Mask Wearing – 8^th September 2022

As a result of NHS infection control guidance, during periods of low prevalence, both staff and patients have the choice to wear masks within the surgery. We reserve the right to change this should the local infection rates start to rise.

New infection control guidance requires patients who may have signs of certain infections to continue to wear a mask and also to be separated to prevent the potential spread of infection.

As a result we have put in place Infection Prevent Areas within the practice. If you believe you have and of the following:

• A fever
• An Unexplained rash
• A possible infectious:
  • Respiratory
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Diarrhoea or Vomiting

Please ensure you wear a mask and sit within our infection prevent areas. This process is aimed control infection spread to patients and staff and we are thankful for your co-operation. If you are unable to wear a mask, please liaise with reception as we have a different operating model if this is the case, which will involve liaising with the clinician, potentially being seen at different times of the day, and using a different entrance and exit and clinical room.

Demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status allows you to show others that you’ve had a full course of the COVID-19 vaccine when travelling abroad to some countries or territories. A full course is currently 2 doses of any approved vaccine.

Do not contact your GP surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your COVID-19 vaccination status.

You can access your COVID-19 vaccination status through the free NHS App from 17 May. You can access the app through mobile devices such as a smartphone or by tablet. Proof of your COVID-19 vaccination status will be shown within the NHS App. We recommend that you register with the app before booking international travel.

If you do not have access to a smartphone and know that the country you are travelling to requires COVID-19 vaccination status, you can call the NHS helpline on 119 (from 17 May) and ask for a letter to be posted to you. This must be at least 5 days after you’ve completed your course of the vaccine. We expect the letter to take up to 5 days to reach you.

Full details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/demonstrating-your-covid-19-vaccination-status-when-travelling-abroad

Do not contact your GP surgery about your COVID-19 vaccination status. GPs cannot provide letters showing your COVID-19 vaccination status.