Haddenham Surgery

Community information on Covid-19  (27th March 2020 and replaces 25th March post)

FIT NOTES (25th March 2020)

We have received a high volume of requests for MED3's from people who are unable able to work due to COVID-19 either because they have symptoms or are in a high risk category.  Whilst we completely understnd your situation, due to our own increased volume of work we are unable to issue individual MED3's for these patients at this time.

For the time being, please download and complete this letter for your employer.  Thank you for your help and understanding.

   CLICK HERE for your MED3 

HOW TO GET AN ISOLATION NOTE

if you have been told to self-isolate because of Coronavirus and you need a note for your employer -use this service.

If you are not sure if you need to self-isolate, get the latest NHS advice on Coronavirus.

Saturday 14th March

In light of the developing Coronavirus epidemic, we are doing everything we can to maintain the care of our patients and staff.  In line with the Government's "delay phase" policy, we are working to ensure that only those people who absolutely need to come to the surgery do so and are therefore making the following changes:-

• Stretham Surgery - The Practice has temporarily closed the Stretham Surgery.  If you normally collect your repeat medications from Stretham these will now be available at Haddenham Surgery Dispensary.
• AskMyGP - With the new system which was introduced in November we have been able to continue to deal with patient queries in a timely fashion with minimal attendance at the Surgery.  We have now also installed webcams and so we can offer video consultations.  The doctors have requested that if you have any questions regarding the Coronaviurs not to use AskMyGp but to visit the website www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
• Prescriptions - To reduce the amount of paper entering the Practice, we are asking you to use the SystmOne online portal if you are already registered.  We would request that if you are not registered for this service you do so by going to the "online services" on this website.  Also we are now offering the AskMyGP website service to request medication.  If you are unsure about any of the options available, please telephone the surgery.
• Home Visits - Staff will only visit patients at home if it is an emergency.
• Appointments - All routine non essential appointments are to be cancelled.  If you have an appointment booked please telephone the surgery.  If you have been asked to attend the surgery, please either wait in your car or outside the front door.  Your clinician will come and collect you or telephone you.  Please do not gather in the waiting room unnecessarily.

Tuesday 17th March

• Dispensary - Due to the volume of prescriptions being generated we are now closing the dispensary between 12.30pm and 2.30pm.  We are also changing the timescale for issuing repeat prescriptions from 72 working hours to five working days (excluding Saturday and Sunday). 

We deeply appreciate your understanding and co-operation to keep the Practice running as effectively as possible and would ask that you bear with our staff whilst they assist you to deal with your questions during this very busy and changing way of working.

Thursday 19th March

We are continuing to receive a very high demand of telehone calls and requests via AskMyGP on Coronavirus and self-isolation.  To allow the staff to deal with patients who have medical issues please refer to www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ for full guidance.

Our telephone lines are exceptionally busy at present in all departments and would ask that you are patient if you are struggling to get through.

The Practice will now be closed between 1.00pm and 1.30pm to allow our staff a break.  We will also be closing the Practice at 6.00pm when our telephone calls divert to 111.  There are also changes to our dispensary hours as above.  We thank you for your co-operation to these changes.

The Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has a policy that advises all GP Practices adopt 28 days as the standard treatment length for repeat prescriptions.  During the current situation, this is especially important to ensure a consistent medication supply for all our Patients.

Monday 23rd March

The Dispensary will now close at 5.00pm, in addition to closing between the hours of 12.30pm and 2.30pm.  The reception will remain open until 6.00pm but please note that the receptionist cannot hand out any medications.  

For those non-dispensing patients that use Haddenham Pharmacy please also note that they are now changing their opening hours.

Thursday 26th March

Access to the Dispensary is now via the dispensary window, adjacent to the front door. This allows the necessary 2 metre distance between the dispensary staff and patient and reduces the number of patients coming into the building.  Where possible, if you pay for your medicines, we would ask that you pay with a contactless credit or debit card.

All these measures have beeen put in place to keep you and our staff as safe as possible.