Welcome to Baddow Village Surgery
Coronavirus Update
14/04/2020
In response to the rapidly evolving situation both locally and nationally, Baddow Village Surgery have implemented our Covid-19 Action Plan. This means a change in the way we will be dealing with patient contacts until further notice to protect our most vulnerable patients, whilst caring for the whole population.
Effective immediately, the surgery FRONT DOORS ARE LOCKED and access will only be permitted to those who have an appointment arranged by a clinician. We are hopeful to have an intercom system installed as soon as possible.
For those patients collecting prescriptions from dispensary or dropping off samples requested by a GP/Nurse, there is now a bell on the dispensary window on the Longmead Avenue facing wall of the building. Please do not ring between 1-3pm, when it is essential for our dispensary to close for staff to prepare prescriptions.
Shielding of Vulnerable Patients
We are aware that there has been a great deal of confusion regarding shielding. Patients who have been identified NATIONALLY as needing to SHIELD for 12 weeks have been carefully reviewed by the GPs. There is approximately 300 patients in this group out of our almost 13'000 patient list, which is in line with what was projected.
The text message sent out last week to all flu eligible patients DOES NOT identify you as a patient that needs to SHIELD however you are likely to be a patient at higher risk and should follow strict social distancing advice. This was sent out to almost a quarter of our 13'000 patient list.
Work to ensure that all patients who should be SHIELDING is ongoing and there may be a small number still to be identified as part of this ongoing process.
National Guidance for Suspected Coronavirus Cases
The government has put is place a policy of SELF ISOLATION for any patient with a new onset cough or fever, that could be attributed to Covid-19 infection. Patients well enough to remain at home and ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS should self isolate for 14 days. If any other household member who is already self isolated develops symptoms, they should remain isolated for 7 days from the onset of their symptoms EVEN IF this means for longer than 14 days in total from when the first household member became symptomatic. Patients well enough to remain at home WHO LIVE ALONE should self-isolate for 7 days.
If a patient is concerned that they are not well enough to remain at home with these symptoms then they should use the online NHS111 assessment tool or dial NHS111.
Testing for Covid-19 will only occur in hospital. Please do not contact the surgery to request testing.
Medical certificates will not be issued for self-isolation or household isolation. Please utilise the NHS isolation note service available online. You can do this for yourself or another individual.
Your Appointment
Please do not attend the surgery to request an appointment or make any enquiry. Our front door is locked and you will not be permitted onto the premises.
Access to online appointments will be restricted to telephone appointments only.
Video consultations may be conducted if you or someone with you has internet access and a suitable mobile device and our clinical staff deem it necessary.
Face to Face GP/ANP appointments will only occur when deemed necessary by a GP/ANP who has assessed the patient via telephone first. Patients will be asked to inform our reception staff of the reason for their appointment request to assist us in assessing the urgency of the call back. Please be aware that GPs may telephone at any time on the day of your appointment or in advance of your expected appointment day, as we work to deal with the appointment demand.
Any patients with a fever or respiratory tract infection symptoms who are directed to us by NHS 111 will be telephoned by a GP. We will assess and decide upon the suitable management of each individual case.
All Long Term Condition Clinics e.g. asthma, COPD and Diabetes are suspended with immediate effect. If any patient with a long term condition feels they need assessment they can request a call from a GP/ANP or one of our trained nurses.
We will only be carrying out ESSENTIAL services that CANNOT BE DELAYED and this decision will be made by our clinical team.
Hospital Services
Request for contact details
Other Surgery Services
Our home visit policy remains unchanged. Patients requesting a home visit will be contacted by a GP/ANP via telephone before a visit is confirmed.
Our dispensary policies remain unchanged. Telephone requests for medication are not routinely accepted. We encourage you to download the NHS app, use SystmOne online if you have password access or make a request in writing. We WILL NOT issue more than a months supply of any medications under any circumstances. Stockpiling of medication is unacceptable. Medication will not be issued when there is not a current clinical indication e.g. inhalers. GPs and our dispensary are working to ensure that repeat medications are up dated without any non-essential delay but please bear with us at this time of high demand.
Please do not ask us to deliver medication when we would not usually do so. We ask that our local communities, their families and friends, help those self-isolating or social distancing due to high risk at this time.
Safeguarding our Patients
At this time when we are socially distancing and confined to our homes, we know that there are vulnerable adults or children who may be at greater risk or struggling to cope. We remain vigilant in safeguarding our patients. You may find these resources below useful:
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/
SafeLives: Specific resources for domestic abuse and COVID. http://safelives.org.uk/news-views/domesticabuse-and-covid-19
IRISi interventions: irisi.org/iris/find-your-local-iris-site/
MENCAP: The voice of learning disability, has an easy read guide for any individuals with learning disability on their website www.mencap.org.uk
We thank our patients for their understanding during this time of unprecedented challenge for the NHS, and our staff for their unwavering dedication and hard work in caring for our patients.
The Partners
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Patient Information on Coronavirus
The latest information on symptoms of coronovirus infection and areas where recent travel may have resulted in a high risk of exposure can be found on
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
Everyone is being reminded to follow the public health advice on the NHS website to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus.
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My Care Record
Our practice is now part of My Care Record - supporting the delivery of joined-up care.
During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, additional measures are being put in place to help health and care providers to deliver effective care. This includes how the information from your care records is used. My Care Record is an approach to improving care by joining up health and care information.
Wherever possible, health and care professionals will be able to access care records from other services if it is needed to deliver care for individuals with COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms.
For example, we are working to make sure doctors, nurses and co-ordination staff at places you may receive advice or treatment can see important information from your GP record. This will include health and care professionals at neighbouring GP practices, NHS 111 and regional centres for the treatment of critically ill patients including the NHS Nightingale Hospital in London. This will make it easier and faster for them to deliver effective care for you if it is needed. Please see the My Care Record website for more information including the Privacy Notice to support this work.
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Unwell Child
Please click on the link below to open a document giving advice for parents when your child is unwell or injured
COVID-19 advice for parents when your child is unwell or injured
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Support for Carers of Patients with Dementia
We understand this is a worrying time for everyone, and there may be particular concerns for people who support someone living with dementia. The NHS in your area has been working with Essex County Council and other local organisations, including community and voluntary groups, to identify and reach out to people like you – people living with dementia and people who care for them.
By making welfare calls to you, we can find out more about your needs and help people to avoid reaching the point of crisis. The initial contact will come from the Alzheimer’s Society through their Dementia Support Workers (who are professionally trained).
They will ask how you are doing and discuss possible worries you have, for example:
- The spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and how you can reduce the risk to you and others
- Getting access to food and medicine
- Seeking advice and help from your GP or pharmacy
- What happens if you or the person you support becomes unwell
- Making contact and staying in touch with family and friends
- Activities that you can do with your loved ones to take your minds off things
These calls will help the Dementia Support Workers to offer appropriate support or give you contact details of other organisations who can help you with your particular needs. We want you to know that the NHS and our partners are here for you and will help you get the support you need.
If you need more information or are worried about being contacted, especially in light of possible telephone scams, we are happy to clarify any doubts that you may have. You can contact us on meccg.dementiacovidcarersupport@nhs.net
If you or someone you care for is worried about novel coronavirus and needs advice or support, please call the Dementia Connect support line on 01245 260911 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am to 5.30pm).
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Guidance for Med3 (sick notes) for Absence from Work
- Personally affected so isolating for seven days
Patients can and should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work.
They do not need to contact their GP.
- Personally affected and remaining unwell for over seven days
If they remain unwell and unfit to work after seven days the current advice is to visit www.111.nhs.uk where there is an online self-assessment tool; the patient may be invited to call 111 and given further advice and a MED3 certificate emailed to them.
They do not need to contact their GP.
- Household contact affected so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice
- At risk group so following government advice
GPs are not the gatekeeper of the statutory sick pay system.
Employers are responsible for putting in place arrangements for home/remote working where this is possible.
Where it is not, the employee may self-certify and return to work following the relevant absence which their employer may authorise as per government advice. Where they do become unwell during or after this time, point 1 and 2 applies.
They do not need to contact their GP.
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Request for Email Details
The Surgery sent a text on 18 March requesting patient email addresses. This is to enable the doctors to send any information or management plans to you electronically and for the Surgery to keep you up to date with any operational changes.
If you have online access to your record please update your record online rather than sending an email.
It will take our admin team some time to go through all the email responses so please be understanding if this request is duplicated.
Thank you for your cooperation.
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Requesting your Medication
Help to Reduce the Number of Patients Needing to Attend the Surgery
Please register for online access where you are able to. You can register without attending the Surgery via the NHS app (link below).
https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/the-nhs-app/
Where you are unable to use online services you can drop a request into the box on the wall by the entrance to the surgery. This box is emptied at least twice during the working day. As well as details of the requested medication please ensure your name, date of birth and your nominated pharmacy are included in the information.
Please ensure you nominate a pharmacy where you would like to collect your medication so that your prescription is sent electronically to them reducing the need for patients to attend the Surgery.
Please update your contact information - mobile number and email and indicate you give consent for text messages and emails.
***PLEASE DO NOT REQUEST 'RESCUE PACKS' OF MEDICATION***
There is a social media post being shared containing false guidance for asthmatic and COPD patients. Rescue packs are only indicated for those COPD patients for whom it already forms part of their care plan. These patients will already be aware that they should have these medications. Unnecessary requests take up valuable time for our dispensary, nurses and doctors at a time when we can least afford it.
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Closed to New Patients
Our Practice list is currently temporarily closed to new patients.
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Have you changed your mobile number or email or moved home?
Please keep your contact information up to date so we can get in touch when we need to.
You can update your information via SystmOnline or complete the change of details form
Do you have an email address?
Register your email to help us contact you easily and reduce our costs. You can do this via SystmOnline, at the surgery or by clicking the 'Your Contact Details' box above.
Equality and Diversity
This practice believes in fairness and equality, and above all, values diversity. All staff have ongoing equality and diversity training and our equality and diversity policies are reviewed annually.
We have updated our forms to collect information on sexual orientation, gender identity (including Non Binary and trans status). If you would like to update your details, please complete the Change of Details Form form and return it to reception or email to baddow.surgery@nhs.net
