Update: 10th March 2020
Important information about the coronavirus (COVID-19)
Please do not book an appointment or go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital if you
• you think you might have coronavirus;
• in the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus;
• you’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
NHS111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do. This can be accessed from http://www.nhs.uk. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
The NHS in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire and Public Health England (PHE) are well prepared for outbreaks of new infectious diseases. The NHS has put in place measures to ensure the safety of all patients and NHS staff while also ensuring services are available to the public as normal. The latest information on symptoms of Coronovirus infection and areas where recent travel may have resulted in a high risk of exposure can be found on http://nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
NHS 111 has an online coronavirus service that can tell you if you need medical help and advise you what to do.
Use this service if:
• you think you might have coronavirus;
• in the last 14 days you’ve been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus;
• you’ve been in close contact with someone with coronavirus.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
Like the common cold, coronavirus infection usually occurs through close contact with a person with novel coronavirus via cough and sneezes or hand contact. A person can also catch the virus by touching contaminated surfaces if they do not wash their hands.
Testing of suspected coronavirus cases is carried out in line with strict guidelines. This means that suspected cases are kept in isolation, away from public areas of GP surgeries, pharmacies and hospitals and returned home also in isolation. Any equipment that come into contact with suspected cases are thoroughly cleaned as appropriate. Specific guidance has also been shared with NHS staff to help safeguard them and others. Patients can be reassured that their safety is a top priority, and are encouraged to attend all appointments as usual.
Everyone is being reminded to follow Public Health England advice to:
• Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze. Then bin the tissue, and wash your hands, or use a sanitiser gel.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport. Use a sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are unwell.
Previous Updates – Update: 25th February 2020
The UK Chief Medical Officer has raised the risk to the public from low to moderate. This permits the government to plan for all eventualities. Please be assured that the risk to individuals remains low.
If you have travelled from China or have been in contact with someone confirmed as having Coronavirus in the last two weeks, you may be at risk of Coronavirus. Please do NOT leave the house. Instead, ring the surgery or NHS 111 if:
- You have been in China in the last 14 days and develop cough, fever or shortness of breath; or
- You have been in Wuhan or Hubei Province in the last 14 days or have been in contact with someone confirmed as having Coronavirus, even if you feel well.
Travellers returning from other parts of China and specified areas: If you get a cough, high temperature or feel short of breath within 14 days of returning from any of the areas below please telephone either the surgery or NHS 111:
Category 1 countries/areas:
- Wuhan city and Hubei Province (China, see map)
- Iran
- Daegu or Cheongdo
- Republic of Korea
- Any Italian town under containment measures* (see map)
Category 2 countries/areas:
- Cambodia
- China
- Hong Kong
- Italy: north* (see map)
- Japan
- Laos
- Macau
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Republic of Korea* (see map)
- Singapore
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Vietnam
In the above circumstances, if you require further information or feel you need medical advice or assistance please TELEPHONE the practice or NHS111 to inform us of your concerns. To prevent the potential spread of any infection please do not attend the surgery in person.
Update: 28th January 2020
The outbreak has been pinpointed to the Huanan Seafood Market within Wuhan, China, which sells live animals and exotic meats as well as seafood. This new virus has been named Wuhan novel coronavirus (WN-CoV). The virus can be spread not just by animals but from person to person and is an airborne high consequence disease.
PLEASE BE REASSURED THAT AT PRESENT, PUBLIC HEALTH ENGLAND STATES THAT THE RISK TO THOSE IN THE UK IS LOW.
- If you have visited Wuhan recently and have difficulty breathing or a cough within 14 days, you should seek urgent medical attention.
- If you have been in contact with someone who has visited the area and have difficulty in breathing or a cough within 14 days, you should seek urgent medical attention.
- If you have been in contact with someone that has contracted the virus, and have difficulty in breathing or a cough within 14 days, you should seek urgent medical attention.
KINGSWOOD HEALTH CENTRE REQUESTS IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, TO TELEPHONE THE PRACTICE OR 111 INFORMING US OF YOUR SYMPTOMS AND YOUR TRAVEL DETAILS. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU STAY INDOORS AND AVOID CONTACT WITH OTHERS UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN ASSESSED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
Further information can be found on the Gov.uk website.
