Coronavirus ADvice

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.

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Stay at home if you or anyone in your household has either:

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• a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)

• a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

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Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital

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Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do

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Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:

• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home

• your condition gets worse

• your symptoms do not get better after 7 days

Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.

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Go to nhs.uk for simple and clear information on 

• Self isolation

• At risk groups including the most at risk "shielded" group

• How to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus

• Pregnancy advice

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Extremely Vulnerable Shielded Patients

These are the group of patients who are are at the highest risk of severe illness from coronavirus and are being asked to "shield" for 12 weeks. NHS England have written to this group of patients with further advice. Detailed advice from Public Health England can be found here.

GP Practices will also be identifying additional patients in this group and writing to them.  All GP Practices are awaiting further guidance from NHS England on the identification process so if you have not received a letter yet and you think you should have, please await contact from us.

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Appointments

We are currently providing a same day telephone triage service. All requests will be assessed over the phone by a GP or a nurse.

If you already have an appointment with a GP, nurse or healthcare assistant, we will be contacting you and rebooking you into a telephone consultation.

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To access an appointment please either:

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• Call us on 0191 2625252.

• Book online via the NHS app​ or an alternative online service. You can register online for the NHS app without having to attend the surgery.

• Use our e-consultation service. We will contact you by the end of the next working day.

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Our routine childhood immunisation service will continue. We will contact you with an appointment 

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aCCESS TO THE Building

The doors to the surgery are locked. This is to protect both you and the NHS workforce.

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If you need to access the GP surgery:

Please use the silver intercom by the door to speak to a receptionist. If you have a booked appointment you will be permitted to enter the surgery waiting room. If you have any other query, please use the intercom to speak to a receptionist.

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If you need to access the pharmacy:

Please ring the white door bell and wait for a member of the pharmacy team.

The pharmacy is closed 1pm - 2pm Monday to Friday and at weekends.

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Social distancing

Please respect social distancing outside the surgery and remain at least 2 metres apart from other people.

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PRESCRIPTIONS

How to order

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You can order your prescription 24 hours a day:

• Call us on 0191 2625252 and select option 2 to leave a message on the order line. Alternatively you can call the order line directly by calling 0191 2639458.

• Order online via the NHS app or an alternative online service. You can register online for the NHS app without having to attend the surgery.

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We are no longer accepting medication requests on paper.

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Ordering time

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During the coronavirus outbreak please allow 72 hours before attending your nominated pharmacy. We would strongly recommend that you contact your pharmacy before you attend because pharmacies are also experiencing delays at this time.

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How your prescription will be sent

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All prescriptions will be sent electronically to your nominated pharmacy. If you do not have a nominated pharmacy please advise us where you would like your prescription to be sent when you order.

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Rescue packs for patients with pre-existing respiratory

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There has been inaccurate information circulating regarding special 'rescue packs' for patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 

Please do not contact the GP practice for a rescue pack. You should continue to manage your condition in the usual way and if you feel you have symptoms of COVID-19, go to  111 online coronavirus service before anything else.

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FIT NOTES

Fit notes for coronavirus

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You do not need to get a note from a GP.

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If you live with someone who has symptoms of coronavirus, you can get an isolation note from NHS 111 to send to your employer as proof you need to stay off work.

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If you have symptoms of coronavirus and need to stay at home, use the 111 coronavirus service to get an isolation note.

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Fit notes not related to coronavirus 

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You can request a fit note through our e-consultation service or by calling us on 0191 2625252.

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Fit notes can be sent electronically to your mobile number, or you can collect from the surgery.

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Guidance for employees

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You can access a range of useful advice for employees here.

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NON-NHS WORK

During this time we will not be accepting any new requests for private work from patients, including requests for letters from a GP or medicals. This will allow us to focus on providing essential medical care to our patients.

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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Below are a range of resources and advice to help you look after your mental health.

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Mental Health Foundation

Mind

Samaritans

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If you are concerned about your mental health, please contact the surgery.

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