GP SURGERIES in Keighley, South Craven and Skipton today updated their advice to patients.

The advice about changes due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) only applies to surgeries and medical centres in the Modality Practices. Group

Modality warned patients not to go to their surgery in person unless requested by a member of staff.

Modality Practices are the Cross Hills Group Practice, Silsden Group Practice, Fisher Medical Centre in Skipton, Oakworth Medical Practice, Haworth Medical Practice, and the Holycroft Surgery, Farfield Group Practice and Kilmeny Group Medical Practice in Keighley.

Bill Graham, Community and Innovation Lead at Modality, said: "We will continue to update advice to our patients in line with national guidance. Please follow the advice as we seek to minimize risks to patients and staff."

The Modality statement reads:

Please could we now ask that you DO NOT come to the surgery in person unless requested by a member of staff.

If you need to contact us please do so via telephone or using our online services.

We understand that this will make the phone lines busier during these times so if possible please use Econsult which can be found on our website.

Econsult can be used for admin requests or help with new or existing conditions, a clinician will get back to you via email or telephone. If you need to be seen the clinician will inform you of this.

All pre-booked appointments will now be done via telephone, please ensure your contact details are up to date and correct. Please DO NOT attend the surgery for your appointment unless you have been asked to by a member of staff.

For prescriptions, please ensure you have nominated a pharmacy, if you have not and have regular prescriptions that you collect from the surgery please go to the pharmacy of your choosing and speak to them to set them up as your nominated pharmacy.

To request your prescription, this can be done using online services, if you have not got access to our online services through our website please download the NHS app prescription request can be done via these. Please note it might take a few minutes to register but once completed it is very simple to use.

You can also request via Econsults.

The updated advice regarding self-isolation:

If you live alone and you have symptoms of coronavirus illness (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms started.

 if you live with others and you or one of them have symptoms of coronavirus, then all household members must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill

If you have coronavirus symptoms:

 do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital

 you do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home

 testing for coronavirus is not needed if you’re staying at home

 if you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home, or your condition gets worse, or your symptoms do not get better after 7 days, then use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. If you do not have internet access, call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999  See our self-isolation guidemodalitypartnership.nhs.uk/images/Selfisolation_Advice_17.03.2020.JPG

Latest updates to Government information here:

gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance

gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-list-of-guidance