***If you suspect you have Coronavirus do not visit the surgery, stay in doors and use the NHS Online Coronavirus Service that can tell you if you need further medical help and advise you what to do. Only call 111 direct if you cannot go online or are advised to do so by the online service***

For more information please click on the following links www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Access to Appointments at Dunelm Medical Practice

From 16^th March 2020

As you will be aware COVID-19 has been declared a pandemic and is spreading at increasing rates through the population.

In order to ensure the safety of patients and staff, we need to carry out an assessment of your clinical needs BEFORE you enter Dunelm Medical Practice. This will ensure

Those who need an appointment can receive one and be located in an area where they are less likely to be in contact with patients at higher risk of having symptoms of COVID-19
Some clinical problems may be assessed and treated over the phone reducing the need for you to physically visit the surgery.
Those patients who are suffering symptoms of COVID-19 and are unwell can be assessed in an appropriate location by staff wearing the necessary protective equipment.

From Monday 16^th March, patients seeking medical advice should contact the surgery by telephone where they will have their contact details and a very brief history of their medical problem recorded by the reception team. (If your problem is non urgent you might want to consider using EConsult,the link is at the bottom of the page, and your query will be seen and answered by a GP within 48 hours).

A GP or nurse practitioner will call back and make a clinical assessment over the telephone. An action plan will be agreed, which might include, advice, the issue of a prescription, a face to face appointment in the main surgery or more specific arrangements in the event of possible COVID-19.

We would discourage you from presenting at the surgery to request an appointment but if you do so then the staff will record the same details and you will be asked to leave pending a triage call from the clinician. If you decline to leave the surgery you may not be seen any quicker as the clinical staff will deal with calls on the basis of need.

This type of system has actually been running in many surgeries for a number of years under the title “Dr First” but is a major change for both us and our patients.

We appreciate that this change will bring some difficulties, and inconveniences but we feel that it is the best way to maintain safety for you our patients, our staff, and enable us to continue to provide effective medical care to all in the context of this evolving situation.

Welcome to Dunelm Medical Practice

Dunelm Medical Practice serves patients across the Durham area including many of the surrounding villages.

Our regular team includes nine GP partners, one Nurse Practitioner, two Senior Practice Nurses, three Health Care Assistants, as well as our Business Manager, Deputy Manager, Nurse manager, Secretaries, Administration staff and Reception staff.

Locum GP's provide cover if our doctors are out of the practice for periods, e.g. training.

We offer a full general practice service and organise specialist appointments for the monitoring of chronic disease such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease and long term lung problems. We offer childhood immunisations and minor surgery. We also have specialist clinics for, foot care, dietary advice, Health and Well Being, and Pathways to Work.

The midwife runs clinics for the care of pregnant women and there is access to a Health Visitor.

GPs in central Durham are working together to offer extra GP appointments from 6.30pm to 9pm on weekday evenings as well as Saturday 8am to 6pm and Sunday 8am to 1pm. This service is based at Meadowfield Surgery and is only accessible by appointment. Either call your surgery or 111 to book an evening or weekend appointment.

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