COVID-19 Information

What local COVID alert levels mean

Local COVID alert levels set out information for local authorities, residents and workers about what to do and how to manage the outbreak in their area. Local COVID alert levels are sometimes called ‘tiers’ or known as a ‘local lockdown’.

Working with local authorities through the contain framework, their approach has been simplified so that there are now 3 local COVID alert levels.

Local COVID alert level: medium (1)

This is for areas where national restrictions continue to be in place.

This means:

• you must not socialise in groups larger than 6, indoors or outdoors (other than where a legal exemption applies)
• businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
• certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
• businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• schools and universities remain open
• places of worship remain open, subject to the rule of 6
• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on numbers of attendees
• exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors, or indoors if the rule of 6 is followed; there are exceptions for supervised activities for under-18s, and disability sport

You must:

• wear a face covering in those areas where this is mandated

You should continue to:

• follow social distancing rules
• work from home where you can effectively do so
• when travelling, plan ahead or avoid busy times and routes; walk or cycle if you can

Find out more about the measures that apply in medium alert level areas to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Local COVID alert level: high (2)

This is for areas with a higher level of infections where some additional restrictions are in place.

This means on top of restrictions in alert level medium:

• you must not socialise with anybody outside of your household or support bubble in any indoor setting, whether at home or in a public place
• you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 outside, including in a garden or other spaces like beaches or parks (other than where specific exemptions apply in law)
• businesses and venues can continue to operate, in a COVID-secure manner, other than those that remain closed in law
• certain businesses are required to ensure customers only consume food and drink while seated, and must close between 10pm and 5am
• businesses and venues selling food for consumption off the premises can continue to do so after 10pm as long as this is through delivery service, click-and-collect or drive-through
• schools, universities and places of worship remain open
• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees
• exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors; these will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with; there are exceptions for supervised activities for under-18s, and disability sport
• you can continue to travel to venues or amenities that are open, for work or to access education, but should look to reduce the number of journeys you make where possible

You must:

• wear a face covering in those areas where this is mandated

You should continue to:

• follow social distancing rules
• work from home where you can effectively do so
• walk or cycle where possible, or plan ahead and avoid busy times and routes on public transport

Find out more about the measures that apply in high alert level areas to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Local COVID alert level: very high (3)

This is for areas with a very high level of infections and where tighter restrictions are in place. The restrictions placed on areas with a very high level of infections can vary, and are based on discussions between central and local government. You should therefore check the specific rules in your area.

At a minimum, this means:

• you must not socialise with anybody you do not live with or have formed a support bubble with, in any indoor setting or in any private garden or at most outdoor hospitality venues and ticketed events
• you must not socialise in a group of more than 6 in an outdoor public space such as a park or beach, the countryside, a public garden or a sports venue
• pubs and bars must close; they can only remain open where they operate as if they were a restaurant, which means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal, and they may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal
• schools and universities remain open
• places of worship remain open, but household mixing is not permitted
• weddings and funerals can go ahead with restrictions on the number of attendees; however, wedding receptions are not allowed
• exercise classes and organised sport can continue to take place outdoors; these will only be permitted indoors if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with or share a support bubble with; there are exceptions for supervised activities for under-18s, and disability sport
• you should try to avoid travelling outside the very high alert level area you are in or entering a very high alert level area, other than for things like work, education or youth services, to meet caring responsibilities or if you are travelling through as part of a longer journey
• you should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if you are resident in a very high alert level area, or avoid staying overnight in a very high alert level area if you are resident elsewhere

You must:

• wear a face covering in those areas where this is mandated

You should continue to:

• follow social distancing rules
• work from home where you can effectively do so
• travel to venues or amenities that are open, for work or to access education, but aim to reduce the number of journeys you make

This is the baseline in very high alert level areas. The government will also seek to agree additional interventions in consultation with local authorities, in order to reduce the spread of the virus. These could include the following options:

• restrictions preventing the sale of alcohol in hospitality or closing all hospitality (except takeaway and delivery)
• closing indoor and outdoor entertainment venues and tourist attractions
• closing venues such as leisure centres and gyms (while ensuring provision remains available for elite athletes, youth and disabled sport and physical activity)
• closing public buildings, such as libraries and community centres (while ensuring provision remains available for youth and childcare activities and support groups)
• closing personal care and close contact services or prohibiting the highest-risk activities
• closing performing arts venues for the purposes of performing to audiences

Check the local COVID alert level of your local area to see which level applies to you.

You can only get a free NHS test if at least one of the following applies:

• you have a high temperature
• you have a new, continuous cough
• you’ve lost your sense of smell or taste or it’s changed
• you’ve been asked to by a local council
• you’re taking part in a government pilot project

You can also get a test for someone you live with if they have symptoms.

If you’re going into hospital

You may need to get tested if you’re due to have surgery or a procedure.

The hospital will arrange this for you. Contact your hospital department if you have any questions. ​

Who cannot get a free test

You cannot get a free NHS test unless you have symptoms, have been asked to by your local council live in England and have been told to by your hospital, or are taking part in a government pilot project.

This applies even if:

• you live with someone who has coronavirus
• you’ve had close contact with someone who has coronavirus
• you’ve come to the UK from a high risk country
• you’re planning to leave the country
• your employer or school has asked you to get a test

You can pay for a private test. Do not use this service.

When to get a test

If you have symptoms, get a test as soon as possible.

Book a visit to a test site to have the test today. Test sites are open 7 days a week, or you can order a test through the NHS Coronavirus App, or by calling NHS111.

The new NHS COVID-19 app, now available to download for free in England and Wales, is the fastest way to see if you're at risk from coronavirus. The faster you know, the quicker you can alert and protect your loved ones and community.

The app has a number of tools to protect you, including contact tracing, local area alerts and venue check-in. 

 The app runs on proven software developed by Apple and Google, designed so that nobody will know who or where you are. And you can delete your data, or the app, at any time.

It has a number of features including:

• Trace: find out when you've been near other app users who have tested positive for coronavirus.
• Alert: lets you know the level of coronavirus risk in your postcode district.
• Check-in: get alerted if you've visited a venue where you may have come into contact with coronavirus, using a simple QR code scanner. No more form filling.
• Symptoms: check if you have coronavirus symptoms and see if you need to order a test.
• Test: helps you order a test if you need to.
• Isolate: keep track of your self-isolation countdown and access relevant advice.

To download the app onto your smartphone, please head over to your usual app store.

On the 14th September, the Government announced that people in ENgland should meet up in groups of no more than 6, to help reduce the transmission of Coronavirus.

The new rule of 6 applies to both indoor and outdoor settings, and includes anyone outside your immediate household.

There are a number of exceptions to this rule which include:

• Workplace, education, or voluntary settings
• Elite sporting competition/training
• Organised indoor/outdoor sport for under 18's or people with disabilities

Wedding and civil partership ceromonies are allowed to have up to 15 individuals, and funerals are allowed up to 30.

When meeting up in a group, you should still adhere to social distancing measures.

If you are caught not complying with the new rule, you may receive a fine. The fine will start at £200, and may increase up to £6,400 for repeat-offenders.

For the full list of guidance surrounding the rule of 6, and other groups which are exempt, please visit the Government website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing/coronavirus-covid-19-meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing#seeing-friends-and-family

Each year the NHS prepares for the unpredictability of flu. For most healthy people, flu is an unpleasant but usually self-limiting disease with recovery generally within a week.

However, there is a particular risk of severe illness from catching flu for:

• older people
• the very young
• pregnant women
• those with underlying disease, such as chronic respiratory or cardiac disease
• those who are immunosuppressed

This year you are also recommended to have the flu vaccine if you are:

• the main carer of an older or disabled person
• a household contact of someone on the Shielded Patients List for COVID-19
• a child aged 2 to 11 years old on 31 August 2020

Below are some frequently asked questions about the flu vaccine, and their answers:

When am I most at risk from flu?

Flu circulates every winter and generally peaks in December and January. This means many people get ill around the same time.

But it's impossible to predict how many cases of flu there will be each year or exactly when it will peak.

Why are people who live with those on the NHS shielded patient list being offered a flu vaccine?

The NHS wants to keep those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 well this winter and does not want them to catch flu.

If you live with someone who's on the NHS shielded patient list, or you expect to be with them on most days over winter, then you should ask for a free flu vaccine.

How long will the flu vaccine protect me for?

The flu vaccine will provide protection for you for the upcoming flu season. People eligible for flu vaccination should have the vaccine each year.

How long does the flu vaccine take to become effective?

It takes between 10 and 14 days for your immune system to respond fully after you have had the flu vaccine.

If I had the flu vaccine last year, do I need it again now?

Yes. The viruses that cause flu can change every year, which means the flu (and the vaccine) this winter may be different from last winter.

Can the flu vaccine cause flu?

No. The vaccine does not contain any live viruses, so it cannot cause flu.

You may get a slight temperature and aching muscles for a couple of days afterwards, and your arm may feel a bit sore where you had the injection.

Other reactions are rare, and flu vaccines have a good safety record.

For children, the nasal spray vaccine cannot cause flu because the viruses in it have been weakened to prevent this happening.

When is the best time to get my flu vaccine?

The best time to have a flu vaccine is in the autumn, before flu starts circulating. But even if it's later, it's always worth getting vaccinated.

For more information about the seasonal flu vaccination, elegibility, and frequently asked questions, visit 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/flu-influenza-vaccine/

The most comprehensive winter flu vaccination programme in the UK’s history has been announced by the government today (Friday 24 July).

A significant new group will be eligible for the free flu vaccine as people aged 50 to 64 will be invited later in the season for a vaccination.

As part of an unprecedented drive, a free flu vaccine will also be available to:

• people who are on the shielded patient list and members of their household
• all school year groups up to year 7
• people aged over 65, pregnant women, those with pre-existing conditions including at-risk under 2s

Once vaccination of the most ‘at-risk’ groups is well underway, the department will work with clinicians to decide when to open the programme to invite people aged 50 to 64, with further details to be announced. The NHS will contact people directly, including information about where to go to get the vaccine.

The expanded flu vaccination programme is part of plans to ready the NHS – both for the risk of a second peak of coronavirus cases, and to relieve winter pressures on A&E and emergency care.

The Government has announced that from Friday the 24th July 2020, it will be compulsory for members of the public to wear a mask or face covering when entering shops in England.

The aim of this is to help further stop the spread of COVID-19.

Acceptable forms of face masks include: 

• Shop-bought paper masks
• Shop-bought fabric masks
• Hand-made fabric masks
• A bandana
• A scarf

As of 24.07.2020, people who attempt to enter a store not wearing a mask will be denied entry. Fines of up to £100 may also be imposed upon individuals who do not obey the new guidance. Masks must continue to be worn in hospitals and on public transport.

Certain individuals however, will continue to be exempt from the rule. These include people who:

• Cannot wear a mask because of physical health reasons
• Cannot wear a mask because of mental health reasons
• Cannot wear a mask if it causes them great distress
• Cannot wear a mask because of learning difficulties
• Are under the age of 11
• Cannot wear a mask because another individual relies on them for lip-reading 

Individuals who are exempt from wearing a mask are not required to have proof of their exemption.

For more information on the latest guidance, please head over to: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance

On the 4^th July 2020, guidance surrounding COVID-19 changed.

Below is a list of some of the changes that were made, and also the restrictions which are still in place:

• You can meet in groups of up to two households (your support bubble counts as one household) in any location - public or private, indoors or outdoors. You do not always have to meet with the same household - you can meet with different households at different times. However, it remains the case - even inside someone’s home - that you should socially distance from anyone not in your household or bubble.
• When you are outside you can continue to meet in groups of up to six people from different households, following social distancing guidelines
• Additional businesses and venues, including restaurants, pubs, cinemas, visitor attractions, hotels, and campsites will be able to open. Please adhere to any new safety measures they have put in place.
• Other public places, such as libraries, community centres, places of worship, outdoor playgrounds and outdoor gyms will be able to open.
• You may stay overnight away from your home with your own household or support bubble, or with members of one other household
• It will be against the law to gather in groups larger than 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances to be set out in law

You should not:

• Gather indoors in groups of more than two households (your support bubble counts as one household) - this includes when dining out or going to the pub
• Gather outdoors in a group of more than six people from different households; gatherings larger than 6 should only take place if everyone is from just two households
• Interact socially with anyone outside the group you are attending a place with, even if you see other people you know, for example, in a restaurant, community centre or place of worship
• Hold or attend celebrations (such as parties) where it is difficult to maintain social distancing
• Stay overnight away from your home with members of more than one other household (your support bubble counts as one household)

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, you should continue to:

• Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds
• Wear a face mask when visiting a hospital or using public transport
• Keep a 2m distance between yourself and others wherever possible

As of Monday the 15th June, any adult who lives on their own, or in a household with only children under the age of 18 (such as a single parent/guardian) may form a 'Support Bubble' with another household. This household can be of any size, and can be a mixture of adults and children.

This adult (and any children in their household) may:

-Visit and be visited by this household
-Stay overnight at this household
-Have contact which is closer than 2m with members of this household

They must NOT:
-Alternate between different households. Once a household has been chosen, you cannot swap them to form a different support bubble

REMEMBER -If any person from either household develops symptoms of COVID-19, BOTH households must self-isolate for 14 days.

For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/meeting-people-from-outside-your-household

As of Monday the 8th June 2020, dental practices will be allowed to re-open again, and start to provide a limited range of face-to-face treatment. 

However, it is important to note that dental practices will look different as they will be operating in a way that observes COVID-19 social distancing and hygiene rules, as part of measures taken to ensure the safety patients and the dental team alike. 

Due to social distancing measures still being in place, patients should continue to telephone or email their practice, rather than attending in person without an appointment.

If you have a regular dentist, you should call them as a first step. The dentist will assess your situation over the phone, including giving advice and, if needed, prescriptions for painkillers or antibiotics, or arranging treatment. 

If you do not have a regular dentist, you can still call any local dental practice as well as visiting 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111 who will provide advice as appropriate. 

Out of hours for urgent dental issues the advice still remains to visit 111.nhs.uk or call NHS 111. Patients should not be visiting A&E departments or GPs with dental problems.

The range of treatments offered may be different to that being offered prior to 25 March 2020 and may vary from practice to practice. This will depend on the staff and equipment available to the team at the time. The dental team may also be wearing different protective equipment to what you are used to seeing. 

For further information, please contact the NHS England and NHS Improvement local dental team by emailing:

england.yhdentalreturns@nhs.net

As of Monday the 1st June 2020, the lockdown advice in England will change.

People will be permitted to meet with up to 5 others (6 individuals in total) from across different households.

This should take place in outside areas such as a park, or a private garden, and people should still ensure that they remain at least 2meters away from one another to prevent the virus from spreading.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that this change means people will be able to see their loved ones again, however, he also stressed that people should avoid seeing too many people from different households in quick succession, as this could cause the virus to spread more rapidly.

He also stated that barbeques will be allowed, as long as people remain "scrupulous" about washing their hands, practicing good hygiene, and maintaining social distancing.

Many people with a learning disability and/or autism will become increasingly vulnerable and isolated during the current Covid-19 crisis.

In response to this, the new ‘Keeping People with a Learning Disability and/or Autism Connected” project has been launched with a focus on people who are routinely not known to services or accessing support. It is co-ordinated by Inclusion North, Humber Transforming Care and Healthwatch North Lincolnshire. It aims to help people by keeping them connected during this current climate.

Our call handlers will assess how safe a person is, what additional help they may need, and then support them to access this help. They will receive calls from specialist staff that will support them with understanding information relating to Covid 19, talk through their worries and offer reassurance.

We will also signpost them to local services to be able to access support with any practical issues, gain information, advice and resources. 

If a person is in crisis we are able to refer to the appropriate service with consent, and if a person is feeling isolated and would benefit from regular contact, we will also offer this. 

If you or somebody you know would benefit from this service, either call us on 01724 844986, or complete the online form at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/serviceuserform

If the person consents, and would prefer to be contacted by us, please use any of the above methods to refer them into the service. If using the online form – please tick the box to state that you are referring as part of the ‘keeping people connected’ project. Do not worry if you do not have all the details needed to complete the form, our call handlers will do the rest.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust which is the provider of a number of services in the North Lincolnshire area, have released their latest briefing on how they are dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic, and how they are beginning to prepare for the next phase of the pandemic.

The chief executive of the trust has stated that;

“Our priorities continue to be to care for our patients deal with implications of the pandemic, work with our system partners to plan our response and to support and safeguard our staff.”

Below is a summary of how the trust is dealing with each of their service areas in response to the pandemic:

-          Emergency Ambulance Services – A&E Operations

Whilst staff have attended a significant number of patients with both suspected and confirmed COVID-19, the total number has remained lower than was originally anticipated by the trust.

The number of telephone calls to their emergency operations centre has seen a 25% reduction in April compared to March.

10% of all calls were dealt with through a new triage process which has been implemented nation-wide, and this has resulted in a reduction in ambulance attendances

More patients are also being treated on scene, or are being referred to another service for treatment.

-          Integrated Urgent Care – NHS 111

Calls to NHS 111 in April have reduced by approximately 41% compared to March, however they are still above a typical April with an increase of nearly 17% compared to 2019.

This pattern has been recorded across the country.

The trust have increased their capacity to deal with these issues by redeploying clinical staff, developing new COVID clinician roles, and bringing forward specialist training.

-          Patient Transport Service

Their patient transport service has continued to deliver around 1300 journeys per weekday in April, to ensure that the most vulnerable patients still have access to essential outpatient clinics.

The service is also being used to transport low acuity suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19. 90 vehicles have been temporarily modified with barriers to keep both patients and staff safe. All staff are also wearing level 2 PPE.

As the UK now enters the second phase of response to COVID-19, the trust are working together with their partners to ensure that they can support the increase in outpatient services and the increase in non-COVID-19 urgent services.

They are also developing models to anticipate demand and to ensure their resources can meet the expected increase in demands.

On Sunday the 10th May 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out what he called a 'conditional plan' to reopen society, which included a few minor changes to previous guidelines. 

• People who can't work from home are now "actively encouraged" to return to workplaces, but use of public transport is being discouraged.
  
• People will also be allowed to take unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise, sit or sunbathe in parks and play sports with household members from Wednesday (13.05.2020)
  
• The changes in guidelines will also allow two people from different households to meet in a park if they stay at least 2m apart.
  

Mr Johnson said the government would 'modify' lockdown measures over three careful steps through to July.

Mr Johnson said he hoped the second step - "at the earliest by 1 June" would mean that some primary school children (those in reception, year 1 and year 6) may begin a phased return to school. It is also hoped that older children who are due to sit exams next summer may also have some time with their teachers before September.

The second step could also include the phased reopening of some non- essential shops, but only where social distancing can be maintained.

The third step could see some hospitality businesses and other public places reopen - "if the numbers support it" - but not earlier than 4th July.

All of this is subject to review at any time, and if infection rates begin to rise once more, strict measures could be reinforced.

Due to COVID-19, a number of changes have been made to dental services.

Routine treatments are no longer available, and patients may only be seen for some specific issues.

If you require urgent access to dental treatment, you should contact your usual dentist, or a practice in your area if you do not have a regular one you visit. All dental practices are responsible for triaging patients who contact the practice seeking access to urgent dental care (UDC). THis means patients that do not have a regular NHS dentist can still access urgent care.

Community dental services (CDS) are responsible for triaging patients with additional and complex health or social care needs, who contact the service seeking access to urgent dental care.

Anybody who contacts the dentists will go through a triage process and may be offered one or multiple of the following:

• Advice
• Analgesia (pain relief medication)
• Antimicrobials/antibiotics

The triage will also include a COVID-19 assessment of the patient, in line with national guidance to ensure their care can be managed accordingly.

There is no charge for the triage call, but any presriptions will be charged in the normal way. 

If people are referred for a face-to-face appointment, this will take place at what is known as an 'urgent dental care hub', which may be at another location. In remote or rural areas, this may require significant travel.

Locations have been chosen to cover the North East and Yorkshire region, however as drop-ins are not permitted, these locations are not being publicised.

Please remember that a face-to-face appointment will only be offered when treatment is extremely urgent, and staff members will be required to wear the appropriate PPE for the clinical procedures to be carried out. 

Face-to-face appointments will be charged at the normal rates, starting at £22.70 for band 1 treatment.

For further information, please contact the NHS England and NHS Improvement local dental teams at: england.yhdentalreturns@nhs.net

It has been reported that since the lockdown began, there has been a sharp increase in people seeking help and support for domestic violence.

Whilst generally, the lockdown means that you should not be leaving your home except for essential things such as food shopping and travelling to work (if you have to), the government states that:

"If you are controlled of physically, sexually, economically or emotionally abused by a partner, ex-partner or family member, this is domestic abuse and isolation rules do NOT apply." 

You may therefore leave your home to seek help.

All Boots pharmacies in the UK from 1.5.2020 now have safe spaces. Those needing help can ask staff at the counter to use the consultation room, where they will be able to contact services for help and advice. 

If you are a woman experiencing domestic abuse you may want to contact Refuge, the National Domestic Abuse Helpline, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0808 2000 247. Calls to this number are free.

If you are a man experiencing domestic abuse, you can call the Men's Life Advice service on 0808 8010 327, Monday and Wednesday 9am-8pm, or Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 9am-5pm.

Please remember that you are not alone, and help is available. 

Coronavirus testing is available for millions of people from today, after the government loosened rules on who can apply.

Previously, testing was only available to key workers in Engand and their household member. 

Now, all care home staff, care home residents, people aged over 65, and those who must still leave their home in order to go to work are entitled to a test.

Tests are available at a number of pop-up drive-by locations across the country. Home-testing kits are also available in some areas, however they are currently limited. It is hoped that more of these will become available over time.

The government aims to hit its arget of 100,000 tests per day by Thursday, with just over 43,000 taking place as of Monday the 17th April. 

Anyone eligible can book a test on the government's test-booking website. 

Remember, if you think you have coronavirus, you should NOT visit your GP, hospital, or pharmacy.

Due to COVID-19, a number of changes have been made to the services available at the Virgin Care Sexual Health Hub (Ironstone Centre, Scunthorpe).

A summary of the service changes is as follows:

Appointments

All patients will now be provided with a telephone triage consultation. Only urgent or complex patient cases will be seen on  a face-to-face basis.

The number on which to contact the North Lincolnshire Virgin Care Sexual Health Hub is 0300 330 1122

You can access telephone triage to get help with:

• Emergency contraception
• Supply of contraceptive pills (for those wishing to begin this contraception or those wthing to continue with it)
• Complications arising from contraception e.g. significant coil pain, implant pain, signs of infection or serious side effects
• Options for patients who normally have contraceptive injections
• Advice and referral for abortion care
• Advice on treatment for any patient with symptoms of sexually transmitted infections (STI's)

Services which have stopped

• All routine provisions for LARC's (Long Acting Reversibe Contraceptions, including the fitting and removal of the IUD/IUS (coil), and implant. Patients will be offered alternatives such as the contraceptive pill and condoms.
• Cervical screening
• Vasectomies
• STI screening of patients with no symptoms

If your IUD/IUS (coil) or Implant is due for changing, don't worry. There is currently no evidence that leaving any of these in for longer than their licence is harmful. However, if you are worried about the risk of pregnancy, use additonal precautions such as condoms. You can also call the clinic if you require more advice on other options.

Emergency contraception

If you require emergency contraception, please choose one of the following options:

• Call the Virgin Care Sexual Health clinic on 0300 330 1122
• Contact your GP

Online services

A FREE Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, HIV and Syphilis postal testing kit for people aged 16 and over is available to order online here.

If you are under 16, have symptoms or would like other STI tests, please call your local clinic.

PrEP

The clinic is currently unable to run routine PrEP appointments. 

With the current social distancing regulations, some people may choose to stop taking PrEP. For advice on stopping and starting PrEP visit https://www.iwantprepnow.co.uk/how-to-take-prep/

For those taking PrEP, a test every 3 months, alongside a HIV test is recommended (postal test availabel to order)

For people diagnosed with diabetes, this can be a particularly difficult time. 

In response to this, Diabetes UK have updated their webpages with coronavirus advice and information for people living with diabetes, and for their families. 

They also have some information to help people staying at home and managing diabetes, and to help people cope with stress and other emotions. There is also a useful coronavirus thread on thier online forum, where members are sharing tips and their experiences. 

Their dedicated Ramadan advice which is available on thier website also provides information on safe fasting and diabetes, including a factsheet on religious fasting. 

A brand new North of England Diabetes UK Facebook support group has also been started, which provides updates from key Health Care Professionals on local services and and important messages on care and support. 

The National Trading Standard Scams Team have recently released guidance on how to protect yourself from scams and fraud, and what to look out for.

This has come about as a number of new scams have been circulating, relating specifically to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Some of these scams include:

• People offering miracle cures or vaccines. There is currently NO specific treatment or preventatve vaccine for COVID-19.
• Home cleaning services
• People claiming to be healthcare workers and offering to deliver home testing kits
• Emails saying you can get refund son taxes, utilites and more
• A number of new mobile phone apps which claim to give COVID-19 updates, but instead lock your phone and demand a ransom
• People offering to do your shopping or collecting medication and asking for money upront and then disappearing

In order to help protect yourself from being scammed, there are a number of things you can do:

• Be cautious and listen to your instincs. Don't be afraid to hang up or close the door to people if you feel uncomfortable
• Take your time and don't be rushed by people
• If someone claims to be from a charity, as them for ID
• Be suspicious of services asking for money upfront, and try and check with a trusted relative or friend if you're unsure
• When online, be aware of fake news stories and adverts for miracle cures, home testing kits and vaccines. Do not order any of these.
• Protect your financial information such as bank details and PIN number. Never give your bank card or PIN number to a stranger. 

Please also note that banks, hospitals and the police will NEVER ask you for bank details over the phone. 

If you think you have been scammed, please report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, and if you need advice, please call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133. 

Call your bank if you think you have been scammed.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999.

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers that have been provided by Public Health England on infection control of COVID-19 in care home settings.

Remember that if required, please seek advice from your local authority adult and social care team for operational, staffing, and mutual aid support as needed.

Q- Does the use of gloves, aprons and surgical masks protect service users or staff?

A- This PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) protects the health care worker who is working within 2 meters of the service user and it will also protect the service user in case the healthcare worker has been in contact with an infected patient. This in turn protects other service users and healthcare workers being infected.

Q- Is it important to hand-wash after removing PPE?

A- Absolutely! It ensures you are protected and do not pass the virus onto other vulnerable service users.

Q- If I have to perform chest compressions and defibrillation on a service user am I at risk of COVID-19?

A- In accordance with the guidelines your aprons, gloves and surgical mask will protect you when doing chest compressions and defibrillation only. When a paramedic arrives and if they intubate the service user they will wear higher protection and you will be asked to move away from the area whilst they carry out this procedure so you are protected.

Q-Can a care home take a resident back if they have tested negative for COVID-19 in hospital?

A- Yes. Follow the advice of the discharging ward. It would be advisable to care for the resident in their own room so they are self- isolating as they may have been exposed. Monitor the resident for symptoms.

Q- Can homes admit confirmed positive residents?

A- Yes, they will need to be isolated alone in their own room with en-suite and have dedicated staff, PPE, and follow national guidelines for 7 days following the showing of their first symptoms.

With the Easter weekend approaching, the Chief Executive of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG) is urging people to stay at home.

By keeping themselves safe and staying at home, the public can help to reduce pressures that local healthcare services such as Scunthorpe Hospital, are facing.

The trust themselves have already implemented a number of strategies in order to prepare for a potential increase by:

·        Increasing capacity across its three hospitals (Scunthorpe General Hospital, Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital and Goole and District Hospital) by discharging patients who don’t need to be in hospital. They are also re-configuring wards so there are dedicated Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 areas, and are postponing non-urgent appointments and holding appointments via telephone or video consultation where possible.

·        Ensuring enough staff are available to work: staff testing began last week run by the Trust’s community services and Scunthorpe laboratory. Those staff at home self-isolating (and their families where relevant) are being prioritised so people can return to work. Some staff have cancelled their planned Easter leave, and retired and former health workers are returning to work

·        Redeploying staff: non clinical staff are being redeployed to support frontline areas and clinical staff who are currently in non–frontline roles are receiving refresher sessions to make sure they are ready to return to the frontline. Clinical staff across all areas are being trained in critical care to support highly specialist areas

·        Suspending visiting apart from in exceptional circumstances to reduce the risk to staff and patients

·        Launching a Care for Each other campaign to support the mental health and wellbeing of staff during this stressful time.

We would like to thank all members and staff working in the trust for their constant hard work and dedication.

North Lincolnshire Council is working with communities across the area to enable the delivery of food, essential medicine and social contact to vulnerable people who live alone and do not have family, friends or neighbours for assistance.

To make them aware of your circumstances or on behalf of someone else, please register using the form available here:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7VVmWP8siUCBl7TBC3s9...

If you cannot complete the form online, you can call the contact centre on 01724 297000 between 8am to 8pm, seven days a week and select option “0” for Covid-19 related support.

If you have a medical condition which makes you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), you can register with central government for additional support.

You may have received a letter from the NHS telling you that you’re clinically extremely vulnerable, or been contacted by your GP or hospital clinician. If this has not happened, contact your GP or clinician after you register with this service.

It may take time for any support offered through this service to arrive. Wherever possible you should continue to rely on friends, family and wider support to help you meet your needs.

If you have received a letter, or someone you care for has, you can register for support by clicking the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable

More people than ever before are offering up their time to help those in need, and that includes providing free services such as prescription collection and delivery to those who are vulnerable and self-isolating or shielding. Although it is preferred that a family member or friend collects medication on behalf of a patient, we recognise that this is not always possible, and in such cases, local volunteers become invaluable.

Whilst volunteering is a great way to help those in need and support the local community, there are also a number of things that volunteers must consider, and guidelines to follow which will ensure the safety of both the medication recipient and the volunteer themselves.

We have summarised these guidelines below, and request that anybody who is collecting and/or delivering prescriptions thoroughly reads them.

• Make sure you have the contact details of the person you are collecting medication for. This includes their full name, address, and date of birth. You will also need to be able to produce a form of valid ID for yourself.
• Ensure you have the contact details of the pharmacy from which you’re collecting the medication. If at any time you are unsure of what to do with a medication delivery, you should call the pharmacy team directly.
• To avoid potential confusion, the volunteer must complete all deliveries from a single pharmacy before picking up medications for delivery from another pharmacy.
• If the person must pay for an NHS prescription, the pharmacy will usually be able to do this over the phone, so ensure you have the patient’s phone number. If the pharmacy is unable to process the payment this way, then the volunteer should refer to their organisations guidelines on how payments should be made in these circumstances. Cash payments should be avoided where possible.
• Make sure you wear disposable or washable gloves when handling medication/medication bags.
• Try to transfer them in plain packaging where possible.
• Medicines deliveries must be completed the same day you collected them from the pharmacy, so make sure you have enough time to collect and deliver the medication.
• Some medicines may need to be stored in a fridge by the patient, so prioritise delivering these first.
• Any medicines that cannot be delivered must be returned to the pharmacy the same day.
• Do not open the bag of medicines the pharmacist gives you.
• If medicine packages are split, call the pharmacy and ask for further guidance.
• When arriving at the patient’s house, follow the guidance below:

-          Keep social distancing guidelines. Knock on their door then step 2m back. When the door is opened explain that you have come to deliver their prescription and ask them to confirm their name and address. DO NOT STATE THE INFORMATION TO THEM.

-          Once they have stated this, you may deposit the medication safely on their premises for them to collect.

• If the patient doesn’t answer, return he medication to the pharmacy. Do not post it through their letter box.
• Sometimes the pharmacy won’t have all the medication the patient requires. They will then issue an Owings Slip. It is important to give this to the patient and advise them that these items will be delivered when the pharmacy has the items back in stock.
• If the pharmacy has attached a message asking for the patient to contact them for further advice upon receiving their medication, ensure this message is delivered.
• If the patient has any questions regarding their medication, ask them to contact their pharmacy.

Updated 07.04.2020

Opening Times:

You can find the opening times of any pharmacy by visiting https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/find-a-pharmacy

Many pharmacies are currently closing for up to 2.5 additional hours a day (including lunch) in order to safely dispense medications and keep up with the increasing demand of prescriptions.

However, all pharmacies should at a minimum be open be open Mon-Sat 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm. Most have their opening times displayed in their front window.

Delivery:

Some pharmacies offer a delivery service (which may incur an additional charge). Please contact your local pharmacy to see if they offer this sevice. 

Many are currently priortising delivering medication to those who are over 70 and/or vulnerable.

Volunteering - medication pick-up:

If there is a designated local provider offering volunteer services and medication collection, they MUST provide the following information to the pharmacy:

• Name of patient
• Address of patient
• Date of birth of patient

The volunteer must also provide photographic ID of themselves.

Primary healthcare professionals (GPs, pharmacists, nurses, social prescribers and local authorities) will all be able to request help for patients who are at-risk/shielding. Patients will be matched with a volunteer near them. 

Repeat Medication:

Patients have been advised to allow for 7 days from the date that the medication was ordered due to additional pressures on pharmacies. 

Repeat prescriptions can be made:

• Online - Visit your GP practice for more information
• Through the NHS App - Download the app and follow the instructions
• Electronic Repeat Dispensing (ERD) - Only if your GP has already offered you this service. Your prescriptions will download automatically at the pharmacy and you'll only need to contact your GP when the batch ends.

For patients without access to the internet, please post the repeat slip to the GP practice. Some have installed a dedicated box for this.

Urgent supply/emergency prescription:

If a patient is going to run out of medication and an urgent supply/emergency prescription is required, the patient should contact their prescriber immediately. A patient may be able to get medicine froma  pharmacist in an emergency, subject to conditions. If this is not part of an NHS service, there will be a charge.

Please note, that pharmacists who receive requests from a patient for an emergency supply or CPCS referrals from NHS 111 for urgent supplies, will use their professional judgement to determine whether an emergency supply is appropriate and legal to make. 

If it is not, the patient may need to be escalated up to the GP out of hours service or signposted to their own GP practice.

The government have set up a new, free to use service which aims to provide official, trustworthy and timely information and advice about Coronavirus (COVID-19), and will further reduce the burden on NHS services.

The GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service is an automated 'chatbot' service which will allow the British public to get answers to the most common questions about coronavirus directly from the government.

The service will provide information on topics such as coronavirus preventionand symptoms, the latest number of cases in the UK, advice on staying at home, travel advice and myth busting.

The service will also allow the government to send messages to all opted-in users if required.

To use the free GOV.UK Coronavirus Information Service on WhatsApp, simply add 07860 064422 in your phone contacts then message the word 'hi' in a WhatsApp message to get started.

Below is some basic guidance on attending pharmacy, GP and hospital services. 

If you require more in-depth information or advice, please feel free to get in touch with us, or contact the relevant service directly.

Remember, if you are displaying any symptoms of COVID-19, you should NOT leave your home, and instead use the Government's guides on self isolation (Here)

If it is an emergency, please diall 999

Pharmacy:

Only visit your pharmacy if it's necessary and attempt to spend as little time there as possible.

Many pharmacies have introduced distancing measures (e.g. tape on the floor to ensure people keep their distance), however if there is nothing visible, please ensure to keep at least a 2 meter distance between yourself and the next person.

Some pharmacies also offer medication delivery -particularly for people in the vulnerable category for whom it is highly recommended to self-isolate. Please call your local pharmact for more information on this.

GP Practice:

Whilst you can leave your house for necessary medical appointments, many GPs have now stopped face-to-face appointments and are now only doing telephone appointments.

If you had anappointment booked, the practice will most likely contact you and inform you as to whether you should still attend.

Where possible, try to call your practice if you need to book an appointment, or use the online booking service which many practices now offer.

Hospital:

Scunthorpe General Hospital are reviewing all appointments and will let you know if we need to postpone yours. If you don’t hear from them, please attend your appointment as planned. They are trying to minimise face-to-face appointments where possible so you may be offered a telephone or video consultation instead

Visiting Scunthorpe Hospital is only currently allowed in exceptional circumstances: Visiting a patient at the end of their life, one parent visiting a child and birthing partners.

One birth partner can accompany for the labour and birth. Birth partners will then be asked to leave after spending some time together after the birth.

They are no longer allowing partners/family members in antenatal clinics, scans or any other appointments at the antenatal day unit.