Covid 19: Practice Service Updates and Resources

Dr Chawdhery Recommends the Covid Vaccination to our patients. Watch her on video:

Your Covid Pass Information – What you need to know: CLICK HERE

31 Dec 2020

COVID-19 Vaccine: The NHS will get in touch when it’s your turn to be vaccinated – please do not contact the Surgery before then

The vaccine may not be given at your GP Practice but by the local vaccination service at a local hub.

The first phase of the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme has begun. However, initially the vaccination will be prioritised for those over 80, care home workers and residents, and frontline health and care staff. These vaccinations will be delivered through a limited number of Hospital and GP Hubs. See this leaflet explaining who was chosen for the first group and why.

If you are in a priority group, when it is the right time, you will receive an invitation to come forward for your vaccination. For most people this will be a letter (some might receive a call or a text), either from the practice or the national NHS. This letter will include all the information you will need to book appointments, including your NHS number.

This is going to be a long-term programme and it will likely take until at least Spring before all high-risk groups have been offered a COVID-19 vaccine.

Please help us and do not contact the practice or other NHS services to get an appointment for a COVID vaccination until you get this letter. Please also continue to follow the national guidance to control the virus and save lives.

Information on the vaccine is available on www.selondonccg.nhs.uk/what-we-do/covid-19/

Priority Cohort Sequence

Older people’s care homes residents and staff
People 80 years of age and over, and healthcare and social care workers
People 75 years of age and over
People 70 years of age and over
People 65 years of age and over
Adults under 65 years of age at high risk due to medical conditions
Adults under 65 years of age at moderate risk due to medical conditions
People 60 years of age and over
People 55 years of age and over
People 50 years of age and over
Key workers, and the rest of the population

Some people think GP surgeries haven’t been open during the pandemic.

Find out how 306 MEDICAL CENTRE has been doing during April – June 2020: CLICK ON THIS LINK

COVID 19 Pandemic:

July 2020: Latest Patient Shielding Guidance: CLICK HERE

To ensure we can continue to sustain patient services during these challenging times, at 306 Medical Centre we have had to implement some precautionary measures to reduce face to face patient contact, to manage risk to both our patients and staff.

As a PRECAUTION ONLY, we ask ALL patients NOT to attend Surgery if they have a cough or fever and generally for anything non-essential which can be dealt with on the telephone.

As you are aware the situation is evolving and service changes may become necessary from time to time and sometimes without notice.

We thank you in advance for your co-operation

For Full Details please CLICK HERE

On Monday 16 March the UK government announced a package of measures, advising those who are or may be at increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19 to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. In the event that you or a family member in the high risk group have not received the letter directly, for a copy: CLICK HERE

Find your local Covid-19 Mutual Aid support group here: https://covidmutualaid.org/local-groups/

Self isolating and need help : CLICK HERE

Well-being and Mental Health during Covid -19 : CLICK HERE

The Nest in Southwark provides free mental health and well-being support for young people aged 13 – 25: CLICK HERE

Domestic Abuse -Are you experiencing domestic abuse, call the freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 or CLICK HERE

Post-Covid19 Information Pack – Helping you to recover and manage your symptoms following COVID-19 : CLICK HERE

Covid-19: Medical Certificate Guidance

Thursday, 19 March 2020

Requests for certification of absence from the workplace relating to covid-19 may fall into

five categories:

Symptomatic so isolating for seven days – Patients can and should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work. They do not need to contact their GP.
Symptomatic and remaining unwell for over seven days – If they remain unwell and unfit to work after seven days, the current advice is to visit NHS 111 Online, where there is an online self-assessment tool which should be up and running soon. They do not need to contact their GP for a certificate.
Household contact symptoms so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice – GPs cannot and are not the gatekeeper of the statutory sick pay system, and can only provide certificates for the purpose of illness, not in relation to government advice regarding self-isolation. Employers are responsible for putting in place arrangements for home/remote working where this is possible. Where it is not, the employee may self-certify and return to work following the relevant absence which their employer may authorise as per government advice. For Isolation notes, CLICK HERE
At risk group so following government advice – Where they do become unwell during or after this time, point 1 and 2 applies. They do not need to contact their GP.
Those in full time education who are symptomatic or requiring self-isolation – There is no NHS requirement to issue certification to schools or colleges to confirm absence. These organisations must work with parents and students to ensure that any absence is appropriately recorded, obviating the need for a ‘doctor’s note’. They do not need to contact their GP.

The current Government Guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19) states:

“By law, medical evidence is not required for the first 7 days of sickness. After 7 days, employers may use their discretion around the need for medical evidence if an employee is staying at home. We strongly suggest that employers use their discretion around the need for medical evidence for a period of absence where an employee is advised to stay at home either as they are unwell themselves, or live with someone who is, in accordance with the public health advice issued by the government.”

How coronavirus is spread

Because it’s a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person. Similar viruses spread in cough droplets.

It’s highly unlikely coronavirus can be spread through packages from affected countries or through food.

How to avoid catching or spreading germs

There’s currently no vaccine for coronavirus. But there are things you can do to help stop germs like coronavirus spreading.

Do:

cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
put used tissues in the bin straight away
wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Don’t