CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION UPDATE

We will provide regular updates to our patients and community with regards to the practice plans.  The updates will be posted on social media and our website, please inform any family/friends who may not have access to the internet.

Government Guidance Changes: (Monday 16th March)

Government guidance has now changed, anyone with a new persistent cough and or a high temperature (37.8 degrees centigrade or higher) should self-isolate for 7 days from the onset of symptoms. (if you live with other people, they should stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person got symptoms

You no longer need to contact NHS 111 unless your symptoms deteriorate. 111 website

(https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19)

There is now a Community Home Visiting Service in Dorset who will manage the care of anyone self-isolating when needed.

Changes to appointments from Monday 16^th March 2020

We would like to minimise the number of patients attending the practice for face to face appointments.  This is to reduce footfall in the surgery to help us with infection prevention and control.  Our aim is to keep everyone as safe as possible from the risk of Coronavirus.

Appointments: We have stopped online booking.  All new appointment requests will be triaged by phone by a GP to make sure you get the most appropriate appointment, this might be face to face or it may be by telephone.

If you have a non-urgent query please consider using our e-Consult method via our website www.sherborneapples.co.uk This can be used to upload pictures of rashes etc.

We will be concentrating on the most important types of care.  This means we may not be able to do all usual non-essential work such as Ear Syringing, Minor Operations and non-essential bloods tests.

Routine Asthma, Diabetes and COPD reviews will be conducted over the telephone with a Clinician where possible.

These changes are intended to reduce risk of Coronavirus infection and help us deliver the most essential health care over the coming months.

UPDATE FROM TUESDAY 17TH MARCH:

When you attend the surgery please ring the doorbell and a member of staff will open the door and ask to take your temperature.

If you have an appointment you will be asked to wait in the car (if you drove to the surgery) or if not, then to wait on the bench in the porch and the Clinician will then come and get you.

We have decided to take this approach to try to limit our footfall and the number of patients in the surgery, our aim is to keep everyone as safe as possible from the risk of Coronavirus

UPDATE 23^rd MARCH 2020 

Prescriptions:

When collecting your prescription please use your own pen to sign

Please leave at least 2 clear working days to collect

If you have consented to SMS messages, if possible, the Dispensary will text you to inform you that your prescription is ready to collect

Vulnerable Patients:

We have now been given the list of the most vulnerable patients who will be receiving the letter from the NHS this coming week regarding staying indoors and fully isolating.  This is 88 patients out of the 5640 we look after.  We understand this is a worrying time for everybody, but PLEASE would you refrain from phoning the surgery to ask if you are on the list.  It means that those needing medical attention will struggle to get through.  The 88 will be contacted.  If you believe you fit the criteria in the link below and haven’t received a letter by 29^th March, then please contact us.

For details of the shielding policy including who is in this cohort of patients, please look here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Thank You

Greg, Steve, Rob and Ange

Dr Greg Miles; Dr Steve Morris; Dr Rob Lewis and Dr Angela Tweedie

Reception Hours: Monday - Friday 8.00am - 6.30pm

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NEW - SELF-REFERRAL FOR PHYSIOTHERAPY

Patients can access this online at the Dorset healthcare website by searching for ‘outpatient physiotherapy’-

https://www.dorsethealthcare.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/our-services-hospitals/physical-health/outpatient-physiotherapy-service (or see our front page for the link to the form)
 
The self-referral form can either be brought in to physiotherapy and left with reception or patients can email the form over.

All referrals will be prioritised in the usual manner, by a senior physiotherapist.

We are working to improve access to appointments for our patients, in particular at evenings and weekends. If you would like to be offered one of these appointments, which may be at a different site, please ask your surgery