New Home Urine Test Service
The NHS has commissioned Healthy.io, as part of a national NHS programme, to deliver a service providing at home urine test kits for patients at risk of chronic kidney disease.
This will allow you to conduct this important test at home using a smartphone. Please visit http://bit.ly/uACRtest for more information.
Dispensary Opening Hours
Due to staffing issues it is necessary to reduce dispensary’s opening hours as below until further notice:
Monday - 8:30am - 4:30pm (Open all day)
Tuesday - 8:30am - 6:30pm (Closed 1pm - 3pm)
Wednesday - 8:30am - 6:30pm (Closed 1pm - 3pm)
Thursday - 8:30am - 4:30pm (Open all day)
Friday - 8:30am - 4:30pm (Open all day)
Practice Shut Down - Future Dates
All practices in Mid-Essex will be closed from 12 noon on the dates below. The closures are for staff training. Mid-Essex CCG will be providing out-of-hours care for our patients from 12:00 until 18:30. If you require medical care during the hours that we are closed please call NHS 111 who will make an appointment with the out-of hours provider where necessary.
We will keep our website updated so that you can check if we will be closing for training for the whole afternoon on these dates.
Thursday 30th September 2021 - we will be closing for staff training
Thursday 28th October 2021
Wednesday 24th November 2021
Thursday 16th December 2021
Thursday 24th February 2022
Wednesday 30th March 2022
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.
Exemption letters for wearing a face covering
We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks/coverings in various public settings.
GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask/covering.
The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this.
In respect of public transport, the responsibility for issuing exemptions lies with the transport provider not your GP. Similarly, practices are under no obligation to provide letters of support for anyone who does not fall under the list of exemptions but who considers themselves to have another reason to be exempted.
Government advice on the use of face coverings can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#face-coverings
Some people don’t have to wear a face covering including for health, age or equality reasons. Some transport staff may not wear a face covering if it is not required for their job.
You may find https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/card useful resource as there are templates you can use for producing your own exemption certificates.
Baddow Village Surgery Facebook Page
We now have a Facebook page. Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/BaddowVillageSurgery