As health care professionals we understand that you may be feeling anxious about novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Across the UK, public health organisations, government health officials and employers are putting in place plans to ensure that people receive the right advice, care and support and that you have the best information, environment and equipment to do your job.
Health and care professionals will play a vital role in helping to treat and contain coronavirus and we recognise that should the virus spread further, health and care professionals are likely to face an increased burden in helping the UK through the outbreak. It’s important that during this time everyone follows national public health advice and guidance.
As registered professionals, the first concern will be the care of our patients and people who use our services. As healthcare professionals we are encouraged to work in partnership with each other and people using our services. To use their professional judgement to assess risk to deliver safe care informed by any relevant guidance and the values and principles set out in our professional standards.
We recognise that in highly challenging circumstances, as professionals we may need to depart from established procedures in order to care for patients and people using our services. Our regulatory standards are designed to be flexible and to provide a framework for decision-making in a wide range of situations. They support professionals by highlighting the key principles which should be followed, including the need to work cooperatively with colleagues to keep people safe, to practise in line with the best available evidence, to recognise and work within the limits of their competence, and to have appropriate indemnity arrangements relevant to their practice.
As per guidance is based on the recommendations of the UK Chief Medical officers available on the link below, please do not book appointments or attend the practice if you have travelled to the UK from:
Hubei province in China in the last 14 days, even if you do not have symptoms .
Iran, lockdown areas in northern Italy or special care zones in South Korea since 19 February, even if you do not have symptoms.
Other parts of mainland China or South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan or Thailand in the last 14 days and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild).
Other parts of northern Italy (anywhere north of Pisa, Florence and Rimini), Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam since 19 February and have a cough, high temperature or shortness of breath (even if your symptoms are mild.
Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do next.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.