FACE-MASKS New Updates
The updated guidance from NHS England means that not all patients will be asked to wear a mask or face covering when attending the practice.
If you are coming to the practice to see a member of our team because you have respiratory symptoms, you will be asked to wear a mask or face covering.
Clinicians at the practice will not routinely wear a facemask when seeing you for your appointment. They will wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms and will wear a mask if you ask them to. Some staff may choose to wear a mask to limit their own risk, but this is now an individual's decision.
Thank you for your cooperation in wearing a mask over the past two years.
"ASK TEDDI" APPLICATION
This is an app for parents of children aged 0 – 5, answering lots of questions around feeding, oral health, milestones and exercise, as well as giving information on parental health and wellbeing too. It is being promoted by health visitors in Barnet, and you may find it useful. It is free to download. Access direct on https://ask-teddi.com or via your usual app provider.
COVID-19 Testing
Please see bellow link for further information about testing for Covid-19.
Please note, if you have SYMPTOMS you need a PCR test. Lateral flow tests are ONLY for regular testing of those WITHOUT symptoms.
COVID Vaccination
The NHS started offering the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020. Since then, we have vaccinated over 85% of our highest priority groups (groups1-9) at our local Hub in Finchley. The hub closed in June 2021.
All Adults aged 18 and over can now book their Covid vaccination via: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/ or by calling 119.
At the moment vaccines administered overseas cannot be recorded in the UK National Immunisation Management system (NIMS) which is the system used to show your vaccination status in the NHS App. Therefore the ability to show any “overseas” Vaccination Certificate and request a Vaccination Passport is not currently available from the NHS. This issue is being worked on at a national level and an update is expected shortly. Any queries regarding this issue need to be directed to NHS 119 or to NHS App support rather than the GP practice: https://www.nhs.uk/contact-us/nhs-app-contact-us/. If people cannot access online services, and they are due to travel abroad in the near future, they can call 119 to request a letter that will provide evidence of their vaccination status. The NHS Vaccine Resolution Centre has now gone live for those who had COVID vaccinations abroad. This is accessible through 119.
Covid -19 Vulnerable patients
People who are more vulnerable to becoming unwell with Covid-19 should follow current government guidelines on working, social distancing and personal protective equipment. Patients do not need GP letters to recommend working from home or exemption for wearing face coverings, for example. Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to requests for such letters. Please visit the government website for up to date advice:
Due to the current Covid19 Pandemic most appointments are currently being conducted as telephone consultations. Please call the surgery to be advised or to make an appointment.
Lines are open 8.45 - 12.30 and 3.00 - 6.30pm Monday to Fridays. Alternatively, complete an e-consult.
Should I send my Child to School? Click link below for up to date Covid advice:
Useful info regarding sick certificates in relation to Covid-19
- If you think you are sick and you need a sick certificate, you do not need to contact us
1. Symptomatic so isolating
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.
2. Symptomatic 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. They do not need to contact their GP for a certificate but you can advise patients to use the template form below.
3. Household contact symptoms so isolating as per government advice
GPs cannot and are not the gatekeeper of the statutory sick pay system and can only provide certificates for the purpose of illness, not in relation to government advice regarding self-isolation. 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.
4. At risk group so following 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.
5. Those in full time education who are symptomatic or requiring self-isolation.
There is no NHS requirement to issue certification to schools or colleges to confirm absence. These organisations must work with parents and students to ensure that any absence is appropriately recorded, obviating the need for a ‘doctor’s note’. They do not need to contact their GP.
NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (Covid-19) - Important information
For the latest coronavirus Covid-19 advice please visit www.nhs.uk.
The surgery will remain open but in order to reduce the risk of infection to patients and staff the doors are being manned and patients will be screened as they enter. The telephone lines are operating as normal and most patient contact is being undertaken by telephone consultations.
The UK Government has today launched a GOV.UK Coronavirus Information service on WhatsApp.
This will help combat the spread of coronavirus misinformation in the UK, as well as helping ensure people stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.
The GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service is an automated ‘chatbot’ service which will allow the British public to get answers to the most common questions about coronavirus direct from government.
The service will provide information on topics such as coronavirus prevention and symptoms, the latest number of cases in the UK, advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth busting.
The service will also allow the government to send messages to all opted-in users if required.
To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts and then message the word ‘hi’ in a WhatsApp message to get started.
A set of menu options is then presented which the user can choose from and then be sent relevant guidance from GOV.UK pages as well as links to GOV.UK for further information.
Prof Yvonne Doyle, Medical Director, Public Health England, said:
This service will help us ensure the public has a trusted source for the right information about coronavirus, updated with the latest public health guidance and providing assurance that they are not misled by any of the false information circulating.
Matt Idema, Chief Operating Officer, WhatsApp, said:
At difficult times like these, people are using WhatsApp more than ever to connect with and support their friends, family and communities. We are pleased to be able to provide the UK Government with the communications tools to help them answer the public’s questions about the virus with reliable, timely health advice, in order to keep people safe.
Other recent Government communications include:
Earlier this week the government texted people across the UK to inform them of the new rules announced by the Prime Minister on 23 March 2020. Details here - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/coronavirus-sms-messages
The Government has also sent text messages to the vulnerable as part of the shielding package announced by the Prime Minister on 22 March 2020. Details here - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Medicines collection via volunteers in Barnet and delivery of medicines using volunteers for self-isolating patients in Barnet
If support is needed with collection and delivery of prescriptions, you or your patients can contact the following organisations:
- Age UK Barnet (for over 55s) - 020 8203 5040
- Community Barnet Wellbeing Response Service (18-55s) - 020 8016 0016
- LBB Community Help Hub - 0808 281 3210
Please have a look at the medicines collection flow chart for medicines collection in Barnet by volunteers, and also the Barnet volunteer delivery of medicines for self-isolating patients’ guidance to community pharmacies which was issued on 22 April 2020.