IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:

IF YOU ARE FEELING UNWELL WITH SORE THROAT, CONTINUOUS COUGH, TEMPERATURE DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY.

REMAIN AT HOME, SELF ISOLATE AND IF REQUIRED CONTACT NHS111 USING THEIR ONLINE TOOL.

If you or someone you know are experiencing a crisis and need urgent mental health support call 111 (or visit www.111.nhs.uk) and speak to the NHS Mental Health Triage Service.

UPDATE FROM THE SURGERY AND HOW OUR SERVICES ARE BEING RUN:

• PATIENTS IN THE HIGHER RISK (SHIELDING) CATEGORY HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND ARE TO REMAIN SHIELDED UNTIL 31/7/2020

• THE MILTON PARK SITE REMAINS CLOSED TO PATIENTS

• ALL GP APPOINTMENTS WILL BE TRIAGE'D BY TELEPHONE BEFORE ANY DECISION CAN BE MADE REGARDING ATTENDING THE SURGERY. DO NOT TURN UP WITHOUT PRIOR AGREEMENT, YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE SURGERY

• URGENT / ESSENTIAL FACE TO FACE APPOINTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE ENSURE YOU WEAR A FACE MASK. A TEMPERATURE CHECK WILL BE DONE AT THE DOOR

• NURSE / HCA / BLOOD TEST APPOINTMENTS WILL BE CONTACTED BY PHONE PRIOR TO ATTENDING TO ENSURE YOU ARE WELL ENOUGH TO COME TO THE SURGERY

• DO NOT BRING URINE SAMPLES TO THE PRACTICE UNLESS WE ASK YOU TO DO SO

• USE E-CONSULT - ITS AVAILABLE 24/7 SO HELPS AVOID THE USUAL PEAKS OF PATIENTS CONTACTING THE SURGERY

• MEDICATION WILL BE ISSUED FOR AN INITIAL 56 DAY SUPPLY

• REPEAT MEDICATIONS CAN BE ORDERED USING SYSTMONLINE, OR BY EMAIL www.esp.scripts@nhs.net. PAPER REQUESTS MUST BE A LAST RESORT AS COVID 19 CAN SURVIVE UP TO 72 HRS ON A SURFACE

• IF YOU HAVEN'T YET NOMINATED A PHARMACY PLEASE DO SO ASAP AS SCRIPTS WILL NOT BE COLLECTIBLE FROM THE SURGERY

• SICK NOTES (MED3) WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR SELF ISOLATION OR SOCIAL DISTANCING - "After 7 days, it is for the employer to determine any evidence they require, if any, from their employee. This does not need to be a fit note (MED3) issued by a GP or any other doctor." - FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

• PRIVATE MEDICAL REQUESTS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED FOR KEY WORKERS AS IDENTIFIED BY THE GOVERNMENT. OTHER REQUESTS WILL BE CONSIDERED CASE BY CASE

The above measures are all based on the advice given by NHS England. They allow us to use the resources we have available in a way that patients that must be seen are still seen by a clinician.

Whilst lockdown measures ease across the UK the measures to protect patients and the NHS remain very much in place resulting in our services remaining limited. We fully appreciate that this new model of care may cause frustrations. Despite what you may see out and about we are still very much in a Pandemic situation and must ensure our staff and patients are kept as safe as possible.

Remember: STAY ALERT, CONTROL THE VIRUS, SAVE LIVES.