Salters Meadow Centre

Welcome to Salters Meadow Centre

Influenza programme and Covid-19 autumn booster 2026/27

We are pleased to confirm that we will be offering eligible patients their influenza and Covid-19 vaccinations this autumn.

Adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults and those who are immunosuppressed are eligible for the Covid Vaccination as was the case last year. In the current era of high population immunity to Covid-19, additional Covid-19 doses provide very limited, if any, protection against infection and any subsequent onward transmission of infection.

Patients eligible for the Covid19 Vaccination from October 2026:

adults aged 75 years and over
residents in a care home for older adults
Individuals who are immunosuppressed

We will only be administering covid vaccinations alongside flu vaccinations to those patients who are eligible. The practice will NOT deliver covid vaccinations in isolation, even if eligible, as it is not viable to provide such a service.

Based on evidence that the flu vaccine’s effectiveness can wane over time in adults, the influenza programme for most patients will commence from the start of October 2026. It is preferable to vaccinate individuals closer to the time when the virus is likely to circulate (which typically peaks in December or January), as this will provide optimal protection during the highest risk period.

Patients eligible for flu from September 2026:

Pregnant women
Some immunocompromised patients (for example, receiving chemotherapy)
Children aged 2 or 3 years on 31st August 2026

Primary school children (Reception to Year 6) and Secondary school children (Years 7-11) will be offered their vaccination as part of the School Immunisation Programme.

Patients eligible for flu from October 2026:

Patients aged 65 years and over
Those aged 18 years to under 65 years in a clinical at-risk group
Patients in long stay residential care homes
Carers
Close contacts of immunocompromised individuals
Frontline health and social care staff (patient contact)

Patients will be invited to book their vaccination(s) via a self-book link within their text invitation.

If you have a mobile number that has changed or has not been provided to the practice, please let us know. If you do not have a mobile number, the practice will contact you in writing.

We would encourage all our eligible patients to take up the offer of their free vaccination(s) to protect you, your family and friends and the NHS this winter.

Protected Learning Time closures

PROTECTED LEARNING AFTERNOONS

Tuesday	17^th Mar	From 1 PM
Tuesday	14^th April	From 1 PM
Wednesday	13^th May	From 1 PM
Thursday	11^th June	From 1 PM
Tuesday	14^th July	From 1 PM
Wednesday	12^th Aug	From 1 PM
Thursday	17^th Sept	From 1 PM
Tuesday	13^th Oct	From 1 PM
Wednesday	11^th Nov	From 1 PM

To maintain the high standard of care all practice staff will have protected learning time on the above dates. This means that we have limited capacity to deal with your enquires. If your request is non-urgent, we kindly advise that you contact us online either using the NHS app or via the link here on our website. We will respond to you the next working day. However if your issue is clinically urgent please contact the surgery via the telephone, or in person and your clinical need can be assessed and dealt with.

Reception remains open for routine in person enquires, again with limited capacity to enable the whole team the protected learning time.

Total Triage

The way you contact us to book GP appointments or make admin queries has changed. We have moved to a new system for patients to book appointments called Total Triage. "Total Triage" is a model being adopted by many NHS GP surgeries across England to manage increasing demand for appointments, where every patient request is screened by a clinician before an appointment is booked. This system, strongly recommended by NHS England and aims to ensure patients are seen by the right professional based on clinical need rather than just "first come, first served".

Ensures fairer, faster access to care
All requests are reviewed by a clinician
It helps us direct you to the most appropriate service or person
Admin requests dealt with quicker
Helps us communicate with patients in a timely way

The quickest way to contact your surgery with medical or administrative queries is by submitting an online request using the link below or through the NHS App.

Alternatively, if you are unable to complete an online request, please call 01543 682611 and a member of staff will be happy to complete the request on your behalf.

Appointments for the nursing team can still be booked through the reception team.

Online contact form

Community Pharmacy opening hours

Secondary Care Blood Tests

Guide for Secondary Care Blood Tests

If you have had a request from a Clinician who works in Secondary Care for a blood test, in most cases you will need to arrange to have these bloods done through the Secondary Care Bloods Service. Secondary Care includes Hospital Clinicians, Consultants, and Specialists etc. This can be done online at https://www.swiftqueue.co.uk/. For appointments at Queens Hospital Burton. Alternatively Cannock Chase Hospital offer a walk in service.

There are some exceptions to this:

High Risk Blood Monitoring. If we prescribe your high risk medication, it is our responsibility to monitor your bloods, this is done through a Shared Care Agreement that your consultant will have initiated.