In light of the ongoing Coronavirus situation the practice have decided to change our systems in the short term to make us more flexible and able to respond to the changing environment.

If you have a new continuous cough or a high temperature please do not attend the surgery, stay at home and self isolate for 7 days. Only contact NHS 111 if your symptoms deteriorate.

To enable the best possible care we are making the following changes effective from the 16th March 2020.

1. All appointment requests will be triaged by a GP via telephone. Reception are not able to book any face to face appointments.
2. Patients with any flu like symptoms will not be able to attend the surgery and will be advised to self isolate at home.
3. Reception will ask you questions regarding your illness and we ask that you co-operate to make things easier for the GP who will call you. Please ensure we have your up to date contact details before ending your call.
4. Any home visit requests will be triaged by a GP via telephone before visiting.

Our objective is to deliver the care our patients need whilst minimising those patients who need to attend the practice face to face. This being the case, please do not attend the practice in person unless you already have an appointment.

We ask all of our patients to continue to observe advice around hand washing and self isolation. This will help to protect the most vulnerable in our community.

We appreciate that this can be a worrying time but would like to reassure you that all necessary steps are being taken by our team to prevent the spread of Coronavirus within the surgery.

Information is available at gov.uk/coronavirus and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Download the free NHS COVID-19 app today

111 coronavirus service

Face coverings: when to wear one and how to make your own

Information about testing for coronavirus and what to do if you're contacted by the NHS Test and Trace service. People can book a coronavirus test by going online to the NHS website or by calling 119

Check if you or your child has coronavirus symptoms

What to do if you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus

Get an isolation note

Take part in research

Help Control The Virus

To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must:

• wash hands - keep washing your hands regularly
• cover face - wear a face covering over your nose and mouth in enclosed spaces
• make space - stay at least 2 metres apart - or 1 metre with a face covering or other precautions

If you are feeling unwell, get a test and do not leave home for at least 10 days.

Read more about what you can and cannot do

Coronavirus 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)
• loss of/change in smell or taste

To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.
Use the 111 coronavirus service  to find out what to do.

Testing for Coronavirus

Anyone who has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can get a free test to check if they have the virus. Some people without symptoms can have the test too. Click here for more information
There is another test (antibody test) that checks if you've already had the virus. This test is not widely available yet. You can find out about antibody testing on GOV.UK

What to do if you need medical help for another reason

If you need medical help not related to coronavirus, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

• For health information and advice, use the NHS website or check your GP surgery website.
• For urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service. Only call 111 if you're unable to get help online.
• For life-threatening emergencies, call 999 for an ambulance.

Read more advice about getting medical help at home.

Other things you can do to stop the infection spreading

Do

• wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
• stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people, if you need to go outside

Don't

• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

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 be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time.
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.