COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 PATIENT UPDATE: (11/02/22)

In line with the easing of Government restrictions, Solihull Healthcare Partnership (SHP) will be implementing Level 3 of its COVID-19 Response Action Plan. This will ensure the safety of both patients and staff, whilst restoring and maintaining a local and responsive primary care service for our patients.

What does moving to Level 3 mean for patients?

When patients contact our carefully trained Care Navigator team, they will be asked to first discuss the reason for the call and any screening questions regarding their health concern or condition/s, so they can assess the most appropriate way to provide their care and ensure it is provided by the most appropriate health care professional.

All appointments with clinicians will continue to initially be telephone or video call appointments.

Face-to-face appointments will continue to be available to all patients where there is a clinical need and if a patient requests a face-to-face consultation they may be offered one, if appropriate, following Care Navigation.

Will I be able to attend one of the surgery sites to make an enquiry?

From Monday 14^th February 2022, our surgery sites will be open from 8:30am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays), for patients to ask in person about booking an appointment, repeat prescription requests and for general queries.

A reminder that all sites are closed on Wednesdays from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, as part of our ongoing staff training and development, which is a priority to ensure we continue to improve service delivery and patient care. Our telephone lines remain open throughout the training and in the event of urgent patient needs, we can still be contacted.

We continue to have a range of measures in place to keep patients and staff safe from COVID-19, including regular cleaning of patient areas and social distancing.

Patients are asked to continue to wear a face covering at all times while visiting us at one of our surgery sites. Although face masks are no longer mandatory in indoor public spaces, they are still compulsory in all GP practices and healthcare settings. Infection Prevention and Control requirements state that patients must continue to wear a face mask, unless exempt.

Currently suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients are being assessed by Virtual Consultation and if necessary, referred to the Ambulatory Assessment Unit at the SHP Blossomfield Hub if a further face-to-face assessment is required.

Individuals with COVID-19 symptoms, a positive PCR test or who meet criteria for self-isolation should not attend our surgeries and continue to follow public health guidance.

Does the Level 3 mean we can’t have a face-to-face consultation?

No. All patients will continue to receive an initial telephone triage call by a clinician. The telephone triage call will be to address their healthcare needs, whether that is advice and guidance, a prescription or a referral to other healthcare professionals and services. If following this call, the clinician requires a further assessment, they will be invited for a face-to-face appointment at one of our surgery sites, as appropriate. Face-to-face appointments continue to be available for patients if appropriate and there is a clinical need.

What services will be affected as a result of moving to Level 3?

We will continue to operate the majority of services, as we have been throughout the pandemic, including consultations with healthcare professionals, immunisations, cervical screening, cancer care and chronic disease management of high risk patient groups.

As a consequence of moving to Level 3, routine appointments for planned procedures will be restored, such as joint injections, some minor operations, phlebotomy services, NHS health checks and routine face-to-face reviews.

How do patients access us?

We are still open and here for our patient population, as we have been throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, and prioritise delivering care and services based on clinical needs.

If patients need medical advice or treatment, they can call us on 0121 705 1105. Our telephone lines are open from 8am to 6:30pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

COVID-19 Vaccinations

If eligible for a first, second, third or COVID-19 booster vaccine, patients are being asked to book as soon as they can when invited. It is vital as many people as possible get protected and boosted as soon as possible. We are delighted to be continuing to be playing our part in undertaking the largest vaccination programme in the history of the NHS. We are delivering this programme, alongside continuing to be open and managing our patients other clinical needs.

Thank you

Our staff are working hard to provide patient services and care, and we would like to thank our patients and colleagues across the Solihull locality for their continued support, patience and understanding as our services continue to adapt and change during these challenging times.

Our primary goal is to continue to ensure both patient and staff safety, and to provide primary care services to our patient population.