If you have a high temperature, fever or a new continuous cough please DO NOT to come down to surgery.

• Access more information via https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
• Patients who are isolating should not go out of their house during the period of their isolation
• Any patient who provides false information to gain a face to face appointment may be removed from the practice list

To protect our patients and staff, we are making the following changes:

• The doors are now closed; all contact with the surgery must be made by telephone
• Do not attend the Practice unless you advised by a GP or Nurse
• Telephone appointments are available with a GP or Nurse
• When the clinician phones you back it may be from a withheld number, as the clinician may be working from home

Rescue Packs

We have been made aware of some inaccurate information circulating (especially on social media) regarding special ‘rescue packs’ of antibiotics and oral steroids for patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (or even for those who don’t have these conditions).

We would like to reassure you that patients who suffer with severe respiratory conditions already have these in place (along with the instructions how to use them). Oral steroids are powerful medicines and any decision to use them would need careful evaluation by a prescriber, usually a doctor or respiratory specialist nurse.

Please do not contact your GP practice for a rescue pack unless this is something that has been previously agreed and prescribed by your medical team. You should continue to manage your condition in the usual way and if you feel you have symptoms of COVID-19, go to https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 or call 111 (online services should be used as a first choice) before doing anything else.

Order Your Prescriptions

• Register for online services to enable you to order your prescriptions online
• Choose a Pharmacy to receive prescriptions electronically and you can pick them up from there
• Please allow 72 hours from the day you request your prescription to the day of collection from your Pharmacy
• Please avoid ringing either the surgery or the pharmacy to find out if  your prescription is ready – this frees telephone lines for other calls
• Prescriptions can be collected from the Pharmacy of your choice between the times of 10 am - 12 pm and 2pm - 4 pm
• You can request your prescriptions by telephone if you are unable to access online services

Contacting the Practice

• You do not need to contact the practice for advice if you are experiencing mild symptoms of Covid-19.  You should follow the guidance at: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
• The advice being provided on this website is the same advice you will be provided with from the practice.
• We do not have kits or provide testing for Covid-19. Only patients currently being admitted to hospital are being tested if deemed appropriate
• You should dial 999 if you are experiencing severe breathing difficulties.

Patient Self Isolation Notes - advice from the Department of Health :

People unable to work for more than seven days because of Corona Virus (COVID 19) can obtain an isolation note through a new online service by following the links below:

• https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Phlebotomy Clinics Have Benn Moved To Billingham Health Centre, Queensway