Coronavirus outbreak – how you can help

The Coronavirus oubreak is placing strain on an already overstretched service.

You can help NHS staff by:

  • If you have a new continuous cough or fever greater than 37.8C, independent of travel or contact history, please self isolate.
  • If you feel unwell please complete the online triage at www.111.nhs.uk/covid-19, only call NHS 111 if you have no internet access. You should self isolate at home for 7 days if you live on your own. If you live with others, all other household members need to self isolate for 14 days if symptomatic or 7 days from onset of illness.

Affected Surgeries

Tuffley surgery is now closed and from Monday 30th March, Saintbridge will only be open to see patients who are very unwell with COVID-19 symptoms. Please do not post prescriptions or samples through letter boxes – these are unmonitored.

Please only drop samples at the Aspen Centre in the box in the Lobby. Only do this if you have been asked to by a Nurse or doctor.

Please do not drop off or pick up prescriptions at the Aspen Centre – request online (no registration needed) or via your pharmacy.

Admission to Aspen Centre will only happen if you have a pre-booked essential appointment. You will be screened by our receptionist and buzzed in.

Further Guidance

Click here to view the Gov.uk guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection.

If you feel more unwell and are unable to do this please visit NHS 111 Online or the surgery.

Non urgent queries for reception, doctors, nurses and clinical pharmacists can be submitted online.

Sick note requests and Prescription requests should be submitted online – no account is needed.

Please be aware there is a 2 working day turn around for these services.

If you are aged 70 or over, are pregnant or have a long term health condition please avoid close contact with others where possible.

All appointment requests are being triaged with a call back from our duty team.

DO NOT ATTEND SURGERY TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

If you are unwell with flu-like symptoms: fever, cough, breathing difficulties, please call on 01452 337733 and cancel any routine appointments or ask for these to be converted to a telephone call. If you are unwell with these symptoms and feel unable to self care at home please call the practice and you will be placed on a telephone triage list where the duty team will call you back to manage your symptoms. They may:

  • advise you how to self care at home
  • treat you over the phone
  • advise admission to hospital
  • arrange a face to face review if necessary

If the clinician suspects that you may have COVID-19 you will be sent to a specialist COVID-19 clinic at Saintbridge Surgery, Askwith road, GL4 4SH. Please park in the disabled pay or duty doctor slot.

You will be asked to remain in your car with your mobile (please ensure we have the correct number) and called when the clinician is ready to see you. This is to minimise the risk of transmission to other patients waiting to be seen. If you have walked to the surgery or do not have a mobile number please present to reception who will place you in a special waiting area. Where possible you will be assessed in your car to prevent virus transmission.

The clinician who sees you will be wearing protective equipment and following strict sanitation procedures.

Due to potential staff shortages, potential illness and specialist clinics, please be prepared to attend any of our three sites if needed. Please work with us to facilitate your care.

Routine appointments will now, where possible, be converted to telephone consultations and no advance bookings can be made. You will be contacted by our receptionist if your appointment has been changed.

Please cancel any pre-booked appointments if you have a cough, cold, sore throat, flu like symptoms or fever. This is to minimise exposure to other patients and staff so that we minimise sickness and disruption to work force. With no staff we cannot treat sick patients.

Please remember your queries may be able to be managed with a phone call from our clinical pharmacist or by self referring yourself to services.

No GP referral is needed for physiotherapy and mental health counselling.

The minor ailment scheme also allows pharmacists to review you and offer advice on managing minor ailments like athletes foot, thrush, rashes, cold symptoms: ccglive.glos.nhs.uk.

We thank you for your help and support during this testing time.

Information on Covid-19 (Coronavirus)

Advice for everyone:

www.nhs.uk/coronavirus-covid-19.

For information on self isolation:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

For information on Social Distancing:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults.

For information on Shielding:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.

For travel information:

www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus.

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.