CORONAVIRUS
DO NOT GO TO YOUR GP SURGERY, PHARMACY OR HOSPITAL - CALL NHS 111
Returning Travellers
- stay indoors and avoid contact with other people immediately if you’ve travelled to the UK from:
Hubei province in China in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms
Iran, lockdown areas in northern Italy or special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, even if you do not have symptoms
other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild)
Lockdown areas in northern Italy:
in Lombardy: Codogno, Castiglione d’Adda, Casalpusterlengo, Fombio, Maleo, Somaglia, Bertonico, Terranova dei Passerini, Castelgerundo and San Fiorano
in Veneto: Vo’ Euganeo
Special care zones in South Korea:
'FLU VACCINES'
Flu vaccinations are still available, please make an appointment at your earliest convenience.
'E Consults'
E consultations are now up and running at Barnard Castle Surgery. Contact your doctor online and get help by the end of the next working day or even sooner.
CARE NAVIGATION
'Care Navigation' is a new way for your local GP practice to help you get to the right support.
Across County Durham, all GP practices want to make sure their patients are seen quickly by the right healthcare professional. We know that when you are not feeling well you just want to feel better quickly.
GP practice staff have received specialist training developed by clinicians, to help them provide you with information about choices you have to see an appropriate person for your healthcare needs. Sometimes a GP isn’t the best person to see. Within your GP practice for example a Practice Nurse (for matters including dressings, immunisations or ear syringes) or a Nurse Practitioner (who can examine, diagnose and prescribe) may be better. You could also be directed to a healthcare professional in the community such as a community pharmacist, optician or sexual health nurse.
So shortly, when you contact your GP practice, receptionists may ask you a few questions to help 'navigate' you to the best person to help you quickly. They won’t try to diagnose your problem, but you may need to tell them a little bit about why you are calling. You don’t’ have to of course, the choice is yours and you can always still request to see your GP, but you may be able to be seen faster by someone who is able to provide the right care for you using ‘Care Navigation’ to help.
Check Your Heart Age
Check your heart age by clicking here
Urgent Care
From 1 April there are going to be some slight changes to the way urgent care is provided. If you are unwell during the day; Monday to Fridays, 8am to 6pm then please ring us at the surgery. After 6pm and at the weekend ring NHS 111 and you will be guided to the most appropriate service to meet your needs.
Tel: NHS 111 - Talk Before You Walk
You should have received a leaflet delivered to your home with details about the range of services available and a copy can be downloaded here: Urgent Care Pocket Guide Leaflet.