You may be provided with a different kind of hygienic urine sample collection pot to those you have been familiar with in the past.  There are posters in the surgery giving details and instructions for patients to follow, but you might be interested in watching the following quick tutorial which is available on YouTube.

It is very important to LABEL the pot correctly, and please note we will not be able to accept any other kind of receptacle for samples of urine here at the practice.

Thank you for your understanding

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=7iADHJnMdu0&t=4s

All pregnant women are eligible for the vaccine from 16 weeks gestation, and a woman requires the vaccine in every pregnancy (ideally between 16-32 weeks). This is to ensure the antibodies are passed to the baby through the placenta and protects the baby until they are old enough to have their first immunisations at 8 weeks of age.

Please contact us to arrange an appointment for your vaccination.

Public advised to stop using certain non-sterile alcohol-free wipes - GOV.UK

Due to risk of infection, non-sterile alcohol-free wipes are not appropriate for the treatment of injuries, wounds or on broken skin, nor for cleaning of intravenous lines. Please find link above for full article and advice from the Government. 

FLU - From the 1st October 2025

The flu elibility remains the sames as previous years

OVER 65 YEARS OLD 

OR 18-64 YEARS OLD AND AT RISK ('RISK' CRITERIA AS BELOW)

OR 2 and 3 YEAR OLDS - From September - Date of vaccine delivery to be confirmed  (Other children are vaccinated through the school programme)

You should have the free flu vaccine if you are pregnant, seriously overweight (BMI of 40 and above) or have a long-term condition, such as:

• a heart problem

• a chest complaint or serious breathing difficulties, including bronchitis, emphysema or some people with asthma (needing a steroid inhaler or tablets)

• a kidney disease

• lowered immunity due to disease or treatment (such as steroid medication or cancer treatment)

• liver disease

• had a stroke or a transient ischaemic attack (TIA)

• diabetes

• some neurological condition, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy

• a learning disability

• a problem with your spleen, such as sickle cell disease, or you have had your spleen removed

COVID - From 1st October 2025

The COVID Vaccination Eligibility is different this year. 

The announced and authorised cohorts eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in AW 2025/26 are:

• residents in a care home for older adults
• all adults aged 75 years and over
• persons aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book.

Please note the new schedule, including 2nd MMR at 18 months, applies only to children born on or after 1st July 2024. Children born before this date remain on the old immunisation schedule. 

Here is a document published in July 2025 that clearly shows how some of our patients feel about The Elms Medical Practice 

Here is a link to the online survey if you would like to find out more information.  This survey is carried out on an annual basis for all GP surgeries and serves to inform patients about the performance of their own practices.

Pharmacy First is a new service being offered to people with certain minor illnesses and conditions.

The new service means trained pharmacists can assess and treat patients for the following conditions without the need for them to see their GP:

Sinusitis (12 years and over)
Sore throat (5 years and over)
Acute otitis media (1 to 17 years)
Infected insect bite (1 year and over)
Impetigo (1 year and over)
Shingles (18 years and over)
Uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women (16 to 64 years)

You can either walk into your pharmacy or can be referred by GPs or NHS 111 to community pharmacies for minor illnesses.

To find a local pharmacy, visit the NHS website.

The Carers in Herts office is open 9am – 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and 9am – 4.30pm on Fridays (excluding bank holidays). They also offer support from 5.30pm to 7.30pm two evenings a week- please contact them directly to organise a suitable call. Contact details: email contact@carersinherts.org.uk      telephone 01992 58 69 69.

If you are aged 71 or over, you will not automatically be invited for breast screening. However, as long as you have breast tissue, you can ask for free screening every 3 years. You can find out more about breast screening here

To opt into the program contact the Beds and Herts Breast Screening Service:

Tel: 01582 497599 (09.00-16.55 Mon-Fri) 

Email: bscreen@ldh.nhs.uk   Please make sure that your message includes your Name, Date of Birth or NHS Number. 

Please see the guidance below which outlines Practice policy on issues such as follow up after a private appointment, chasing hospital appointments or results of tests organised by them, who to contact with dental issue and more.

Guidance for Patients August 2022