Covid 19

Keep up to date with the latest guidance about how to respond to the Covid 19 Pandemic:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

As the lockdown restrictions are easing we are working to resume all the services we normally provide. However, we do need to make some changes to make sure we do this safely for our patients and staff.

• Don't come into the surgery building unless you have an appointment
• Use online services as much as possible
• Wear a mask if you are coming to the surgery
• If you aren't online phone us before coming down or use the post box outside for prescription requests
• If yourself or someone in your family develops symptoms (cough, fever, shortness of breath or loss of taste or smell) do not attend even if you have an appointment until you have spoken to us

Go Online

Using online services either through this website or an app means no waiting around on the phone and it's easier for us as well. E-consultations are a great way to contact us and they save our clinicians time. We will get back to you within 24 working hours. If you contact us about a skin problem then we may send you a text message with a link to request photographs. These will usually be stored in your patient notes. 

Prescription Requests

For prescription requests we would be very grateful if you would request these online or via the app if at all possible. If you cannot use these then please write your request on any piece of paper and put it in our post box. You do not need to use the request slips if you don't have one to hand so please don't come into the practice unless you need to for your own safety.

Attending for normal appointments

Clearly we need to take precautions to maintain social distancing at the surgery. The first step is to minimise the number of people coming to the surgery which is why it is important you don't come in if you don't have an appointment. When you do come down please use the intercom to let reception know you have arrived. If you have a car we would ask that you wait in the car until the clinician is ready to see you. You will receive a text message to let you know when they are ready. If you do need to wait in the waiting room please maintain social distancing and if there are no seats available then please wait outside. 

Please wear a mask if you have one. If not then one of the receptionists will provide you with one when you arrive.

No patients with Covid 19 symptoms should be in the waiting room. If you or a family member develop symptoms prior to your appointment please contact us to rearrange your appointment. 

Attending the Covid 19 area

If you have had a cough, shortness of breath, fever or loss of taste or sense of smell or you are self isolating because someone in your family has one of these symptoms you will need to be seen in our Covid 19 area. Please make sure we are aware of this before you attend. You will be directed to go round the side of the surgery through the staff car park to the back door where the clinician will let you in when they are ready. Sometimes, if you have a car, you will be asked to park in the staff car park and one of our clinicians will come out to see you in your car. Use the intercom to make us aware when you have arrived and ask for the staff car park barrier to be opened. Please wear a mask if you have one. If not then the clinician will provide you with one when you arrive. 

Specific Services

We're happy to announce we have restarted the coils and implant service, B12 injections and some chronic disease reviews. Vaccinations and baby clinics are continuing as before. We can now do joint injections, but there is an increased risk in the pandemic period so this is discussed on a case by case basis. Minor surgery and other services will resume as soon as we are able to do so safely. Flu jabs are still available and we would encourage you to get one if you are in an at risk group as anyone getting complications from flu could use NHS resources unnecessarily at this difficult time.

Coping with Stress and Isolation 

This is a stressful time for everyone - this information sheet may be helpful if you are feeling particularly anxious.

Germ Defence 

We are letting you know about a very useful website called Germ Defence which was created by a team of doctors and scientists to give you advice that has been proven to reduce the spread of viruses in the home. It can help you plan how to protect yourself and members of your family from infection by COVID-19 and flu.  

It’s easy to use and only takes 10 minutes - just click on this link: 

www.germdefence.org/index.html?src=N82083

(If this link does not open when you click on it, please copy and paste it into your web browser.)

Please pass details of the Germ Defence website to your friends and family.

There’s a button at the bottom of the Germ Defence website for sharing by social media.

If you’d like to know more:

• Over 20,000 people previously took part in research about Germ Defence
• People who followed the advice in Germ Defence had fewer and less severe illnesses - and so did the people they lived with
• Results of the study were published in The Lancet medical journal
• Germ Defence has been updated with COVID-19 advice to help prevent a wave of COVID-19 and ‘flu this Autumn/Winter
• Information about how the Germ Defence website is being evaluated is available here.