Coronavirus Information

Coronavirus - National Lockdown: Stay At Home

COVID-19 & National Lockdown (5th Jan 21)

The government has issued 'National Lockdown: Stay at Home' guidance. Further information is available here.

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.

Please rest assured that you can still consult the clinical team via telephone consultation. We are using technology such as video consultation and e-consult to help you during this period. The clinical team are working hard to ensure we continue to deliver high-quality care in the current circumstances.

Information is changing on a regular basis. To keep up-to-date with the most recent information, please click here. 

IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

If you are unwell with COVID-19 symptoms or something else, please do not delay contacting the surgery. We are working differently, but have everything in place to be able to hold consultations via telephone and manage your problem, assisted by new technologies. If you are feeling unwell, do not delay making contact because of COVID-19. 

Please click here for the latest information on isolating at home, for those with suspected COVID-19.

ARRANGING A COVID-19 TEST

Eligible individuals can now APPLY for COVID-19 testing if you have symptoms. If you have COVID-19 symptoms, check if you are eligible for testing at a test centre or at home by clicking here.

SHIELDING

Guidance on shielding and protecting people who are 'clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19' is available here.

Individuals who are 'extremely clinically vulnerable' are as below:

• solid organ transplant recipients
• those with specific cancers:
  • people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy
  • people with lung cancer who are undergoing radical radiotherapy
  • people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
  • people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
  • people having other targeted cancer treatments that can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
  • people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
• those with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• those with rare diseases that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), homozygous sickle cell disease)
• those on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection
• adults with Down’s syndrome
• adults on dialysis or with chronic kidney disease (stage 5)
• women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired
• other people who have also been classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, based on clinical judgement and an assessment of their needs. GPs and hospital clinicians have been provided with guidance to support these decisions Individuals who are 'clinically vulnerable':
• If you are over 60 or clinically vulnerable, you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. You:
• PLEASE NOTE: 'Extremely clinically vulnerable' differs from those recognised as 'clinically vulnerable'

• should be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise your contacts with others
• should continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual and maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and/or workspace
• 'Clinically Vulnerable' Individuals are:

• aged 70 or over (regardless of medical conditions)
• under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (that is, anyone instructed to get a flu jab each year on medical grounds):
  • chronic (long-term) mild to moderate respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
  • chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
  • chronic kidney disease
  • chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
  • chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
  • diabetes
  • a weakened immune system as the result of certain conditions or medicines they are taking (such as steroid tablets)
  • being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
• pregnant 
• The detailed government guidance is available here and here.