Patients coming to the surgery will still need to wear a suitable face covering that covers nose and mouth, use the hand sanitiser that we provide and socially distance. Only one person will be allowed into the room for any face to face consultation – children and people with a carer can be accompanied by ONE adult. Our staff will continue to wear appropriate PPE.
We have made this decision as patients coming to the surgery are often sick, vulnerable and may be unvaccinated due to medical reasons. We feel that these precautions will help protect everyone.
We also need to minimise the number of our staff catching COVID so a functioning service is maintained, so for this reason alone these measures are vital.
Our consultations will continue as they have throughout the pandemic and will be offered via phone, video or face to face if clinically appropriate. We are also using eConsult.
We have all come so far in trying to minimise the impact of COVID and we need to continue to protect our staff and patients.We would also like to take this opportunity to remind people that we have a Zero Tolerance Policy in place at the practice. Our staff have been experiencing higher levels of physical and verbal abuse. We do realize that people can become upset when they are or poorly but abuse towards staff is not acceptable.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in adults and children
- a high temperature or shivering (chills) – a high temperature 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
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- shortness of breath
- feeling tired or exhausted
- an aching body
- a headache
- a sore throat
- a blocked or runny nose
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea
- feeling sick or being sick
(The symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.)
What to do if you have symptoms if you are an ADULT:
Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have symptoms of COVID-19 and either:
- you have a high temperature
- you do not feel well enough to go to work or do your normal activities
Take extra care to avoid close contact with anyone who is at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.
You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature.
For a CHILD
Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either:
- have a high temperature
- do not feel well enough to go to school, college or childcare, or do their normal activities
They can go back to school, college or childcare when they feel better or do not have a high temperature.
If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school, college or childcare.
Encourage your child to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and to wash their hands after using or throwing away tissues.
Most children who are unwell will recover in a few days with rest and plenty of fluids.
Find out more about what to do if you have COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19
- You can arrange a Covid test online HERE
- You can get more information about Coronavirus HERE
- Please note if you or a household member has been diagnosed with suspected Covid and you are self isolating, you can access a medical certificate HERE
- You can get NHS 111 advice online HERE