CORONAVIRUS CHANGES

Following the recent changes announced by the government, regarding the UK's action plan on tackling the Coronavirus pandemic we have decided that we need to protect patients and staff by taking some additional health & safety / Infection control measures. With immediate effect:- The doors to the surgery will be locked at all times and only patients with pre-arranged appointments will be able to enter the building. Telephones will remain on so all contact with the surgery must be initially via telephone - DO NOT JUST COME TO SURGERY - YOU WILL BE ASKED TO RETURN HOME AND TELEPHONE. All patients must answer some standard Coronavirus questions before they will be able to book an appointment to see a nurse or HCA, all  none essential services will be stopped for a while and some done on the telephone. All face to face appointments with Doctors and ANP's will be triaged by a clinician before a face to face appointment is agreed (this may be at a different site to usual) and if possible dealt with on the telephone. If you are invited to a surgery for a face to face appointment please attend alone unless you require a chaperone, interpreter or a carer / parent. Additional family members should remain outside the surgery. Please make sure you wear a mask when attending any face to face appointments. If you are exempt from wearing a mask we would be grateful if you could wear a face covering,  to act as a protective barrier to reduce the risk to staff members.  We are eager to maintain and increase the services we can safely offer to patients and also protect the surgery and staff from infections.  In cases where patients refuse to do this, the patient may be asked to leave whilst a clinical decision is made as to whether the appointment is clinically essential and may result in the appointment being cancelled.  Please ring on the door bell once and wait for a staff member to unlock the door, you will be asked the COVID symptom questions again and may have your temperature taken remotely. No-one with Coronavirus symptoms will be seen, knowingly, in surgery. Regular additional cleaning in the surgeries will be undertaken by staff in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Clinicians will wear PPE to conduct face to face consultations. Home Visit requests will be telephone triaged by a clinician and where possible dealt with over the phone. If a home visit is undertaken it is done at your own risk and not necessarily by one of the practice team. All patients who request prescriptions will be expected to nominate a pharmacy to collect their prescriptions from, we will send the prescriptions directly to the pharmacy within 72 hours,  you will no longer be able to collect prescriptions from surgery . Please also either use online prescription requesting, put the prescription request through the letter box at night, to avoid other patients, by post or email a request to   manorhouse.marstongreen@nhs.net  Prescription  requests are not accepted via the telephone as a general rule. By keeping to a minimum all face to face contact with the surgery we hope to keep patients and staff safe and ensure that we can continue to provide a surgery service to you, albeit a revised one, until this emergency situation is over. PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU AND PROTECT THE SERVICES WE WILL ALL UNDOUBTEDLY NEED IN THE COMING MONTHS.

Thank you.

FACE COVERINGS EXEMPTION GUIDANCE

Guidance for patients requesting exemption letters
We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks/coverings in various public settings.
GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask/covering.
The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this.
In respect of public transport, the responsibility for issuing exemptions lies with the transport provider not your GP. Similarly, practices are under no obligation to provide letters of support for anyone who does not fall under the list of exemptions but who considers themselves to have another reason to be exempted.
Government advice on the use of face coverings can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#face-coverings
Some people don’t have to wear a face covering including for health, age or equality reasons. Some transport staff may not wear a face covering if it is not required for their job.

SURGERY FACEBOOK PAGE

The surgery now has a Facebook page which enables us to keep you up to date with news about surgery, awareness weeks and generally useful health information. Please use the facebook search function to search for Manor House Lane & Marston Green Surgeries.

WHEN THE SURGERY IS CLOSED

Please ring the usual surgery number and listen to up to date advice about out of hours assistance. ( please note this is subject to regular changes to keep up with the COVID 19 Pandemic situation).

Did you know you can book appointments and order your repeat medications online?

If you haven’t yet signed up for GP Online Services simply download the form below, complete it and  call into the practice with two forms of photo ID and proof of address.  We can sign you up for GP Online Services which  makes it easy to book appointments online, request repeat prescriptions and view some of your medical records.

Find out more about this on www.nhs.uk/GPonlineservices

If you are not able to attend an appointment you have booked, for whatever reason, please let us know.  We can then offer that appointment to someone else who needs it.

Please remember that A&E is for serious injuries and illnesses only

You can call the 24-hour NHS 111 helpline, visit a pharmacy or a walk-in centre, or click on the NHS Choices Website

More advice to help patients choose the right urgent care service to use is available on www.choosewellmidlands.nhs.uk. You can also download the ‘Choose Well West Midlands’ app on iPhones and Android phones. 

Have you heard about the community pharmacy minor ailments scheme? 

The scheme means that you don't need to wait for an appointment to see your doctor about the problems listed below but can call in and see your pharmacist instead.

The conditions included are:

Athlete's Foot, Cold Sores, Cold, Flu or Earache, Constipation, Cough, Diarrhoea, Hay Fever or Allergies, Head Lice, Nappy Rash, Nasal Congestion, Sore Throat, Temperature, Threadworms, Vaginal Thrush, Verrucae and Warts

CLICK HERE TO SEE AVAILABLE PHARMACIES

If you don’t pay for your prescriptions then you won’t be charged for any medication provided by the pharmacist. You'll need to show proof of exemption and sign the pharmacist's prescription form in the normal way.

GET WELL / KEEP WELL

Of course we’re not just here for when you are unwell. Our team of healthcare professionals and back-up staff offer a number of clinics and services to promote good health and wellbeing whatever your medical condition.   

JOIN IN

We hope you enjoy having a look around the site and familiarising yourself with some of the online features such as ordering a repeat prescription. Whatever your thoughts, be sure to let us know via our feedback function. Comments and suggestions are always a great way of helping us continue to enhance the way we look after you.

KEEP ANTIBIOTICS WORKING

Please check out the BSol CCG campaign videos explaining the importance of only using antibiotics when absolutely necessary to ensure that when you need them they are effective.

https://www.birminghamandsolihullccg.nhs.uk/news/blogs/835-keep-antibiotics-working 

PAPYRUS - PREVENTION OF YOUNG SUICIDE

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned for a young person who might be, you can contact HOPELINK for confidential support and practical advice.

CALL : 0800 068 4141

TEXT: 07786 209 697

Email : pat@papyrus-uk.org

Opening hours: Weekdays 10am to 10pm / weekends 2pm to 10pm / bank holidays 2pm to 10pm.

CHAT HEALTH - HEALTH VISITORS

A text helpline has been set up for Solihull health visitors questions.  The hours are Mon - Fri 9am to 4pm ( Excluding weekends and Bank Holidays). Your messages will be seen in hours and they aim to respond to all messages in one working day.  If something is more  urgent please contact NHS 111 or call your GP or dial 999 or visit A&E if appropriate.

Text 07507 332 563

KOOTH.COM for young people

Free, safe, anonymous online counselling and support on www.kooth.com

SOLIHULL LIFESTYLE SERVICE

Free weight management advice. Ring free on 0800 599 9880 and start your weight loss journey.