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COVID-19 (coronavirus)
Practice Changes in response to COVID-19
- No entry to the building is allowed unless you have had a prior telephone discussion with the surgery. Furthermore, at the point of entry we will confirm again with you that you have not had any symptoms of Coronavirus.
- A clinician will triage via telephone assessment and decide whether a face to face appointment is required in order to minimise the risk to patients and clinicians.
- We are trying to convert all paper repeat prescriptions to electronic prescriptions that can be collected from your chemist of choice where possible. Please let us know your preferred pharmacy if not already done so.
We would like to thank all of our patients for your support and patience during this difficult time.
Current Guidance on Coronavirus
The NHS are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to protect patients, our community and NHS staff while ensuring as many services as possible are available to the public.
If you have symptoms associated with coronavirus including a new continuous cough and a high temperature, you are advised to stay at home and self-isolate for 7 days.
Please do not book a GP appointment or attend your GP practice.
If you live with other people, they should stay at home and self-isolate for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine.
But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they’re at home for longer than 14 days. The most up-to-date public guidance is always online on the NHS UK website
If your symptoms are serious, or get worse, NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do.
Only call 111 direct if you are advised to do so by the online service or you cannot go online. Please note that at present there is no available treatment or vaccine for COVID19 and antibiotics do not help the condition.
Antibiotics and Steroids
Because of social media a lot of people are getting incorrect information to do with coronavirus and want antibiotics and prednisolone, but in fact prednisolone seems to make people worse if they get coronavirus as it lowers the body's immune response.
If you have Asthma or COPD symptoms we are happy to prescribe a rescue pack, but not if you request this to treat coronavirus.
Transmission
Coronavirus infection is usually spread through close contact with another person with novel coronavirus through coughing, sneezing or hand contact, or by touching a surface which has been contaminated with the virus if they have not washed their hands.
What is Social Distancing?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults
What is Shielding?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19