Coronavirus Covid-19

Coronavirus- Information for patients

Data Provision Notice for Covid-19 at-risk patient data collection: GPES Covid 19

SUSPECTED CORONAVIRUS

If you have a high temperature, new persistent cough, or loss of taste or smell you MUST self-isolate and arrange for testing.

If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, you must begin to isolate and arrange for testing by going to https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test.

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

 Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital

 You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home

Plan ahead and ask others for help to ensure that you can successfully stay at home and consider what can be done for vulnerable people in the household.

Ask your employer, friends and family to help you to get the things you need to stay at home.

Wash your hands regularly for 20 seconds, each time using soap and water, or use hand sanitiser.

If you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 119. For a medical emergency dial 999.

For the current self-isolation rules go to: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

For the latest COVID-19 advice please visit www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

If you require a sick note you can obtain this from https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note.

If you need support from a volunteer

A volunteer can help support you if:

• You have ever been advised to shield by a health professional.
• You are vulnerable for another reason, (for instance, due to disability, pregnancy, aged over 70, you have a long-term condition such as Parkinson’s or epilepsy, or are vulnerable due to a mental health condition).
• You have caring responsibilities.
• You are self-isolating because you have been diagnosed with coronavirus or have symptoms, or you’ve been in contact with someone who has.
• You have been instructed to self-isolate by the ‘Test and Trace’ service, because you’ve been near someone infected.
• You are self-isolating ahead of planned hospital care.
• You have been instructed to self-isolate following entry into the country.
• Check in and chat support – short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation (note, this is not mental health advice)
• Community support – collection of shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating, and delivering these supplies to their home
• Patient Transport – transport to take patients home who are medically fit for discharge.

You can contact NHS Volunteer Responders on 0808 196 3646 (8am to 8pm).

For more information go to: https://nhsvolunteerresponders.org.uk/

Testing for Coronavirus

To book a PCR test go to : https://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test

If you have difficultly booking a test online you can call 119.

Health at Home

Find useful information on how to access NHS services online. The follow link will provide you with information on how to contact us, order repeat prescriptions, manage your wellbeing and existing conditions – without having to leave home.

https://www.nhs.uk/health-at-home/

How to get your prescription

You can request you prescription in the following ways:

• Leaving it in the red box outside of the building
• Requesting it via email to orchardfamilypractice@nhs.net
• Requesting it via online services (if you are not already signed up to this please email orchardfamilypractice@nhs.net to request an account).
• Signing up to the NHS App: https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/

We are still processing prescription requests within 48 working hours, but you will also need allow time for the pharmacy to process your prescription.

We are encouraging as many patients as possible to nominate a pharmacy so your prescription can be sent directly to a pharmacy without the need for you to come into the surgery to collect it. If you are not signed up for the electronic prescription service you can either contact us on 01634 337620 or email orchardfamilypractice@nhs.net to nominate a pharmacy.

If you are unable to get to the pharmacy to collect your prescription you can either:

• Ask someone to collect your prescription for you (this is the best option, if possible)
• Contact your pharmacy to ask them if they can either help you find a volunteer, or deliver it to you.

Appointments

All of our GP appointments will now be telephone calls. The GP will first assess you over the phone, and if they will they need to see you they will book you in for a face to face appointment.  Please view this video for more information: https://www.emisnow.com/sys_attachment.do?sys_id=f2af9fdcdb68d050a643d278f49619ae

Mental well-being

We understand this is a worrying time and you may find it difficult staying at home.

You can find support from Every Mind Matters (https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/) and the NHS mental health and wellbeing advice website (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/).

Guidance for different patient groups

Alcohol Addiction: Coronavirus advice for alcoholism

Autism: https://www.sussexpartnership.nhs.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2020-03-26_supporting_an_autistic_person_through_covid_2.pdf

Cancer: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/coronavirus-and-cancer

Cardiovascular: https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health

Cystic Fibrosis: https://www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk/news/uk-cf-medical-associations-statement-on-coronavirus

Diabetes: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

Haematology: https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/coronavirus-and-scd/

HIV: https://www.bhiva.org/coronavirus-and-HIV-responses-to-common-questions-from-BHIVA

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s Disease/Ulcerative Colitis): https://www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/news/coronavirus-covid-19-advice

Inherited Metabolic Diseases: Inherited Metabolic Diseases and Coronavirus

Intellectual Disability: https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/members/faculties/intellectual-disability/covid-19-facultypsychid.pdf?sfvrsn=86f6a7da_2

Neurology: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.theabn.org/resource/collection/6750BAE6-4CBC-4DDB-A684-116E03BFE634/ABN_Neurology_COVID-19_Guidance_22.3.20.pdf

Orthopaedics: https://www.boa.ac.uk/resources/coronavirus-boa-faqs-for-patients.html

Paediatrics: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-vulnerable-children-and-young-people

https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/helping-children-cope-with-stress-print.pdf

Pregnancy: https://www.rcog.org.uk/en/guidelines-research-services/guidelines/coronavirus-pregnancy/

Renal/Kidney: https://www.kidneycareuk.org/news-and-campaigns/coronavirus-advice/

Respiratory (not pneumonia): https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus

Other Useful Resources

For parenting tips during the outbreak go to: https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19-parenting-tips

Looking after your wellbeing: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/

COVID symptom tracker app: https://covid.joinzoe.com/

Kent and Medway CCG: https://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/your-health/coronavirus

Safeguarding Resources

National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, contact NSPCC professional counsellors for help, advice and support.

Childline 0800 1111: Offers free, confidential advice and support for any child 18 years or under, whatever the worry.

MIND: Mental Health Support with specific advice on ‘Coronavirus and your wellbeing’. www.mind.org.uk

YoungMinds: Supporting children and young people and their parents/carers with their mental health and wellbeing. Specific advice on managing self-isolation and anxiety about coronavirus. https://youngminds.org.uk

ICON: Babies cry: You can cope. http://iconcope.org/

IRISi interventions: www.irisi.org/iris/find-your-local-iris-site/