Coronavirus Information

If you have a cough, temperature or loss of taste and/or smell

Please do not come into the surgery - if you have an appointment booked please cancel it.

For further infomation about possible symptoms of COVID-19 please go to www.gov.uk or www.nhs.uk

Important information about the coronavirus (COVID-19)

To minimise the risk of infection, we kindly ask that you do not come in to the surgery, other than for the reasons listed below:

  • For a face to face appointment (please see the 'Appointments' page for more information)
  • You are collecting a paper prescription or something else which can't be sent to you

For anything else, please phone the surgery on 01275 841630.

If you do come into the building, please wear a face covering across your mouth and nose to protect yourself and others in the building.

To help us to manage the increased pressure on healthcare services and to protect our patients and staff from potential infection the current arrangements to book an appointment are as follows:

  • GPs and Advanced Nurse Practitioners: We will book a telephone appointment with the clinician. If they feel that they need to see you face to face then they will arrange a time for you to come into the surgery. Pre-bookable face to face appointments will not be available while this situation continues. Some telephone appointments will be available to book online from Monday 24th August 2020.
  • Nursing Team: Nursing team appointments are made available one week at a time (released on Monday mornings).

Chronic Disease Monitoring

If you have blood tests on a regular basis, either annually or more frequently, please phone at the beginning of the week when you are due to have the test. We will do our best to make an appointment for you to come in that week.

Repeat Prescription Requests

For repeat prescription requests, we recommend downloading the NHS App . For guidance on setting up the NHS App click on the link below.

We will send your prescription to the pharmacy electronically. Just tell us which pharmacy you would like us to use.

Due to an increase in demand, please allow 3 working days before collecting your prescription.

Sending Photos to the Surgery by Email:

It is sometimes helpful to send a photo to us to help the clinician further assess your symptoms. For important information about this process and the email address to use, please click here

Coronavirus Qs & As

This page provides answers to questions that we are often asked about the Coronavirus

I think I have symptoms of coronavirus what should I do?

The online 111 coronavirus service is your first port of call for advice https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/

I have symptoms of coronavirus how long do I self isolate for?

 

Please see https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

There is also advice here about protecting household contacts, what to do if a vulnerable person lives with you, cleaning and laundry considerations.

I still have a cough but I have completed my self isolation, what should I do?

It is vital you self isolate for the recommended period after your symptoms started.  After this period:

  • if you do not have a high temperature, you do not need to self-isolate after this period.
  • it is common for your cough to continue for a few weeks
  • if you still have a high temperature, keep self-isolating until your temperature returns to normal

See link below for more info:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

I have already self isolated but I have a new cough or fever, what should I do?

If you have a new cough or fever it is vital you self isolate again according to the guidance above.  When you isolated initially you may not have had coronavirus.

How do I get a sick note?

If you are isolating because you or a household contact has symptoms of coronavirus, you can get an isolation note for your employer online. GP practices are not issuing fit notes in this situation.  See link below.

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Can I use ibuprofen?

There is currently no strong evidence that ibuprofen can make coronavirus infection worse, but until we have more information, take paracetamol to treat the symptoms of coronavirus, unless your doctor has told you paracetamol is not suitable for you.

If you do not have symptoms of coronavirus, you are ok to use ibuprofen as you normally would.

Am I in the very high risk of coronavirus group?

Patients in the very high risk group should have been contacted automatically by NHS England.  The link below contains the list of conditions considered at very high risk. This list applies to adults and children.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

To register for this support click the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

I am taking immune suppressing medication, should I stop them?

 

In general no, the advice is to continue your usual medications, including medications like methotrexate that affect the immune system.

I take an “ACE inhibitor” / “ARB”, should I stop it?

These are medications like Ramipril, Lisinopril, Losartan or Candesartan.

 

The European Society of Cardiology  and The Council on Hypertension strongly recommend that patients should continue treatment with their usual blood pressure medication.

However, if you are particularly unwell or at risk of dehydration please discuss with a GP as medications are often altered in this situation.

Am I eligible for financial support

Please see link below

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-guidance-for-employees

I am pregnant what do I need to know?

Please see link below:

https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/covid-19-virus-infection-and-pregnancy/