- Useful telephone numbers
- Health Leaflets
- Novel Coronavirus Guidance
- Requests for face mask exemption letters
- PHE Covid-19 vaccine guide for adults information
- Covid-19 vaccination and blood clots
- Pregnancy Vaccines
Useful contact numbers and website addresses
| George Eliot Hospital | 02476 351 351 |
| UHCW Hospital | 02476 964 000 |
| Health Visitors | 01827 897 520 |
| Social Services Warwickshire | 01926 410 410 |
| Warwickshire stop smoking helpline | 0800 085 2917 |
| Domestic abuse helpline | 0800 408 1552 |
| Mencap | 0808 808 1111 |
| Atherstone memorial blood clinic | 02476 153 546 |
| Family Planning Clinic Atherstone | 01827 712 208 |
| Family Planning Clinic Tamworth | 01827 308 815 |
| Continence Service | 01926 600 818 option 6 |
| AAA Screening (males aged 65yrs and over can self refer, will require your NHS number) | 01788 663 428 |
| Change, Grow, Live (alcohol and substance misuse, can self refer) | 01926 353 513 |
| National Dementia Helpline | 0300 222 1122 |
| Alzheimer’s Society | 01926 888 899 |
| Dementia UK | 0800 888 6678 |
| Mind | 0300 123 3393 |
| Guideposts Carer Support Service | 02476 385 888 |
| Warwickshire Carer Wellbeing Service (part of Carers Trust Heart of England) | 02476 101040 option 4 |
| Cruse Bereavement Care | 0808 808 1677 |
| North Warwickshire Borough Council | 01827 715341 |
| Crimestoppers | 0800 555111 |
| Age UK Warwickshire | 01788 552542 |
| National Police Non Emergency | 101 |
| RSPCA 24hour Cruelty Line | 0300 123499 |
| Sue Ryder bereavement or terminal diagnosis support service | www.sueryder.org/notalone |
| Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support Service | 0800 096 6606 www.bluecross.org.uk |
| CASS – Community Autism Support Service | casspartnership.org.uk |
| Samaritans | 116 123 |
| Information and Advice for Neurodivergent People and their Families | dimensions.covwarkpt.nhs.uk |
| Cocaine Anonymous CAUK | 0800 612 0225 |
| Alcohol and Gambling Support for Adults Mental Health Services | wellbeingforwarwickshire.org.uk |
- Acne
- Cold Sores
- Dementia – Physical Activity
- Eczema – Triggers and Irritants
- Hand Foot & Mouth Disease
- Head Lice & Nits
- Impetigo
- Lower Back Pain
- North Warwickshire Dementia Booklet
- Nuneaton & Bedworth Dementia Booklet
- Obesity & Overweight in Adults
- Obesity & Overweight in Children
- Suicide Bereavement Support Service
- Slapped Cheek Disease
- Warts & Verrucas
- WCC Mental Health Services
How coronavirus is spread
Because it’s a new illness, we do not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person.
Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets.
It’s very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food.
How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus
Do
wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds always wash your hands when you get home or into work use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
Don’t
do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
Travel advice
There are some countries and areas where there’s a higher chance of coming into contact with someone with coronavirus.
If you’re planning to travel abroad and are concerned about coronavirus, see advice for travellers on GOV.UK.
Treatment for coronavirus
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses.
Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness.
You’ll need to stay in isolation, away from other people, until you have recovered.
Government response and action plan
- Post, packages, take-away food
The virus does not survive well for long periods outside the body and so it is highly unlikely that 2019-nCoV can be spread through post or packages.
It is highly unlikely that 2019-nCoV can be spread through food. - Cleaning shared spaces
If a person becomes ill in a shared space, these should be cleaned using disposable cloths and household detergents. Wash your hands after cleaning.
LINKS – PATIENT INFO CORONAVIRUS
Requests for face mask exemption letters
July 15th 2020
Re: Guidance note for patients requesting exemption letters
We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks in various public settings.
GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask.
Coventry and Warwickshire Local Medical Committees have therefore prepared this guidance note as the statutory body that advises and supports all GPs and practice teams across both counties.
The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption, therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare this.
Similarly, practices are under no obligation to provide letters of support for anyone who does not fall under the list of exemptions but considers themselves to have another reason to be exempted.
Current government advice on the use of face coverings can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-forpassengers#face-coverings
We will pass on further guidance when this is produced by the government.
Yours sincerely Dr Andrew Warner, Chairman, Warwickshire LMC
Dr Terry Eaton, Chairman, Coventry LMC
A Joint Communication from Coventry and Warwickshire Local Medical Committees Coventry LMC: Clinical Sciences Building, UHCW NHS Trust, Clifford Bridge Rd, Coventry, CV2 2DX
Warwickshire LMC: Warwick Gates Family Health Centre, Cressida Close, Heathcote, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV34 6DZ
The UK vaccination programme has been very successful with more than 30 million people vaccinated and more than 6,000 lives already saved.
What is the concern?
Recently there have been reports of a very rare condition involving blood clots and unusual bleeding after vaccination. This is being carefully reviewed but the risk factors for this condition are not yet clear.
Although this condition remains extremely rare there appears to be a higher risk in people who have had the first dose of the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine. Around 4 people develop this condition for every million doses of AZ vaccine doses given.
This is seen slightly more often in younger people and tends to occur between 4 days and 2 weeks following vaccination.
This condition can also occur naturally, and clotting problems are a common complication of COVID-19 infection. An increased risk has not yet been seen after other COVID-19 vaccines but is being carefully monitored.
Benefits and risks of the vaccination
| Age | Risk from COVID-19 | Benefit of vaccination | Risk of vaccination |
|---|---|---|---|
| Over 50 years of age or having underlying medical conditions | Low – catching infection, passing on infection | 1 dose – more than 80% reduction: deaths, hospitalisation, intensive care | Uncommon – sore arm, feeling tired, headache, general aches, flu like symptoms |
| Moderate – Long COVID | 2 doses – more than 95% reduction: deaths | Extremely rare – clotting problems | |
| Very high – hospitalisation, intensive care admission, death | |||
| 30 to 49 years of age | Low – hospitalisation, intensive care admission, death | 1 dose – between 60% and 70% reduction: catching infection, passing on infection | Common – sore arm, feeling tired, headache, general aches, flu like symptoms |
| Moderate – Long COVID | 2 doses – more than 85% reduction: catching and passing on infection | Extremely rare – clotting problems | |
| High – catching mild infection, passing on infection | |||
| 18 to 29 years of age | Very low – hospitalisation, intensive care admission, death | 1 dose – between 60% and 70% reduction: catching infection, passing on infection | Very common – sore arm, feeling tired, headache, general aches, flu like symptoms |
| Moderate – Long COVID | 2 doses – more than 85% reduction: catching and passing on infection | Extremely rare – clotting problems | |
| Very high – catching mild infection, passing on infection |
What to look out for after vaccination
Although serious side effects are very rare, if you experience any of the following from around 4 days to 4 weeks after vaccination you should seek medical advice urgently:
- a new, severe headache which is not helped by usual painkillers or is getting worse
- a headache which seems worse when lying down or bending over
- an unusual headache that may be accompanied by:
- blurred vision, nausea and vomiting
- difficulty with your speech
- weakness, drowsiness or seizures
- new, unexplained pinprick bruising or bleeding
- shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain
What you should do next
Over 50 years of age or with underlying medical conditions
All older adults (including health and social care workers over 50 years of age), care home residents, health and social care workers (includes unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed) and adults with certain medical conditions were prioritised in the first phase of the programme because they were at high risk of the complications of COVID-19.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that you should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.
If your first dose was with AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should have the second dose on time as you may still be at high risk of the complications of COVID-19. Having the second dose will give you higher and longer lasting protection.
If you are a healthy person over 30 to 50 years of age
The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines.
The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.
If you are a healthy younger person aged 18 to 39
The MHRA and the JCVI advises that all adults in this age group (including health and social care workers) should still receive any of the available COVID-19 vaccines. The benefits of vaccination in protecting you against the serious consequences of COVID-19 outweigh any risk of this rare condition. You should also complete your course with the same vaccine you had for the first dose.
Currently JCVI has advised that it is preferable for people under 30 to have a vaccine other than AZ. If you choose to have another COVID-19 vaccine you may have to wait to be protected. You may wish to go ahead with the AZ vaccination after you have considered all the risks and benefits for you.
About the second dose
If you have already had a first dose of AZ vaccine without suffering any serious side effects you should complete the course. This includes people aged 18 to 29 years who are health and social care workers, unpaid carers and family members of those who are immunosuppressed. It is expected that the first dose of the vaccine will have given you some protection, particularly against severe disease.
Further information can be found at NHS.UK.
Flu vaccination in pregnancy
When you become pregnant, your immune system weakens which makes it harder to fight
off infections. For many years, the NHS has recommended that, if you are pregnant, you get vaccinated against flu to protect you and your baby from serious illness. If you are eligible, it is important to get it every year because the viruses that cause flu change every year. This means the flu, and the vaccine, may be different from last year.
Evidence shows that, if you are pregnant and catch flu, you have a higher chance of
developing complications, particularly in the later stages of pregnancy. One of the most
common complications of flu is bronchitis, a chest infection that can become serious and
develop into pneumonia. Getting flu while pregnant could also cause your baby to be born
prematurely or have a low birthweight and may increase the need for admission to intensive care for both you and your baby.
The flu virus spreads easily and with more people mixing indoors and a higher number of flu cases expected this winter, it is really important that you get vaccinated.
If you have questions about any of the vaccinations available to you during pregnancy,
speak to your midwife, general practice team or pharmacist.
Whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy
Whooping cough (pertussis) can be very serious for young babies who are too young to start their routine childhood vaccinations. Babies with whooping cough are often very unwell, and many are likely to need hospital treatment as it can lead to pneumonia and permanent brain damage.
If you are pregnant, you can help protect your baby by getting vaccinated – ideally from 16
weeks up to 32 weeks pregnant. If for any reason you miss having the vaccine, you can still have it up until you go into labour. The immunity you get from the vaccine passes to your baby through the placenta and protects them until they are old enough to be vaccinated at 8 weeks old.
If you are pregnant, you have been able to get the whooping cough vaccine for 10 years
now. Getting vaccinated whilst pregnant is highly effective in protecting your baby from
developing whooping cough in the first few weeks of their life.
If you have questions about any of the vaccinations available to you during pregnancy,
speak to your midwife, general practice team or pharmacist.
Covid-19 vaccination
When you become pregnant it gets harder to fight off infections. This means you are at
greater risk from becoming seriously ill with COVID-19, especially in the third trimester,
which could cause complications for both you and your baby.
Studies of those who are pregnant admitted to hospital with COVID-19 show there is higher
risk of admission to intensive care, high blood pressure due to pre-eclampsia and premature or still birth.
Vaccination remains the best way to protect you and your baby and is recommended by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Midwives.
Recent research shows being vaccinated in pregnancy can also give your baby protection
from COVID-19 for six months after they are born, reducing the risk of them needing hospital treatment for severe COVID-19 related illness.
You can be vaccinated at any time during pregnancy, and you can now get a further booster dose if it has been three months since your last one.
You can book an appointment online, call 119 or speak to your general practice team,
midwife or pharmacist about other ways to get your vaccine.