COVID-19: Patient Advice

STAY ALERT

Please note that we don’t yet know whether the rules for the NHS will change.

So, until this is confirmed, please continue to:
– wear your mask in the surgery
– keep distance when in the surgery
– arrive no longer than five minutes before your appointment time
– avoid attending for routine care when you have covid
– tell us if you have covid symptoms or are covid positive when you have an appointment

That way we can keep all patients safe – including those who cannot be vaccinated or whose immune systems are compromised/weak.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60467183

Keep up to date with the latest coronavirus information: gov.uk/coronavirus

To find out what you can and cannot do, visit: Coronavirus Outbreak FAQs

Guidance for those who are clinically vulnerable can be found HERE

SYMPTOMS

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

Check the NHS Website if you have symptoms. To protect others, DO NOT leave your home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms and get a TEST

Please use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.

FACE COVERING ADVICE

Visiting our practice?  Please continue to wear a face covering and social distance

Patients are asked to continue to wear a face covering, unless they are exempt, and to follow social distancing when visiting our GP Practice.

This follows the national Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Guidance for all healthcare settings and will help to ensure the safety of our staff and patients at all times.

Thank you for your continued support.

Multilingual Coronavirus Advice:

The Rosmini Centre is currently working with Public Health Cambridgeshire to help provide information about coronavirus, making it easily accessible to all in the community. Please see below and visit their website here for more information.

HELP US HELP YOU GET THE HELP YOU NEED

Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented coronavirus national emergency and following the latest government advice we are not able to offer any pre-bookable routine face to face appointments. This is for the safety of both our patients and our staff.  If you need an appointment with a Doctor or Nurse, please contact us via telephone to access our triage service where a doctor will contact you, if necessary. 

Nurses appointments for urgent blood tests requested by Doctor, INR, Drug monitoring blood tests, Mum & Baby 8 week checks, Immunisations and Cervical smear tests are still going ahead, please contact the surgery to book your appointment.

The dispensing of repeat medications is continuing as usual. Please use our online patient Systmonline service or NHS app to order prescriptions. Please be advised we are also asking all patients to nominate a pharmacy for your prescriptions to be sent to electronically, for you to then collect when ready.

For more information please read our COVID-19 FAQs .

Advice for parents during Coronavirus

Whilst coronavirus is infectious to children it is rarely serious. If your child is unwell it is likely to be a non-coronavirus illness, rather than coronavirus itself.

Whilst it is extremely important to follow Government advice to stay at home during this period, it can be confusing to know what to do when your child is unwell or injured. Remember that NHS 111, GPs and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done.  Click Here for some advice to help during these times.

Self-Certification for Self-Isolation

Please be advised that East Barnwell Health Centre is not able to provide a medical certificate for patients requiring self-isolation for coronavirus. Patients absent from work due to sickness and/or being symptomatic and needing to self-isolate are able to self-certify.

Under the current circumstances the Government has asked that employers use their discretion and be flexible around the need for medical evidence if an employee is absent from work for more than seven days due to sickness.

We need to prioritise our care in meeting the needs of our patients at this time and are unable to provide fit notes or write letters of support to employers for self-isolation. Should you wish to provide your employer with documentation then please click the button below to download and complete the form for their consideration.

Self Isolating Statutory Sick Pay 

You should direct your employer to the ACAS website; https://www.acas.org.uk/coronavirus which states:

The government has stated that if NHS 111 or a doctor advises an employee or worker to self-isolate, they should receive any Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) due to them. If the employer offers contractual sick pay, it’s good practice to pay this.

The employee must tell their employer as soon as possible if they cannot work. They should tell their employer the reason and how long they’re likely to be off for.

HMRC Employee’s Statement of Sickness to claim Statutory Sick Pay

Join a COVID-19 clinical trial

The PRINCIPLE trial aims to find treatments that reduce hospital admission and improve symptoms for people with COVID-19. You could be eligible to join if:

You have had these symptoms for fewer than 15 days:

– a continuous new or worsening cough

– High temperature

You are aged 50 to 64 with a pre-existing illness

You are aged 65 and above

• Find out more