Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Covid-19 Update – 23rd March

Please note: The Rendlesham Surgery is now closed to patients, this decision was not taken lightly but it has quickly become apparent that it would be extremely difficult to continue to staff both surgeries. However patients can continue to pick up their medication from Acer Road Pharmacy from a window at the side of the building, signs are in place to direct patients accordingly.

At Wickham Market a window has been opened near the front doors to enable patients to pick up medication, again signs are in place to direct patients accordingly

Repeat Prescriptions – please allow three full working days for the practice to process them and an extra day for them to be dispensed to the relevant surgery.

Access to Wickham Market Surgery is now via Entrance 1 which is at the side of the building, access is via an intercom and Entrance 2 which is at the front of the building on the far right hand side, access is via a door bell. You will be advised by a clinician when you are offered an appointment as to which entrance to go to and again signs are in place to direct patients accordingly.

For the latest information and advice regarding Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) check online for:

NHS advice on the Novel Coronvirus

Government advice on the Novel Coronvirus

If you are concerned that you may have Coronavirus, or may have come into contact with someone who has, the NHS 111 online service has created Coronavirus pages that tell what you should do based on your particular circumstances.  Please do not visit the surgery until you have contacted NHS 111.

Covid-19 – Changes to for patients booking appointments at the practice

The practice is moving over to a Dr First Triage service which means that all patients who feel that they need to be seen by a clinician will be added to a triage list and a clinician will ring them back and offer them a face to face appointment if they feel it is clinically appropriate to do so.

Access to both Surgeries will change, the front doors will be locked and access for all appointments will be through the side doors, using a door bell at Rendlesham and an intercom system at Wickham. Patients will be screened to confirm that they have no coronavirus symptoms and that they have an appointment. No one will be allowed to enter the building who does not have an appointment.

Medication collection will be via a window near the front door at Wickham and through a window in the Pharmacy Shop at Rendlesham.

PLEASE NOTE - All appointment booking and medication queries etc will be via the telephone, there will be no face to face service.

Notices will be displayed outside both buildings to direct patients but the key message is that no one will be allowed to enter the building without an appointment and they will be screened again before entry.

Medication Collection Wickham Market Surgery - Please note Medication can only be picked up at the Wickham Market Surgery between 10am and 1pm and 3pm and 5.30pm , Dispensary staff will also only be available between these times to deal with any telephone queries. This is to give staff protected time to manage the high volumes of work we are experiencing.

Latest NHS Guidelines translated into 32 languages

ATTENTION - THIS UPDATE INCLUDES IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) AND YOUR INFORMATION - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY

Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and your information

The ICO recognises the unprecedented challenges the NHS and other health professionals are facing during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

The ICO also recognise that 'Public bodies may require additional collection and sharing of personal data to protect against serious threats to public health.'

The Government have also taken action in respect of this and on 20th March 2020 the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care issued a Notice under Regulation 3(4) of The Health Service (Control of Patient Information) Regulations 2002 requiring organisations such as GP Practices to use your information to help GP Practices and other healthcare organisations to respond to and deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to look after your healthcare needs during this difficult time, we may urgently need to share your personal information, including medical records, with clinical and non-clinical staff who belong to organisations that are permitted to use your information and need to use it to help deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. This could (amongst other measures) consist of either treating you or a member of your family and enable us and other healthcare organisations to monitor the disease, assess risk and manage the spread of the disease.

Please be assured that we will only share information and health data that is necessary to meet yours and public healthcare needs.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has also stated that these measures are temporary and will expire on 30th September 2020 unless a further extension is required. Any further extension will be communicated via an update to this Privacy Notice.

Please also note that the data protection and electronic communication laws do not stop us from sending public health messages to you, either by phone, text or email as these messages are not direct marketing.

It may also be necessary, where the latest technology allows us to do so, to use your information and health data to facilitate digital consultations and diagnoses and we will always do this with your security in mind.

If you are concerned about how your information is being used, please contact our DPO using the contact details provided in this Privacy Notice.