DOWN AT THE DOCTORS
MARCH 2020
Firstly, a correction from the article in the February parish magazine. Our dispensary is closed on Thursday afternoons only, for staff training purposes, NOT every afternoon! Apologies for that but the information on our website and various notices in the surgeries, is accurate.
This month we welcome two new faces to our dispensary staff. Minerva Reyad is a fully qualified dispenser but needs training with regard to our computer system and ordering mechanisms etc. Lynda Parker is a Health Care Assistant who we are training as a dispenser from scratch. I’m sure that they will fit in well.
Finally, we have “Wuhan Flu” or “Coronavirus” which has now been officially re-named by the World Health Organisation as Covid-19.We have experienced a few completely inappropriate contacts from worried patients or relatives who had obviously ignored, or not understood, the NHS and Public Health England (PHE) advice that have been extensively reported in the media and online. One patient had walked past a “suspect person” in London and made an appointment the very next day for a “check up” (significant contact is defined as 15 minutes within 2 metres!) Another person rang to request a “check up” for a relative coming back from South East Asia! We are a small practice so I hate to think what’s happening in larger practices or A&E departments!!
PLEASE follow the National guidance and, if you have travelled to China or SE Asia, or have had significant contact with someone who has, then self isolate yourself, preferably at home, and contact the NHS 111 service. They are fully equipped to assess your situation and put you in touch with PHE if necessary (i.e. if you have developed any symptoms…..fever, dry cough and shortness of breath being the commonest) If you are subsequently advised by PHE to stay in isolation for a full 2 weeks then you are entitled to a medical certificate/sick pay in the usual way for any illness.
General advice from PHE is to take “common-sense” steps, just as you would in the case of seasonal Flu. Catch it, kill it, bin it and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
If in any doubt;
DO NOT ATTEND A&E OR YOUR GP SURGERY
PHONE 111
Dr Paul Haimes