We politely ask that patients do not contact the Surgery about booking COVID-19 vaccinations. We will contact patients when eligible for call.

The Rural Alliance continue to deliver the vaccination clinics at Cheshire View which is the Freemasons Hall in Christleton. Future clinics will be held at this location – the address is: Cheshire View, Plough Lane, Christleton, Chester CH3 7PT.

Initially we will administering vaccinations to our most elderly and frail patients, who will attend for a 10 minute appointment, with a 2nd appointment exactly 12 weeks later. They will be expected to wait in the building for 15 minutes after their vaccine for observation.

When attending vaccination clinics, we ask that patients do not attempt to enter Cheshire View until their designated appointment time. Patients can attend with a member of their family or carer if required, e.g. if they have poor mobility etc. Wheelchairs or walking aids can be used throughout the building, the access is via a ramp.

We ask that everyone attending socially distances themselves from the person in front of them.

Patients will need to bear with us, as the vaccines need to be shared with patients across 6 GP practices, limiting the number available to Malpas patients to approximately 190 with each delivery of Pfizer vaccine. We are limited by the national supply and we do not know when the next deliveries will be. However, we are told that vaccine delivery will improve over the coming weeks.

Who will get the vaccine?

The Rural Alliance is following the most up to date Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance to prioritise patients for vaccination. We will contact patients when they are eligible, there is no need to contact the Surgery.

Please do not come to the practice, contact us by telephone on the usual number. The Receptionists will arrange for a member of the clinical team to phone you back. This may be on the same day but we encourage you to book a week or two in advance if the matter is not urgent.

Telephone Consultations Where possible the Doctor or Nurse will deal with your problem over the telephone. Arrangements will be made for you if you then need to be seen face to face. Please make sure you are able to take your phone call, the clinicians will try twice if they are unable to get a reply the first time. We ask patients to have their phone on loud and to note that their call will be from a withheld number.

Video Consultations To assist with the consultation, the clinician may suggest using a video consultation. We are using the accuRx service for video consultations with patients when appropriate. Click here for more information. If your consultation is regarding a rash or a lump then we may suggest you send us 1 or 2 photographs in advance.  Please ensure the focus is clear and the photo is taken in well-lit surroundings.

For all face to face appointments:

• • Please attend alone where possible. A single carer, or parent/guardian is also allowed to attend if required.
  • 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.
  • Please 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.

For face to face appointments with the Doctor

• When making your Face to Face appointment, the GP will send you a text message with the number to ring on arrival in the Car Park. Please park in a numbered bay. If you do not have a mobile phone, the GP will give you separate instructions during your telephone consultation.
• Patients will be asked to remain in their car – The GP will collect patients from their vehicle and be taken straight to the consulting room.
• If you come on foot please ring, then wait under the Bike Shed outside the main entrance door.
• Please be assured that we have a separate consulting space for patients who have COVID-19 symptoms.

For face to face appointments with other staff (Nurses, HCAs, Physios etc)

• Other patients attending for face to face appointments are now being brought into the surgery to wait in the waiting room.
• For social distancing, we have a strict limit of the number of patients in the waiting room at any one time.
• On arrival at the Surgery, please come to the front door and ring the intercom
• If there is sufficient space in the waiting room, you will be invited into the surgery building. Please use the alcohol gel provided on your hands and take a seat in the waiting room
• Remain seated until a clinician comes to collect you.

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 want to reassure everyone that despite COVID-19 we are still operating daily for your medical needs. We appreciate that some patients think the current demands facing surgeries are more pressing, but it is vital that the day-to-day needs of our patients are managed as well.

Please be assured that there is capacity to treat patients for conditions other than COVID-19.

• If you are worried about any symptoms, then please call the surgery.
• Call 999 in a medical emergency such as a heart attack or stroke.
• If you have a long-term health condition for which you are regularly seen by a consultant or in a clinic you should have been told how your care will be provided. If not, you should call them and ask for advice.
• If you consider you might be suffering with COVID-19 symptoms then you should use the NHS 111 online facility – https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19.

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 £9.15 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.
• Please park in an un-numbered parking space or on the road when collecting your prescription.
• 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.