During the Coronavirus pandemic one of the best ways you can help us to continue to function is by ordering your medication online though EMIS Access.
Patient Access
Please complete the form electronically, making sure you nominate a pharmacy to receive the electronic prescription and we can process the rest from here.
Coronavirus (Covid-19)
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, there will be disruption to the service we usually provide to our patients. We ask for your support and patience with our doctors, nurses and reception team as without them, we are not able to continue to offer care and support to you and your family.
Changes to the appointment system
In order to keep our staff fit and healthy, we have made a number of changes to ourappointment system. The majority of our appointments will now take place on the telephone or via video link. This is because we need our doctors, nurses and receptionists to stay healthy so they can continue to care for you.
If the doctor or nurse need need to see you in person, they will book the appointment and you will be asked to come down to the surgery.
Front Doors
Our front doors are currently shut to minimise footfall in the surgery. We are not closed. If you have a face to face appointment, please come to the side door and ring the bell and our receptionist will let you in. Please do not come to the door for prescription queries as we can deal with these over the phone or online.
Checking your symptoms
If you think you may have coronavirus, you can check your symptoms and get advice online here: https://111.nhs.uk/
Extremely vulnerable patients
You may have received a letter explaining that you are extremely vulnerable to corona virus and which recommends that you should “shield” yourself for a period of 12 weeks. More letters will be sent by the national team, in early April 2020. If not and you believe that you may be vulnerable, you can flag this and register for support by completing the information at the following website:
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
The guidance to help you shield yourself, plus any support which may be available to you during this period can be found here:
**Caring for Children – Message for Parents**
It is really important to realise that not every unwell child has COVID-19. If your child is unwell, please seek help. Remember that NHS 111, GP’s and hospitals are still providing the same safe care that they have always done.
All the ‘normal’ illnesses that can make children severely unwell still remain and there is a major risk that parents may delay bringing their child to the attention of a healthcare professionals even if they are unwell because of concerns about COVID-19.
If you are not sure if your child is unwell and whether they need to be seen, click here: https://www.what0-18.nhs.uk/national or telephone NHS 111 or contact Testvale Surgery on 02380 866999.
For more information about crying babies, click here: http://iconcope.org/parentsadvice/
If your child appears severely unwell and advice is not quickly available call 999 or take them to ED as you would in other times.
What you can do to help?
1. Do not enter the practice if you have a cough or fever. If you do, you put our staff at risk which may mean they cannot continue to practice and help others.
2. If you are told to come to the surgery by a clinician, please listen to the instructions carefully as you may be asked to wait in the car or use a different entrance to protect you and others
3. Download the NHS App via the App Store or Google Play to be able to order repeat prescriptions, look at test results, access the latest guidance and use the symptom checker
4. Limit all visits to the practice to when strictly necessary
5. Register for electronic prescribing and inform your pharmacy that you wish to nominate them to process your medication.
6. Look out for your friends, family & neighbours especially if they are elderly
Urgent advice: Remeber
If you need help during the coronavirus pandemic, please see the information below:
Volunteering and Support
If you need help or support, then you can now contact the army of NHS Volunteers between the hours of 8am and 8pm on 0808 196 3646 or follow this link to get help from an NHS Volunteer responder: Help from NHS Volunteer Responder
For more information, you can access additional information from the Royal Voluntary Service website here: Royal Voluntary Service Website
Hampshire Support
If you need support during the pandemic then Hampshire County Council have set up a support line which Hampshire residents can access by telephoning 0333 370 4000. (Calls charged at local rate.) The helpline is available seven days a week, from 9am to 5pm and is for vulnerable people who need urgent assistance but do not have immediate family members to help them.
Further information is available at the following website: https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/coronavirus/volunteer-welfare
Additional information about support can also be found below:
