COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Practice Updates

Important information about the coronavirus (COVID-19)

The NHS in Cheshire and Public Health England (PHE) are 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.

The latest information on symptoms of Coronavirus infection and areas where recent travel may have resulted in a high risk of exposure can be found on nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/<https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/>

NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service<https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19> that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.

Use this service if:

  • you think you might have Coronavirus
  • you’ve been in close contact with someone with Coronavirus Like the common cold, Coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel Coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands. Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
  • Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that comes into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.
  • Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111<tel:111> if you need to speak to someone.
  • 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.

Arranging a COVID-19 Test

AT RISK GROUPS

Public Health England have identified certain induvial who are considered high risk. This group has been identified as member of the public who are:

  • aged 70 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
  • under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
  • chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
  • chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
  • chronic kidney disease
  •  chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
  •  chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
  •  diabetes
  • problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
  • a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medicines such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
  •  being seriously overweight (a BMI of 40 or above)
  • those who are pregnant

For more information on social distancing please visit – 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

Vaccination Programme

If you would like to volunteer to support the coronavirus vaccine programme please follow this link to One Ellesmere Port website for more information and registration details.

APPOINTMENTS

We are only dealing with queries via the telephone. We ask all patients to phone the practice before coming down to surgery.

Face to Face appointments

  • Appointments are all triaged by phone/video with the clinician prior to coming down to practice.
  • Please wear a face mask.
  • Come to surgery at your allocated time (please do not come early.)
  • You will be asked to go outside and queue 2 meters apart from other patients in the marked out area.
  • The clinician will come to the door and call you in once they have put on their fresh full PPE.

Following NHS England’s guidelines the practice is going to be operating a triage first system. This means all appointments in practice will be a phone call first and then your clinician will assess you and if appropriate will offer a face to face consultation. They may also offer a video consultation.

Nurse & HCA Appointments

All nurse appointments will be telephone call first. They will be able to do your long term condition review over the phone, and if they need to see you they will organise an appointment best for yourself if cant be dealt with over the phone.

If your booked in for a blood test with the HCA, they will call you the afternoon before your appointment to triage you to make sure you have no symptoms of Covid-19. If you do not answer the triage call the HCA will send you a text message with a link which you must complete before attending your appointment.

Video Appointments
If you have a smartphone with a camera your GP will be able to video call you. Your GP will send you a text message with an invitation link. Press this link on your phone and this will connect you through to your GP.

PRESCRIPTIONS

Ordering Prescriptions

We are advising all patients to register for online access to the practice – either through Patient Access of self registering on the NHS App, for more information visit – https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/

Or you can call your local pharmacy to order over through them, the last resort would be coming into practice.

All prescriptions now go electronically to a pharmacy of your choose, where you need to just give the pharmacist your name, date of birth and NHS number.

SICKNOTES

If you require a sicknote (MED3) because you are self isolating, please see this letter

After the first 7 days of absence which is covered by a self certificate, those who are self isolating may be eligible for a self isolation note which is available off the government website.

FACEBOOK

Please be aware that Public Health England’s advice is constantly changing.

If you follow us on Facebook (here) or come back to this page to see any updates.

Data Provision Notice

Please see click here for more information about GPES Data for pandemic planning and research (COVID-19)

 

Please see below attachments on face mask covering:

Mask_Exemption_Cards

Childrens_Coronavirus_Fact_Sheet_National

Page updated: 17th September  2020