Coronavirus: Covid-19

Latest information from the Clinical Commissioning Group - CCG Information 15th December 2021

New Information:  Supplementary Privacy Note on Covid-19 for Patients

As you will be aware, this is a rapidly changing problem and we will try to keep all our information as up to date as possible.

Useful links will be at the bottom of this page.

However this is a good starting point: Practice advice for Corona Virus

Please read the whole page as there will be information regarding appointments and medications as well

PEOPLE WITH A NEW COUGH OR A TEMPERATURE OF OVER 37.8C TO ASSUME THEY HAVE CORONA VIRUS COVID 19 AND SELF ISOLATE FOR 7 DAYS. DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY. IF YOU FEEL THAT THINGS ARE DETERIORATING THEN PLEASE CALL 111.

At present everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

This includes people of all ages – even if you do not have any symptoms or other health conditions.

You should only leave your home for very limited purposes:

• shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible
• one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
• any medical need, including to donate blood, to avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or help a vulnerable person
• travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home

These reasons are exceptions – even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.

To try to maintain your physical and mental well being

• stay in touch with family and friends over the phone or on social media
• try to keep yourself busy – you could try activities like cooking, reading, online learning and watching films
• do light exercise at home, or outside once a day - see NHS fitness studio: exercises you can do at home

If you need medical help for any reason, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.

There is separate advice:

• if you're at a higher risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus:  advice if you are at increased risk
• about self-isolation if you or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus:  self isolation advice

To help yourself stay well while you're at home:

Appointments and being seen at the practice 

As a result of, and with restrictions on people gathering in a confined space, we are going to be triaging the walk-in clinics at Cheriton Bishop. We would ask that people do not turn up for these clinics but use the online service from the website, or call the surgery to be triaged by a GP. We will ask people to wait in their car and call the surgery number whereupon a member of staff will take details and give instruction. People if possible will wait in their car and will be asked to enter the building as time goes on. We can see no other way of avoiding a room full of people at the same time. WE WOULD ASK PEOPLE, ADULTS AND CHILDREN WITH ANY UPPER OR LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION TO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY, PLEASE EITHER CALL FOR US TO TRIAGE OR USE THE 111 WEBSITE AS BELOW.

Regarding routine appointments we are being asked in the way of maintaining safety to keep face to face contacts to a minimum. We are still able to see people, and the full practice team will be available (health permitting). All patients needing contact will be offered a telephone consultation, or the opportunity to consult via the online service (easily found on the home page). Otherwise the appointments will be triaged by the GP's (and nurses) and taken from there.

For the next few months we will be suspending routine reviews but will make sure that these are dealt with at a later date.

We do appreciate the change in practice will be challenging but will endeavour to keep our service as complete as possible. Your understanding and help is very much appreciated.

Medication

The dispensary service will be carrying on as usual. 

We understand very much the worry regarding the coming months, however we strongly ask you not to request more than the usual monthly amounts. The reason for this is not to be obstructive but to ensure that the manufacture and supply chains remain open and robust. If stockpiling happens then this can very quickly fall down, potentially disadvantaging everyone, including those who are vulnerable. 

Your consideration would be very much appreciated.

General Corona Virus Advice

Please see the link below for the latest government advice. 

 stay at home guidance:   Government advice regarding self isolation  

For general information about corona virus:  General advice regarding corona virus

If you feel you are at risk of contact or of having corona virus please use: Use if you feel you may have corona virus 

Community help

With isolation of vulnerable groups likely any help that can be offered will only be a good thing. We have been contacted by many people kindly offering their help. 

We are aware that village parish councils are setting up systems within their own communities, along with Acorn. We very much support this and are part of this overall campaign. Please speak to the relevant Parish Council in your village if you are able to help in any way. Please also watch this page for information. 

Services available

This is no way advertising but we will populate a list of services that are available:

Firstly from Cheriton this from the Woodleigh Coach House:

Meal service for people self-isolating

We are working with a range of local organisations to arrange a sustainable way of supporting the meal requirements of vulnerable people and those who are self-isolating at this difficult time.

We will provide an update on progress over the next few days.

In the meantime if anyone needs meals for a themselves, neighbour, friends or family members please call us a Woodleigh Coach House on 01647 24711.

 All the best   Cathy, Josh and David

updated 06.12.21