The Black Country Family Practice

COVID-19 – Update 31 March 2020

Letters to High Risk Patients

Patients considered to be very high risk for COVID-19 due to underlying health conditions will have received a letter from NHS Business Services or from their hospital specialist department advising them to shield (stay at home at all times and avoid any face to face contact for twelve weeks)

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-people-at-high-risk/

General practice has been asked to identify other potentially high-risk patients and shall be writing to those patients

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Requests for special rescue packs for Asthma and COPD

We have been made aware of some inaccurate information circulating regarding special ‘rescue packs’ for patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Please do not contact your GP practice for a rescue pack. You should continue to manage your condition in the usual way and if you feel you have symptoms of COVID-19, go to https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 before doing anything else.

Isolation Note

Get an isolation note by visiting https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Self-Isolation

Anyone with a "new, continuous" cough or high temperature is now advised to self-isolate.

Please have a look at Advice on Self-isolation 17.03.2020

URGENT MESSAGE RE. COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS): CHANGE TO APPOINTMENTS & ADVICE

CHANGE TO APPOINTMENTS

Dear Patients of Modality Partnership Practices

In view of the increased concern with COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) we will be changing our appointment booking systems with immediate effect. This is to ensure we reduce the risk of transmission and maintain a safe environment for all patients and staff associated with the practices.

We are now moving to a telephone first system for those requesting an ‘on the day appointment’. Patients will be triaged by a clinician BY TELEPHONE. If patients need to be seen in the surgery, an appointment will be arranged. This may not be at your usual practice, but the clinician who sees you will have full access to you electronic patient record.

If you wish to make a routine appointment for a matter unrelated to Coronavirus

• PLEASE REFRAIN FROM GOING TO YOUR GP PRACTICE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN PERSON
• DO contact the GP Surgery via telephone. Please tell the reception teams whether you would like a telephone consultation, video consultation or a face-to-face consultation. The teams will be asking patients a set of questions prior to making appointments to ensure patients are directed to the appropriate healthcare professional or service.
• DO complete an eConsult if you need same day advice from a GP (if your practice offers this)
• FOR TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS there is now an option to book these online. Please contact the reception teams for information how to register for online booking if you do not already have this.
• FOR FACE-TO-FACE CONSULTATIONS, due to the need to answer questions prior to making an appointment, online booking has been suspended for the time being.
• FOR ONLINE ACCESS TO HEALTH RECORDS AND ONLINE PRESCRIPTION REQUESTS, there is no change from previously. Please contact the reception teams for information how to register for online access if you do not already have this.   

Finally, please ensure your Practice has up to date contact details for you, including mobile telephone numbers where available, for clinical staff and reception teams to be able to contact you urgently if needed.

We understand that this may cause you some difficulties, and thank you for your understanding during this challenging time. ADVICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING FROM SYMPTOMS THAT MAY BE CAUSED BY COVID-19

If you have arrived back to the UK from an affected area, kindly follow the specific advice for returning travellers. Public Health England’s information regarding affected areas and health care guidance changes daily and can be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public#returning-traveller

If you have visited an affected area in the past 14 days or have been in contact with someone infected with Coronavirus or you think you may have Coronavirus or if you have a fever, cough, sore throat or breathing problems.:

• DO NOT GO TO YOUR PRACTICE OR, COMMUNITY PHARMACY OR HOSPITAL
• DO stay indoors and avoid close contact with people
• DO seek medical help and advice by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ or
• DO call NHS 111 by simply dialling 111 or visiting https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19 if you need further medical help and advice

Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for patients in 32 languages. Please click here for further information.

Located in Tipton, the medical practice serves a population of just fewer than fourteen thousand patients. We provide a number of specialist services for our population and are easily accessible for our local community. Our six GPs can cater for a variety of patients with their Hindi, Punjabi, and Urdu language skills.

With 81% of our patients recommending our service to their friends and family, we are proud of our excellent level of patient care. Our dedication to providing great care is what keeps our staff smiling, our patients happy, and our community proud.

As of the 4th February 2019 we are implementing a new appointment system. When calling for a same day appointment you will be offered a telephone consultation with an appropriate clinician first. If you need to be seen the clinician will offer you a follow up face to face appointment.

Online booking and pre-bookable appointments are still available.  

Practice Nurse appointments will not included in this change.

If you would like more information on these changes please speak to a member of the practice team.

Participation in research

For any patient taking part in research please read the following Research Privacy Notice.