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.

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

• PATIENTS IN THE HIGHER RISK CATEGORIES WILL BE WRITTEN TO BY NHS ENGLAND DIRECTLY

• PATIENTS IN THE RISK CATEGORIES WILL BE WRITTEN TO BY THEIR GP SURGERY AS SOON AS THOSE GROUPS ARE CONFIRMED BY NHS ENGLAND (it was hoped this would be by the 29th March but that deadline has since passed)

• THESE LETTERS WILL BE YOUR PROOF TO EMPLOYERS ETC. OF ANY RESTRICTIONS BEING PLACED ON YOU DUE TO YOUR UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS. WE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTING REQUESTS FOR ANY OTHER LETTERS TO BE PRODUCED FOR EMPLOYERS ETC.

• 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/

• THE MILTON PARK SITE IS NOW CLOSED TO OUR PATIENTS

• ONLY URGENT / ESSENTIAL APPOINTMENTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE AVAILABLE.

• ALL NON ESSENTIAL / ROUTINE REVIEW APPOINTMENTS WILL BE POSTPONED UNTIL A LATER DATE IF THEY CANNOT BE COMPLETED BY PHONE

• ALL GP APPOINTMENTS WILL BE TRIAGE'D BY TELEPHONE BEFORE ANY DECISION CAN BE MADE REGARDING ATTENDING THE SURGERY

• 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

• EXTENDED ACCESS CLINICS WILL STOP WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT, THE SURGERY HOURS WILL BE 08:00 - 18:30 MON - FRI

• MEDICATION WILL BE ISSUED FOR AN INITIAL 28 DAY SUPPLY, WITH 2 FURTHER POST DATED SCRIPTS AT 28 DAY INTERVALS BEING CREATED

• DO NOT GET TEMPTED TO PURCHASE MEDICATION FROM ANYWHERE OTHER A LEGITIMATE SOURCE, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE BUYING !

• QUANTITIES OF INHALERS WILL BE LIMITED TO ONE WHERE APPROPRIATE

• 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

• 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.

Remember: STAY AT HOME, PROTECT THE NHS, SAVE LIVES.