Coronavirus Information

Opening Hours

The practice is still staffed during normal working hours; however access is restricted, if you need to make contact, please do so by telephone or using the intercom at the front of the building.

Sicknotes

If you have been told to self-isolate because of coronavirus and you need a note for your employer, please visit www.111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/.

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients, and NHS staff, while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

Due to the recent guidance from the government, the practice is trying to maintain the safety of the patients and staff by ensuring only essential face to face appointments are undertaken. Because of this, some routine appointments may be cancelled and postponed to a later date, or patients may be offered a telephone or video consultation. Patients may be contacted before their planned appointments for screening and we politely request that if you require medical assistance you contact us by telephone.

What to do if you have symptoms or have been in contact with a person who has coronavirus

Please see the new developing guidance at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:

  • Stay at home (self-isolate) – do not leave your home or have visitors. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also self-isolate.
  • Get a test – get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible. Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, should also get a test if they have symptoms. Please contact 119 to arrange a test or home testing kit.

Symptoms

  • A high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
  • A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
  • A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.

If you are self isolating and need to seek medical advice

Seek prompt medical attention if your illness is worsening. If it’s not an emergency, contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, dial 999 and inform the call handler or operator that you have coronavirus (COVID-19).

All routine medical and dental appointments should usually be cancelled while you are sick and staying at home. If you are concerned or have been asked to attend in person within the period you are home isolating, discuss this with your medical contact first (for example, your GP, local hospital or outpatient service), using the number they have provided. If your concerns are related to COVID-19 contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:

  • Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

Go to www.NHS.UK/coronavirus for information about the virus and how to protect yourself.

COVID-19 and support for clinicians in the frontline, triaging calls and determining best place for treatment

Due to the current COVID19 crisis and unprecedented demands on general practice, GPs are having to change the way they work such that patients are being managed over the telephone, via some form of eConsultations and video consultations. Non-urgent work is being halted or postponed until it is deemed safer to do so.

The clinician has to make a decision based on their knowledge, experience and skills to determine whether it is safe to manage the patient without physically seeing them or in the very rare circumstances if they decide to see the patient in person.

It is imperative that the clinician is allowed to make the decision in the best interests of the patient, their family and also the staff looking after them under extremely difficult circumstances.

In the meantime, please look at the advice on NHS website at www.nhs.uk,  make sure you are following the advice you have been offered and limit the amount of contact you have with other people to only when essential.