To minimise risk to both staff and patients at Garforth Medical Practice we have made the following changes:
- We have temporarily removed online access for booking face to face appointments.
- We will now be offering pre-appointment telephone screening appointments that are available to book online. This allows the doctor to discuss your symptoms with you before booking a face to face appointment.
- Anyone contacting the surgery via telephone or coming into the surgery will be screened to establish if it is safe and suitable for them to book/attend an appointment in surgery.
Thank you for your cooperation at this time.
Coronavirus Information for Asthmatic Patients
We are receiving a large volume of calls in relation to inhalers and patient’s individual risk with regards to coronavirus. We need to avoid the stockpiling of inhalers and so at the moment we are asking patients to adhere to the following national advice:-
- Please do not request/order inhalers early as these will be refused.
- If you have not needed a preventer inhaler for the past 12 months we are asking that you do not request these but instead make a telephone appointment with a Doctor.
- If you have concerns about your asthma control please refer to the following link on Asthma UK:- http://action.asthma.org.uk/page/58019/-/1
- If you are still concerned after reviewing this link, please contact the surgery to speak to one of our Asthma Nurses
Coronavirus General Information
The NHS in Leeds and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal.
The latest information on symptoms of Coronavirus, how to self isolate and the lists of high risk groups can be found on nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
NHS 119 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
- you think you might have coronavirus;
- you’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 119 if you need to speak to someone.
If you require a sick note for self isolation, please go on the following link https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note
Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
Vulnerable Patients
The latest information on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 can be found here.