The NHS app has been improved to allow patients to use it as proof of their Covid-19 vaccination status if required.  Vaccination status will be available to view in the app from 17 May.  NHS England recommend downloading the free app and registering before booking international travel.

For patients who do not use a smartphone or tablet please call the NHS Helpline on 119 and request a paper vaccination statement (at least 5 days after receiving the second dose). Letters should be received within 5 working days.

Please do not request a paper statement from the surgery as we are unable to provide them.

For technical support with the  NHS app please visit: Technical issues with the NHS App - NHS App help and support - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

People over the age of 45 are now eligible to book their vaccination appointment through the NHS booking site.  Appointments will be offered at one of the regional vaccination centres.

You will be required to book your first and second appointments and will receive confirmation of your appointment dates, times and venue.

Click here to go to the NHS booking site.

Vaccinations for eligible patients are being held at Rowden on behalf of the Chippenham, Corsham and Box Primary Care Network (PCN). Vaccination appointments are by invite only so please do not attend for a vaccination if you have not been invited as you will be turned away.  Rowden have clear signage and an easy to follow system to direct you on the day as well as friendly marshalls to assist you.

We know some of the information has been hard to follow so we've done our best to make it as easy to understand as we can. The latest NHS guidance on the vaccine programme can be found here: 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

The restriction guidelines have recently changed and will be changing again soon. Step 1 of the roadmap out of lockdown has begun.

In England:

• Only socialise indoors with people you live with or who are in your support bubble.
• Up to 6 people or 2 households can meet outside.
• Work from home if you can and only travel when necessary.
• If you have symptoms get a test and stay at home.
• Shielding ends on 31 March.

Find out what you can and can't do here.

In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have changed the way we provide medical care to minimise risk to both patients and staff. We have suspended online appointment booking so that all our patients go through our triage system before attending the surgery.  This is a safeguarding precaution and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.

GP appointments:

We are now running a full telephone triage service. If it is deemed necessary to see you face to face an appointment will be offered, usually on the same day.

Nursing appointments:

Some routine nurse reviews (e.g. asthma, COPD, diabetes) have been changed to telephone calls.  Other nursing appointments will go ahead, but patients with any of the following:

• a high temperature (37.8 degrees Celsius or above)
• a continuous cough
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
• ANY overseas travel history
• contact with a person with confirmed/suspected case of Covid-19

must call the surgery before your appointment and a healthcare professional will contact you by telephone to advise.

Thank you for your understanding during this challenging time.

For up to date guidance on COVID-19, please see the link below:

NHS Coronavirus Information

If you have not yet registered for online services please do so now so that you can submit your requests from home. We can also register you over the phone so that you don't need to attend the surgery in person.

PARACETAMOL:

Paracetamol is a very useful pain-reliever offering some comfort for a wide range of conditions including headaches, general aches and pains, and reducing fever. It does not change disease progression; it just helps make you feel a bit better. Some people have been purchasing unnecessarily large amounts from over the counter sellers including supermarkets, petrol stations and your local community pharmacy.

Community pharmacies are working hard to maintain the supply chain for paracetamol, so that people who need it on a daily basis to help manage chronic pain can still have access to it.

Please continue to use this option as stocks will be replenished.

Your GP will only be able to issue prescriptions for small amounts of paracetamol if there is a proven clinical need not for a just in case basis.

PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA:

Pharmacies are working hard to ensure there are sufficient stocks of salbutamol for those patients that need them for asthma right now. If you have not previously had a diagnosis of asthma, or have not needed a reliever inhaler for several years then there is no reason, including the potential corona virus infection, to request one now.

For our patients with a current diagnosis of asthma, carrying your reliever inhaler (usually blue, often salbutamol) with you is important if you think your asthma symptoms are flaring up (see https://www.asthma.org.uk/coronavirus#Advice).

All staff responsible for issuing prescriptions have been given this advice.

Please do not contact the surgery for medication that is not currently necessary in order to ensure supplies are reserved for those that do need them.

NHS Volunteers

You can request help from one of the many volunteers who recently signed up to help the NHS.  If you are over 70, self-isolating or unable to leave your home there are four types of help you can request:

Check in and Chat Support: Provides short-term telephone support to individuals who are at risk of loneliness as a consequence of self-isolation.

Community Support: Provides collection of shopping, medication or other essential supplies for someone who is self-isolating and delivering these supplies to their home.

NHS Patient Support: Provides transport to take patients home who are medically fit for discharge.

NHS Transport Support: Provides transport for equipment, supplies and/or medication between NHS services and sites. Also involves assisting pharmacies with medication delivery.

Click here for the link to find out more about the services available: https://volunteering.royalvoluntaryservice.org.uk

If you meet the criteria and need help collecting shopping, medication or other essential supplies or just want a telephone ‘check in and chat’ to help prevent loneliness, please contact them directly on 0808 196 3646.

If you are self-isolating due to coronavirus (COVID-19) and you need help and do not have any family, friends or neighbours who can support you the contact the Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub who can help you with:

• deliveries of food and other essentials

• loneliness and wellbeing.

You can request this help by calling the helpline on: 0300 003 4576, available from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday. Alternatively email: wellbeinghub@wiltshire.gov.uk

For information about other local volunteer groups please follow this link: https://wiltshire.gov.uk/public-health-coronavirus-support

Alder Hey Children's Hospital has produced a useful child-friendly fact sheet about Coronavirus. 

To view it please click on the link below: