Coronavirus - Advice for Patients
Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
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.
Read the NHS advice about staying at home.
Urgent advice: 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
Use the 111 coronavirus service
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
Information is available at gov.uk/coronavirus and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19
Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also be infected by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
The risk of being in close contact with a person with coronavirus or contaminated surfaces is very low at the current time.
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.
You can find the latest information and advice from Public Health England at www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Updated: 16/3/20
ONLINE APPOINTMENTS
Please note we have currently suspended all online appointment bookings due to the developing Coronavrius.
We will update you when appointments can be booked online again.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Updated: 16/03/20
***** Please complete our Patient Update Form *****
Patient Update Form
**** FLU VACCINE APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE ****
Check your eligibility below
*****
Patients aged 65 or over (on 31st March 2020) we have vaccines available NOW.
You should have the flu vaccine if you:
- are 65 years old or over - available now
- are pregnant
- have certain medical conditions
- are living in a long-stay residential care home or other long-stay care facility
- receive a carer's allowance, or you are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if you fall ill
Flu vaccine for people with medical conditions
The injected flu vaccine is offered free of charge on the NHS to anyone with a serious long-term health condition, including:
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases, such as asthma (which requires an inhaled or tablet steroid treatment, or has led to hospital admission in the past), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema or bronchitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease
- chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, or medication such as steroid tablets or chemotherapy
- being seriously overweight (BMI of 40 or above)
*****
You may also be able to have the flu vaccine at your GP surgery if you're a frontline health or social care worker employed by a:
- registered residential care/nursing home
- registered homecare organisation
- hospice
*** Please call or pop in to check your eligibility ***
DISPENSARY WILL BE CLOSED
BETWEEN 13.00 – 14.00
Mon – Fri
Until further notice
Due to staff shortages
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Chronic Pain
Do you suffer with Chronic Pain? The link below is a film which aims to help you to seek alternatives to prescription opioids to help deal with your condition.
https://youtu.be/l17SjDth4pU
NEW
Dementia Support Services
Come and chat with a Dementia Support Worker at North Curry Health Centre. 09.00 - 12.00 noon on:
Dates are as follows:
Wednesday 18th March CANCELLED
Wednesday 17th June
Wednesday 16th September
Wednesday 23rd December
** There is lots of help and advice for Carers in the further information section - 1. Carers information**
Evening and Weekend Access
This is a new initiative across Somerset whereby patients can make appointments at extended times (up until 8pm at night Monday-Friday and on Saturday mornings) at other practices across the local area. Practices working together to deliver extended access to appointments are listed on the poster below.
Appointment types will vary, some being face to face and some on the 'phone and there will be a mixture of pre-bookable and same day appointments available across the week. They may be with a doctor but could also be with another healthcare professional such as a primary care practitioner or a nurse. We are keen to balance the importance of continuity of care with convenient access for patients whilst ensuring that the service is safe.
To book an evening or weekend appointment please contact your registered practice during normal opening times, this will help us to signpost you to the most appropriate option for your particular problem. By contacting us we can fully explain the process, ensure that the booking is appropriate (as we hope to be able to meet your needs by offering an appointment with your usual GP) and cover all the relevant information (and consent) that we need to before we book an appointment for you. For further information please click on the link below.
PATIENT REFERENCE GROUP
WE NEED THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS OF OUR REGISTERED PATIENTS
Would you like to have a say about the services provided by North Curry Health Centre and the local NHS Service?
We are seeking to increase the members of the Patient Reference Group within the registered patient list which we can contact on an ongoing basis. This would enable the Health Centre to survey the views and opinions of its patients and have a collated collective opinion available when representing its Patient List.
By providing your e-mail details we can add them to a contact list that will mean we can contact you via email every now and again to seek your views and opinions.
Sign Up Form
IMPORTANT NEWS
OUR APPOINTMENT SYSTEM
HELP US TO HELP YOU
We are aware that, with increasing demand, some patients have been finding it difficult to get an appointment within an appropriate timescale, despite increasing the number of doctor and nurse hours within the practice.
When you call for a doctor’s appointment, you will be asked whether your need is:
“URGENT, ACUTE OR ROUTINE”
An Urgent Appointment is something that really must be dealt with the same day because of its severity or risk to the patient.
An Acute Appointment is for a new problem or deterioration in an existing problem that really needs to be assessed and managed within 1-3 working days.
A Routine Appointment is for something where timescale is less important such as a medication review or review of a long term condition.
In order to help categorise your appointment, and ensure you see the most appropriate person, the receptionist may ask you if you can share the nature of the problem or issue. Please be assured that this information will be treated confidentially.
Routine appointments should be available for several months ahead, so that you can plan ahead and arrange a time that is most convenient for you. They will be available by telephone, but also available to book using the on-line access system. Urgent and Acute appointments should be made by telephone.
Booking Appointments On-line
As one of our patient's you are able to book appointments on-line. Due to the complexity of nursing appointments, currently it is only possible to book blood test and blood pressure appointments.
If you wish to book appointments on-line, you will first need to register to access this service. This is a simple process and you will only be required to do this once. Please bring two proofs of ID to the practice, a drivers licence or passport, together with a utility bill, bank statement or other official proof of residence less than three months old to the reception desk. The receptionist will register you onto the on-line booking system and provide you with a PIN number. Once you have this information you will have access to on-line booking from home.
Appointments can also be cancelled using this facility.
Opening Hours
Find out when our practice is open, what the GP consulting times are and what to do if you need help when the practice is closed. Find out more
Repeat Prescriptions
Do you need to re-order your medication? Visit our prescriptions page and complete the online form. Find out more
ONLINE SERVICES
Please be aware that there has been a Emis update which has affected the Online services - this may affect your ability to order medication online as well as booking appointments. You will need to complete the form below and bring it to the surgery yourself along with two forms of ID - one of which must be photographic and the other with proof of address.
We apologise for the inconvenience this has caused you. This is a security measure implemented by EMIS and not North Curry health centre.
Registration form
Like To Register?
New to the area and would like to join our practice? We would be happy to help you. Fill in our registration forms and come see us. Find out more
Facilities For The Disabled
Our patient facilities are located within ground floor level, with wide door access and toilet facilities for patients with wheelchairs or walking aides. We also have a wheelchair available for any patient who has difficulty in walking and ramp access into the building.
Emergency Dental Care for NHS Patients
For urgent emergency dental advice patients can call:
Somerset Dental Advice line: 0300 123 7691
Monday – Friday 8.30 am – 8.00 pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays 8.30 am – 6.00 pm
NHS Direct Advice Line: 111
(Site updated 28/05/2020)