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Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Useful information

In this document you will find updated information about North Preston Medical Practice and other services during the Pandemic.

Pg 2 – Broadway Surgery closure Pg 3/4 – Patient support services incl food banksPg 5 – Mental Health teams available to patientsPg 6 – Radiology requests (Xrays, ultrasounds, MRI scans, CT scans, Barium swallow etc)Pg 7 - How to get a fit note if you are self-isolating / Should you be self-isolating?Pg 8 – Local blood clinics Pg 9 – Treatment sericesPg 10 – HGV Medicals

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Broadway Surgery Closure from 27 th March 2020

As of Friday 27th March 2020 from 6:30pm we made the decision to close our doors to the public to protect our patients and staff until further notice.

You can still telephone the surgery as usual.

If you need to collect a prescription, please do so before 6:30pm on 27th March 2020. If you are unable to collect your prescription before then, you must contact the surgery and let us know which Pharmacy you would like us to send it to instead.

All urgent on the day appointments are carried out via telephone consultation. If the clinician wishes to see you face to face, you will be asked to attend an appointment at Ingol Health Centre.

We want to thank you for your continued support during these exceptional circumstances.

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Patient support services

The government have released a new website for patients to use in finding out what help you can get if affected by coronavirus. This service is available to all patients who are seeking advice and guidance on the topics such as:

Feeling unsafe Going in to work Paying bills or being unemployed Getting food Having somewhere to live Mental health and wellbeing.

You can click this link for more information.

Other services available

Honeywell’s Farm Shop can provide food for collection (1-2 days) or delivery (2-3 days). Delivery requires a minimum order value of £40. For further information please telephone 01772 690271 (option 3) between 9am-4pm or visit their website.

Booths Fulwood are also helping the community and are taking telephone orders on 01772 693800.

Preston City Council is offering help to vulnerable patients whether it be help with shopping, collecting prescriptions, tackling loneliness or housing advice. If you are isolating due to COVID-19 and need help, please ring their community hub on 01772 906777 or email support@preston.gov.uk

LUV Preston Food Bank is a team of volunteers who help with delivering food parcels weekly to those in need of emergency food provisions and work with people to refer them to other support and to help them find longer term sustainable solutions. For further information you can contact 01772 298107 or visit their website.

GoodSam App is a run by Good Samaritan Volunteers and take referrals from the community and health services to help patients who are struggling to access medication and or/food. Please contact the surgery if you would like one of our team members to refer you to this service. 01772 920202 or 01772 282700.

Salvation Army Food bank – Harrington St, PR1 7BN https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/preston

Noor Foodbank – Noor Hall, Noor St, Preston, PR1 1QS https://noorfoodbank.co.uk/

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Holy Family Church – Whitby Avenue, Ingol, Preston, PR2 3YP http://holyfamilyparish.weebly.com/

Intact Community Pantry can take home a bag of food for £3. Call intact 01772 760 760. – 49 Whitby Avenue, Preston, PR2 3YP

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Mental Health Teams

We understand that now more than ever can be a difficult time for those struggling with mental health. We have therefore revised the list of Mental Health Support services available to use.

Domestic Violence & Abuse for Men and WomenNHS Domestic Violence & Abuse

CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858.Available from 5pm – Midnight. Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk.Available 24/7 Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393.Available 24/7. Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41 (under 35yr olds)Available Monday – Friday 9am-10pm, Weekends 2pm – 10pm and bank holidays 2pm – 10pm. Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, call 116 123 or 08457 116 123Available 24/7. The Haven, richmondfellowship.org.uk, 0330 008 3672.Available Monday – Friday 11am-11pm or Saturday & Sunday (inc bank holidays) 12pm – 11pm. Big White Wall, theteam@bigwhitewall.com, 0203 405 6196.Online 24hr service. Kooth, https://www.kooth.com/, (11-16yr olds)Online 24hr service. Military Veterans’ Service, penninecare.nhs.uk/military-veterans-service, 0300 323 0707.Available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Central Home Treatment team, 01772 773433for when you feel you are in crisis and at risk any time at weekends or on bank holidays. Mental Health Helpline, https://www.lscft.nhs.uk/, 0800 915 4640.Available from 7pm-11pm Monday – Friday and 12midday – 12midnight Saturday & Sunday.

If you would like to speak to a Doctor about your mental health, please contact us Mon-Frid 8am-6:30pm on 01772 920202 or 01772 282700.

If you feel you need urgent help for your mental health but it’s not an emergency and your GP is not open, please telephone 111.

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If you feel your life is at risk or you may have seriously injured yourself and can no longer keep yourself safe, please telephone 999.

Radiology requests ( Xrays, Ultrasounds, MRI scans, CT scans, Barium Swallow etc.)

As you may already know, there have been increasing pressures on Radiology services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It seems prudent to minimise hospital contact of well members of public in order to keep them safe from contacting COVID infection as a result of a hospital visit.In view of recent government guidance, public health’s as well as increasing clinical pressures the team would like to draw your attention to changes to radiology department services at the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS trust.

Their focus will be on maintaining acute services across both hospital sites (Royal Preston Hospital & Chorley District Hospital), cancer imaging and imaging of 2 week rule patients as best as possible. Therefore any routine radiology requests will not be accepted after 27th March 2020. MRI scans, CT scans, Ultrasounds, X-Rays, Barium Swallows are all included.

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How to get a sick note if you are self-isolating

Government advice states that patients who are self-isolating due to Coronavirus are not legally required to obtain a fit note from their doctor for their employer or to claim statutory sick pay.

Patients who are self-isolating can now generate their own ‘isolation note’, which is legally accepted by employers and Jobcentre plus.

This note can be accessed by following this link.

Should you be self isolating?

To find out whether you should or should not self-isolate, please follow government guidance. The government has written to some patients whom are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ to advise self-isolation for 12 weeks.

You can register with this service if either:

you have a medical condition which means you’re classed as being clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus

you’ve been told by your GP or hospital clinician that you’re clinically extremely vulnerable and need to ‘shield’

‘Shielding’ means not leaving your home and minimising contact with other members of your household.

You’ll be able to ask for help if you need it - for example, with getting essential supplies or your basic care needs.

You can register yourself, or on behalf of someone else.

If you haven’t received a letter but think you are ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ and should self-isolate, click here to register yourself.

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Local Blood Clinics – updated 06/04/2020

Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) there are some changes to how Lancashire Teaching Hospitals will deliver your Phlebotomy services. All blood tests will now be by appointment only from Tuesday 24th March 2020 until further notice.

Lancashire Care have made the decision to close some local blood clinics (including Ingol Health Centre) so please contact the below clinics to book an appointment.

Minerva Health Centre (Lowthorpe Rd, Deepdale, PR1 6SB)01772 777600/777606

The Healthport (Vicarage Lane, Fulwood, PR2 8DW)01772 520230/520231/520232

Ashton Health Centre (Pedders Lane, Ashton-On-Ribble, PR2 1HR)01772 777160

Brookfield Clinic (19 Croasdale Ave, Brookfield)01772 777474

Geoffrey Street Clinic (Geoffrey St, PR1 5NE) 01772 777300

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Local treatment rooms

TREATMENT ROOM CLINIC

URGENT NOTICE

Due to COVID-19, there are some changes to how we deliver your Treatment Room Service in the Central Locality – only at the clinics below until further notice

Please telephone any of the clinics below to book an appointment

Clinic Telephone Number

Ashton Health CentrePedders Lane, Ashton-on-Ribble, Preston PR2 1HR

01772 777160

Buckshaw Village Health Centre, Unity Place, Buckshaw Village, Chorley PR7 7HZ

01772 644160

Chorley Health CentreCollinson Avenue, Chorley

PR7 2TH01772 644700

Geoffrey Street Health CentreGeoffrey Street, Preston, PR1 5NE 01772 777300

Leyland ClinicYewlands Drive, Leyland

PR25 2TN01772 644100

Preston HealthportVicarage Lane, Preston

PR2 8DW

01772 520230

Penwortham Health CentreCop Lane, Penwortham

PR1 OSR01772 644151

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HGV Medicals (Heavy Goods Vehicle)

Peter Holden, Chair of BMA Professional Fees Committee has informed us that DVLA have advised that they have ceased requesting medicals as of 24th March 2020 - if you have any questions then we would signpost you back to the DVLA.

Further announcements are expected shortly once they have been approved by the appropriate Minister and will be widely communicated.