Despite lockdown restrictions lifting in the community from 19 July, measures will remain unchanged in healthcare settings, including your GP practice. Please continue to help us to help you by wearing a face covering when entering our buildings, washing your hands using the facilities provided and maintaining social distancing.
Restrictions remain and inside all our premises and you still need to wear a mask, wash your hands and follow social distancing. Our practice has put in place comprehensive measures for staff and patients for the wearing of face masks and face coverings whilst at our surgery. All patients and visitors should continue to wear a face covering on entrance to our buildings and throughout the duration of their visit.
The face coverings can be a scarf, homemade face mask or one that has been purchased. The measures continue to be an important part, alongside social distancing, of reducing the spread of Covid-19 and to keep our patients and communities safe.
We do understand that it can be frustrating, but we do know that when patients come to see us they are often sick and vulnerable, so we feel it would be wrong to not take these small precautions that can protect people.
Health services are currently under significant pressure. This is no different in general practice, and recently this has been increased as a number of our team are having to self-isolate in line with government guidance either because they have been in contact with someone confirmed as having Covid-19, or because they have confirmed infection themselves. At times, this is affecting up to 30% of our staff. This means that we may take a little longer than normal to answer the phone, and you may need to wait a little longer to see one of the team for an appointment.
Please be patient when dealing with our staff. We have had some patients being unkind and our staff are working very hard to meet everyone’s needs. You might not realise but we’ve treated many more patients in recent months than we have treated in previous years, and continue to see as many people as possible each day. We are here for you and will continue to be so.