Regal Chambers Surgery – changes to the way we work due to Coronavirus

Please be aware that government guidance has changed with regard to when you should self-isolate. You should stay at home for 7 days if you have either a high temperature or a new continuous cough https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public#what-to-do-if-you-have-symptoms

Covid-19 Coronavirus is making us change the way we work at Regal Chambers Surgery. You don’t need to worry as many of the changes are ones our patients have been asking for over the last few years and should improve the way we work.

Firstly, we are already a triage practice and our GPs are already excellent at helping you over the phone. Be reassured that if the Doctor feels that you need to be seen, you will still be seen at the surgery or through a video consultation. Video Consultations are new to Regal Chambers Surgery but are already proving a success.

We will be asking all patients to stay away from the surgery unless you have a pre-booked appointment. The reason for this is to limit the spread of Covid-19 through unnecessary contact. We know that you come to the practice for reasons other than an appointment and we have changed the way we work to accommodate that in the following ways:

Prescriptions: All prescriptions will be sent through EPS to your nominated pharmacy. You will need to get your medication from your nominated pharmacy and not come to the practice to collect your prescription. If you haven’t nominated a pharmacy we will ask you to do so.

Test results, letters and other documents: Will all be emailed to you. If you don’t have an email address we will post these to you. We won’t have any documents left for collection from the practice reception, as we used to. We will send you a text asking for your email address. Please reply to the text. It will take us time to copy everyone’s email address to your medical record. You may be asked by reception or the GP for your email address before it has been copied to your record. Please be patient with us, it’s a new process.

Registration documents or any other documents that you need to share with the practice. Please either post these through the front door in a sealed envelope, post them via royal mail, or email them to us at E82075.regalchamberssurgery@nhs.net. Please also send a copy of photo ID and proof of address.

Our receptionists will be asking you more questions than normal prior to putting you on the list for a call from a GP. This is to make sure that the right clinician calls you about your concern. Please be patient with them. They have to ask the questions of every patient and it does take a little longer than normal.

I think you may agree that these are changes that will improve the way we work and care for our patients. The pity is that we have to implement them so quickly and without being able to consult you through the PPG as we would have wished to. Please let our PPG know if you have any suggestions to change or improve this process by emailing E82075.regalchamberssurgery@nhs.net. We want to know how you feel about the way we work. We can’t change the fact that Coronavirus will change the way we work but we can keep it a safe and efficient service with your help.

Lastly, please don’t come to the surgery under any circumstances if you are concerned that you may have symptoms of or could be at risk of Coronavirus, Covid-19. If you have any questions related to Coronavirus, www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public#what-to-do-if-you-have-symptoms