Information on face coverings
General practice is under considerable pressure as a direct result of the current challenges they are faced with delivering a service to patients, at the same time as coping with the consequences of this virus.
There is no requirement for general practice to issue letters for patients who are unable to wear face coverings, as the Government have clearly defined the exemptions to this requirement.
General practice needs to focus all its time and effort managing those who need their help and not be diverted from this by unnecessary tasks.
Many thanks for your help with this matter.
The latest information on face coverings, their role in reducing the transmission of coronavirus (COVID 19), the settings in which they are recommended, and how they should be safely used and stored can be found here
Information on appointments in primary care can be found here
B12 Injections
Our Practice Nurse Team are now showing patients how to self-administer the B12 injection in a face to face appointment in surgery. Full instructions and training will be given to the patient by the Practice nurse at the appointment so that you feel confident that you will be able to continue to administer this yourself in the future, in the comfort of your own home. The nurse will tell you when you are next due to for the injection.
Screening
Our website now has a "Screening" area, this can be found under Clinics & Services. Information on Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm screening can be found there. Further information will be added soon.
COVID 19 PRIVACY NOTICE
Information can be found click here
CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK FAQs - What you can and can't do
Information can be found here
REVISED CARERS HUB INFORMATION
A revised Carers Hub information sheet of available carer services during the coronavirus along with a list of useful telephone numbers (for everyone) can be found here
VULNERABLE ADULTS: FAQs
Please see this link for further information
COVID 19 COMMUNITY GROUPS
Do you have family, friends or neighbours that can help and support you?
If not then please see the following information showing which groups are offering help according your address:
REPEAT PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS
Please do not come into either building of Eastwood Primary Care Centre to bring in prescription requests.
The preferable way is the following (in order of preference)
- NHS app or online access
- Email your request to noweccg.epccprescriptions@nhs.net STATING YOUR NAME DATE OF BIRTH AND WHICH PHARMACY YOU WANT IT SENT TO
- if you are not able to access email you can, currently, contact the pharmacy by telephone to give them your order
- If you are not able to do any of the above then post your prescription request in the EXTERNAL POSTBOXES - each site has one clearly marked. WE NEED TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PATIENTS COMING INTO THE BUILDINGS
ADVICE ON PRESCRIPTIONS
- Please do not order your prescriptions any sooner than you normally would as this puts pressure on your GP practice and pharmacy
- Ensure you have a nominated pharmacy - if you do not already have an existing nominated pharmacy, when you order your next prescription, please let us know where you would like this sent
- For those patients without internet or email facility, you need to bring in your paper request and this needs to be posted in the external post box - preferably at the Church Walk site
- The pharmacies are dealing with a high volume of dispensing therefore they are asking that medication is not collected until 4-5 days after being requested
- Please avoid phoning the surgery to enquire if your medication is ready or if it is being delivered, only the pharmacy can answer this question, as this stops patients, who require medical assistance, getting through
- Delivery of medications is currently available for vulnerable patients. We are currently working with the local pharmacies and Eastwood, Newthorpe and Giltbrook Mutual Aid to increase capacity of deliveries. If you have relatives or friends who can collect, and are fit and not in the vulnerable group, then please ask for their help
- If you able to volunteer your time as a Meds Delivery Driver, then please see the local Mutual Aid website
- We will continue to post updates on opening hours etc for our local pharmacies as we receive them
- Please be patient and kind with our local pharmacies, they too are under extreme pressure and working hard to continue to deliver their service safely
- Continue to follow advice and information from NHS.UK and GOV.UK
SICK NOTE INFORMATION
Please see this link for the latest information.
KEY MESSAGES FOR THE PUBLIC
General practice staffing has been devastated by the impact of COVID 19, both self-isolation and the need to protect high-risk members of staff. We will, therefore, only focus on urgent patient need.
It is imperative that you work with us to protect the NHS, not just for unwell patients with COVID 19, but all other urgent conditions eg heart attacks, car accidents, cancer care. So please:
1. DO think before ringing any services: use online services first. General practice does not have the capacity to field minor queries for well patients
2. DO NOT use services unless absolutely necessary
3. DO NOT request sick notes/reports/holiday cancellation letters
4. YOU MUST follow self-isolation/social distancing guidance
5. DO use Electronic Prescribing Service to order NORMAL QUANTITIES of repeat medications
6. DO be patient with all staff - everyone is doing their bit and working flat out
We know you are anxious, we know these are hard messages. Thank you for working with us.
PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND NEIGHBOURS
Due to the ongoing situation with coronavirus we are taking measures in line with guidance shared by NHS England and Public Health Authorities to minimise risks associated with the virus. In order to protect our patients and staff we are asking our patients to support this.
What does this mean for you?
New appointments: from Monday 16 March we want to minimise the amount of patients attending the practice for face to face appointments. This means all GP appointments will be undertaken by phone. The clinician will then deem whether you need a face to face appointment. All patients will be asked some screening questions to determine whether there is a need for a coronvirus assessment.
Existing appointments: we are reviewing all existing appointments with our clinical teams. If we deem the appointment not to be urgent this may be cancelled or rescheduled at a later date. If the appointment needs to go ahead we will, wherever possible, do this over the phone. If your appointment is cancelled or changed to a telephone appointment, our administration team will contact you. If the appointment needs to be a face to face appointment you will be contacted prior to the appointment, with some screening questions, to ensure it is appropriate for you to attend.
All blood tests including INRs, vaccinations and dressing appointments will go ahead as planned but if you have symptoms of coronavirus ie high temperature or new, consistent cough, then please do not attend the surgery. Please help us to keep everyone safe. We will continue to post updates as soon as possible to keep you informed. Thank you for your support and understanding.
THE OPTION TO BOOK AN ONLINE APPOINTMENT HAS BEEN TEMPORARILY REMOVED, FOLLOWING NHS ENGLAND GUIDANCE, TO REDUCE THE RISK OF CORONAVIRUS INFECTION
For anyone concerned that they may have coronavirus, or may have come into contact with someone who has, the NHS 111 online service has created coronavirus pages letting you know what you should do based on your particular circumstances, please follow this link
For general information on coronavirus please follow this link