Please note: any information regarding Coronavirus can change unexpectedly. You should always follow the most up-to-date current government guidance.
If you have a booked appointment or flu vaccination please attend as normal - if anything changes we will contact you directly. Please do not worry if you need medical help - please contact us, by phone or online as usual.
More information and advice for people who are at high risk can be found on the NHS website.
Primary Health England Advice
For updated guidance for households where one or more members has possible COVID-19 please click this link: Guidance for households.
To read a letter to the residents of Somerset regarding the Coronavirus pandemic, please click here: Open letter to the people of Somerset.
To view this letter in Polish, please click here: Open letter to the people of Somerset (Polish).
To view this letter in Bulgarian, please click here: Open letter to the people of Somerset (Bulgarian).
To view this letter in Romanian, please click here: Open letter to the people of Somerset (Romanian).
To view this letter in Portuguese, please click here: Open letter to the people of Somerset (Portuguese).
Self-Isolation Advice
For advice on self-isolating, please visit the NHS Self-Isolation and Treating Coronavirus Symptoms page. As well as explaining self-isolation there is information about the symptoms of Coronavirus. This includes:
- When to self-isolate and what to do
- How long to self-isolate
- How to avoid spreading Coronavirus to people you live with
- How to treat your symptoms at home
- Help and financial support while you're self-isolating
- What to do if your symptoms get worse
- What to do if you get symptoms again
Exemption from wearing a face mask
From 25th July 2020 the government have decided it will be compulsory to wear a face mask in shops. There are certain groups of people who are exempt from this; however, GP practices will NOT be providing exemption letters. The government guidance suggests it is sufficient for a patient to self-declare their exemption from wearing a mask. Please see here for a full letter from the Somerset Local Medical Committee.
Links to local organisations and voluntary groups during the coronavirus pandemic
Lyngford Park Surgery and local organisations in the area are here to support you during this time. Please see below for links to websites offering information and support and services to patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The national COVID recovery platform has been launched and is a helpful resource for those recovering from coronavirus. It can accessed at Your COVID recovery.
The Home Office have launched a national campaign to raise awareness of the dedicated support available to domestic abuse victims. If you need to speak to someone, you can phone the Freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit National Domestic Abuse Helpline. For detailed advice visit GOV UK - Domestic Abuse - How To Get Help.
If you need to speak to someone about domestic abuse, the Somerset Domestic Abuse support helpline are available on 0800 69 49 999. Alternatively, you can email the Somerset Integrated Domestic Abuse Service at youfirstsidas@theyoutrust.org.uk. Opening hours are Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm and Sat-Sun 9am to 1pm.
Somerset Age UK are offering support to patients over the phone or through their website Somerset Age UK. They have a new ‘friendly phone calls’ service, a free, confidential, extended information and advice service and a new dedicated coronavirus support website.
Priorswood Good Neighbours are volunteers serving the community; they can help with collecting prescriptions, shopping, regular phone calls etc. You can contact them through their Facebook page Priorswood Good Neighbours Facebook, by telephone on 01823 212007 or email: priorswoodcommunity@hotmail.com.
During COVID-19, the County Council Somerset Village, Community and Carers Agents are still providing their regular service via telephone or email. They are a key point of contact within the community – especially if you do not know who to turn to. For more information, visit Somerset Agents, where you can also request a call back from one of the Agents.
Somerset Sight, who are local specialists in sight loss, providing life-long emotional and practical support for the sight impaired and their families, have adapted their service so that they can provide immediate telephone support to:
- Reduce loneliness and isolation
- Improve emotional health and well-being
- Help people adapt to sight loss through structured emotional and peer support
- Provide specialist training for gadgets, technology and phone apps to assist with daily living.
Contact 01823 333818 for immediate help or further information.
Somerset Suicide Bereavement Support Service are able to support you via Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp, telephone or via their new Chat box (accessed via their website Somerset Suicide Bereavement. You can also get further information on this website). You can also email bereaved@mindinsomerset.org.uk or telephone the helpline on 0300 330 5463. The Somerset Suicide Bereavement Support Service are working in partnership with Marie Curie Companions Service; they can offer you 3 telephone support calls and 6 further bereavement support sessions if desired.
Re-Engage have created a new service for older people called Call Companions. A volunteer Call Companion will call you between two and four times a month at an agreed time for an informal chat, usually for around 30 minutes. This is aimed at people who are:
- Living alone or in sheltered housing with little or no contact with family or friends
- Struggle to leave their house in normal times
If you would like to be referred to Call Companions then please contact our reception team, who will arrange this with your GP.
Young Somerset have various COVID-19 support available; this includes a 24/7 mental health helpline, information on useful apps for coping with COVID-19 and ideas like fun things to do at home whilst in self-isolation. Full details and more support options are found at Young Somerset COVID-19 Support. For information on Young Somerset's Virtual Hub, please click here.
Kooth provides online mental health and wellbeing support to young people aged 11 to 18 years on any internet accessible device, and gives an opportunity to interact in a supportive way with other young people as well as receive support from a qualified counsellor. Visit the Kooth website for more information.
Marie Curie have a free bereavement support line if you wish to speak to someone following a bereavement. You can discuss practical and emotional concerns with one of their trained Support Line Officers, speak with one of their spiritual care coordinators or get ongoing support from one of their bereavement volunteers. Calls are free and lines are open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm and Sat/Sun 11am-5pm. You must be aged 18 or above. The number is 0800 090 2309 or visit their website Marie Curie Bereavement Telephone Support for further information.
The Bridge are open, fully staffed and operational at this time. They are offer help after rape and sexual assault. For 27/7 access to the best recovery services, ring 0117 342 6999 or visit their website at The Bridge Can Help.
The NHS has a help page dedicated to those who have been raped or sexually assaulted: NHS Live Well - Help After Rape and Sexual Assault.
Respect is an anonymous and confidential helpline for men and women who are harming their partners and families. The helpline also takes calls from partners or ex-partners, friends and relatives who are concerned about perpetrators. A webchat service is also available. Visit their website Respect Phone Line.
Somerset Community Connect is about individuals, groups and organisations all working together to create a safe, healthy, supportive, kind, compassionate and vibrant Somerset. Their website has been created to help you find information, advice and services to manage your own care and wellbeing, independently, for as long as you can. To view their resources and information visit Somerset Community Connect.
Mind have produced a number of guides around certain aspects of mental health around COVID-19. There are available at Mind Coronavirus Information and Support.
Mind also run a 24/7 mental health support line which anyone can ring, just for a chat if you are lonely or for a supportive ear around mental health. The number is 01823 276892 or visit Mind Somerset: Mindline.
Mind work with Marie Curie to provide a service to anyone who has been bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit Mind Somerset: Bereavement during the COVID-19 Pandemic for more information.
Many of Mind's existing peer support groups are offering a digital option alongside some in person groups. Please contact the group and they will be able to provide the options: Mind Somerset: Peer Support Services.