COVID-19 ADVICE UPDATED 17/03/2020
If anyone (including children) develop a new fever or cough they should self isolate for 14 days. i.e. not leave the house. EVEN IF THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY MILD and wouldn’t normally stop you or your child carrying on as normal. This includes anyone who has had contact with a known case of coronavirus or has travelled to a category 1 country (which now includes italy)
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance
Your GP cannot test for COVID-19.
All GP surgeries have been instructed by NHSE to
a) cancel all routine face to face appointments,
b) switch all appointments to telephone/video consultations
c) if a clinician feels a patient needs a face to face assessment after telephone/video consultation then they will be asked to come in.
We will continue processes to ensure childhood immunisation and other essential care continues.
If you are seen at the surgery your clinician may need to wear gloves, gown and mask so do not be alarmed.
HOW CAN YOU HELP KEEP GP PRACTICES OPEN?
1. Do not attend the practice if you have a fever or cough or have been in contact with someone with COVID 19 or travelled to a high risk country even if you had a prior appointment booked for another reason.
2. If you are told to come to the surgery for an assessment listen carefully to instructions. You may be asked to wait in your car until the clinician calls you in/to wait in a different area. This is to protect you and other patients.
3. DO NOT attend your gp surgery for any reason unless you have been advised to.
4. Register for the NHS app to able to book telephone consultations and check test results and your notes in the near future.
5. Do not call the GP surgery unless you need to. Surgery phone lines are facing high demand. Please use the online 111 tools to try to self manage first.
6. Register for electronic prescribing and inform your pharmacy that you wish to nominate them. You can then request prescriptions online using the app avoiding the need to come into surgery.
Your GP practice needs your help to ensure that they can protect patients and staff and to stay open at this difficult time.
Please remember that if you are unwell for other reasons eg chest pain / found a breast lump / other significant illnesses you should still ask for help!
Lastly please look out for your vulnerable neighbours, family and friends. Please if you know you have a housebound neighbour, check they have enough food and can collect their medicines.
For most COVID 19 will be a mild illness. The purpose of trying to reduce the rate that people catch it by isolating those affected is to try to keep the NHS running to be able to care for those who are very sick.
The High Street and Whitfield Surgeries have a Patient Participation Group, If you wish to join please contact Sarah Jarvis on 01304 206463, She will be happy to help you.
All our patients now have an allocated GP, if you are unsure who your GP is please feel free to contact the practice. A member of our reception team will be happy to help you.