COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID Adult Leaflet – a Guide for adults
How to access GP services during the pandemic
We are making changes to the way you access GP services during the coronavirus pandemic to help protect people and slow the spread of the virus.
If you need an appointment or advice, contact your GP practice either by online consultation or phone. We are currently experiencing extremely high call volumes, please use the online consultation page in the first instance where possible. This will ensure that patients that do not have online access can access the surgery by telephone easier.
If your needs require a clinical opinion a phone or video call with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional this may be booked for you.
If a face-to-face GP appointment is necessary, you will be told which GP practice it will be held at. This appointment may take place at a different surgery to the one you usually go to, and with a different doctor or nurse than the one you usually see.
If a home visit is needed, one will be arranged. The doctor who visits may not be the one you usually see.
Please be assured that the clinician you see will have access to all of your medical records, and will be able to make informed decisions based on your health needs.
These are temporary measures taken to ensure we can continue to meet your needs in general practice.
Everyone can help support the UK’s response by:
- following public health authorities’ advice, for example on hand washing.
- reducing the impact and spread of misinformation by relying on information from trusted sources, such as that on www.nhs.uk www.publichealth.hscni.net and www.gov.uk
- checking and following the latest FCO travel advice when travelling and planning to travel http://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
- ensuring you and your family’s vaccinations are up to date as this will help reduce the pressure on the NHS/HSCNI through reducing vaccine-preventable diseases.
- checking on elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours.
- using NHS 111 (including online, where possible), pharmacies and GPs responsibly, and go to the hospital only when you really need to. This is further explained on the NHS website – http://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care/when-to-go-to-ae/
- being understanding of the pressures the health and social care systems may be under, and receptive to changes that may be needed to the provision of care to you and your family.
- accepting that the advice for managing COVID-19 for most people will be self-isolation at home and simple over the counter medicines
- checking for new advice as the situation changes
Please see the link below regarding Reducing COVID-19 transmission and PPE.
Reducing COVID-19 transmission and PPE – COVID-19: toolkit for GPs and GP practices – BMA
Public Transport
If you are travelling with First Group Bus Service and have a medical condition or disability which requires you not to wear a mask, please see the link below for an exemption card;