THOUGHTS ON COVID-19 FROM A PORTSMOUTH GP
20
20 will go down in history as ‘The year of COVID-19’. For many of us, life has changed beyond all recognition. It stopped the world in its tracks, and Portsmouth was no exception. We rapidly adjusted to lockdown – staying in our homes, only leaving for essential trips. Not seeing loved ones. Missing special occasions: weddings, funerals, social gathering & holidays. Football was cancelled. ‘Furlough’ became a common word, and parents became teachers overnight. Face masks and socially distanced queues became the norm.
do need to come into the surgery. We are limiting appointments, to allow for social distancing and cleaning between patients. Staff are shielded behind reception and may be wearing face masks. Patients are encouraged to wear face coverings when they come into the building. Doctors may be in surgical scrubs and will be wearing masks, aprons, gloves and possibly face shields. We are still advising patients to avoid attending unless they have a booked appointment or cannot deal with their query online or by telephone. There are many questions about COVID-19. I will do my best to answer some of the most common queries that are asked:
HOW DO I GET TESTED FOR COVID-19?
As a local GP, I have experienced COVID-19 from a different perspective. I kept going to work, and my children stayed in school. As a practice, we continued to care for our patients throughout the pandemic, rapidly adjusting the way we work to limit face to face contact and keep staff and patients safe. GPs now conduct most consultations by telephone, video, or online e-consultation via the practice website. In ‘normal times’, these technological advances would have taken years to implement. Staff and patients have, on the whole, adjusted well to this new way of working. It is not always a substitute for a face to face assessment, and some patients 38
Anyone (over the age of five) with symptoms is eligible for COVID-19 swab testing. Symptoms include a fever over 37.8°C, a new, continuous cough or a change in taste/smell. Those with symptoms and family members should self-isolate until the result is available. To request a COVID-19 test, you can register online via www.NHS.uk and you will be contacted to book testing at the Tipner drive-through test centre. Home test kits can be sent out for those that cannot attend. Blood antibody tests for COVID-19 can give an indication of past infection with the virus, but are not yet available to the general population. It is not yet clear how reliable these tests are, and whether the antibodies offer protection against future re-infection
WILL THERE BE A VACCINE FOR COVID-19? Several
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