Updated 12 April 2021
Coronavirus 2019 ( COVID-2019)
Our offices are open and fully operational, offering face-to-face, zoom and telephone consultations to our patients.
In line with the UK Government guidance and directives to reduce the transmission of COVID 19, we have the following stringent procedures in place for face to face appointments:
Patients being seen at 2 Lower Sloane Street must first pass a telephonic screening process before they attend the practice.
- Do not come to the practice if you have any of the following COVID 19 symptoms;
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Do not come to the practice if you have been in contact with someone who may have COVID19 in the last 10 days.
- We have a strict social distancing and wearing of PPE policy for anyone entering the building.
- When attending the practice at 2 Lower Sloane Street:
- Please arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to your appointment.
- Face masks need to be worn by patients and their carers on entering the building. Exceptions to this requirement include (but is not limited to):
- children under the age of 11 (Public Health England does not recommend face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
- people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability.
- where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress.
Our admin team are available during office hours to take calls and book telephone, zoom or face to face appointments. Please call us on 0203 9650 556.
UK Government Advice
The advice for anyone in any setting is to follow these main guidelines.
COVID19 Symptoms
- The most common symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) are recent onset of a new continuous cough or a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia).
How to limit the spread
- Wash your hands more often than usual, for 20 seconds using soap and water or hand sanitiser, particularly after coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose, before you eat or handle food, or when you get to work or arrive home
- Cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have a tissue, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand. Dispose of tissues into a disposable rubbish bag and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser.
- If you can, wear a face covering in enclosed public spaces where social distancing isn’t possible and where you will come into contact with people you do not normally meet. Social distancing, hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes, remain the most important measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Face coverings do not replace these.
- Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using your regular cleaning products to reduce the risk of passing the infection on to other people.
When to self-isolate
Self-isolate immediately if:
- you have any symptoms of coronavirus (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
- you've tested positive for coronavirus – this means you have coronavirus
- someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive
- someone in your support bubble has symptoms and you’ve been in close contact with them since their symptoms started or during the 48 hours before they started
- someone in your support bubble tested positive and you’ve been in close contact with them since they had the test or in the 48 hours before their test
- you've been told you've been in contact with someone who tested positive – you have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app
- you arrive in the UK from a country with a high coronavirus risk – see GOV.UK: how to self-isolate when you travel to the UK
How to self-isolate
You must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.
Don’t
- do not go to work, school or public places – work from home if you can
- do not go on public transport or use taxis
- do not go out to get food and medicine – order it online or by phone, or ask someone to bring it to your home
- do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for people providing essential care
- do not go out to exercise – exercise at home or in your garden, if you have one
When to get a test
Get a test as soon as possible if you have any symptoms of coronavirus.
The symptoms are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
The test needs to be done in the first 8 days of having symptoms.
Get a UK Government test to check if you have coronavirus. Either on the internet https://www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test or via telephonedial 119, this is free or we can offer a private test service. For more information on our private COVID 19 testing service including costs please see the SERVICES section on our web site. We will arrange for the test kit to be delivered to you – do not attend the practice.
Tell people you've been in close contact with that you have symptoms
You may want to tell people you've been in close contact with in the past 48 hours that you might have coronavirus.
For more information on who is a close contact:
How long to self-isolate
If you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.
Anyone you live with will also need to self-isolate at the same time.
You may need to self-isolate for longer if you get symptoms while self-isolating or your symptoms do not go away.
Read more about how long to self-isolate. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/
Do you need more information?
For the latest UK Government advice regarding COVID19 please use the link below
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance#guidance-for-the-public
Thank you for your understanding during this time.