Covid-19 Information

We are delighted to hear you are on the road to recovery and wish you well in your journey back to health. As someone recovering from COVID-19, you are in a unique position to help other patients with this disease. So we’re asking you to consider volunteering to donate your plasma for use in treatment trials.

We are running trials to see if convalescent plasma is successful in treating patients with COVID-19. Convalescent plasma is the plasma component of blood collected from individuals who have recovered from COVID-19. It contains antibodies to the coronavirus that caused the disease.

If you wish to donate, please go to: www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/covid-19-research/plasma-programme/

COVID-19 vaccination status – NHS Digital

From 17 May 2021, people in England who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can demonstrate their vaccination status for international travel. A full course is currently two doses of any approved vaccine. Vaccine status will be available from: 

• the NHS App which you can download from app stores 

It may take more than a week for your identity to be checked and verified so you can use this service.

If you cannot access this online service, and you have had 2 vaccines, you can request a paper letter from the NHS by calling 119. Only call 119 if you are due to travel abroad in the near future and have had your second dose more than 5 working days ago. It may take 7 working days for the letter to arrive.

This practice is not able to provide you with a letter that shows your COVID-19 vaccination status.

When you’re planning your travel, check the latest information on demonstrating your COVID-19 status when travelling abroad on the gov.uk website. Make sure there is time to get  proof of your vaccination status before you leave.

Sunderland Local Medical Committee is the statutory body that advises and supports GP’s and practice teams. We have prepared this guidance note.

We are aware some patients may be anxious about the Government’s announcements around the use of face coverings in various public settings. Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets will become mandatory from 24 July in England.

GP’s are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face covering.

The responsibility for issuing exemptions for those travelling on public transport lies with the transport provider not your GP. Similarly, practices are under no obligation to provide letters of support for anyone who does not fall under the list of exemptions but considers themselves to have another reason to be exempted.

The government guidance on exemptions suggests there is no requirement for evidence for exemption and therefore it is sufficient for an individual to self-declare an exemption.

Government advice on the use of face coverings can be found here:

• www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers#face-coverings-on-public-transport

Some people don’t have to wear a face covering including for health, age or equality reasons. Some transport staff may not wear a face covering if it is not required for their job.

We hope that this guidance provides some reassurance for you on this issue.

Yours sincerely
Dr R N Ford
LMC Secretary

In order to keep you and our staff safe, please ensure you continue to wear a face mask or face covering should you need to attend the surgery.

Social distancing of 2 metres will continue.

Continue to sanitise when arriving at the surgery.

Please stay at home if you suspect you have COVID-19. Call 119 or visit www.nhs.uk for a PCR test.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Please find below a link to the video which has been circulated via the Health Protection Board.

Sunderland City Council Communications Team have developed this short video about COVID and prevention measures people need to take to prevent any increase in the spread of COVID across Sunderland.

• biteable.com/watch/rise-in-covid-19-cases-2673004

Healthwatch, on behalf of the patients of Sunderland has asked general practice some questions around access to their surgeries.

Please click on the link below to see a YouTube video which may answer some of your questions.

• www.healthwatchsunderland.com/news/patient-questions-answered