Dear patients,
Due to the current Coronavirus 19 (covid19) crisis, we have changed the way we work. This is for the protection of patients, staff and the wider public - remember, there are few better places to exchange airborne viruses than a GP waiting room!
The following now apply until further notice:
1) All appointments, where possible, are to be conducted by telephone, with any face-to-face follow-up to be conducted only when strictly necessary (when examination is likely to change management).
2) Appointments for vaccinations and ESSENTIAL/URGENT blood tests are to take place at the surgery as usual, but all patients will be phoned on the day to confirm that no-one in the household has cough or fever.
3) Where safe to do so, after a phone conversation, medication reviews are likely to be extended.
4) All patients are to nominate a pharmacy for prescriptions to be sent to electronically.
5) GP home visits are not going to be performed routinely, as there is a possibility that in visiting the elderly/vulnerable we may inadvertently spread covid19 to these patients, given that it is possible for people, particularly those in good health, to carry and spread the illness without having any symptoms.
This illness is currently killing people around the world, and we are likely to see it affect Gateshead in the next few weeks. Please, wash your hands regularly, follow government advice on social distancing and attend the QE Hospital only when absolutely necessary - in doing so, you protect yourselves, NHS staff and Gateshead as a whole.
Dr Paul Evans and the team at Bridges Medical Practice
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