Medical Information

 

Devon Integrated Children’s Services

Immunisation team

Newcourt House

Newcourt Drive

Old Rydon Lane

Exeter

EX2 7JQ

 

t: 0333 321 9884

e: VCL.ImmunisationPHN@nhs.net

 19th October 2018 

 

 

Dear Parents, 

 

Information for Parents and families regarding the school nasal flu vaccine programme 

 

We are writing as the provider of the flu vaccine and other school aged immunisations in Devon. Thank you for supporting the vaccination programme during the implementation of the electronic consent process. Please make note of the following information: 

 

  • If you have already completed your child’s consent, the team have attended your child’s school and given the vaccination no further action is required. 

 

  • If you have completed an electronic or paper consent but your child was not seen on the school vaccination day, we will contact you shortly (by email where this has been provided or alternatively by post) to offer an appointment at one of our catch up clinics being held in November and December. 

 

  • If you have not yet completed a consent form for your child but still wish for them to be vaccinated at school, please complete the online consent by following the link provided by your school (using a desktop or laptop will minimise system issues). Please note that we require 5 working days to process consent prior to your school vaccination date and regrettably, for safety reasons, we will not be able to vaccinate your child at school for consents submitted after this time. The deadline will be stated in the letter from school. 

 

  • If your school clinic date has passed (or the 5 working day processing window) and you would still like your child vaccinated, please continue to complete the electronic consent process and we will contact you shortly (by email) to offer an appointment at one of our catch up clinics being held in November and December. 

 

Should you find that your school session link has expired please contact us for assistance in completing the consent process. 

 

Please be aware that we are experiencing a high level of enquires by telephone and email at the present time but will answer your enquiry in due course. Thank you for your patience. 

 

 

Yours faithfully,  

 

 

Beccy Lyons 

Immunisation Team Leader 

Devon Integrated Children’s Services

Immunisation team

Newcourt House

Newcourt Drive

Old Rydon Lane

Exeter

EX2 7JQ

 

t: 0333 321 9884

e: VCL.ImmunisationPHN@nhs.net

 

08 October 2018

 

 

 

Dear Parents/Carers

 

Nasal Flu Vaccination – Reception to Year 5

 

We are currently experiencing high call volumes associated with the introduction of an electronic consent process and wanted to provide you with further information to enable this process to work as smoothly as possible.

 

The e-consent process is working but we have found that the following points should address the issues that some parents are reporting:

 

-          Where possible, link to be sent via email rather than through an app.

-          To complete on a tablet or computer if unable to progress completion on a phone

            (this appears to especially be affecting Samsung phones).

-          If unable to find GP practice in list this can be left blank as it is not mandatory.

-          Only use link sent as the consent process is school specific.

-          If a family is in a new build property and having problems with the address when filling in the form,

           just add postcode without house number and enter manually using link “my address does

           not appear in the list”.

 

If you are still unable to complete on-line consent having tried the above, please visit your school office for a paper version of the consent and return it to them after completion.

 

Deadline for consent is now Friday, 12th October 2018.

 

Many thanks for your support.

 

 

 

 

 

Jill Lake

Service Development Manager, Southern Public Health Nursing, Devon Integrated Children’s Services

 

26th February 2018

 

Dear Parents/Guardians

 

Scarlet Fever

 

We have received a letter from Public Health England to inform us of a recent national increase in notifications of scarlet fever which are above seasonal expected levels.

 

The early signs and symptoms of scarlet fever include:

 

-      Sore throat

-      Headaches

-      Fever

-      Nausea

-      Vomiting

 

After 12 to 24 hours the characteristic red pin head rash develops, typically first appearing on the chest and stomach.  It gives the skin a sandpaper like texture.  The scarlet rash may be harder to spot on the skin of some Black or Asian children, although the sandpaper feel should be present.  Please check our website for frequently asked questions about scarlet fever.

 

Guidance has stated that children and adults with suspected scarlet fever should stay away from school or work for 24 hours after the commencement of antibiotics treatment.

 

Good handwashing practices remain the most important step.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

 

 

Fiona Pearce

Head of School

NHS Minor Ailment Scheme

 

If you don't pay for your prescriptions, you may be able to use the NHS Minor Ailment Scheme to get advice and, when appropriate, free treatment for certain common illnesses without seeing a GP

Help for common illnesses:

 

If you want help dealing with a common illness such as a cold, cough or diarrhoea, you may be able to use the free NHS Minor Ailment Scheme at selected pharmacies, including some Boots pharmacies. Their pharmacist will be able to offer advice and may be able to offer you medicines for a minor illness without you having to book an appointment to see your GP.

 

Who is the service for?

Schemes vary between locations, but the NHS Minor Ailment Scheme is for adults and children who:

 

  •          Are registered with a GP surgery which is taking part in the scheme
  •          Want treatment for a minor illness included in your local scheme

Medicines can be supplied free of charge to the customer if they are exempt from NHS prescription charges.
 

The NHS Minor Ailment Scheme is available in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but only in selected pharmacies across England and Wales. Ask your local Boots pharmacy whether they offer the scheme and they'll check if you're eligible to receive it.

 

 How it works

 

  1.  Talk to a pharmacist about your illness and they will offer advice.
  2. If a medicine is needed, the pharmacist will check your eligibility and whether the illness is covered by the scheme.
  3. A suitable medicine may be offered to you.*

*Charges will apply if you normally pay for your prescriptions. If you're exempt, for example people under 16 or over 60, then you won't pay for the medicine as this service is funded by the NHS.

 

What minor illnesses are covered?

 

Illnesses supported within the scheme may differ between locations. Some illnesses covered include:-

 

  • Back-ache, sprains and strains
  • Colds
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Constipation
  • Coughs
  • Diarrhoea
  • Earache
  • Haemorrhoids
  • Hay fever
  • Head lice
  • Headache and fever
  • Heartburn and indigestion
  • Insect bites and stings
  • Mild eczema and dermatitis
  • Minor fungal skin infections
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Nappy rash
  • Sore throat
  • Teething
  • Threadworm
  • Thrush

Benefits

 

  • Convenient: No need to make an appointment
  • Advice: Pharmacist can refer you to a GP if necessary
  • Flexible: Many pharmacies are open at the weekend

We have put together a guide to illnesses, their symptoms and how long/if you should keep your child off school. All information on this page has been taken from the Devon County Council Spotty book for infectious diseases in schools.

Sickness and Diarrhoea
The main symptoms are vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain which may occur singly or in combination. The illness usually lasts only a short time and requires no specific treatment.
 
Anyone with gastroenteritis should be regarded as infectious and kept away from the school until the diarrhoea and vomiting have stopped for at least 48 hours.
 
Should blood be present in stools or a child appears particularly unwell, a doctor should be consulted.

Chicken Pox
Chickenpox usually begins with a fever, feeling generally unwell and glassy fluid filled spots spreading all over the body. Chickenpox is spread from person to person by virus shed from the nose or throat as droplets or by direct contact. The fluid inside the spot is infectious. Chickenpox is infectious during its early stages from 1 - 2 days before until 5 days after spots first appear.
 
The incubation period of chickenpox is between 13 and 17 days after contact with the infected person.
 
Children can return to school once the pox have all scabbed over.

Hand Foot and Mouth
The illness starts with red spots which become small blisters which then ulcerate.

The ulcers are painful and can be in the mouth, on the hands or feet. A fever is common, but the disease is usually mild.

The incubation period is about 3-7 days with the disease lasting about 10 days.
 
The best that can be done is children remain off school/nursery until clinically recovered, to disinfect articles soiled with nose and throat secretions and to practise good toilet hygiene.

Conjunctivitis
Causes red eyes often with swelling, weeping or visible pus.
 
Strict attention to hand washing reduces the spread of the virus.
 
Children with active infection should be risk assessed on an individual basis.

Glandular Fever
It usually takes the form of a sore throat with swollen glands in the neck.
 
Full recovery may take some weeks, during which time the person may feel very washed out. There is no specific treatment.
 
This is not a very infectious disease except with close contact and the child should only be kept away if feeling unwell.
 
Hand Foot and Mouth
The illness starts with red spots which become small blisters which then ulcerate.

The ulcers are painful and can be in the mouth, on the hands or feet. A fever is common, but the disease is usually mild.

The incubation period is about 3-7 days with the disease lasting about 10 days.
 
The best that can be done is children remain off school/nursery until clinically recovered, to disinfect articles soiled with nose and throat secretions and to practise good toilet hygiene.

Impetigo
Impetigo commonly affects the face, particularly around the nose and mouth causing weeping lesions which form crusts. Young children may be generally off colour.
 
These are infectious while the spots are wet and discharging pus. Antibiotic treatment is helpful; separate towels and thorough hand washing are important in preventing transmission.
 
Children can return to school once they are well and the lesions are crusted or healed.

Scabies
The main symptom is itching and there may be a rash on the wrists, fingers, feet and body.
 
Lotions can be purchased from a chemist or obtained on prescription from the doctor. It is important to follow the instructions on the bottle.
 
The whole family should be treated at the same time even if only one person has obvious scabies.
 
Children can return to school on the day after they have been treated.

Slap Cheek
It initially appears as a 'flu-like' illness and then the bright red 'slapped cheeks' rash appears, followed by a reddish rash on the body. This rash may last for up to three weeks. A few children, but most adults, have mild joint pains.
 
By the time the 'slapped cheeks' rash appears, most patients are no longer infectious, and excluding children with the body rash serves no useful purpose.
 
 
 
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