Patients are required to wear a face covering/mask, use hand sanitiser, maintain social distancing and only enter the building only where necessary e.g. for an appointment, drop of a sample
The surgery is not the same as public transport, a restaurant or the supermarket – our visitors are unwell, vulnerable and may not be vaccinated due to medical reasons.
We have experienced absence due to staff having Covid or close contact outside of work with someone who has Covid. In a practice with a small number of employees, this hugely affects our ability to answer the phone and provide appointments for you.
The continuing of appropriate infection control procedures protects our patients and their health and protects our staff to help you – without our staff we cannot deliver an effective, functioning service to you.
Consultations will continue to be offered by telephone / video and then followed up face to face where clinically appropriate – we are seeing many more people face to face in follow ups. Our nurses and doctors have seen patients face to face for vital clinical procedures and specialist contraceptive procedures throughout the pandemic. It is worth noting that we are consulting with higher numbers of patients than we ever did before the pandemic, whilst also having played a big part in the vaccination programme delivery. Our doors are have always been open.
We hope you will understand why we need to continue with these measures and keep the practice as safe for everyone as we can. We have all come so far in trying to minimise the impact of Covid, let’s continue to stay safe together.
IMPORTANT NOTE
If you attend the practice and refuse to wear a face covering without a valid exemption reason you may not be allowed access. The clinician who is due to see you has the right to ask you to rearrange your appointment.
Where you cannot wear a face covering due to a valid exemption we will need to make reasonable adjustments which may include rearranging your appointment to a different time and/or with a different clinician, or you may be offered care at the 7 day service on Liverpool Road
Latest Government guidance states as of 24th July the public must wear a face covering when entering a shop. THIS ALSO APPLIES TO VISITING THE SURGERY
There are exemptions to this ruling, which you can read about in the links below as well as print your own cards to carry around to present if you are questioned
https://www.firstgroup.com/help-and-support/coronavirus-information/face-coverings
https://www.keepsafe.org.uk/mask
http://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/journey-assistance-cards
The practice will NOT offer exemption letters for patients as per the British Medical Association Guidance
