Coronavirus (Covid-19)

During the Coronavirus pandemic one of the best ways you can help us to continue to function is by ordering your medication online though EMIS Access.

Patient Access

Please complete the form electronically, making sure you nominate a pharmacy to receive the electronic prescription and we can process the rest from here.

Nominate a pharmacy

Coronavirus (Covid-19)

As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, there will be disruption to the service we usually provide to our patients. We ask for your support and patience with our doctors, nurses and reception team as without them, we are not able to continue to offer care and support to you and your family.

Changes to the appointment system

In order to keep our staff fit and healthy, we have made a number of changes to ourappointment system. The majority of our appointments will now take place on the telephone or via video link. This is because we need our doctors, nurses and receptionists to stay healthy so they can continue to care for you.

If the doctor or nurse need need to see you in person, they will book the appointment and you will be asked to come down to the surgery.

Front Doors

Our front doors are currently shut to minimise footfall in the surgery. We are not closed. If you have a face to face appointment, please come to the side door and ring the bell and our receptionist will let you in. Please do not come to the door for prescription queries as we can deal with these over the phone or online.

Checking your symptoms

If you think you may have coronavirus, you can check your symptoms and get advice online here: https://111.nhs.uk/

Extremely vulnerable patients

You may have received a letter explaining that you are extremely vulnerable to corona virus and which recommends that you should “shield” yourself for a period of 12 weeks. More letters will be sent by the national team, in early April 2020. If not and you believe that you may be vulnerable, you can flag this and register for support by completing the information at the following website:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

The guidance to help you shield yourself, plus any support which may be available to you during this period can be found here:

Guidance of Shielding and Protecting People

**Caring for Children – Message for Parents**

It is really important to realise that not every unwell child has COVID-19. If your child is unwell, please seek help. Remember that NHS 111, GP’s and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done.

All the ‘normal’ illnesses that can make children severely unwell still remain and there is a major risk that parents may delay bringing their child to the attention of a healthcare professionals even if they are unwell because of concerns about COVID-19.

If you are not sure if your child is unwell and whether they need to be seen, click here: https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national or telephone NHS 111 or contact Testvale Surgery on 02380 866999.

For more information about crying babies, click here: http://iconcope.org/parentsadvice/

If your child appears severely unwell and advice is not quickly available call 999 or take them to ED as you would in other times.

What you can do to help?

1. Do not enter the practice if you have a cough or fever. If you do, you put our staff at risk which may mean they cannot continue to practice and help others.

2. If you are told to come to the surgery by a clinician, please listen to the instructions carefully as you may be asked to wait in the car or use a different entrance to protect you and others

3. Download the NHS App via the App Store or Google Play to be able to order repeat prescriptions, look at test results, access the latest guidance and use the symptom checker

4. Limit all visits to the practice to when strictly necessary

5. Register for electronic prescribing and inform your pharmacy that you wish to nominate them to process your medication.

6. Look out for your friends, family & neighbours especially if they are elderly

I (or my child) have a new cough or a fever, BUT I think I can look after it myself

1. Don’t attend the practice and don’t call 111
2. Self-isolate
3. Follow advice and guidance on how to self-isolate at: Self-Isolation Advice

I (or my child) have a new cough or a fever, AND I’m unwell and need medical advice

1. Don’t phone the practice
2. Get advice and guidance via NHS111 online at: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
3. Only phone NHS 111 if you don’t have internet access available

I (or my child) have a new cough or a fever, AND I have a medical emergency and need to call an ambulance

1. Dial 999 and inform the call handler that you have been self-isolating because of a cough/fever;
2. Follow their instructions

I (or my child) have an urgent medical problem, BUT I don’t have a cough or a fever, AND I don’t think it is related to COVID-19

1. Phone the practice in the usual way, the receptionist will add you to a telephone list for a call back from a doctor or a nurse;
2. Discuss your urgent problem with the doctor or nurse and they will give advice on the best way to get it solved for you. If it you need to be seen at the practice, a face to face appointment will be booked for you;

I (or my child) have an non-urgent medical issue,a medication issue, an administrative issue or any other problem

1. We plan to solve as many of these issues as possible without you having to visit the practice
2. Consider whether your issue can be postponed given the COVID-19 situation, but if not;
3. Submit an eConsult (online) request for advice, found on our website at: https://www.testvalesurgery.com
4. If you do not have internet access, please ask a friend or family member to help you submit an eConsult
5. If that is not possible, call the practice and one of our care navigators can help you submit an eConsult

I have never done an eConsult. How do I start?

1. Press on the eConsult button on our website and follow the simple instructions
2. There is lots of advice on self-care available, so use that if possible
3. Choose ‘administrative advice’ if that is what you are after
4. Choose the medical topic that matches your problem, or ‘general advice’ if you can’t find one
5. Give us as much information as possible to help us to help you effectively

What will happen to my eConsult?

1. Your eConsult will be reviewed within two working days
2. The outcome will depend on your problem but could include one or more of the following;
– advice via a text message
– a prescription
– a blood test, ECG or other investigation
– a telephone consultation
– a video call consultation
– a face to face appointment, if this is appropriate AND if you don’t have a new cough or a fever

Non-urgent advice: Remeber

If you are unwell with a significant illness, such as finding a breast lump or developing chest pain you should still ask for help. Please don’t ignore important symptoms.

I am self-isolating and off work, do I need a ‘sick note’?

1. You do not need a medical certificate for the 7 day isolation period
2. If your symptoms are no better after 7 days, contact NHS 111 online https://111.nhs.uk

A member of my household has a cough or a fever and is self-isolating for 7 days, but I do not have any symptoms

1. Follow the guidance at https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19
2. If you live with someone who has symptoms, you must stay at home for fourteen days from the day their symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear.

I have a holiday booked; do I need a GP letter to support cancelling my travel?

1. We are caring for more sick patients than usual and so we are not in a position to write letters for patients with holiday plans;
2. Insurers and travel companies should be basing their decisions on advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

If you need help during the coronavirus pandemic, please see the information below:

Volunteering and Support

If you need help or support, then you can now contact the army of NHS Volunteers between the hours of 8am and 8pm on 0808 196 3646 or follow this link to get help from an NHS Volunteer responder: Help from NHS Volunteer Responder

For more information, you can access additional information from the Royal Voluntary Service website here: Royal Voluntary Service Website

Hampshire Support

If you need support during the pandemic then Hampshire County Council have set up a support line which Hampshire residents can access by telephoning 0333 370 4000. (Calls charged at local rate.) The helpline is available seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm and is for vulnerable people who need urgent assistance but do not have immediate family members to help them.

Further information is available at the following website: https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/coronavirus/volunteer-welfare

Additional information about support can also be found below:

How can I get food deliveries

Food

Apetito 01225 562 549.

https://www.apetito.co.uk

Meals on wheels service running as normal, delivering to the door.

Oakhouse Foods 0333 3706700. Frozen ready meals (dietary needs catered for).

https://www.oakhousefoods.co.uk

Ready meals service is running as normal. However, the grocery service has been suspended due to a lack of stock, they are sourcing more suppliers, hopefully by end of next week.

Wiltshire Farm Foods 0800 0773100

https://www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com

Frozen meals service only (dietary needs catered for). Service running as normal.

Montanas Home Delivery 01425 619883

http://www.montanasonlinestore.co.uk

Still making home deliveries of groceries but getting busier by the day. Taking on new vulnerable clients and limiting stock – one pack of four toilet rolls, one bag of pasta etc.

Pharmacies and Grocery Shops

All pharmacies are open and making deliveries. Grocery stores are open, making deliveries and some have click and collect. Iceland in Shirley, Southampton are open for older and vulnerable people only 9 -11am Wednesday mornings and Sainsbury are doing similar. Other supermarkets are reviewing their times for elderly shopping only.

Age Concern

People can phone for advice but they are unable to take new referrals as they will have only one person in the office at a time (most of their volunteers are 60+). Their Podiatry Clinic at Testvale (Wednesday and Friday) may be moving, their Lunch Clubs have stopped as have their home visits so anyone needing help with Attendance Allowance forms should call the Department of Work and Pensions Helpline on 0800 731 0122.

New Forest Disability

Telephone 01425 628750 10am – 5pm weekdays except Weds 10am – 1pm

http://www.newforestdis.co.uk

People can phone for advice and their outreach at Totton Library is currently going ahead on the 25th March 1-3pm (every 4th Tuesday of the month)

Red Cross Balfour Project

The Red Cross service is offering short term hire of mobility equipment including wheelchairs. Telephone 07808 204537 and ask for Al or Sara and see www.balfour@redcross.org.uk for more details.

The equipment van at Testvale Car Park will probably be operating on reduced days and times. From today they will not enter someone’s home or carry out assessments but are happy to deliver equipment to the door.

Andover Mind

All group work has been suspended. All home visits and face to face appointments will be offered telephone assessments as a replacement unless critical or urgent and this will be assessed on a case by case basis. If you need to speak to someone, contact 01264 332297 or https://www.andovermind.org.uk/contact/

Useful Information

For useful information about Coronavirus and possible sources of support, please see the Word Document below:

Coronavirus Useful Contacts

Solent MIND

Solent MIND have set up a new dedicated Mental Wellbeing Helpline which can support your emotional health during the Coronavirus epidemic.

The help is free and open to everyone in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Call today on 023 8017 9049.

Looking After your Mental Health

During the Pandemic, it is more important than ever to look after your own mental health. For tips and advice, the Mental Health Foundation have put together some really important information which you can access here:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus

Talking to your children about Corona Virus

It’s easy to overlook the impact that Corona Virus is having on our children, from closure of schools and home learning to disruption of routine and restrictions on playing out and seeing friends. If you are having difficulty in talking to children about the pandemic, there is some really useful resources you can access here:

https://mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/talking-to-children