March 24, 2020

Dear Patients

Please excuse the long post, but this is a very important update.

NATIONAL LOCKDOWN

The country is in a state of national lockdown as of March 23, 2020. A national emergency has been declared.

Official information on staying at home .

And businesses and premises to close .

URGENT CALLS ONLY

As with many other businesses or organisations, we are not immune to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, having to deal with staff sick, self-isolating, shielding or with child-care issues. We are also having to follow social distancing advice.

We will only be accepting strictly urgent calls for advice and treatment by telephone only in line with national guidance.

CONDITIONS ADVICE

We realise you will have plenty of questions about how to manage your condition (for instance, diabetes care, asthma, nurse procedures), so we have set up a page to help you.

This is a work in progress so please bear with us - we will add to it as we go so please bookmark and revisit. Any questions please ask - we will do what we can to help.

CORONAVIRUS ADVICE

For any coronavirus related questions (e.g., check if you are vulnerable, advice on shielding, getting worse, getting a sick note etc), please visit our coronavirus page and look for scenarios.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

For general questions and answers on how we will function, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.

PATIENTS AT VERY HIGH RISK

The NHS is writing or texting very high risk groups to advise them of the need to shield and those affected should receive some sort of notification by Sunday March 29, 2020.

We have been asked to identify additional patients at very high risk of severe illness as a result of coronavirus requiring admission to hospital. Those identified will receive a text from us in due course, however, you can check official guidance .

INFORMATION VIDEOS

Here are links to some new information videos we have created for our patients to let them know the latest information.

• Not business as usual
• Coronavirus: prevent spread
• Coronavirus: suspected case
• No face to face
• Stay at Home
• Stay at Home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives

Please be responsible

Due to the current crisis, we ask all patients to:

• DO think before ringing your GP or any NHS services
• DO NOT use NHS services unless absolutely necessary/urgent
• DO NOT request sick notes, reports, holiday cancellation letters for coronavirus purposes from your GP
• DO follow official self-isolation, social distancing and lockdown instructions
• DO use online prescription ordering to order usual normal quantities of repeat medications
• DO try self-care first and use online help like nhs.uk or 111 online
• DO be patient with all staff – everyone is doing their bit and working flat out

Many thanks for your co-operation during these very difficult times.

Kind regards

Ivy Grove Surgery