Important Information About the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The NHS in England and Public Health England (PHE) are 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.
The Chief Medical Officer has announced that the country is moving into the ‘Delay’ stage of the response to coronavirus from Friday, 13th March 2020.
The new advice issued by the Chief Medical Officer is as follows:
Stay at home for 10 days if you have either:
- a high temperature
- a new continuous cough
- loss of /change in smell or taste
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.
Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
- you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home
- your condition gets worse
- your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
Stay At Home advice can be found here
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
- Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
More information can be found on the NHS website here.
Coronavirus cases are rising rapidly across the country, so we are now back into a national lockdown.
Stay at home. The most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. For exceptions and other guidance: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home
We are Open and Here for you
Your local NHS in the Black Country and West Birmingham is still here for you, but how you access our services has changed due to COVID-19.
If you are feeling unwell or if you have any health symptoms that you are worried about, please contact us online through this website or call us in the first instance. You can no longer walk-in to your GP practice without an appointment.
If advice and treatment is not possible through an online triage or a telephone consultation, a face-to-face appointment will be arranged for you.
Local GPs are currently supporting the COVID-19 response in many ways and our resources are limited. Our GPs and practice staff will advise you on the best treatment and whether it is required at this time, as we try to ensure that those in most urgent need get the care they need as a priority. This may mean you need to wait a little longer than usual for treatment but if you have any concerns please talk to us.
We are open and fully operational, but these measures have been put in place to maintain and control social distancing and to keep local people and NHS staff safe.
If you are suffering a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999 immediately.
Covid-19 Vaccination
- The NHS has started the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. When it is the right time for you to receive your vaccine, you will receive an invitation to come forward. Please do not contact the NHS to get an appointment until you are contacted.
- The guidance on when people should have their second dose of the vaccine has changed. This means we may need to rearrange some vaccines. If you had your first dose before the 4th January, we will contact you about when you’ll have your 2nd dose.