As the situation with coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to develop we will be ensuring this page is kept up-to-date with advice for patients, visitors, consultants and staff. The most up to date coronavirus information can also be found here.

Here is the latest update regarding appointments at OSD Healthcare:

Dental Appointments

We are delighted to confirm that our dental department is now open. Patient experience, along with ensuring effective infection control are of the utmost importance and as a result you will experience some changes leading up to and during you next appointment. This will include:

• Screening questions prior to and during your appointment
• Required use of hand sanitiser
• Absence of magazines and children’s toys
• Fewer booking options to allow for social distancing between patients

We kindly ask that you arrive to your appointment alone (except for children and carers) to allow us to adhere to the appropriate social distancing measures.

If you have any queries or would like to book an appointment, please contact our team on 01442 331 900. We look forward to seeing you soon!

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COVID-19 Testing

We are now offering private COVID-19 testing. We are offering COVID-19 testing to detect the active presence of the virus in symptomatic patients as well as non-symptomatic individuals who require test results for the purpose of work, travel etc. We also offer antibody testing which will allow patients to determine whether they have had the virus. More information can be found on our COVID-19 testing pages.

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Face Coverings

From Monday 15th June, all visitors and patients attending appointments at OSD Healthcare must wear a face covering at all times, in line with Government guidance. We want to remind our patients to please bring an appropriate face covering to your appointment.

The government have also set out advice for people on how to make their own face coverings easily at home. These face coverings should cover the mouth and nose while allowing you to breathe comfortably. Face coverings can be as simple as a scarf or bandana that ties behind the head to give a snug fit.

Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dTUH3AU

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Temperature Checks

With effect from Monday 29 June, we will be checking the temperature of everyone that enters the clinic. This in line with the recommendations for the management and prevention of COVID 19.

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GP Appointments

In light of the current situation with COVID-19 we have changed the way we work. We are no longer offering face to face GP appointments for patients. We have worked hard to ensure we can continue to offer you access to our GP’s and are pleased to announce that we now have the facility to see individual patients online via video consultations. You can use our video GP consultations the same way you would a face to face GP appointment. We can continue to provide medical advice, online prescriptions and referrals. We are also able to offer telephone consultations for patients who prefer to connect with a GP over the phone.

Click here to book a digital GP appointment.

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Physiotherapy Appointments

We are thinking about you, the community and the NHS and that is why we have stopped face to face Physiotherapy consultations. Stay safe, stay home and instead we will provide virtual consultations or if you would prefer, telephone consultations.

From the comfort of your own home, we can use the magic of the internet and be in your living room with you, asking the same questions, getting to the bottom of the problem and helping provide solutions to help you, in the same way as if you had travelled to the clinic.

Our virtual services include:

Musculoskeletal/Sports Injury Consultations

Women’s and Men’s Health Consultations

Pelvic Health Assessment

Yoga Class

Working From Home: Display Screen Equipment Assessment

Stress and Anxiety Management

Click here to book a digital physiotherapy appointment.

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Consultant and Diagnostic Imaging

For any patient wishing to book a new outpatient appointment with a consultant about respiratory symptoms (not related to coronavirus) you will be required to have an initial telephone screening before your appointment can go ahead.

To book a consultant or Diagnostic Imaging appointment, please call 01442 331 900.

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If you develop a new, continuous cough and/or a high temperature (38°C or higher), you are advised to please stay indoors and keep away from others. Please do not come to the clinic.

You are advised to:

1. Visit: www.111.nhs.uk/COVID-19 for advice on next steps.
    
2. If you have mild symptoms, you will be advised to stay at home and self-isolate for between 7-14 days. You do not need to call 111 to inform them you are self-isolating. People who are self-isolating with mild symptoms will not be tested.
    
3. If you feel or become very unwell and are unable to carry out your normal everyday activities, please call 111 for advice.

Below you will find further information about how coronavirus is spread, and what you can do to avoid catching it. This includes the following advice, which we ask all clinic visitors to follow:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
• Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• Put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

The Department of Health has produced a film with information about how people can prevent the spread of infections:

Lasted updated 31/03/20 at 19:30.