Coronavirus: Surgery Information

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Solent GP Surgery patients who require a face to face appointment and who usually attend the Portswood site will be seen at the Nicholstown site instead.

Please do not visit the GP practice without an appointment. Instead call the practice or submit an online consultation.

If you call into the surgery, our receptionists will ask you for a brief description of your problem. They have been asked by the GPs to do this. You will then be contacted by a member of the team. Our team has Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses, a pharmacist, a mental health nurse and we have links with the city's physiotherapy team. One of them might be better placed to help you and you might be able to be seen much quicker than a GP can.  This also frees up our GPs to see patients with more complex issues. 

If one of the team does need to see you in person then you will be given an appointment to attend the practice. 

Only coming in to the surgery with an appointment means:

• you will get seen promptly
• you are reducing your risk of catching/spreading coronavirus by avoiding a waiting room
• you are helping to keep staff healthy and safe
• The practice is able to maintain a clean environment and protect you from the virus

Please also remember that if you are offered an appointment then it might be to a different practice where you may see a doctor or nurse you are not familiar with. If you are given a face to face appointment, you must wear a face covering on site.

While we realise this could be inconvenient, we think it is important to keep people safe, reduce the spread of coronavirus and get the maximum benefit from the healthcare resources which will be available.

Your records will still be accessible securely to you and to them, ensuring they are able to provide you with the best possible care.

A home visiting service, for patients who are unable to leave their home will be provided.  If you have any comments, questions or concerns, then please do get in touch with us to let us know how we can support you.

Thank you once again for your support and understanding as we all adapt to a new way of working.

Mat1B forms (Maternity forms)

Due to the fact that patients are not attending the surgery without having spoken to a member of the team, please speak to your midwife to obtain a Mat1B form at this time

Exemptions from wearing a face covering

People are being asked to wear a face covering in several public locations such as on public transport, at hospitals and healthcare settings, in shops etc. People with certain conditions and young children are exempt. The practice is not issuing letters for exempting people from wearing a face covering. For guidance, please click here for the latest information.

How can you help?

• Please be patient – our phone lines are very busy;
• Do you have a condition that you can treat at home? If you do then please try to do this with advice from NHS online or your local pharmacist;
• Do you simply need general advice? If you do, can you call 111 for this or visit E-consult
• If you think you may have Covid-19 DO NOT go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Use the NHS111 Online service to find out what to do next
• If you feel you need to see a doctor for non-Covid-19 symptoms then please call the surgery on the usual number and we will discuss your needs;
• Please help the receptionist by giving them as much information as possible and answer any questions they may have. This will help us prioritise calls and have the right clinician call you back.
• Please remember that the surgery will NOT contact you with the result of a blood test if the result is within normal ranges. The surgery will only contact you if the test is abnormal or if the doctor wishes to discuss something with you. 
• Have you nominated a pharmacy for the transmission of electronic prescriptions?  This will prevent the need for either you or pharmacy staff from coming to the surgery. The nomination of a pharmacy can be done via your online app or speaking to your pharmacist or GP surgery directly.
• Please check our website for updates and twitter regularly 

We do anticipate some staff shortages due to isolation and sickness and aim to continue to give you the best possible care at this difficult time. We appreciate your continued support.