Noticeboard

JUNIOR DOCTOR STRIKES: 3rd January 2024 - 9th January 2024

Local health services

If you need help from your GP or another member of the practice team over the above period, we are open every weekday from 8am until 6.30pm, except for bank holidays when we are closed. Please contact us if you have a health condition that needs checking or an illness that won't go away.

Junior doctors will be on strike from 7am on Wednesday 3 January to 7am on Tuesday 9 January. This means that all NHS services, particularly hospitals, will be under severe strain. But please don’t put off seeking medical help if you need it. Here is a reminder of what local services are available:

  • The NHS websitenhs.uk has lots of advice to help you to look after yourself when you have minor symptoms. There is also information about what is a serious medical emergency.

  • If your child is feeling unwell, the Healthier Together website has advice about some common symptoms, how to look after your child at home and when to get further help.

  • Drop in to a pharmacy for health advice or information about your medicines. A pharmacist can help you to deal with a cough, cold and lots of other winter illnesses.
  • If you need help urgently, use NHS 111 online (www.111.nhs.uk) or call 111. Your symptoms will be assessed, and you will be given advice or an appointment to see a doctor or nurse if this is needed. NHS 111 can also send an ambulance and can book an appointment for you in some services like urgent treatment centres. Using 111 online means you won’t have to wait on the phone.  

  • If you are in a mental health crisis, call NHS 111 and get straight through to mental health help by selecting option 2.

  • You should call 999 in a life-threatening emergency. Life-threatening emergencies are different for adults and children.

  • Do not visit anyone in a hospital or care home if you have recently had diarrhoea or vomiting. Stomach bugs are easily spread, make already ill people very seriously unwell, and can lead to whole hospital wards being closed. Please wait 48 hours after your last bout of sickness or diarrhoea before visiting anyone who is vulnerable.  

More information on these services and self-help advice can be found at: https://hertsandwestessexics.org.uk/help-us-help 

COVID-19

VACCINATION PROGRAMME UPDATE

FOR COVID VACCINATION INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:  https://stevenagesouthpcn.gpweb.org.uk/covid-19-vaccine-updates

 

EASY READ / DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

You can access information regarding the COVID-19 vaccination programme in Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, French, Gujarati, Hindi, Kurdish, Nepali, Punjabi, Polish, Romanian, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Turkish, Ukrainian and Urdu:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-guide-for-older-adults

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

There is more Easy Read information on vaccinations for people with learning disabilities and their Carers available:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/services/adult-social-services/disability/learning-disabilities/my-health/coronavirus-information-for-people-with-learning-disabilities.aspx

 

CHILDREN ATTENDING SCHOOL

For people concerned about children attending educational settings; we understand and sympathise with the concerns around children attending school at this time, especially if a household has extremely vulnerable members. As a practice we are very sorry, but decisions about children attending school are not ours to make. It's not something that we can help with. We would suggest a discussion between the people involved and the school to decide on the best course of action.

 

 

YOUR COVID RECOVERY

As you find yourself recovering from COVID-19 you may still be coming to terms with the impact the virus has had on both your body and mind.

These changes should get better over time, some may take longer than others, but there are things you can do to help

The link below 'Your COVID Recovery' helps you to understand what has happened and what you might expect as part of your recovery.

https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/

NHS VOLUNTEER RESPONDER SERVICE

To request a volunteer support for any of the above please contact the service on:-  

0808 196 3382

COVID-19 AND SAFEGUARDING

During this pandemic, should you require any outside help, please use any of the appropriate links below:-

> National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247 https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

> NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000 If you're worried about a child, even if you're unsure, contact NSPCC professional counsellors for help, advice and support.

> Childline 0800 1111: Offers free, confidential advice and support for any child 18 years or under, whatever the worry.

> MIND: Mental Health Support with specific advice on ‘Coronavirus and your wellbeing’. www.mind.org.uk

> Young Minds: Supporting children and young people and their parents/carers with their mental health and wellbeing. Specific advice on managing self-isolation and anxiety about coronavirus. https://youngminds.org.uk

> ICON: Babies cry: You can cope. http://iconcope.org/

> Safe Lives: Specific resources for domestic abuse and COVID. http://safelives.org.uk/news-views/domesticabuse-and-covid-19

 



 
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