Coronavirus (Covid-19): what you need to do

13 Mar Coronavirus (Covid-19): what you need to do

1) only socialise indoors with people you live with or who are in your support bubble

2) up to 6 people or 2 households can meet outside

3) work from home if you can and minimise travel

4) keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)

5) wash your hands regularly

Don’t leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

If you have returned from outside the UK, had contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus and / or you are experiencing the following symptoms of a dry cough, high temperature, shortness of breath, a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.

Need a sick note for isolation?

please select the link: https: NHS111 – Isolation note

Changes to Rapid Access Clinic & online appointments

The Practice is limiting direct access due to coronavirus to protect patients and staff.  Online booking has been suspended. From Monday 16th March RAC will be suspended.  All appointments will be telephone triaged.

Patients who are required to attend the surgery for an appointment, we kindly ask that you do not enter the building until 5 minutes prior to your appointment time.  Please do not bring anyone to the appointment with you unless you are attending with a child (only one parent can attend) or you are a Carer.

When attending the surgery you will now be asked to wear a face covering (scarf/bandana/face mask). This will help protect you, other patients in the waiting area, and staff.

Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly. For example, primary age children unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions.

Face coverings can help stop the spread of coronavirus by preventing you from inadvertently passing on the disease to others if you have it but are not showing symptoms. By wearing a face covering, you’ll be helping us to make sure our GP practices remain safe places for people to receive care.

It’s important to remember that, it’s still so important to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds on a regular basis.

If you are unable to provide your own face covering, we can provide you with one of our face masks. However, please be considerate as these masks are the supply which is used by our staff.

Information about wearing face coverings and how to make your own is available on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

GP hub to help people with Coronavirus symptoms see their GP

As from Monday 3rd August 2020 Hillside Bridge Health Care Centre (BD3 0BS) will become the Red Site to cover all Bradford localities. The GP hub will manage the urgent primary medical needs of patients who have possible symptoms of coronavirus, or are self-isolating as part of a household. They will look after you if you have any medical problem that does not require treatment at a hospital and would normally be provided by your own family doctor (GP).

All GP practices in Bradford district and Craven can request an appointment for patients at these hubs. However, your GP practice will assess you first, via a telephone, video or e-consultation and will then give you a time when a GP from the “red” hub will call you back. After a further telephone assessment, the GP at the “red” hub will decide whether or not you need a face-to-face appointment.  You will be offered an appointment the hub only if the GP believes that:

– you are in urgent need of a face-to-face GP appointment (and the issue cannot be resolved by a telephone, video or e-consultation), and

– you have possible symptoms of coronavirus, or

– you are self-isolating in a household

Please note that the hub is not a walk-in centre. Appointments can only be made following an assessment by our GP practice first. If an appointment is booked for you at the hub, you will be advised of what to do to ensure your care can be provided in a way that is safe for you and our staff.

Getting tested for coronavirus

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, you can book a test using the online booking system at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. There are a number of testing centres across our area.

GP practices cannot give you a coronavirus test. If you do have symptoms, please do not come to our GP practice in person, you will be putting others at risk. Stay at home and get in touch with us over the phone.

Symptoms of coronavirus include; a new persistent cough, a high fever or loss of smell or taste.

We know that there is a high demand for tests, so please only book a test if you have symptoms.

If you have any coronavirus symptoms you must isolate immediately (stay at home) for 10 days (don’t wait for a test or a test result before doing so).

To stop the spread of coronavirus, please continue to wash your hands regularly, use a face covering when social distancing is not possible and try to keep your distance from people you do not live with.

For the latest information about coronavirus, visit nhs.uk/coronavirus

Please be reassured that our GP practice is #StillHereToHelp when you need us.

How to book a coronavirus test

People can book a coronavirus test by going online to the NHS website – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/ – or by calling 119

You must have an appointment booked before visiting a testing centre.

Free test kits are also available to collect at many pharmacies in Bradford. No need to reserve or book a test. You can send someone to pick up a free test kit for you if:

• they don’t have symptoms
• they are outside of your household

Check where test kits are available at: https://bradford.test-and-trace.nhs.uk/

Testing and tracing

Understand your test result and find out what to do if you’re contacted by NHS Test and Trace.

COVID-19 support recovery service

‘Your COVID Recovery’ helps you to understand what has happened and what you might expect as part of your recovery.

People at high risk

Advice for people at higher risk from coronavirus, including older people, people with health conditions and pregnant women.

Long-term effects (long COVID)

Find out about the long-term effects coronavirus can sometimes have and what help is available.

COVID-19 vaccinations

We understand that many patients will want to know more about the vaccination, when you
will be vaccinated and what it means for you. It is important to know that the NHS will contact
you with further information when it is your turn to have the coronavirus vaccination.

Please select this link for the latest information on COVID-19 vaccinations

Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine

New guidance has been issued for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

This follows further reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, and the Commission for Human Medicines, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a rare blood-clotting condition since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The MHRA and Joint Committee for Vaccinations and Immunisations have emphasised that the risk of this condition is extremely small and that the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the risks for the vast majority of people.  They have recommended that:

• Everyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine should still have a second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine, irrespective of age, unless they suffered any serious side effects after their first vaccination.

• People aged 30 and over or who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease should still be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine. The benefits in protecting them against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition.

• People aged 18-29 who do not have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease will be offered an alternative Covid-19 vaccine where available. (This has been recommended as a precaution as people under 30 are at less risk from Covid-19 and not because they are considered to be at particular risk of developing the rare blood clot.)

• People under 30 can still choose to have the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine if this will mean they can be protected more quickly and they have been made aware of the guidance.

Please see the leaflet below that has been produced by Public Health England and the NHS to answer any questions you may have

Leaflet on COVID-19 vaccination and blood clotting

Are you Aged 45 or over on or before 30 March 2021?

If you are 45 or over you can now book your COVID-19 vaccination using the National Booking Service. If not, you will be contacted when it is your turn. Please do not contact the practice for an appointment
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/

COVID vaccines and fertility and advice for pregnant women

How to decide: COVID-19 vaccination advice for women who are, or may be pregnant. Please select the link for information: COVID vaccine and fertility – decision aid

Q&A from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists: COVID:19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding