COVID-19 ANNOUNCEMENT
IMPORTANT CHANGES TO GP PRACTICE OPERATION
The health and safety of our patients and staff is of the utmost importance to us. During the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions, we are asking all patients to avoid attending the surgery wherever possible.
If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) you must stay at home (self-isolate) and get a test.
The main symptoms of coronavirus are:
- 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
Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms
What to do if you have symptoms
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. A test can be arranged at NHS.UK.
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if;
- You’re worried about your symptoms
- You’re not sure what to do
Call 111 if you cannot get help online or phone the surgery. Do not attend in person unless asked to do so by a member of the clinical team.
Appointments at the surgery
We are asking all patients not to attend the practice without prior agreement from a member of our clinical team. This means that all patients are required to contact the practice by telephone to request an appointment, providing details of their need. If the problem is routine, please contact the surgery before 4.00 pm, routine calls received after this time will be asked to phone again the following day. A member of the clinical team will then phone you back to discuss your need, and wherever possible this need will be met over the telephone or via video consultation. If the clinician deems that you require a face to face appointment, you will be asked some screening questions before an appointment is arranged.
If you do need to attend the surgery in person we ask that you arrive wearing a face covering (this does not need to be a surgical mask) and that you observe the two metre social distancing rule from staff and other patients in the practice. Please be aware that staff may be wearing personal protective equipment, including face masks, aprons and gloves.
Patients can now consult online at our practice as part of a new online service which could save you time and a journey.
Using the online consultation service makes it easier for us to quickly decide how we can best help you with the least amount of disruption to your day. The service is free and confidential and medical consultations are always reviewed by a GP or nurse.
Simply answer questions about your symptoms online and we’ll reply back the same day (or the next working day if it’s sent after 4PM or on a weekend/bank holiday), with general advice or signposting, a telephone consultation or, if necessary, we’ll get you booked in for an appointment. You can use the system 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
You can also use the system to send administrative queries if you have a question relating to test results, letters, medical reports or have a general enquiry.
The service also offers access to reliable and trustworthy self-help generic information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week that may help you to avoid an appointment altogether.
To use our online consultation service:
To register for our online consultation service:
If you register to use the system then you won’t have to enter your personal details every time you send us a consultation and we’ll be able to send you secure messages online rather than having to try and contact you by telephone.
If you're a patient at our practice you can now use the new NHS App, a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on your smartphone or tablet. You can use the NHS App to check your symptoms and get instant advice, book appointments, order repeat prescriptions, view your GP medical record and more. If you already use SystmOnline you can continue to use it. You can use the NHS App as well. For more information go to www.nhs.uk/nhsapp .