With the new legal requirements regarding face coverings coming into effect in England, we thought it might be useful to explain when and who requires a covid exemption card/certificate.
If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering:
This means that you do not need to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about your reason for not wearing a face covering.
However, if you feel more comfortable showing something that says you do not have to wear a face covering, this could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or sign. Carrying an exemption card or badge is a personal choice and not required by law.
If you wish to use an exemption card or badge, you can download and print out or show these templates: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own
In settings where face coverings are required in England, there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear them, so please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances.
Some people are less able to wear face coverings, and the reasons for this may not be visible to others.
This includes (but is not limited to):
There are also scenarios when you are permitted to remove a face covering:
Throughout the pandemic we have strived to make the surgery as safe as possible for all our patients and staff. We will continue going forward.
From 19th July nothing will change at the surgery – patients need to wear a mask, socially distance and use hand sanitiser in the surgery and staff will continue to wear PPE. We do understand that it can be frustrating but we know that when people come to us they are sick and vulnerable (some cannot receive the Covid vaccinations due to medical reasons) so we feel it would be wrong to not take these small precautions to protect everyone.
In terms of opening up, we have never been shut and in fact have consulted with much higher numbers of patients than we did pre-Covid (face to face, by phone, online and by video), not counting vaccinating 90% of the adult population twice in the last 6 months.
Trent Meadows Appointment count:
Last 4 weeks = 3,644 Appointments
Last 8 weeks = 7,412 Appointments
Last 13 weeks = 13,031 Appointments
Last 26 weeks = 25,067 Appointments
Trent Meadows Covid Vaccinations = 1st vaccine 7,380 patients / 2nd vaccine 5,752
The East Staffordshire community has come far in trying to minimise the impact of Covid and we are sure you understand that we need to keep the surgery as safe for ALL patient as we can. Stay safe and fingers crossed for the football!