Coronavirus Update
Following a Government announcement on 29th November, the NHS is developing plans to extend the Covid-19 booster vaccination programme to include everyone aged 18 and over.
12 to 15 year olds will also be offered a second dose of the vaccine and an additional booster will be available for people who are immunosuppressed.
People will become eligible for their booster three months after their second dose (reduced from six months).
For now, all you need to do is wait to be contacted by the NHS. Please help us to help all patients by not contacting your GP practice about your booster or attending vaccination sites.
If you are over 40 or a health and social care worker, and are eligible for your booster, go online to www.nhs.uk or call 119 to book your appointment. Visit www.happyhealthylives.uk/vaccinationdrop-ins to see all the places you can go for a walk-in appointment.
Non-urgent advice: Notice
Your General Practice is unable to offer you a certification passport or a letter to prove you have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
These proof of vaccination documents have not yet been developed and as such cannot be provided by your GP. As soon as we have further information we will share it with you.
Covid-19 vaccination and blood clotting
Evidence shows that a significant proportion of post COVID-19 patients are likely to have significant ongoing health problems, notably breathing difficulties, tiredness and cough, reduced muscle function, reduced ability to undertake physical activity and psychological symptoms such as PTSD and reduced mood status support.
If you or someone you live with HAS coronavirus symptoms (new continuous cough OR fever OR loss of/change in smell or taste):
- Stay at home
- If your symptoms worsen or you feel that you cannot manage at home, please refer to the NHS 111 online coronavirus service
- Please do not go to your GP practice, community pharmacy, dental practice or optician
If you, or people you live, with DON’T HAVE coronavirus symptoms and you think you need primary care help and advice, don’t delay:
- GP practices are there to help you get the care and advice you need
- To protect you from coronavirus, your GP practice will try to help you remotely as much as possible.
- Contact the practice, either online, by an app or by phone to be assessed. Find out more here: nhs.uk/health-at-home/
- You will be assessed and as far as possible you will receive advice or care via a video consultation, or over the phone
- If a face-to-face appointment is necessary, you will be advised on what to do. GP practices have measures in place to minimise any risk from coronavirus
This is a public health message from NHS Test and Trace
As part of the government’s coordinated response to Coronavirus, NHS Test and Trace has developed the new NHS COVID-19 app.
It is now available for download to all residents of England and Wales. We strongly recommend that everyone over the age of 16 downloads and uses it.
Download the ‘NHS COVID-19’ app from the App Store or Google Play. There is more information at covid19.nhs.uk
The app will help you to understand and manage your personal risk and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. The more people who use it, the more effective it will be.
The app requires operating system 13.5 or above if you have an Apple iPhone. It requires Android 6.0 or above if you have an Android phone. If your smartphone is not compatible, you can still access full support from the NHS Test and Trace service.
As part of the government’s coordinated response to Coronavirus, NHS Test and Trace has developed the new NHS COVID-19 app.
It is now available for download to all residents of England and Wales. We strongly recommend that everyone over the age of 16 downloads and uses it.
Download the ‘NHS COVID-19’ app from the App Store or Google Play. There is more information at covid19.nhs.uk
The app will help you to understand and manage your personal risk and reduce the spread of Coronavirus. The more people who use it, the more effective it will be.
The app requires operating system 13.5 or above if you have an Apple iPhone. It requires Android 6.0 or above if you have an Android phone. If your smartphone is not compatible, you can still access full support from the NHS Test and Trace service.
COVID-19 Vaccine
We have now started rolling out the Covid Vaccines at Abbeygate in Nuneaton Town Centre, we will contact you to invite you to the Clinic.
Please do not contact GP surgery, unless prompted to do so.
If attending the Abbeygate Clinic, please be aware there is free parking, please see below:
Face masks/coverings – Exemption
Please note GPs in England will not be able to supply you with an exemption form; this is a self declaration. If you want to know more about this please see the below letter:
Caring for people at highest clinical risk from COVID-19
Please click on the below for more information and support.
Background and FAQs for patients
Published: 1 April 2020
IAPT
IAPT have produced a short two minute video about the service and ways in which it can help people suffering from low mood, anxiety, stress and depression.
The link to the video is: youtube.com/watch?v=QPFzPscjF8Y&t=11s and the link to more information and resources on the IAPT website is: covwarkpt.nhs.uk/iapt
Isolating at home
If you are isolating at home with suspected coronavirus, please see the below important information to keep you safe.
Rapid COVID-19 testing
To book your test, please see the below link with clinics available at the United Reform Church, Nuneaton Town Centre.
Domestic Violence
Key Messages:
- Domestic abuse services are still in operation
- Police response is business as usual
- Businesses can support employees who are experiencing domestic abuse by referring them to appropriate services and maintaining contact
- Victims are not alone and help is available
Helplines
- Victim Support – West Midlands: 0300 303 1977
- West Midlands Forced Marriage 24hr helpline: 0800 953 9777
- Safe To Talk helpline: 0800 111 4998
- Coventry Haven: 02476 444 077
- Panahghar, an Urdu word for “safe house,” is a charity based in Coventry that aims to help Asian woman and their families in the region who have experienced domestic abuse.
- Coventry Council Housing: Housing Options 02476 834 025. Homelessness
- Adult Social Care: Telephone: 024 7683 3003 Adults
- Children’s Social Care: 024 7678 8555 or out of hours: 024 7683 2222
Coronavirus advice documents
Warwickshire Extremely Vulnerable Groups
Please click on the below for more information on support and help.
Advice for parents when child is unwell or injured
Please click on the below for more information.
Eye Emergencies
Please click on the below for more information.
Dental Care
Please click on the below for more information.
Volunteer Groups
Please click on the links below for more information on accessing or joining these groups.
Coronavirus Advice & Guidance
Covid-19 remaining fit and healthy
Hand-washing is an incredibly important part of staying fit and healthy. The NHS has produced guidelines on proper hand-washing techniques. It’s amazing how many parts of our hands we routinely miss when washing. If you have young children, it’s especially important that they learn how to wash their hands properly. It’s not just about coronavirus, it’s a skill for life.
Children
With the recent news that schools will be closed to most children, it’s not just important that we keep their minds active, it’s really important to keep their bodies healthy too. Some fantastic online resources can be found here:
- Health information suitable for children: click here
- Get children moving: youtube.com/watch?v=sHd2s_saYsQ
- Online mental health support for young people: kooth.com/
Practical, and not online, activities:
- Go for a walk, staying two metres away from others. Once a day within government guidelines
- Write a letter to grandparents, elderly relatives and/or those who are vulnerable and self-isolating. This is good for maintaining writing skills and will bring excitement and cheer to the lives of the recipients
- Set up a mini shop, using coins and priced items, and get your children to ‘shop’ for the list of ingredients you need for dinner
- Plant seeds and care for them, helping them to grow
- Teach your children to cook, and how to do basic household tasks and gardening
Stretching our bodies
With many of us having to spend more time in our homes than ever before, here’s some advice about how to stay fit and healthy. We’ve gathered a selection of ideas for you to try, depending on your current fitness levels, experience and age:
Try working out in the garden if you have one, which is especially useful if you’re self-isolating.
Even basic gardening can form part of your exercise needs.
You could try walking on the spot, using canned food to do arm raises and lifts.
If you’re more adventurous, you could try doing squats, burpees, lunges, sit-ups and press-ups.
You should always warm up before and cool down after exercise, and use caution if you’re not used to exercising.
Stretching our minds
Have a look at this link for virtual access to museums and galleries across the world: artsandculture.google.com/
Learn a new skill: open.edu/openlearn/education/free-courses
- If you have access to YouTube, check out SchaeferArt to learn to draw
- Take up Sudoku or logic puzzles
- Read a newspaper – online or virtual
- Set up an online book club with friends, using home delivery or an e-book service and an app like Zoom to communicate with everyone
- Write a daily journal
- Play ‘Patience’ if you have a pack of cards
- Play board games
Services
With the difficulties we’re currently facing, telephone lines are busier than normal, so to try to help, we’ve compiled a list of common queries. In addition, many mobile phone network providers have said they’ll allow free access to NHS websites so that you can find the most up-to-date information about coronavirus while it’s an issue for the UK.
Sick notes for isolation: Government guidance can be found here: gov.uk/government/publi…loyers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19
If you need an isolation note, you can find one here: 111.nhs.uk/isolation-note
What if I need my regular medication? In the first instance, we’d ask you to order repeat medication via our website or the NHS app. Please be aware that although we’re processing requests as quickly as we can, the level of demand is placing the system under pressure and pharmacies may not be able to order medication quite as quickly as normal due to the volume of requests. Where we can, we’re using techniques and systems available to us to try and ease some of the difficulties, but we would ask that you’re patient and request medications with a little more notice than you usually would. There’s no need to request medications very early; we anticipate that these difficulties will be temporary in nature and will ease over the coming days. You can download an app to help track your repeat medication here: nhs.uk/apps-library/healthera/
Those most at risk of serious illness are being contacted by the NHS from 23rd March to advise them what they should do. Please don’t contact us to ask about this; wait to be contacted. We’ll continue to support our patients and will follow the latest government advice. As you’ll appreciate, guidance changes on a daily basis and we’re doing everything we can under challenging conditions.
To ensure that we can continue to deal with as many patients as possible, we’ve been advised by the government that general practice should move to telephone and online consultations where possible. This helps to minimise the number of people who are physically coming into the practice. Where possible, we avoid seeing patients who have coronavirus symptoms but who are managing well at home. Cleaning advice has been issued by the government, and while we’re always rigorous about cleaning and disinfecting the practice, where appropriate and where guidance differs for coronavirus, we’ve changed our cleaning practices to reflect this. If we’ve needed to cancel or reschedule appointments due to the current situation, we appreciate that this won’t have come as welcome news. Of course, we’ll do our best to provide capacity to rebook these appointments as soon as possible.