COVID-19 Updates

Coronavirus information for Sheffield Patients and the Public

A coronavirus is a type of virus. As a group, Coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of Coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.

Generally, Coronavirus can cause more severe symptoms in people with weakened immune systems, older people, and those with long-term conditions like diabetes, cancer and chronic lung disease.

Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCov) is a new strain of Coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China.

Who is being Vaccinated?

As of 15 February, the covid-19 vaccine is being given to:

people aged 65 and over
people who are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
people who are at moderate risk from coronavirus (clinically vulnerable)
people who live or work in care homes
health and social care workers

More information can be found on the CCG’s website in the Frequently Asked Questions section https://www.sheffieldccg.nhs.uk/Your-Health/covid-19-vaccine-faqs.htm

Stay at home

It is vital those who are showing symptoms, however mild, must continue to self-isolate at home, as now, and that the household quarantine rules continue to apply.

Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

Do not leave home if you or someone you live with has either:
a high temperature
a new, continuous cough
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

Most people with coronavirus will have at least one of these three symptoms.

Use the 111 online coronavirus service if you have any of:

high temperature
new, continuous cough
loss or change to your sense of smell or taste

NHS 111 will tell you what to do and help you get a test if you need one.

Stay alert to save lives

We can all help control the virus if we all stay alert. This means you must:

Stay at home as much as possible
Work from home if you can
Limit contact with other people
Keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible)
Wash your hands regularly
Do not leave home if you or anyone in your household has symptoms.

The reasons you may leave home include:

for work, where you cannot work from home
going to shops that are permitted to be open - to get things like food and medicine
to exercise or spend time outdoors
any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape the risk of harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person

Cover your face

The Government advises people wear a face-covering in crowded places where social distancing isn’t always possible example on public transport or in some shops.

Homemade cloth face-coverings can help reduce the risk of transmission in some circumstances.

The evidence suggests that wearing a face covering does not protect you, but it may protect others by stopping the spread of the virus if you have the virus but don’t have symptoms.

Please note, face-coverings should not be used by children under the age of two, or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly, for example, primary age children unassisted, or those with respiratory conditions.

NHS is open for business

If you need medical help, the NHS is still here for you.

The practices is open and available for patients who need care.

If you need medical help from us, contact by phone on 0114 2245878 to be assessed. Please don’t turn up at the GP surgery without an appointment.

If you need urgent medical help, use the NHS 111 online service. If you cannot get help online, call 111 and they’ll direct you to the best place. A&E and the walk in centre are open for urgent and emergency health needs.

If it’s a serious or life-threatening emergency, call 999. If you are told to go to the hospital, you must go to the hospital.

This Sheffield website includes information about the services available and when to use them, as well as information on waiting times for each of the urgent and emergency services in Sheffield - https://sheffieldurgentcare.co.uk.

Fit notes

Please do not ask your GP for a fit note if you are off work because of coronavirus. Instead, you can get an isolation note to send to your employer as proof you need to stay at home. These can be obtained electronically by visiting https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

If you need a fit note for something other than coronavirus, it must be signed by a doctor but you do not always need to see a GP in person to get one.

Please don’t turn up at the practice unless we have told you to. In the first instance, ring the practice to talk to someone.

"Fit note" is the informal name for a Statement of Fitness for Work. Find out more about when you need a fit note.

Children returning to school

The government has announced the phased return of early years and some age groups to school which we understand some of our patients may find unsettling. Unfortunately GPs are not in the position to advise teachers/parents of children whether they should return to school. People should make their own decision from reading government advice.

Returning to work

The government has announced that for the foreseeable future, workers should continue to work from home rather than their normal physical workplace, wherever possible. However, they have said that all workers who cannot work from home can now travel to work if their workplace is open. Unfortunately GPs are not in the position to advise people whether they should return to work. People should make their own decision from reading government advice. If you are in the shielded high risk (clinically extremely vulnerable) group you should have received a letter from the NHS which you can use as written documentation for your employer. Shielding is currently in place to 30 June 2020 but further guidance is likely.

For the latest advice :

Who is at higher risk of from coronavirus - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/
On people in shielded or extremely vulnerable groups https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Latest government advice on education - https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/education-and-childcare
Sheffield City Council page on coronavirus - Sheffield City Council

For information on:

Advice for people at high risk

Symptoms and what to do

Getting an isolation note

Self-isolation if you or someone you live with has symptoms

More information

Please see the following Gov.uk link for further information:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-guidance-to-assist-professionals-in-advising-the-general-public/guidance-to-assist-professionals-in-advising-the-general-public

COVID-19 PRINCIPLE Trial

If you would like more information or would like to participate, please click the link below.

https://www.phctrials.ox.ac.uk/principle-trial

Feeling anxious?

Please see the below link for help for living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty.

https://www.psychologytools.com/articles/free-guide-to-living-with-worry-and-anxiety-amidst-global-uncertainty/

You can also self refer yourself to IAPT who offer a range of useful resources, self help guidance and help.

https://iaptsheffield.shsc.nhs.uk/

Coronavirus support for clinically extremely vulnerable person

The following link is for patients who should be shielded because they have a medical condition which makes them extremely vulnerable to Coronavirus (COVID-19) but didn’t get the Government letter. They can register online or someone can on their behalf if they have their NHS number. -https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable.

Social Support for patients

If you have a Government letter and are very high risk if needed you can register for the government food parcel support by ringing the number on the letter you have received or registering on line	www.gov.uk
If you are Self-Isolating - You can contact Sheffield council for emergency food parcels where needed	https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/your-city-council/coronavirus-support-for-people#emergency 0114 273 4567
Other support needs (practical or otherwise) particularly from those required/recommended to self-isolate, the elderly or from any other at-risk group or circumstance - Manor and castle development trust	If you contact the surgery and inform them of your need we will see if Manor and Castle would be able to offer you any help. If they are we can refer you.
In need of food - Food bank referrals	Please contact the surgery. If you are in need of a food bank the reception staff to go through the form with you and refer you to them.

Companion Calls for people affected by Dementia

Alzheimer's society have introduced a temporary service for people affected by dementia to have an informal chat with a volunteer about whatever they like. It’s free, easy to access, and puts you in touch with the right support, from local help to phone and online advice. Helping make things easier.

The Coronavirus pandemic is cutting off thousands of people affected by dementia from their families, their communities and the services they rely on. During this time, isolation and loneliness will hit people affected by dementia extremely hard, and services are stretched.

Dementia Connect | Alzheimer's Society

Dementia Connect, Alzheimer's Society's new personalised support service, means you're only one click or call away from the dementia support you need.

Telephone: 0333 150 3456

Website: Dementia Connect