All patients are advised to keep up to date with the current guidance from the government which is changing frequently.
Here is a summary of the latest guidance to date with relevant links
COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. It's caused by a virus called coronavirus.
Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms
Stay at home if you have either:
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- a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
- a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- loss of sense of taste or smell
(if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
Do NOT go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.
To access the NHS111 online coronavirus service please click here: https://111.nhs.uk/covid-19/
How long to stay at home
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- if you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay at home for 7 days
- if you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person in the home started having symptoms
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If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.
If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
Social distancing: what you need to do
To stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), you should try to avoid close contact with anyone you do not live with.
This is called social distancing.
Stay at home as much as possible
It's very important to stay at home as much as possible.
There are only a few specific reasons to leave your home, including:
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- for work, if you cannot work from home
- going to shops to get things like food and medicine, or to collect things you've ordered
- to exercise or spend time outdoors
- for any medical reason, to donate blood, avoid injury or illness, escape risk of harm, provide care or help a vulnerable person
When outside your home, it's important to try to stay 2 metres (3 steps) away from anyone you do not live with.
For more about when you can leave your home, see:
Advice for people at high risk
How to protect yourself if you're at high risk
If you're at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, there are extra things you should do to avoid catching it.
These include:
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- not leaving your home – you should not go out to do shopping, pick up medicine or exercise
- stay at least 2 metres (3 steps) away from other people in your home as much as possible
Ask friends, family or neighbours to pick up shopping and medicines for you. They should leave them outside your door.
If you need help getting deliveries of essential supplies like food, you can register to get coronavirus support.
Alternatively at risk patients who require additional support are advised to contact the surgery and ask to be referred to our link worker.
Read the full advice on protecting yourself if you're at high risk from coronavirus on GOV.UK.
Who is at high risk?
You may be at high risk from coronavirus if you:
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- have had an organ transplant
- are having certain types of cancer treatment
- have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
- have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
- have a condition that makes you much more likely to get infections
- are taking medicine that weakens your immune system
- are pregnant and have a serious heart condition
If you're at high risk, you will have been contacted by the NHS.
Patients with respiratory conditions including asthma and COPD who have queries about coronavirus can access guidance from the British Lung Foundation. This guidance can be accessed here:
https://www.blf.org.uk/support-for-you/coronavirus/what-is-social-shielding
Patients with diabetes who need information about how they could be affected can access guidance from Diabetes UK by clicking the following link:
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus
Patients with diabetes who are unwell are advised to follow their sick day rules. If you are unsure what these are then please contact the Liverpool Diabetes Partnership
patient advice line Mon-Sun 8.00am-8.00pm: 0151-529-0283
Patients with rheumatology conditons are advised to follow the link below for further information and guidance:
https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2020/march/coronavirus-covid-19-what-is-it-and-where-to-go-for-information/
Patients on immunosuppressive treatment for dermatology conditions can access further information via the British Association of Dermatologists:
https://www.skinhealthinfo.org.uk/covid-19-coronavirus-immunosuppressive-treatments/
Isolation notes
If you are required to stay at home because of coronavirus and require a note for your employer you can now obtain an isolation note from NHS111 by clicking the link below.
https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/
Please note- you DO NOT need to contact the surgery in order to obtain a note for your employer.
Worried about your mental health?
For guidance and help looking after your mental health during the coronvirus outbreak please access the following services:
https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus
For urgent mental health support 24/7 patients (16+) can call 0151 296 7200
For children and young people contact the Alder Hey Mental Health Crisis Line 24 hours a day on 0151 293 3577.
To access psychological treatment for common mental health problems (16+) contact Talk Liverpool on 0151 228 2300 (8am - 8pm) or visit talkliverpool.nhs.uk
Patients can also access The Life Rooms for online wellbeing courses, advice with debt management, employment, benefits etc and social inclusion advice for isolated community groups. This service is available for patients 18+ via telephone 0151 478 6556 (Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm) or online at liferooms.org
Coronavirus – Liverpool City Council Support
Are you unable to leave home due to coronavirus? Do you need help?
The Liverpool Good Neighbour scheme will match volunteers with people in need who don’t have anyone else nearby to help with day-to-day tasks.
The scheme is not designed to replace any social care or NHS services you may receive but it can give you additional support.
What tasks can I request help with?
You can ask for help with the tasks you cannot do because you cannot leave home, such as shopping or collecting prescriptions.
Or you may like to ask to chat to a volunteer on the phone to break up your day and hear a friendly voice.
How do I request help?
You can request help by calling 0151 233 3066. Our lines are open from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Alternatively, you can make a request by using online form below.
Request help from the Liverpool Good Neighbour scheme
As another alternative you can also contact the surgery and ask to be referred to our link worker.
Coronavirus – volunteer to help
Are you free to volunteer to help someone else?
Are you a community group that already provides help in the community?
The Liverpool Volunteer Scheme has been set up to find volunteers, organisations and businesses that can help, as well as existing groups in the community who need extra volunteers.
Who can sign up?
We want to hear from you if you can volunteer or if you represent a community group that needs extra volunteers in the coming weeks and months.
We particularly want to hear from community groups and volunteers who can offer help with:
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- tackling loneliness through phone or face-to-face contact, where appropriate
- prescription collection for someone who finds themselves unable to leave the house
- community support such as transporting items between foodbanks or helping in a kitchen
We would also like to hear from businesses and organisations that can act as a 'hub' to co-ordinate the work of groups at local level.
How to sign up
Find out more and tell us how you can help by calling 0151 233 3068. Our lines are open from 8am to 6pm, seven days a week.
Alternatively, you can sign up by using the online form below.
Sign up to the Liverpool Volunteer scheme
