It is important you reassure you that St Helier Hospital remains open, A&E remains open, and that we are urging people to attend their planned appointments.
Joint Medical Director Dr Ruth Charlton, said: “A small number of people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the Renal Department and Intensive Care Unit at St Helier Hospital.
“The safety and wellbeing of our patients and staff is our priority and those who tested positive have been isolated from other patients, with arrangements in place to maintain safe and high-quality care.
The situation is isolated to the hospital and there is currently no indication of wider community transmission, but we, alongside our partners in the community, will continue to carefully monitor the situation.
We continue to follow all relevant infection prevention and control guidelines.
Visiting has been restricted in some areas, but as soon as clinicians are confident that the measures can be lifted in a way that is safe for patients and staff, they will be.
The Trust will continue to provide hospital-grade surgical masks at the entrances to our hospitals, and will ask that all visitors wear one throughout their time on site.”
We have always been open at The Chesser Surgery to see patients but have changed the way we are contacting patients via email, telephone and video. We also see face to face if required but will discuss this with you during your initial virtual consultation. Do get in touch with us if you need to. It is important that you contact us for your care so we can manage you in the safest way possible.
NHS 111 Covid Check Your Symptoms
Current advice for Coronavirus
Jobs that qualify for Travel Exemption
DNA (did not attend) Facts -
Appointment time for our practice health care professionals is precious.
Waste of appointments by patients not attending without cancelling in sufficient time to offer the appointment to someone else is taken very seriously. The Practice have therefore taken the decision to remove patients who abuse our systems.
Anyone who does not attend an extended appointment (20 minutes or more) and does not cancel this with sufficient time for it to be offered to another patient will not be accepted. Patients who do fail to attend or cancel an extended appointment may be asked to register with another practice.
Patients who regularly DNA appointments will be sent a letter warning them of the situation. If the same patient does this twice the letter will warn them that if it occurs a third time they will be removed from the practice register.
The Practice will identify patients who do not attend on a weekly basis.
MMR for ALL!
Telephone calls may be recorded!
Treating minor conditions is changing.....
Minor health conditions are conditions that can be treated through self care. They are conditions that will:
- Get better on their own
- Can be treated without visiting the GP by patients buying over the counter items directly from the local pharmacy
Minor health conditions include:
- coughs, colds or sore throats
- cold sores
- conjunctivitis or dry eyes
- constipation
- diarrhoea
- grazes
- sprains
- hay fever
- head lice
- indigestion and heartburn
- infrequent migraines
- mild cystitis
- mouth ulcers
- sunburn
- stomach ache
- warts and verrucas
Effective 29 March 2018, NHS England issued guidance that over the counter items will no longer be routinely prescribed in primary care. This means that your doctor, or other prescriber, will not routinely prescribe medicines for minor health conditions that can be purchased over the counter.*
Over the counter medicines are best for minor health conditions. These can be bought from pharmacies and local shops without a prescription. They are also often cheaper this way. You can get them without an appointment or seeing a doctor.
In most cases the direct cost of over the counter medicines will be lower than the combined cost to the NHS of a GP consultation, buying, prescribing and then dispensing the medicine.
Further information and *exceptions to the guidance can be found through the Sutton CCG website.
Prescribing over the counter medicines is changing leaflet
See your Pharmacist for Minor Conditions
A recent government initiative has engaged pharmacists to help you with common conditions, on a walk-in basis, and provide you appropriate remedies for the following conditions:
- Diarrhoea/Tummy Upset
- Indigestion/Heartburn
- Constipation
- Haemorrhoids
- Earache
- Temperature
- Sore Throat
- Headache
- Conjunctivitis
- Mouth Ulcers
- Nappy Rash
- Hay fever
- Threadworm
Need a Doctor urgently? Dial 111 or Seldoc on 020 8 693 9066