Due to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic we are currently operating a telephone triage appointment system only, a clinician (GP/ANP) will triage your appointment over the phone and only if clinically necessary will you be seen at the surgery. We are sorry for the inconvenience but we hope you understand that the safety of our patients and staff must be our overriding priority.
The NHS in England and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to protect patients, our community and NHS staff while ensuring as many services as possible are available to the public.
If you have any of the following symptoms associated with Coronavirus, you are advised to stay at home for 10 days:
A high temperature
A new, continuous cough
A loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
Please do not book a GP appointment or attend your GP practice. Click here or telephone 119 to arrange a free test.
If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 10 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days.
If your symptoms are serious, or get worse, NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do. Only call 111 direct if you are advised to do so by the online service or you cannot go online.
DO NOT ENTER THE SURGERY IF YOU HAVE ANY OF THE ABOVE SYMPTOMS - STAY INDOORS FOR 10 DAYS AND AVOID CLOSE CONTACT WITH OTHER PEOPLE. IF YOU FEEL VERY UNWELL, CONTACT NHS 111 (SEE ONLINE LINK BELOW); IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, DIAL 999.
The Family Surgery is working hard on on our response to the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. The surgery is still operational but the doors are locked. Only patients who have been advised to attend the building will be allowed inside. There is now an intercom/door entry system at the main entrance (on the right hand side as you approach the doors).
To find out more about this infection, including the latest public health advice, please visit:
Government Information for the Public
NHS COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Website
************************************************************************************************************************************************
Please read the information below on requests for certification of absence from the workplace relating to Covid-19.
The practice will not provide a medical certificate for patients requiring self-isolation for coronavirus. If patients require certification they can download the self isolation note from the government website (link in patinet resources on this website) or use the the attached letter below and complete and return to their employer.
Request for certification of absence from the workplace relating to Covid-19.
Requests for certification of absence from the workplace relating to covid-19 fall into five categories:
1. Symptomatic so isolating for seven days
Patients should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work. They do not need to contact their GP.
2. Symptomatic and remaining unwell for over seven days
If you remain unwell and are unfit to work after seven days, the current advice is to visit www.111.nhs.uk and use the online self-assessment tool. Patients do not need to contact their GP for a certificate, patients can use the template letter/form attached above.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
Many thanks for your support at this time,
The Family Surgery
