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Letter from the NHS 

The Government has issued new guidance for people who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) because of an underlying health condition. If you're at high risk, you will be contacted by the NHS by Sunday 29 March and strongly advised to stay at home at all times and avoid any face-to-face contact for a period of at least 12 weeks from the day you receive your letter.

Our GP surgeries are facing unprecedented challenges at the moment. Please DO NOT contact your GP or healthcare team at this stage to ask if you’re going to receive a letter – please wait to be contacted by the NHS.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Message from Your Primary Care Team

In line with services moving back to business and usual processes, the dedicated COVID Patient Advice Line has now transferred back to the CCG Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS).

Anyone requiring support or advice should contact the PALS service via the free phone number: 0800 218 2333 or email micsu.customercarelancashire@nhs.net

Social Media

Due to a significant reduction in the number of callers the CCG COVID Patient Advice Line is moving back to the CCG Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS).  Anyone requiring support or advice should contact the PALS service via the free phone number: 0800 218 2333 or email miscsu.customercarelancashire@nhs.net

Key messages:

• The COVID Patient Advice Line was established in order to support the management of a significant number of enquiries from patients and the public.
• Since it was established on 6th April 2020, the line has taken over 1700 calls, the vast majority in the first 4-5 weeks of operation.
• As the COVIID infection rates continue to fall, and the lockdown eases, the number of people requiring support via the advice line has also reduced.
• Numbers in the last three weeks have dropped significantly, with the last week around 40 calls a week being received.
• Given the reduced need, it is now the appropriate time to transfer the service back into the mainstream PALS service provided by MLCSU.
• From 5pm, Friday 5th June, anyone telephoning or emailing the COVID Advice Line will be redirected to the PALS service.

Your Primary Care Team

NHS Warrington CCG & NHS Halton CCG

Booking Appointments

Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in the UK we are changing how we book all face to face appointments. The online booking appointment system has been temporarily suspended at the surgery and we ask all patients to use either eConsult or to ring the practice to book an appointment. This will ensure that we are able to fully assess risk before appointments are booked at the surgery.

As you are aware the practice uses eConsult and patients are advised to seek advice via this service. Please visit the services section on our website for further information and access to the eConsult service

For any general information on coronavirus please visit

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

Face Mask Exemptions

The Government guidance suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption.  It should be sufficient for someone to declare that they are eligible for an exemption direct with the person questioning them (eg bus driver, shop staff).

Practices are therefore not required to provide letters of support for those who fall under the list of exemptions, or to those who do not fall under the list of exemptions.

Murdishaw Health Centre is sorry that we cannot help with requests.

Staying Active during lockdown has been updated with some important information for older adults.

https://activehalton.co.uk/staying-active-at-home-during-covid-19/

Reducing the risk of falling provides a booklet from our Health Improvement team and a link within this booklet to some simple exercises to help prevent falls.

https://www4.halton.gov.uk/Pages/health/hit/pdf/fallscovid.pdf

Patient Access

Have you registered for Patient Access?

You can book appointments online, access parts of your medical records including blood test results, medications & consultations with your GP.

Please speak to a Care Navigator if you wish to register (you must provide photographic ID to be able to register for this service)

Dates of Practice Closures

The Practice will be closed for half a day during the afternoon on the 29th July 2020. The reason for the closure is so that the practice staff and Clinicians can have protected time to carry out training. Should you require medical assistance during the times when we are closed please dial the surgery number as normal and you will be redirected to the NHS 111 service who will be able to assist you further.

GP Earnings

All GP practices are required to declare the mean earnings (e.g. average pay) for GPs working to deliver NHS services to patients at each practice. The average pay for GPs working in Murdishaw Health Centre in the last financial year was £56,412 before tax and National Insurance.

This is for 3 full time GPs & 2 part time GP Locums who worked in the practice for more than six months.