of the service and that this was a problem. He explained that this is where CC and the team at AGE UK can help. John also told patients about coffee mornings that are run at Peterlee and Blackhall. John was asked if there were any plans to run one of these at Horden. He explained that Horden had a lot of these already in place but that it was an area that they would be looking at next, to either visit existing groups or set up a group.

AGE UK County Durham

CC introduced himself and explained his role at Age UK County Durham. He explained that one of the projects that Age UK are working in is the Digital Inclusion Programme. This is a service that helps people over the age of 50 with technology training. He explained that they can visit a person’s home and help them to access the internet and train them on safe ways to use this. They offer one to one training and can also visit community groups. It was pointed out that a lot of people will not know about the service and CC acknowledged this and has asked us if we can begin to hand out leaflets to this patient group and explain what they offer.

Actions:

Louise to ask receptionists to actively promote the digital inclusion programme by asking patients if they use the app and if they express that this is difficult for them to signpost to the team.

The next meeting date will be agreed shortly, and we will send this out via text to those with mobile numbers or letters for those who don’t. Please let us know if there is anyone who expresses interest in attending future groups.