Latest Up-Date - Click below for the July Update

Practice Update - 3rd July 2020

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Cervical Screening Programme

We are pleased to inform you that the Cervical Screening Programme is restarting. 

We will be sending letters to all those ladies who are due/overdue their smear test. 

Please ensure your respond to your letter as cervical screening will save lives!

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Latest Shielding Advice - 24th June 2020

The latest Shielding Advice has been issued by the Department of Health and letter are being processed this week.  In brief If the risk continues to remain low, my assessment is that, from 31 July 2020, you will no longer need to follow the current shielding advice.

In the interim and because of the lower risk, from 6 July, I am also introducing some further easements to the current shielding guidance, and these are outlined below.

EASEMENTS FROM 6 JULY

From 6 July, people who are following the shielding advice will now be able to meet up to six people outside of their home, as long as social distancing is strictly observed. 

If you are shielding alone, you can also form a support bubble with one other household.  Where you form a bubble:

* social distancing is not required with the other household in your bubble; this will allow you to visit, stay over and spend more time with the second household

* the second household can be of any size; and

* both households should not be part of more than one bubble and should continue to socially distance outside the bubble.

You can find more information on support bubbles here www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-and-what-they-mean-you

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER 31 JULY?

After 31 July, providing the Covid-19 risk remains low, you will not have to shield. That will mean your personal “lockdown” will no longer apply.

However, you must continue to follow public health advice at all times and be really strict about social distancing and washing your hands.

Even though the risk of coming into contact with the virus is much lower, you still need to be careful because you remain more vulnerable than the general population. So you must follow the advice that is given to people who are deemed generally vulnerable, for example people with asthma or people over 70. This is about minimising any risk as much as possible, being aware that all contacts with the outside world must be managed really carefully.

Keep your distance, wash your hands, don’t touch your face, avoid touching hard surfaces if you are out. Wherever possible, avoid enclosed spaces where social distancing is hard to maintain – such as public transport and shops.

It is important to remember that because of your underlying condition, Covid-19 will remain a threat to you. At the same time, it is accepted that shielding has been really difficult and being stuck indoors indefinitely is bad for mental and physical health. What we all have to do in these difficult times is try to strike the right balance.

You can get more advice at this website: www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-vulnerable-people

For many of you, the pause to shielding is very welcome news.  However, I know that you might also have some concerns.  You have been shielding for many weeks and it is natural to feel a little apprehensive about this change. 

You may want to consider making a plan for this now, to think about how your daily routine might change and what or who might help you to adjust.

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