Helping Monitor Respiratory Viruses: We Are a RCGP RSC Surveillance Practice.

Posted by: joharper - Posted on:

We are pleased to announce that Emersons Green Medical Centre and Leap Valley Medical Centre have joined the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) Research and Surveillance Centre (RSC).

As part of this vital national programme, we help monitor the spread of respiratory viruses such as Flu, COVID-19, and RSV in the community. This data is essential for the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to understand which viruses are circulating and how well vaccines are working.

How you can help: If you or your child are experiencing symptoms of a respiratory infection (such as a cough, fever, or shortness of breath), you may be invited to take part in two ways:

  1. Clinician Swabbing: During your appointment, a GP or nurse may offer to take a quick nose and throat swab.
  2. Take a Test UK (Self-Swabbing): You may be invited to order a self-test kit to your home. This is a convenient way to get tested and contribute to national surveillance without needing an extra trip to the surgery.

Ordering a Self-Test Kit: If you have symptoms, you can visit https://takeatestuk.com/ to request a kit. You will need to enter our practice voucher code:

  • Emersons Green patients: L81632
  • Leap Valley patients: L81046

Privacy & Results: Your data is protected and pseudonymised before being shared for research. By participating, you will also receive your results (positive or negative) via text or email, usually within a few days.

For more information on how your data is used, please visit the Oxford Orchid Information Page.