All GP and Nurse appointments will now be a telephone consultation. If the Doctor/Nurse decides they need to see you, they will arrange an appointment for you to come in. Some blood tests, dressings and injections will continue to be bookable.
Face Mask Exemptions
The Government now requires people to wear a facial covering on public transport and in stores. While the majority of people must abide by this, there are some who are exempt. Those exempt, or their carer should indicate the reason they are not wearing a face covering.
Due to Government advice, we will not be offering exemption letters to patients. However, Exemption cards are available for those who would prefer some carry evidence with them: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
We recommend you check your journey before you travel to find out what is specifically needed for the provider and be aware of specific requirements for certain shops and establishments.
A face covering should cover your nose and mouth, and can be as simple as a scarf, cloth mask or bandana, many retail store now stock face masks.
Shielding for the extremely vulnerable
The UK Government has set out a roadmap for the clinically extremely vulnerable on the future of the shielding programme.
For now, the guidance remains the same – stay at home and only go outside to exercise or to spend time outdoors with a member of your household, or with one other person from another household if you live alone – but the guidance will change on 6 July and again on 1 August , based on clinical evidence.
Shielding and other advice to the clinically extremely vulnerable has been and remains advisory.
If you are in receipt of Government provided food boxes and medicine deliveries, you will continue to receive this support until the end of July.
Local councils and volunteers are also providing support to people who are shielding, to enable them to stay safely in their homes. The government is funding local councils to continue to provide these services to those who need them until the end of July.
You can read more detail by clicking here
COVID-19 Isolation Notes
Use this service if you have to stay at home because of coronavirus and you need a note for your employer.
Voluntary Groups
Wiltshire Council has published a directory of community volunteer groups that have been set up throughout the county, in the wake of the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Please see this link below for more information:
Wiltshire Council Voluntary Groups Information
| Paracetamol is a very useful pain-reliever offering some comfort for a wide range of conditions including headaches, general aches and pains, and reducing fever. It does not change the disease progression; just helps make you feel a bit better. Some people have been purchasing unnecessarily large amounts from over the counter sellers including supermarkets, petrol stations, and your local community pharmacy. There are many reports of bare shelves.Community pharmacies are working hard to maintain the supply chain for paracetamol so that people who need it on a daily basis to help manage chronic pain can still have access to it.Please continue to use this option as stocks will be replenished. Your GP will only be able to issue prescriptions for small amounts of paracetamol if there is a proven clinical need not for a just in case basis.Please do not contact the surgery for medication that is not currently necessary in order to ensure supplies are reserved for those that do need them. |
| For our patients with a current diagnosis of asthma, carrying your reliever inhaler (usually blue, often salbutamol) with you is important if you think your asthma symptoms are flaring up (see https://www.asthma.org.uk/coronavirus#Advice).Pharmacies are working hard to ensure there are sufficient stocks of salbutamol for those patients that need them for asthma right now. If you have not previously had a diagnosis of asthma, or have not needed a reliever inhaler for several years then there is no reason, including the potential coronavirus infection, to request one now.All staff responsible for issuing prescriptions have been given this advice. Please do not contact the surgery for medication that is not currently necessary in order to ensure supplies are reserved for those that do need them. |
The link below is for a very useful directory that Wiltshire Council have produced, it will update as more and more info is available.…https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/news/articles/wiltshire-council-publishes-directory-of-volunteer-groups
Click the (very small) ‘Online’ link in the article, about half way down, and dozens of volunteer groups appear!
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.
Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home for 14 days if you OR anyone in your household have either:
- a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home.
Read the advice about staying at home.
