COVID-19 INFORMATION
COVID-19 - Supporting your recovery
Recovery will take time. The length of time needed will vary from person to person and it is important not to compare yourself to others. Ongoing symptoms could last for several months after you contract COVID-19 and this can be perfectly normal.
The link above provides some information and advice designed to support your recovery from COVID-19 and features pages on general advice, diet and lifestyle, exercises, and ways to help your mental health.
This link is best viewed on a desktop computer or laptop.
Coronavirus Update
For the latest information and advice regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) check online for:
NHS advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Government advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
If you are concerned that you may have Coronavirus, or may have come into contact with someone who has, the NHS 111 online service has created Coronavirus pages that tell what you should do based on your particular circumstances. Please do not visit the surgery until you have contacted NHS 111.
Social Support
We can offer social support to those who feel they are struggling during this uncertain and worrying time. If you feel like you would benefit or would like to enquire about this service please call the practice.
B12 Injections
B12 INJECTION - SWITCH TO ORAL MEDICATION FOR THOSE WITH A B12 DEFICIENCY INCLUDING PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA DURING THE CORONA PANDEMIC
We have numerous patients receiving B12 injections every few months, many of whom are themselves at high risk. We do not want to put such patients at further risk by asking them to come and visit the practice. We also wish to protect our frontline staff from unnecessary contact to help keep our essential services going.
We have made a practice decision to stop the B12 top-up injection at present so patients will have their injections delayed for at least 3 months. It is perfectly safe to delay the B12 injections in this way. When starting B12 injections patients receive a loading dose (6 injections over 2 weeks) approximately 50% of which is stored in the liver for the body to use when needed rather than being used immediately. The 3 monthly injections are therefore just top-ups and patients already have plenty of B12 to last several months through this crisis from the injections already received.
If you wish it is possible to take B12 orally and when taken in large doses (1mg = 1000ug a day) it is absorbed into the body to correct a deficiency. Even in those with pernicious anemia, where the body loses its ability to absorb vitamin B12 efficiently, some oral B12 is still absorbed. In the UK we have traditionally treated B12 deficiency/pernicious anaemia with an injection but other countries use high dose oral vitamin B12 tablets and a recent study confirmed its effectiveness.
Further Information on B12 Study
Although we cannot prescribe vitamin B12 tablets you can buy them quite cheaply both at local chemists and on the internet (eg. Amazon, Holland and Barrett). The dose is 1mg (=1000ug) a day and you should start taking this on the day your next vitamin B12 injection is due.
After delaying your injection for 3 months even if taking tablets it may be sensible to check your B12 levels so please contact the surgery at this point.
When life returns to normal after the corona pandemic we will return to 3 monthly injections if that is your preferred option.
Thank you for working with us during this difficult time.
Dr. Helen Sture
