Welcome to Valley Medical Centre's Website

The Valley Medical Centre is home to the Stocksbridge Medical Group which was formed in 1988 and provides medical services for the local community in Stocksbridge and Deepcar as well as nearby villages.

Coronavirus - stay alert to the symptoms

Valley Medical Centre would like to invite you to join DoctorLink.

We have been looking at how we can improve access to Practice services; DoctorLink is our new online service where you can access advice and appointments on line.

Registration is simple and you can register here:
app.doctorlink.com/valleymedicalcentre/register

For all urgent appointments, we ask that you undertake a symptom assessment through DoctorLink.

The symptom checker will ask you a number of questions to help to identify your problem.

The outcome of your assessment will direct you to the right treatment, whether emergency care, your GP, nurse or self care.

If your outcome indicates that an appointment is required, you simply click on the request appointment link.

Once the request has been submitted, you will then be contacted by the Practice Team, to arrange an appointment within the identified timeframe (as outlined in the outcome of your symptom checker).

The information you provide will be shared with our clinical team (where appropriate) and will assist in providing robust information of your problem to the required clinical team member prior to your appointment.

You can even download the App:

For the most up to date advice on coronavirus please visit the website:
www.gov.uk/coronavirus

For guidance on shielding, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/.../guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

To reduce your chances of catching COVID-19 and reduce pressure on your local GP practice during this busy time, appointments will be carried out over the phone unless there is a clinical need for you to come into the practice. This will help minimise risk while continuing to ensure people get the care and advice they need.

Novel Coronavirus: Advice for the NHS in England

We are now in the delay phase of our response to COVID-19. This entails significant changes to how we identify and manage potential cases of COVID-19. Advice for NHS organisations is now as follows:

From today the public are being advised to stay at home (self-isolate) without any testing for COVID-19, regardless of travel history or contact with confirmed cases, if they have
a. A new continuous cough
OR
b. High temperature (of 37.8 degrees centigrade or higher)
The geographic element of the case definition has now been removed. Travel and contact history are no longer important for diagnosis, which is on the basis of symptoms alone. If people who have travelled do not have symptoms they do not need to stay at home, regardless of their travel history.

Individuals should stay at home (self-isolate) for 7 days from the onset of symptoms following the current advice. If someone has serious symptoms they cannot manage at home they should use NHS 111 online (people should only call NHS111 if they cannot get online).

After 7 days of self-isolation, people who feel better and no longer have a high temperature can return to their normal routine. If they have not had any signs of improvement after 7 days and have not already sought medical advice, they should use NHS111 online (people should only call NHS111 if they cannot get online) before they leave their home or let visitors in.

Cough may persist for several weeks in some people, despite the coronavirus infection having cleared. A persistent cough alone does not mean someone must continue to stay at home for more than 7 days.

Need support from a mental health service?
Click here for more information.

Useful Links for Support & Advice during Covid-19

COVID-19: Information and support for our 13-19 year old patients
COVID-19: Information and support for our adult patients
COVID-19: Information and support for families

Coronavirus and your Wellbeing:
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing

10 tips if you are worried about Coronavirus:
www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

How to look after your Mental Health during Coronavirus
www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus

Elefriends - Supportive Online Community
www.mind.org.uk/information-support/support-community-elefriends/

Sick Notes / Isolation Notes

If you are at home with Covid-19 symptoms you do not need a sick note for your employer. A digital isolation note can be obtained without contacting a GP. Visit www.111.nhs.uk/isolation-note.

If you require a sick note (GP Fit Note/ Med Cert 3) from a GP for an existing health condition to submit to your employer to receive sick pay, please specifically check with your employer that this is still required because some employers have waived this requirement due to the pressure on GP's at this time.

Results of 2019 IPSOS Mori Poll

This patient survey is carried out independently of the practice and randomly with our patients. We are very pleased with this year's results and would like to share these with you.

Please visit www.gp-patient.co.uk