If you have a new continuous cough, and / or a temperature of 37.8 or higher or a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste please stay at home for 7 days – for further information www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or click here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection)
For the latest Corona Virus advice please visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus.
During this time if you have any other medical needs please contact the surgery by telephone and your health needs will be assessed – this may lead to a face to face consultation if needed.
We are asking all our patients to wear a face covering or something else that can cover the mouth and nose, such as a scarf, if you come to the surgery for an appointment.
The government is asking people not to buy medical grade masks so they can be saved for frontline health and care workers, and instead make their own face coverings at home.
You can use a simple scarf or bandana that ties behind your head or make your own ‘no-sew’ face coverings using the advice available online at the gov.uk website. Simply search for ‘face covering’. Face coverings are also available to buy in shops or online.
Face coverings should not be worn by children under three and people who would find wearing them difficult (such as people with breathing difficulties).
Clinicians that are seeing patients face-to-face will be wearing personal protective equipment (face mask/gloves/aprons). This is for your safety as well as theirs.
Further advice about wearing face coverings in enclosed spaces can be found here www.gov.uk/government/news/public-advised-to-cover-faces-in-enclosed-spaces
We would like to highlight the importance to parents and carers of not using face coverings on children, particularly babies which has been highlighted in recent media platforms. The Lullaby Trust who raise awareness of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and provides expert advice on safer sleep for babies have urged parents to avoid using face masks on babies and state “We are not aware of any advice for babies to wear masks, whether they are infected or not. There is a potential risk of suffocation and other hazards with doing this”.
From Friday 24th July compulsory face covering in shops will be enforced. The Government guidance states that ‘children under the age of 11 are exempt from wearing a face covering’.
Please note that it is not a requirement at this time for GP practices to provide proof of exemption letters for people who are exempt from wearing a face covering due to a medical reason. Some transport operators have downloadable exemption materials available on their websites and offer advice for those who are exempt.
Follow this link for Mask-Exemption-Cards
