The UK Government have announced the final stages of lockdown easing from the 19th of July 2021 when legal restrictions will end in most settings, to be replaced by best practice guidance, giving the responsibility to individuals to decide on social distancing, mask wearing, group numbers and so on. The detailed Government document that accompanies the Prime Minister’s announcement puts Health and Care as an exception to this and requires that infection control measures remain in place, especially with COVID-19 rates increasing both nationally and locally.
The practice sees both sick patients, many of whom may have COVID given the rising numbers, and patients who will be vulnerable if they were to be diagnosed with COVID. Whilst the vaccine programme has seen the highest risk patients supported, there are still many in this group who are at risk, for example patients with health problems that have prevented them from having the vaccine or the vaccine isn’t as effective for them as it is for others.
To protect our vulnerable patients, in common with other health care organisations we will be requiring all patients to continue to wear a face covering, unless they are already medically exempt, when they visit the surgery (face coverings are more to protect other people than the wearer). 2m social distancing will also remain in the building along with a capacity of 3 patients in the waiting room. In addition for urgent and same day requests, we will continue to triage patients, though for longer term conditions the surgery will gradually open up more appointments where face to face is the first contact.
The practice will as always put the health and safety of our patients first. We have never been closed during the pandemic and have seen any patient that clinically needed to be examined and we will continue to do this.
We would like to thank everyone for their understanding as we continue to work to keep our community safe.
