We also know this crisis is also having an economic impact, making conditions difficult for a lot of families.

To help, we are offering an email or telephone based consultation service for the COVID-19 crisis. This will be available for non GMS/ DVC patients suffering from respiratory symptoms.

It will be provided at the reduced price of €30 per consultation.

There will be no impact on GMS/ DVC patients.

Contact us on hello@hazelhillfamilypractice.com or 094 9630091/ 094 9632170.

The post New arrangements for non GMS/ DVC patients during COVID-19 crisis appeared first on Hazelhill Family Practice.

The HSE has added two more groups to the ‘at risk’ category.

These additions are as follows:

• People over 70 years of age
• Anyone taking immunosuppressive medication.

UPDATE – 30th March 2020

The HSE has issued updated guidance relating to Coronavirus/ COVID19 testing.

The protocols for a person to be tested are listed below.

The ‘At risk groups’ have been updated and now include people with the following conditions:

• Diabetes
• Chronic lung disease
• Liver disease (chronic)
• Chronic renal disease
• Ischaemic heart disease
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Hypertension
• Obesity (BMI over 30)
• Cancer within the last 5 years

This means that smokers are no longer included in the ‘at risk group’.

Those with high blood pressure, or heart related health problems, or those who had cancer within the last 5 years or those who suffer from obesity are now included in the ‘at risk group’. 

Those in direct provision and members of the travelling community are included in the categories list.

The testing protocols may evolve further. We will keep you informed.

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HSE Protocols for COVID19 Testing

The HSE protocols to be tested for COVID-19 are listed below. We will keep this updated as the protocols are amended by the HSE.

Symptoms for COVID19 Testing

To get tested, patients must have to have at least two of the following symptoms:

• Fever/ a high temperature
• Cough
• Shortness of breath

OR

They must have one of those symptoms (as listed above) and been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID19 in the past 14 days.

Categories for COVID19 Testing

Anyone who meet either of those requirements must then also fit into one of the following categories:

• Contact with a confirmed case.
• Healthcare worker.
• At risk group, includes anyone who has any of the following conditions:
  • • • Diabetes
      • Chronic lung disease
      • Renal disease (chronic)
      • Chronic liver disease
      • Ischaemic heart disease
      • Cerebrovascular disease
      • Hypertension
      • Obesity (BMI over 30)
      • Cancer in the last 5 years
      • Over 70 years of age
      • Taking immunosuppressive medication
• A household contact of someone who is in the at risk category (ie the conditions listed in the previous point).
• Staff or residents of long term care facilities (nursing homes), those in direct provision or members of the travelling community.
• Prison staff or inmates.
• Pregnant women.

Per the HSE protocols, only people who meet BOTH the symptom requirements and the category requirements will be referred for testing.

Anyone who has mild symptoms but who can’t meet the full testing requirements (ie symptoms and category) are advised to self isolate at home for 14 days. Household contacts of these people should also restrict their movements for 14 days.

If a member of your household is referred for testing, then everyone else in that household is advised to restrict their movements until the test results are received. If the test is then positive all members of that household need to self isolate for 14 days.

Patients who have already contacted Hazelhill Family Practice about symptoms

Obviously these are new requirements, which mean that the testing regime has now changed quite considerably.

That means that those who had previously contacted Hazelhill Family Practice before Wednesday 25^th March, expressing concerns about their symptoms and have received a test appointment from the HSE, that test will still proceed.

However, those who have not received a test appointment from the HSE will now not be tested. Anyone to whom that applies should contact Hazelhill Family Practice again and we will advise you about next steps.

Contact Us

You can contact Hazelhill Family Practice by emailing hello@hazelhillfamilypractice.com, by filling in the contact form on our website, or by phoning 094 9630091/ 094 9632170.

Our phone lines are very busy at present so we would encourage anyone who can contact us through the website or by email to please do so. Please include a phone number which we can use to call you back.

Open for Non COVID19 Appointments

Hazelhill Family Practice remains open and is continuing to provide appointments to anyone who has non COVID-19 related healthcare needs. Anyone who wishes to see us should contact us using the methods outlined above or by clicking here>>>

We are asking anyone with any flu like symptoms such as a fever, cough or shortness of breath to please contact the practice in advance. Do not attend in person unless advised to do so.

This is to protect the ongoing health of all our patients.

Clearly, this is an evolving situation and we will continue to provide updates. This will include any further changes to the testing protocols.

The post Updated 6 April – COVID19 Testing HSE Protocols appeared first on Hazelhill Family Practice.