URGENT MESSAGE RE. COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS): CHANGE TO APPOINTMENTS & ADVICE (UPDATE 17/3/2020)

Coronavirus Information Update

Judges Close Surgery  

This guidance will be updated alongside government guidance so is likely to change in the coming weeks.

Guidance Changes

The guidance has now changed for the Coronavirus. Anyone with a new continuous cough or high temperature should self-isolate for 14 days from the onset of symptoms (7 days if you live alone). The entire household should self-isolate.

You do not need to discuss this with the GP surgery or 111 unless your symptoms deteriorated. In that case please contact 111.

Please find official guidance here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Important message for parents  

“At this challenging time, it is extremely important for you to know that COVID-19 is unlikely to make your child unwell, but they like everyone else might be infectious so staying at home when well remains the message. However, all the ‘normal’ illnesses that can make children severely unwell still remain and there is a major risk that parents may delay bringing their child to the attention of a healthcare professionals even if they are unwell because of concerns about COVID-19. GPs and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done for children. If you are not sure if your child is unwell and whether they need to be seen, click here https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national ,call 111 or contact your GP. If your child appears severely unwell and advice is not quickly available call 999 or take them to ED as you would in other times.”

Changes to Appointments at the Practice

In line with national advice, we are trying to reduce footfall in the practice this helps prevent the spread of the virus. This benefits staff and patients. The following changes have been implemented to keep our patients safe.

1. All GP appointments will be converted to telephone triage calls; please do not attend the practice if you have a pre-booked appointment. The clinician will call you and if you need to be seen they will arrange a time and place for you to attend.
2. Nursing appointments will be changing, we will be ceasing the following procedures for the time being; spirometry, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, coils, hormonal contraceptive implants, minor operations and routine annual blood tests for those who are well.
3. Nursing appointments will continue at this time for; all wound management, stitch removal, INR clinics, vitamin B12 injections, zoladex injections, densoumab injections, child immunisations, baby checks, cervical screening and clinically indicated urgent blood tests for those undergoing treatment for serious conditions.
4. Asthma, Diabetes and COPD reviews will be conducted over the telephone with patients.

 Further advice and guidance is available on the NHS website here:

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

COVID19 Diabetes information link, including sick day rules advice

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

Diabetes and COVID-19

Please be patient with us during this very difficult period, by working together and following the available guidance we will get through this.

• Patients do not need their GP to verify they need to self-isolate, NHS 111 have system to deliver digital verification. Please visit https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/ to get an isolation note or alternatively  please click on the following for a letter from Judges Close Surgery that you can give  to your employer 

Letter from Judges Close Surgery re fit notes for Covid- 19

 Ordering Prescriptions during the COVID -19 Pandemic

We would encourage patients not to visit the surgery during this time to drop repeat prescription requests  into the surgery.

A number of options are available to you to order your repeat prescriptions

• If you have patient  online access  you can order your prescriptions on line
• If you are not already  registered for patient access you can download the NHS App via Apple App Store or Google Play . This will ask you for forms of identification before your account is activated ( but no need to visit the surgery- it can all be done via the App)
• You can post your repeat prescription request to us
• You can email your request  to us HSCCG.Judgesclose-Eastgrinstead@nhs.net
• Please ensure you tell us which pharmacy  you would like your prescription sending to .
• For those of you required to self isolate you may wish to ask your pharmacy  about delivery services
• We  are happy to issue 2 months worth of prescriptions at a time ( the exception to this would be any medications which are deemed a controlled drug) We can also post date a prescription  for  2 months time so your pharmacist has it in advance saving you from ordering again
• Polite plea; whilst we appreciate that there may currently be problems buying paracetamol over the counter , we would ask that you do not request a prescription for this from your GP. The only exception to this may be patients who  have a chronic musculoskeletal problem who  need this medication regularly and have previously  bought their paracetamol over the counter.

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Letters to High Risk Patients

https://modalitypartnership.nhs.uk/about-us