Do not come to the surgery. Exceptions are appointments that require a physical procedure, namely:

• Urgent Blood tests (as requested by a clinician)
• INR (warfarin blood tests)
• Dressings
• Injections
• Baby Immunisations
• Post-natal mother and baby checks
• Contraceptive implants and Coil fits
• Smears

These appointments will still take place face to face provided that the patient is well and has not got a cough or a temperature. Patients who have an appointment booked for any of the above procedures will be sent a text message or called by telephone the day before advising them not to come to their appointment if they have a cough or temperature.

If you are not sure whether you should attend an appointment please call us first. If you would prefer to cancel your appointment or you are self-isolating and cannot attend please let us know.

All prescriptions should be ordered by calling the Medicines Order Line on 01246 588860 or via online ordering.

We apologise that this may be frustrating. We are working to safeguard the health and well-being of all patients and our staff and your understanding is appreciated.

Please DO NOT attend surgery if you have been abroad in the last 14 days and have a sore throat, cough and or fever.  Stay indoors, avoid close contact with other people.

For more information: https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19 and follow the questions before contacting 111 directly by phone. For more information visit: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Patients with respiratory symptoms will be isolated on attending the surgery and they will be advised about how this will be arranged when the appointment is booked. There will be designated rooms that will be cleaned between patients.

Patients will be seen by a clinician wearing disposable protective equipment to protect both patients and staff.  But as before, all patients will have a telephone consultation with a clinician before any face to face appointment, regardless of their symptoms.

Wherever possible we will be managing care and monitoring patients by telephone.

Our reception and clinical staff are working extremely hard to put the new processes in place and provide information and telephone appointments to everyone who needs them. Please bear with us, it is very busy. Please only contact your surgery by telephone and if you have an urgent need.

This is a large scale change to our way of operating and we will need to continue to review our processes to meet the current challenges. This is a situation that is changing daily and we will modify how we are delivering our service in line with these changes. We will keep our website updated.

Anyone who develops symptoms of a new persistent cough, fever (over 37.8) or shortness of breath should immediately:

• Stay indoors, self-isolated with the rest of your household for 14 days if living alone this can be reduced to 7 days
• Information for the public is available at uk. 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.

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.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.