Cranleigh Gardens Medical Centre

Changes to GP services GP services have been given a mandate from the NHS to reorganise their services to ensure that patients continue to receive a service. Patients may already have noticed that practices are no longer offering pre-bookable face to face appointments. Instead, a phone call or video consultation takes place first. If necessary patients will then be asked to attend for a face to face appointment.
GP services are being reorganised so that patients who may hav...e COVID-19 are kept separate from patients who don’t. For example, practices are continuing to provide childhood immunisations and it is important this takes place in an environment as free from contamination as possible.
As a result of these changes, patients who need a face to face appointment may need to attend a surgery location which is different from their usual registered practice. We recognise this may cause some inconvenience to patients and we are grateful for your patience as the NHS grapples with the challenge of COVID-19.
Changes to examination practice From now on, if you need a chest or heart examination, this will be carried out from behind you rather than in front of you. This is based on current clinical guidance to protect you and our clinicians.
The latest guidance advises that throats should not be examined and they should be treated on symptoms only. Please note that our GPs and nurses will no longer be examining anyone’s throat.
Rescue packs We have been made aware of some inaccurate information circulating regarding special ‚Äėrescue packs‚Äô for patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Please do not contact your GP practice for a rescue pack unless this is something you usually have and require one. You should continue to manage your condition in the usual way and if you feel you have symptoms of COVID-19, go to https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 before doing anything else.
Shielding at home Some people will receive a letter from the NHS to say they should take extra steps to protect (or 'shield') themselves because of an underlying health condition. This is for people who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus.
If you think you or someone you care is likely to fall into this category please wait for a letter. Although the national guidance says that most people should receive their letters by Sunday 29 March 2020 please note that it is more than likely that it will take a few days longer for letters to arrive at people’s homes.
So please wait until Friday 03 April 2020. If you have not received a letter by then or been contacted by your GP, please call us for advice.
Medication
Please order medicines as normal. There is no need to stockpile medicines. Ordering extra prescriptions and buying more over-the-counter medicines than you need will contribute to disruption to the medicines supply chain, which is otherwise robust.
See More

A useful guide for parents when your child is unwell and when to contact your doctor
http://www.whenshouldiworry.com/…/When% 20should%20I%20worry…

With immediate effect the Westonzoyland surgery will be closed for face to face appointments.
Telephone consultations will replace these scheduled appointments until further notice.

Social Distancing is vital to protect everyone from the spread of Covid-19 but particularly more vulnerable patients like the elderly, patients with cancer, the immuno-suppressed and patients with underlying health conditions which include diabetes, COPD, heart conditions and asthma. Please take it seriously as it will save lives.

A message from the Partners at Cranleigh Gardens Medical Centre: As you are all aware, we are in unprecedented times. We are very sorry that we have had to cancel many planned appointments. However we are in the middle of a public health emergency that requires us all to work together to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. For now, the majority of appointments will be over the telephone. Urgent cases will be brought to the surgery for assessment but this will be discussed ...on an individual basis. We would urge all patients to attend the surgery ONLY if you have a planned appointment. This is a measure to protect all of our patients. There may be a time where we can only deal with urgent queries and we will let you know if this becomes the case. It is of vital importance that we all listen to Public Health Advice regarding social distancing and self isolation for those who have symptoms or who have symptoms within the household. It is the only way of slowing the spread and protecting our loved ones. Everyone here at Cranleigh Gardens is working very hard to serve our patients and our community and we would appreciate your understanding during this difficult time. Many thanks. Stay safe, stay home and please look out for each other.
Drs S Pal, A Pal, C Dillon and A Tottenham
Information regarding Social Distancing: http://ow.ly/MWxm50yRSt0 For self certification certificates: http://ow.ly/lzOO50yQKib If you need a note for self isolation: http://ow.ly/hMcg50yQKie
See More

All face-to-face doctors appointments will be moved to telephone consultations from Monday 23 March 2020. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEND THE SURGERY. Pre-arranged face-to-face appointments with the Nurses will continue in the short-term.

The NHS and Public Health England (PHE) are extremely 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.
Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home if you have either:... ‚ÄĘa high temperature ‚Äď you feel hot to touch on your chest or back ‚ÄĘa new, continuous cough ‚Äď this means you've started coughing repeatedly
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact 111 to tell them you're staying at home.
Testing for coronavirus is not needed if you're staying at home.
Read the NHS advice about staying home, including how long to isolate for.
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if: ‚ÄĘyou feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home ‚ÄĘyour condition gets worse ‚ÄĘyour symptoms do not get better after 7 days
Use the 111 coronavirus service
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
Advice in other parts of the UK ‚ÄĘCheck your symptoms in Scotland ‚ÄĘCheck your symptoms in Wales ‚ÄĘNorthern Ireland: call 111
See More

Before you visit the surgery please consider the following. Do you have either: a high temperature or fever a new continuous cough If the answer is yes then the national advice is to self-isolate for 7 days.... To protect others, do not go to a GP, pharmacy or hospital For more information visit the NHS 111 website https://111.nhs.uk/service/COVID-19/ In the current climate if you would prefer to have a telephone consultation rather than see the doctor face to face please inform reception.
See More

In the current climate and planning for any potential disruption to our normal service we are strongly advising patients to order their prescriptions online. To do this please click the following link https://www.mysurgerywebsite.co.uk/secu‚Ä ¶/prescriptions.aspx‚Ķ

For patients concerned that they may have coronavirus or may have come into contact with someone who has, the NHS 111 online service has created coronavirus pages that tell patients what they should do based on their particular circumstances. These can be accessed at: https://111.nhs.uk/service/covid-19

CARERS
If you are a carer for anyone please ensure that we have recorded this so we can help support you.
... Please ask at Reception for details.
See More

Dr Gilmour-White will be retiring from the Practice shortly. There is a book in reception for anyone that would like to pass on any comments to her.

Cranleigh Gardens Medical Centre Newsletter Winter Edition is now available on our website.

Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year to all our patients, staff and friends.
We'll be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day but open normal hours Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and the weekdays in between. Don't forget to order any repeat meds you need over the holiday.