The Tardis Surgery - Coronavirus newsletter - August 2020

THE TARDIS TIMES The latest news from The Tardis Surgery

CORONAVIRUS ISSUE continue to go above and beyond to keep patients healthy and safe.

A huge thank you to you, all our patients, for your support and understanding during this unprecedented pandemic. We have been overwhelmed by the kind messages we have received.

A big thank you must also go to our wonderful staff who

AUGUST 2020

IS OPEN. You should contact us if you notice a change that isn’t normal for you or have a symptom you are worried about. We are here for you.

Over the past four months we have had to make several changes to how we work to protect both patients and staff.

We will get through this together.

In this newsletter, we will go through all you need to know about accessing the care and services we provide.

Wishing you, your family and friends all the very best, Dr Upton, Dr Kaur and all at The Tardis Surgery

Rest assured, YOUR SURGERY

IF YOU NEED TO VISIT THE SURGERY… Anyone attending the surgery will need to enter using the front door. You will then be greeted by a member of staff who will ensure you are wearing

your mask or face covering, take mask or face covering to enter your temperature and ask you to the surgery, please ensure you sanitise your hands bring a face covering with you even when collecting your You will be required to wear a medication.

STOP THE SPREAD! Help control the virus To protect yourself and others, when you leave home you must:

• •

Wash your hands - keep washing your hands regularly Cover your face - wear a face covering over your nose

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and mouth in enclosed spaces Make space - stay at least a metre away from people not in your household

If you are feeling unwell, get a test and do not leave home for at least ten days.

The Tardis Surgery 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH www.tardissurgery.co.uk Appointments: 01538 753771

Prescriptions: 01538 751415 Fax: 01538 752557

FLU CLINICS: We hope to begin our annual flu clinics in September.

This year, the service will be extended to the over 50s.

Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page for more info.

CHANGES TO GP APPOINTMENTS The biggest change we have We are providing many made is the way we are consultations via telephone triaging our GP appointments. and video. If necessary, patients will be given the Upon telephoning the Surgery, opportunity to text patients will initially be asked photographs of visible to give a reason for their call symptoms to their clinician, by a receptionist. This does and will be sent advice not mean a receptionist will leaflets, also by text.. be making a clinical decision about your care, it is simply Most issues can be dealt with to forward the information on the telephone, with to the correct clinician. appropriate advice given

CORONAVIRUS SYMPTOMS •

A high temperature

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– this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature) A new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or five or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

•

Loss of/change in smell or taste

To protect others, do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you display symptoms. Stay at home and call 111 for advice.

SEEING OUR NURSES Our nurses have restarted the below services.

If you are due for one, or require more information, please call reception: smears, child immunisations; dressings; telephone contraception discussion; annual diabetes check (via telephone); blood pressure OUR DISPENSARY: Please use the online ordering system or tick the boxes on the repeat prescription slip and post through the Surgery mail box.

Please avoid telephoning where possible. This is to ensure there are enough telephone lines for our clinicians to use.

check; blood tests (with phlebotomist); INR checks; Depo injections; B12 injections; swabs; ECGs.

Ear syringing: This procedure is deemed unsafe at present due to aerosol generation.

We are currently not doing:

Travel vaccinations: We are awaiting further guidance but can offer advice.

Coils: This requires two clinicians in the room and takes longer than 15 minutes with face to face contact.

These may resume at the end of August.

Face to face chronic disease management: Due to length of time face to face between patients and clinicians.

STEROID INJECTIONS: Due to immunosuppressant effects, steroid injections make people more susceptible to COVID complications. We are unable to restart this procedure until the pandemic has subsided enough to make them safe to give. Thank you for your patience.

The Tardis Surgery 5 - 9 Queen Street, Cheadle, Stoke-on-Trent, ST10 1BH www.tardissurgery.co.uk

A DENTAL REMINDER: We are not dentists and we are not trained in dentistry. All dental issues must be dealt with by a dentist. Our GPs are unable to advise on, treat or prescribe for dental problems. If you cannot access a dentist, please call 111.

Appointments: 01538 753771 Prescriptions: 01538 751415 Fax: 01538 752557