10/10/2023 IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR OUR PATIENTS REGARDING COVID SECURE MEASURES
IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR OUR PATIENTS REGARDING COVID SECURE MEASURES 10/10/2023
NHS England have recently asked us to review our threshold for escalation to support decision making for increasing infection prevention and control measures such as moving back toward universal mask wearing.
Following our review we have decided that the threshold for escalation is not met and there is no need to change our current practice rules regarding infection control currently, we will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Both patient and staff do not have to wear masks but we would encourage you to do so, for your own protection and to help protect others.
Our staff will only wear a facemask in the practice if you ask them to do so and they may also wear a facemask as a precaution if they have cold or flu like symptoms.
The guidelines for health and care settings which are as follows:
1. Masks are no longer mandatory at the surgery, they are optional.
2. You no longer need to get tested if you have symptoms of a cold, flu or covid.
3. However, If you do have symptoms we are continuing to ask you to rebook your appointment if its a routine appointment for 10 days later or call us for advice. If you must come in, you will be asked to wear a facemask and may be asked to come to the isolation room to be seen.
4. We will continue to use the isolation room (hot room) to see urgent patients who have a fever or any other symptoms of Covid.
5. Our staff will only wear a facemask in the practice if you ask them to do so and they may also wear a facemask as a precaution if they have cold or flu like symptoms.
AT THE SURGERY
YOU NO LONGER NEED TO WEAR A FACEMASK
We NO LONGER require you to wear a facemask in public areas such as the waiting room or when seeing Doctors at the surgery so long as you have no symptoms of a cold or flu. Equally our staff will no longer wear facemasks at work or during consultations unless they have cold or flu like symptoms.
ALWAYS ASK US TO WEAR A MASK IF YOU WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE FOR US TO WEAR A MASK DURING YOUR CONSULTATION.
We know some of you may be immunosuppressed and may not have an adequate response to the vaccine and that many of you are worried about lifting of restrictions.
If you are immunocompromised, or are worried you can ask the clinician to wear a mask.
We will also try to prioritise you for appointments at quiet times at the surgery and we may be in a position to offer you a separate waiting area for your added protection, please ask us about these options when you call or email us. You may wish to speak to a clinician about your concerns.
WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF POSSIBLE COVID?
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF A COLD OR FLU, YOU NO LONGER NEED TO GET TESTED, IDEALLY YOU SHOULD STAY AT HOME FOR AT LEAST FIVE DAYS
IF YOU DO HAVE TO LEAVE YOUR HOME PLEASE WEAR A FACEMASK FOR 5-10 DAYS
If you have symptoms of Covid or Flu you no longer need to get tested. You should ideally wear a facemask for 10 days since Day 1 of symptoms. If you can you should stay at home for a minimum of 5 days.
If you need to come in for an urgent appointment, you are no longer required to get tested for Covid 19 but you will be expected to wear a facemask in the waiting area or be offered an appointment in our HOT (isolation) room following telephone triage.
We will continue to provide facemasks to anyone that needs them in the waiting area.
PATIENTS BOOKING APPOINTMENTS
CONTINUE TO BOOK OR ASK FOR ADVICE ONLINE OR BY PHONE AND IDEALLY DO NOT COME TO THE SURGERY UNLESS YOU HAVE A BOOKED APPOINTMENT.
We will continue to encourage all patients to always book an appointment or seek advice initially over the phone, online or online and not to attend the surgery unless you have a booked appointment or have been asked to do so.
Please use our Accurx triage system
CONTINUED MIXTURE OF FACE TO FACE AND ONLINE/TELEPHONE APPOINTMENTS
We will continue to offer a range of options for appointments including telephone calls, face to face appointments and video consultations which are both book on the day and bookable in advance. We will continue to monitor demand for face to face appointments and adjust screens accordingly.
CONTINUED USE OF THE HOT ROOM
We will continue to use the isolation room (hot room) for any patients who need to be seen who have symptoms of a cough, cold or flu. If you have new symptoms of a cold (runny nose, sore throat, headache or sneezing) or classic covid symptoms (persistent cough, fever, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell or taste) and you feel your problem is URGENT. Call or message us on 01585872939 and
https://florey.accurx.com/p/M82043 and ask to be added to the duty dr list for a call back.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF A COLD OR FLU CONTINUE TO STAY HOME IF YOU CAN AND REBOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT IF ITS ROUTINE FOR 10 DAYS LATER
We continue to remind our patients that the symptoms of Covid can be similar to a cold. Please do not come to our surgery FOR A ROUTINE APPOINTMENT if you have new symptoms of a cold (runny nose, sore throat, headache or sneezing) or classic covid symptoms (persistent cough, fever, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell or taste). Call or message us online on 01585872939 and
https://florey.accurx.com/p/M82043 TO REBOOK THE APPT FOR 10 DAYS AFTER YOUR SYMPTOMS STARTED
References
Guidance: Managing healthcare staff with symptoms of a respiratory infection or a positive COVID-19 test result Updated 31 March 2023
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-managing-healthcare-staffwith-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection/managing-healthcare-staff-with-symptomsof-a-respiratory-infection-or-a-positive-covid-19-test-result
Guidance: COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care Updated 4 April 2023
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infection-prevention-and-control-inadult-social-care-covid-19-supplement/covid-19-supplement-to-the-infectionprevention-and-control-resource-for-adult-social-care
THESE GUIDELINES ABOVE SUPERSEDE THE PREVIOUS GUIDELINES BELOW WHICH WERE LAST UPDATED IN 2021