Requests for certification of absence from the workplace relating to covid-19 may fall into six categories:

1. Symptomatic so isolating for seven days
Patients can and should self-certify for the first seven days as normal if they are unfit to work. They do not need to contact their GP.

2. Symptomatic and remaining unwell for over seven days
If they remain unwell and unfit to work after seven days, the current advice is to visit www.111.nhs.uk where there is an online self-assessment tool.They do not need to contact their GP for a certificate but you can advise patients to use the template form below. 

3. Household contact symptoms so isolating for fourteen days as per government advice - please talk to your employer

4. At risk group so following government advice -Where they do become unwell during or after this time, point 1 and 2 applies. They do not need to contact their GP.

5. Those in full time education who are symptomatic or requiring self-isolation.
There is no NHS requirement to issue certification to schools or colleges to confirm absence. These organisations must work with parents and students to ensure that any absence is appropriately recorded, obviating the need for a ‘doctor’s note’. They do not need to contact their GP.

6. Told to isolate for 14 days due to waiting for an operation

The current Government Guidance for employers and businesses on coronavirus (COVID-19) states;
“By law, medical evidence is not required for the first 7 days of sickness. After 7 days, employers may use their discretion around the need for medical evidence if an employee is staying at home.
We strongly suggest that employers use their discretion around the need for medical evidence for a period of absence where an employee is advised to stay at home either as they are unwell themselves, or live with someone who is, in accordance with the public health advices issued by the government.”

 Please click he following link

Downloadable sick note (MED3)

https://111.nhs.uk/isolation-note/

Requests for Isolation Letter for pre op.doc

Advice for asthma patients

https://www.asthma.org.uk/advice/triggers/coronavirus-covid-19/

Advice for Diabetic patients

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus

Advice on social distancing for all patients

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

Advice on shielding for VERY high risk patients

Changes have been introduced to the guidance for shielding patients. The key points are below which you may find useful:

• Shielding guidance will be relaxed in stages, subject to clinical evidence:
• From 6 July: the guidance for the clinically extremely vulnerable will be relaxed to allow shielded individuals to meet up to 5 people from other households outdoors, socially distanced, and to form support bubbles if they live alone or are a lone adult with a dependent under 18.
• From 1 August: the clinically extremely vulnerable can stop shielding. The guidance will be updated to allow this cohort to go to the shops and places of worship, while following current social distancing rules.
• The food and medicine boxes facilitated by the National Shielding Service will stop as of 1 August as individuals are advised they can visit shops and pharmacies. However, other forms of support – such as priority supermarket delivery slots and the NHS Volunteers Scheme, amongst a range of local volunteer schemes – will continue. If an individual is concerned about support after 1 August, they should contact their local authority.
• The categorisation of ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ will remain in place indefinitely and people in this cohort should continue to follow the guidance specific to them, available here. This is because community transmission and the R number will continue to be closely monitored and the government will tighten advice to this cohort as needed.
• Shielding guidance has been and continues to be advisory.

Everybody in the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ categorisation will be written to

Hear to Help
Do you need a moment to talk?

Hear to Help is a helpline providing support and advice to those who are feeling anxious or struggling with their emotional wellbeing around the COVID-19 outbreak.

Available to children, young people and adults across the Harrogate District, 8.00am - 8.00pm, seven days a week.

Hear to Help is a service provided by Just ‘B’, part of Saint Michael’s Hospice.

Calls are charged at local rates and may vary dependent on time of day and/or even be included in within your call package. Please visit Ofcom for further details.

Call on (01423) 856 799

Click here for a copy of the above information (PDF, 274KB)

Testing for Coronavirus

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), you can ask for a test to check if you have the virus. This is called an antigen test.

https://www.nhs.uk/ask-for-a-coronavirus-test

 Face covering exemptions

Face coverings are now compulsory on public transport, any request for exemptions should be directed towards the transport provider and should not involve GPs.

 Please see this letter which advises you that is sufficient to self declare if you have a reason for not wearing a face mask.

facemask exemption letter.docx

COVID 19 Blood Plasma Research

Recovered COVID 19 patient blood plasma required in a national research effort against coronavirus

NHS Blood and Transplant needs people who have recovered from COVID-19 to donate blood plasma (convalescent plasma).  

Although there is some evidence globally that patients with COVID-19 may benefit from receiving donated plasma, this research will inform the blood and transplant team on how safe and effective blood plasma is for treating patients with Coronavirus.

Plasma that is donated and determined to have sufficient levels of antibodies will be used for patients being treated with COVID-19. These antibodies may help patients to recover from Coronavirus by supporting their immune response.

NHS Blood and Transplant are looking to recruit anyone who has recovered from a confirmed case of Coronavirus at 23 of their main blood centres.

If you know someone, or you yourself have recovered from COVID-19 then you may be eligible to donate. Please contact the NHS Blood and Transplant via the link below to let them know you are interested in donating.

 Advice for Patients who have had Covid 19

https://www.post-covid.org.uk/get-support/