RA Covid-19 Vaccination Programme Update

After delivering a total of 23,750 vaccinations within the last 6 months, the Rural Alliance Primary Care Network’s Covid-19 Vaccination Programme has now ended. We have worked closely together to vaccinate our patient population. The majority of the vaccinations have been given at Cheshire View in Christleton but this number also includes vaccines given to our Care Home residents and Housebound patients. We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the team at Cheshire View for allowing us to use their venue as our Covid-19 Vaccination Centre.

If you still require a 1st or 2nd dose vaccine, contact NHS 119 or visit www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination. Pop-up and walk-in vaccine clinics are advertised on the CCG website.

How to access your COVID-19 Vaccination Status:

NHS App- This can be accessed through a smartphone or tablet. Proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status will be shown within the NHS App. We recommend that you register with the app before booking international travel.

By Calling 119 – If you do not have access to a smartphone and know that the country you are travelling to requires COVID-19 vaccination status, you can call 119 and ask for a letter to be posted to you.

Request a letter only if you:

• have been fully vaccinated by the NHS in England (you should wait 5 working days after your second dose)
• are planning to travel in the next 4 weeks to a country that requires evidence of COVID vaccination

COVID Pass for Events and Travel – Patients can download a COVID pass for events and travel on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/covid-pass/

Please do not contact your GP surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your COVID-19 vaccination status.

Finally, Thank you

Our staff would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to all the patients who have taken the time to write cards and emails expressing their gratitude to the whole team at Malpas Surgery.

A special thank you for the lovely cakes we have received at the surgery and at the Covid Vaccination Clinic at Cheshire view, very kindly baked by the members of Broxton WI.

May we also take this opportunity to thank our much valued team of volunteers who are working in the clinic or as volunteers assisting in the car park, helping patients who are attending for their vaccinations at the COVID clinic.

Reading through your lovely messages helps to brighten our days and they are very much appreciated! 

Further to the Government’s announcement about COVID-19 regulations easing from 19th July, Public Health England has confirmed that there is to be no change to the Infection Control Guidance in General Practice and other Health Care settings.

Recognising that we support vulnerable patients on a daily basis, the Practice will be maintaining their approach to ensure the safety of our staff and patients.  We therefore ask that all patients continue to wear a face mask when in the Surgery premises, unless exempt.

We will continue with a range of infection control measures including Social Distancing in the waiting room and around the premises, the use of the intercom at the front door, increased cleaning regimes and hand-gel stations throughout the building.

It is important for patients to understand that although physical access to the practice is being managed appropriately, patients can access help and advice by telephone or remotely, and will be seen face to face where clinically appropriate.

Please be polite and respectful to our Receptionist and Dispensers. The practice team are available and working hard to support you and your family’s health and care needs.

The Surgery has received expert advice on the cleaning of the waiting room and is following national guidance to keep patients and staff safe.

We are also offering telephone and video consultations, both of which are convenient and flexible ways to receive healthcare. You will be asked to first discuss your condition over the phone with a member of the healthcare team, to assess what would be most appropriate service for you and which practice member would best provide it. Face-to-face appointments are available to all patients where there is a clinical need.

For non-urgent reasons you can access the practice by using e-Consult. This gives you the opportunity to email your query to the practice and you will receive a reply within 2 working days. This may be from the Doctor or another member of the practice team. You will find the link to eConsult on the practice website.

We continue to provide appointments for dressings, cervical smears, childhood and other vaccinations and immunisations, regular blood testing, long term condition checks and will soon re-start minor surgery and implant fittings.

We appreciate there may be some patients without easy access to phones or online services. To ensure these patients are not disadvantaged when accessing care they can use the Intercom at the front door to speak to a Receptionist or put a written note in our letter box. Prescription requests can also be left at Malpas Pharmacy. If you have a preference about how to access care please discuss it with the Receptionist.

For all face to face appointments:

• • • Please attend alone where possible. A single carer, or parent/guardian is also allowed to attend if required.
    • Ring the Intercom bell on the right hand side of the main entrance door. You will be answered by a member of the Reception team.
    • Everyone will be asked the COVID-19 screening questions before being allowed into the practice.
    • Please wear a mask or face covering on entry to the premises.
    • Children aged 11 years and over will be expected to wear a mask when attending.
    • Use the alcohol gel provided on entry to the building.
    • Due to the lack of space and the strict need to socially distance yourself from others, please come for your appointment at the given time, not 10 minutes early.
    • Remain seated until a clinician comes to collect you.
    • Please be assured that we have a separate consulting space for patients who have COVID-19 symptoms. 

• Visit the local pharmacy for clinical advice on minor health concerns
• Download the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions and get health advice.
• Call the surgery to arrange an appointment. The Receptionist will handle your call and arrange for you to be assessed by the most appropriate member of the healthcare team first, who will arrange for a face-to-face appointment where there is a clinical need.
• Use eConsult to request non urgent advice, you can find the link for this on the surgery website. You will receive a response as soon as possible, usually within two working days. Please do not use this method of contact for very urgent medical problems.
• For urgent issues or out of hours, you can also call the NHS on 111 or go online to seek NHS advice.

Please order your repeat prescription in the usual way:

• Request online.  We recommend that you use this method – it is the most efficient way of ordering. If not registered, either download the NHS App and sign up for this service or telephone the surgery to register for Patient Access. You can then order your repeat medication electronically.
• Put a written request for your prescription in the mailbox on the outside of the front door or at the Well Pharmacy in Malpas.

We use the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS) to send the prescription electronically to our Dispensary or the pharmacy of your choice for dispensing. This reduces the need for patients to come to the practice to collect their prescription. The Dispensers can discuss this with you.

Patients will continue to collect their prescription from the Dispensary through one of the small external windows to the right of the Patient Entrance Door. If possible, please pay by card – the current charge is £9.35 per item.

If you are worried about how you will get your prescription please speak to a family member or neighbour to ask if they can collect it for you. Otherwise we are working closely with Malpas Community Links and other Volunteers who can collect your prescription for you. Please speak to a member of staff who will give you the volunteers’ contact details.

REMINDER for patients and people who may be collecting medication for others:

• It is still 5 working days’ notice for medication.
• If a family member, friend or neighbour is collecting your medication, they will need to know your full name, address and number of items they are collecting.
• Please make sure you have any payment exemptions available for the Dispensary staff to see

This continues to be a very challenging time for us all and we really appreciate your co-operation during this period of uncertainty.

I think someone in my household may have COVID-19, what should I do?

You and anyone you live with should follow the latest self-isolation guidelines:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

If you feel unwell with COVID-19 symptoms you should initially use the NHS 111 online COVID-19 service: https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19.

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, do not attend the Surgery and ask reception for a Telephone Consultation.

How do I arrange a COVID-19 test?

If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you can book a test on the government website, or call 119.

http://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Can I have a fit-note when I am self-isolating?

We do not provide Fit Notes for patients who are self-isolating. There is a designated NHS 111 to provide isolation notes: https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/.

Can the GP write a letter to my employer saying I should stay at home?

There is extensive guidance for employers and employees about keeping staff safe at work. GPs are not able to write individual letters to workplaces for this matter and patients are advised to liaise with their employer.

I have been contacted by Test and Trace, what should I do?

You should follow the guidance given to you on the NHS Test and Trace App or by the Test and Trace call handler. The Surgery is unable to comment on Test and Trace for individuals. The latest guidance is available online:

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/

• If you have a life-threatening medical emergency please dial 999.
• During surgery hours 8.00am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday please call the surgery on 01948 860 205
• Extended hours: All patients can now book a routine appointment, up to two weeks in advance, in the evenings and on Saturday mornings at the practice. Call 0300 123 7740, option 3 or find out more…
• You can get 24 hour advice by calling the free NHS 111 service.
• Out of hours – from 6.30pm to 8.00am and at weekends please dial 111.
  Calls to the NHS 111 service are free from both landlines and mobiles.
• You can find out useful information at the Patient UK website.