Healthcare and community support services in Warwickshire (during the COVID-19 pandemic)
This resource gives the latest information, sources of support and resources for local communities during the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and how to access health and community support services across Warwickshire.
IMPORTANT!
Everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of coronavirus
You should only leave your home for very limited purposes:
shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home
These reasons are exceptions – even when doing these activities, you should be minimising time spent outside of the home and ensuring you are 2 metres apart from anyone outside of your household.
For more information about COVID-19, please visit: NHS Warwickshire North CCG NHS South Warwickshire CCG
Healthcare When and how to contact the service
GP If you need to contact a GP, do not go into the surgery in person. You can:
visit the GP surgery website, or use an online service to contact your GP – find your GP to get their website details phone your GP surgery Your GP surgery will then give you advice about what to do. A phone or video call with a GP, nurse or other healthcare professional may be booked for you. You'll only be asked to visit the surgery if absolutely necessary. Your GP surgery may be very busy at the moment. So you may have to wait longer than usual to speak to someone if it's not urgent.
If you suspect that
Pharmacy You can visit your pharmacy to collect medicines, if you’re self-isolating then arrange with a family member, friend or relative who can collect your prescription for you or call the pharmacy and ask if they are offering a drop-off service.
NHS 111 Use the NHS 111 online coronavirus service if:
• you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home • your condition gets worse • your symptoms do not get better after 7 days
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
Accident and Call 999 in a medical emergency. This is when someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk. Medical Emergency emergencies can include: (A&E) loss of consciousness an acute confused state fits that aren't stopping chest pain breathing difficulties severe bleeding that can't be stopped severe allergic reactions severe burns or scalds
Call 999 immediately if you or someone else is having a heart attack or stroke. Every second counts with these conditions.
Also call 999 if you think someone has had a major trauma, such as after a serious road traffic accident, a stabbing, a shooting, a fall from height, or a serious head injury.
Urgent Care Urgent Care Walk In Centre, George Eliot Hospital, Eliot Way, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV10 7DJ, open 8am to 8pm, 7 Walk-in Centre days a week.
Stratford Minor South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust runs the Minor Injuries Unit from Stratford-upon-Avon Hospital. This nurse led Injuries Unit unit is open 7 days a week, 9am-5pm. Please note that there is no x-ray at the weekends. This unit can treat patients with minor injuries for example: minor burns, general fractures. If in doubt, contact the unit to seek advice on 01789 205831 ext. 5270
Rugby NHS Rugby NHS Urgent Care Centre is continuing to treat minor injuries and illnesses - Open 24 hours (This centre does not see Urgent Care children under the age of 5). Centre www.uhcw.nhs.uk/contact-us/hospital-of-st-cross
POD The NHS POD service is an easy way for you to order your repeat prescription, the service is open from 8am until 5pm. (Prescription Warwickshire North: 024 7624 6025 Ordering Direct)
NHS If, as part of your job role, you need to arrange support for those who are shielding, or otherwise vulnerable, in your area, Volunteers you can deploy a volunteer via the app. You can do this by creating a 'referral’ via www.goodsamapp.org/NHSreferral for individuals in need of help. Guidance on how to refer individuals is here: https://www.goodsamapp.org/assets/pdf/Guide_for_Referrers.pdf.
Please make sure that you have read the guidance thoroughly before making referrals. Anyone with a local authority or NHS email address can make a referral into the system; alternatively it is possible to make referrals by calling 0808 196 3382. The guidance also summarises how the app then works to identify available volunteers in our local area.
As the app connects the volunteer directly to the patient please ensure that you have the patient’s full consent to share their details (name, address and phone number) BEFORE making the referral, and that the patient is aware that a volunteer will be contacting them. Address data will not be shared unless the request is for community support or transport, but name and phone number will be.
It’s important that we all take responsibility and check on our elderly or vulnerable family, friends and neighbours – you may find that he/she is not answering the door, you could drop them a note through the letter box and leave your number on it, just in case they need some help and support but cannot leave the house due to shielding or self-isolation.
How to stop infection spreading There are things you can do to help reduce the risk of you and anyone you live with getting ill with coronavirus. Do wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available wash your hands as soon as you get home cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
Don't do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
Babies and children Call 111 for advice if you're worried about a baby or child. If they seem very unwell, are getting worse or you think there's something seriously wrong, call 999. Do not delay getting help if you're worried. Trust your instincts!
Coronavirus advice for people living with diabetes During this national emergency of the coronavirus outbreak, people who have diabetes are more vulnerable and at high risk of getting coronavirus. With sensible action within communities across the country, the virus can be delayed and even halted.
NHS England, NHS Improvement and Public Health England have worked with Diabetes UK to produce advice on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak for people living with diabetes.
It includes advice on attending routine appointments and increasing blood glucose monitoring, as well as recommending general good practice around handwashing and reducing the risk of picking up infections. The advice has been published on the Diabetes UK website.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and cancer The constant news about the coronavirus can be worrying. People with cancer and their families might feel especially worried about the virus, as cancer and its treatment can lower your ability to fight infection. You can phone the Cancer Research UK nurses if you would like to talk to someone at this worrying time.
Talk to the Cancer Research UK nurses on freephone 0808 800 4040, from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/coronavirus-and-cancer
Cancer Macmillan Information Centres Patients can continue to access help and support through telephone advice. The main contact numbers for each site is as follows: Trust Contact Number/Name
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS 02476 966052 Trust (Monday to Friday 8am – 4pm)
George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust Julie Hunt 02476 153201
South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust Deborah Smith 01926 495321
The Government has translated the guidance for self-isolation and social distancing into a number of languages. The documents can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people
West Midlands Migrant Partnership The West Midlands Migrant Partnership has pulled together the latest information in different languages about COVID-19 for asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the West Midlands, as well as those working with and supporting them. www.wmsmp.org.uk/covid-19-resources-and-guidance/
Doctors of the world – written information in 36 languages with more being added www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/coronavirus-information/
Public Health England (a smaller range of languages and Easy Read) www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Roma Support Network has this video on their website https://youtu.be/lL1blJJeITk
Current stay at home advice in different languages Arabic - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Chinese - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Farsi - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message French - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Gujarati - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Latvian - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Lithuanian - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Polish - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Portuguese - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Punjabi - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Romanian - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Russian - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Shona - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Slovakian - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Spanish - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Swahili - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Tefug - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message Urdu - Coronavirus (COVID-19) public health message
The Deaf Health Charity Signhealth Official government and NHS information and guidance can be accessed at gov.uk/coronavirus https://signhealth.org.uk/resources/coronavirus/
Warwickshire hotline for the most vulnerable Warwickshire Coronavirus hotline - A hotline has been set up so people can request information and support such as access to food and additional supplies during these difficult times. It is crucial that this support is targeted to those in most need - those who are unable to secure help through their existing support and care networks.
Warwickshire food supply advice Food supply advice - free school meals and other food supply information Warwick District food bank - helping local people in crisis, you can also volunteer and give donations
Radford Semele support group A COVID-19 support group has been set up in Radford Semele. There are volunteers to provide help to those who need it during a period of self isolation. Please contact [email protected] or phone or text 07784 987403.
Directory of community led support groups in Warwickshire https://apps.warwickshire.gov.uk/api/documents/WCCC-966-2051
Supporting extremely vulnerable people A Warwickshire County Council (WCC) hotline has been set up so extremely vulnerable people can request support such as access to food and additional supplies.
If you have received a letter from the NHS If you need support, call WCC on 0800 408 1447 Monday to Thursday: 9.00am to 5.00pm Friday: 9.00am to 4.30pm Saturday and Sunday: 9.00am to 3.00pm
If you have not received a letter from the NHS If you need support from Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, complete our form or call us on 024 7637 6376
North Warwickshire Borough Council If you have been identified as extremely vulnerable by the NHS and told to shield for 12 weeks, Warwickshire is here for you. If you need additional help to get food, medicines or emotional support ring our dedicated hotline 0800 408 1447 For hotline opening hours and more information visit https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/coronavirusvulnerable
Your councils Information about council services and support from Warwickshire County Council can be found at www.warwickshire.gov.uk or via district and borough councils.
North Warwickshire Borough Council 01827 715341 www.northwarks.gov.uk
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council 02476 376376 www.nuneatonandbedworth.gov.uk
Rugby Borough Council 01788 533533 www.rugby.gov.uk
Stratford-on-Avon District Council 01789 267575 www.stratford.gov.uk
Warwick District Council 01926 450000 www.warwickdc.gov.uk
The government also has wider guidance on staying at home and additional advice for those who are shielding. www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
Local Councils are working with charities and communities to identify volunteer shoppers – use phone number below:
Council Organisation Telephone Purpose Website Warwickshire Warwickshire County 01926 410 410 Support for coronavirus high risk and isolated www.warwickshire.gov.uk/inf Residents Council residents including volunteer shoppers ormation-coronavirus
Other local helplines
Area Organisation/Service Telephone Purpose Website/Email
Coventry and Mental Health Matters 0800 616 171 General mental health and wellbeing support. www.mhm.org.uk/coventry- Warwickshire Phoneline open 24 hours. If busy try again. warwickshire-helpline
Coventry and IAPT (Improving Access 024 7667 1090 Call to self-refer. Advice/therapy for those http://www.covwarkpt.nhs.uk/ Warwickshire to Talking Therapies) experiencing mild-severe anxiety & depression. IAPT Note: Service involves an initial assessment
National helplines
Group Organisation Telephone Listening Hours Website General Samaritans 116 123 24-hours, free www.samaritans.org Older People Silverline 0800 470 8090 Open 24 hours every day www.thesilverline.org.uk Older People AgeUK 0800 678 1602 8am-7pm every day www.ageuk.org.uk
Mental Health Mind 0300 123 3393 9am-6pm Monday-Friday (not bank hols) www.mind.org.uk Mental Health Rethink 0300 5000 927 9.30am-4pm Monday-Friday www.rethink.org Anxiety Anxiety UK 0344 4775 774 9.30am-10pm Monday-Friday www.anxietyuk.org.uk 10am-8pm Saturday-Sunday Anxiety/OCD No Panic 0844 967 4848 10am-10pm. www.nopanic.org.uk 5p per min plus usual provider access charge Domestic abuse Refuge, Warwickshire 0800 408 1552 8.30am – 8.30pm Monday-Friday www.refuge.org.uk/our- 10am – 4.00pm Saturday work/our-services/refuge- warwickshire-domestic- violence-service/ OCD OCD Action 0845 390 6232 9.30am-5pm Monday-Friday www.ocdaction.org.uk 5p per min plus usual provider access charge OCD OCD UK 0333 2127 890 10.00am-4.45pm Monday-Friday www.ocduk.org Families Family Lives 0808 800 2222 9am-9pm Monday-Friday www.familylives.org.uk 10am-3pm Saturday-Sunday Drug users Narcotics Anonymous 0300 999 1212 10am to midnight daily www.ukna.org