COVID-19 & Practice updates

Useful links during COVID-19

All information on the above links sourced through the most up-to date sources/ re-sources from the NHS UK website. www.nhs.uk

Wearing face masks

The government is advising that the public is to consider wearing face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as shops, when using public transport and visiting health settings including GP surgeries, to help reduce the spread of coronavirus. 


Darwen Healthlink is therefore promoting the use of face mask if at all possible when you attend the practice.  Further guidance on this can be found using the links below.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/public-advised-to-cover-faces-in-enclosed-spaces

 

Guide on making your own face mask

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering/how-to-wear-and-make-a-cloth-face-covering

 

 

 

 

You will have seen that on 31 May 2020, the Government has updated its guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and have been advised to shield. The update from Government comes into effect from 1 June 2020. In summary the changes are: 

  • The advice for people identified as clinically extremely vulnerable is that they should continue to shield until at least the 30 June but from 1 June, they can spend a short period of time outdoors each day with members of their household, still maintaining 2 metre distance from others.
  • If the shielded person lives alone, the Government is advising they can meet one other person from a different household, maintaining strict social distancing. The advice is that this be the same person each time.
  • Important aspects of Government’s policy and guidance remain the same. Apart from going outside once per day, a shielded person should continue to avoid all non-essential face to face contact. This means they should still not go shopping or to pharmacies.
  • The support for shielded people remains in place and unchanged.
safer travel for commuters
Safer travel with others 2
Safer travel with others 3

PRACTICE UPDATES REGARDING COVID-19

Prescribing Desk

From the 10/06/2020 the prescribing desk will now be open each day:

 

09:00-10:00am - 1 hour

17:00-18:00pm - 1 hour

 

This is to limit the amount  of patients attending the surgery at any one time and therefore reduce the risk of potential covid-19 infection rates

The phone lines will remain the same open from 10:00am-12pm and 14:00pm -16:00pm for queries.

The Reception Desk

Telephone lines and reception desk

08:00am -18:30pm

 

Please only attend for an appointment if you have received a telephone call and been invited in by the GP Advanced Nurse Practitioner, Practice Nurse or Health Care Assistant. 

GP Practice One way system for social distancing

There is now a one way sysetm in operation at the surgery and social distancing measures are in place.

Patients will also notice protective screens are in place at the reception and prescriptions desks, these are purely to protect staff and patients to minimise infection risk.

Patients must follow the new system to abide by goverment social disctancing measures 

What you can and cant do during COVID-19

Follow the link for what you can and cant do during COVID-19 Pandemic -        Sourced from Direct GOV UK

New message for Face to face appointments (PPE)

The new message is as follows:

"You have an appointment booked today at the surgery  and we ask that you wear a face covering, this can be a scarf or a face mask as a precautionary measure against Coronavirus.  Visit cdc.gov/coronavirus for more information about cloth face coverings".

Please note that the only way a Face to Face appointment can be made is by a clinician and you must have a telephone consultation prior

 

Quit for covid

Further Information