Covid-19 Information

Please note Patients and visitors to Townhead Surgery Settle and Hellifield will be required to wear a face covering or face mask, even when coming to collect letters, precriptions or medication.  We thank you for your support with this.

Non-urgent advice: Notice

To minimise the risk to patients and staff, any patient wishing to make an appointment with a GP must phone the surgery and a clinician will call you back. We must provide medical care by telephone or video as much as possible. WE ASK YOU NOT TO PRESENT TO THE SURGERY UNLESS YOU HAVE SPOKEN TO A TEAM MEMBER AND BEEN ASKED TO DO SO.

If you are worried about coronavirus, please visit https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19

We must all work together to allow the service to continue.  Please do not contact us unless you feel it is essential.

You should only come in to the surgery if:

  • Expressly asked to by a GP or practice staff member
  • Collecting pre-ordered prescriptions or medication
  • Putting a written repeat prescription in the box in the surgery entrances
  • Dropping off samples or BP machines (if requested by a clinician)

Please DO NOT come in to the surgery if:

  • You wish to make an appointment – this must be done over the phone or via eConsult
  • To put in a repeat prescription – this can be ordered online, on the phone or by dropping off your repeat slip or a written request in the boxes provided in the entrances at either surgery. Please note due to the increased demand this could take up to a week to dispense.

Thank you in advance for supporting the practice in reducing risk to our patients and staff.

As per NHS England guidlines, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus, you will no longer be able to book online appointments for the forseeable future. 

Do not leave your home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Do not leave your home if you have either:high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means you’ve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do:

https://111.nhs.uk/service/COVID-19

SELF ISOLATION

People with coronavirus symptoms must STRICTLY SELF ISOLATE at home for at least 10 days, and household members must ALSO isolate for 14 days. Coronavirus can be spread by people before they show any symptoms. 

05.11.2020 – Updated guidance for patients who were previously in the shielding category:- https://www.gov.uk/guidance/new-national-restrictions-from-5-november#protecting-people-more-at-risk-from-coronavirus

Protecting people more at risk from coronavirus

If you are over 60 or clinically vulnerable, you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. You:
  •  Should be especially careful to follow the rules and minimise your contacts with others
  •  Should continue to wash your hands carefully and more frequently than usual and maintain thorough cleaning of frequently touched areas in your home and/or workspace
  • Clinically vulnerable people are those who are: 
  • Aged 70 or over (regardless of medical conditions)
  •  Under 70 with an underlying health condition listed below (that is, anyone instructed to get a flu jab each year on medical grounds):
  • Chronic (long-term) mild to moderate respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
  •  Chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
  •  Chronic kidney disease
  • Chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
  • Chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy
  • Diabetes
  •  A weakened immune system as the result of certain conditions or medicines they are taking (such as steroid tablets)
  • Being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
  • Pregnant
 Clinically extremely vulnerable people are those who are:

There is a further group of people who are defined, also on medical grounds, as clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus – that is, people with specific serious health conditions. Over this period, we are advising the clinically extremely vulnerable to work from home. If you cannot work from home, you are advised not to go to work and may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA). You are encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, but are encouraged to go outside for exercise. The full guidance is available and the Government will write to everybody who is clinically extremely vulnerable to set out detailed advice while the new restrictions are in place.

COVID TESTING – Eligible key workers or their households who are displaying symptoms, can register for a test at https://self-referral.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/. You must prebook however there are some local mobile untils coming as follows:

  • TBA- Settle – Greenfoot Car Park, Ingfield Lane, Settle, BD24 9RW
  • 28th November 2020 – Skipton – Coach St car park, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1LH
  • Kendal & Lancaster  – https://northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/covidtesting
  • 8am to 8pm every day – Keighley – Keigley Sports Centre BD21 3JN
  • 10.30 -3.30 Daily – Barnoldswick – Rainhall Road Car Park
  • 29th November 2020 – Richmond – Round Howe Car Park, Reeth Road, DL10 4TL
  • Everyday 11am-3pm – Harrogate – Dragon Road Car Park, Dragon Road, Harrogate, HG1 5DB

Before you attend you must book a test. Tests can be booked from 8pm the night before. 

Get a free NHS test today to check if you have coronavirus now – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-an-antigen-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

Stay Alert – We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:

  • stay at home as much as possible
  • work from home if you can
  • limit contact with other people
  • keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
  • wash your hands regularly

For more details, ways to reduce spread and protect yourself, and how to get medical advice, visit: 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Bradford Council COVID Youtube support in a range of languages: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzYOSpxR-vtvj4eECQaHK7l8drTWvPwqD

ISOLATION NOTES/FIT NOTES (sick notes)

Coronavirus isolation notes can be obtained from the NHS website or 111 online. GPs will NOT be issuing isolation notes, and will NOT be issuing sick notes for coronavirus symptoms.

Visit 111 online to obtain a self isolation note if your employer insists on this https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

USEFUL WEBSITES

“ORCHA” health apps library for patients

https://bradfordandcraven.orcha.co.uk

New diabetes advice helpline

Clinical advice for those living with insulin-treated diabetes

NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched a new Diabetes Advice helpline to support people living with insulin-treated diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you, or a member of your household, have coronavirus, or routine care has been disrupted, the helpline can provide clinical advice to help you understand how to effectively manage your diabetes.

The helpline is accessible via Diabetes UK’s support line on 0345 123 2399. It is open Monday to Friday from 9am – 6pm.

SHOULD I STILL GET MY BABY VACCINATED? YES 

for more information and support https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/booking-your-childs-vaccination-appointment/

People who need to claim Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) because of coronavirus will not be required to produce a fit note or an isolation note. More details on coronavirus and claiming benefits can be found on the NHS website or  https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/coronavirus/

Government also launches #Youarenotalone campaign

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-announces-support-for-domestic-abuse-victims​​

Gynaecological cancers during COVID-19- Confidential email or telephone advice service. For smear advice or advice on gynaecological cancers.  https://eveappeal.org.uk/supporting-you/cancer-and-coronavirus/ 

Help to Stop Smoking: www.northyorks.gov.uk/stopping-smoking offering support and clinics on a Wednesday in Skipton – see Our clinics & Services page for more detail or clicl on the weblink.

Links to websites for mental health and physical health while staying at home. 

https://www.nhs.uk/health-at-home/

Mental Health Links Government launches plan to tackle loneliness during coronavirus lockdownhttps://letstalkloneliness.co.uk

Elefriends- depression online forum https://www.elefriends.org.uk/

Qwell – free online counselling https://qwell.io/ 

Every mind Matters https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/