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Coronavirus

Your health

Coronavirus testing

Coronavirus testing in Kent and Medway – what this means for you and how to book a test.

Patient experience of Covid-19

A huge effort is underway across the NHS in Kent and Medway to care for patients with Covid-19 (Coronavirus) and prepare for more cases. Our colleagues are pulling out all the stops and working in very difficult circumstances. 

To successfully manage the pandemic, NHS organisations across Kent and Medway will need to make many rapid, but necessary, decisions to implement temporary changes to services to best care for Covid-19 patients and, very importantly, to also make sure other patients who need urgent treatment do not suffer through delays in their care. Please bear with us as we make these changes.

Your Covid Recovery is a new NHS website designed to help people recover from the long-term effects of coronavirus, otherwise known as Covid-19.

If you have had Covid-19, you may still have some physical symptoms, such as, breathlessness, a cough and a lack of energy. You may also have psychological symptoms, such as feeling scared or anxious, depressed, having trouble sleeping and struggling to remember or concentrate.

These symptoms, both physical and psychological, are common. Your Covid Recovery includes information from experts about how to manage them and look after your health and wellbeing. It also includes information on returning to work, and a helpful section for family, friends and carers of people who are recovering.

We are publishing regular updates highlighting some of the work NHS teams across Kent and Medway are doing to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Kent TogetherKent Together helpline

A 24-hour helpline has been set up to support vulnerable people in Kent who need urgent help, supplies or medication.

You can contact the Kent Together helpline at: www.kent.gov.uk/KentTogether or by phoning 03000 41 92 92.  

NHS volunteer responders

If you feel fit and well, you can join the national volunteer army of people who have signed up to help the NHS, patients and vulnerable people shielding themselves from the virus. Find out more and sign up at: www.goodsamapp.org/NHS 

On behalf of all the NHS in Kent and Medway a huge thank you to everyone who as already volunteered.

Resources

Please help protect the NHS by following national guidance on social distancing.

Stay alert.
Control the virus.
Save lives.

The NHS is #HereForYou if you have a health concern or worry 

We understand people may be hesitant to contact their GP or healthcare professional at the moment as the NHS is battling the impact of Coronavirus.

We would like to assure people that the NHS is here for you and able to support all types of health needs. If you have a health condition or symptom that is worrying, please contact your GP. If you don't have a GP, find out how to register with one here.

For many conditions, like cancer, it is important this is identified and treated early. If you have noticed anything unusual, like any new lumps or bumps, unintentional weight loss, unusual bleeding or pain, please contact your GP. In most cases, it is unlikely to be cancer, but if it is, we need to catch it early and make sure you are referred for urgent hospital treatment.

Your GP practice has plans in place to make sure you can be seen safely and effectively, reducing the risk of being exposed to the virus. At first you may be offered a phone or video consultation with your doctor, but if you do need a face-to-face appointment, you will be able to be seen in a safe environment by your healthcare professional. Patients who need GP care and have coronavirus symptoms, are being treated at separate sites, known as primary care treatment centres, than people without symptoms. You can find out more about that here.

We are here for you, to support the health and wellbeing of everyone in our community.

Trusted sources of information on Covid-19

Online NHS111 symptom checker
www.111.nhs.uk/Covid-19

NHS health advice and information
www.nhs.uk/coronavirus

Government advice and guidance
www.gov.uk/coronavirus

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