What's happening with routine gp appointments at the moment ?

[Comps83]

Sorry I'm sure this has already been asked but does anyone know what is happening regarding routine appts during this crisis?
DS has his 3 months jab appt on Tuesday so I presume that's still going ahead
I'm due a smear test but not sure what to do about that
To be honest I haven't been out since things got bad and all the restrictions came in and I'm worried sick about going out and think I've developed a touch of agoraphobia
Just had my grandmother on the phone saying I shouldn't be taking DS into the surgery
I know I can obviously ring the surgery tomorrow but just wanted to know others recent experiences, I'm not sure what to expect when I get there . How can I social distance in the tiny waiting room ?

[Bagelsandbrie]

Ours isn’t seeing anyone unless it’s absolutely essential - all routine appointments cancelled. Smear tests and blood tests going ahead as potentially they could miss something nasty otherwise. Everything else done over the phone where possible.

[MadisonMontgomery]

Where I work we are doing vaccinations but not stuff like smears. Don’t worry too much about social distancing - almost all appointments are done by phone right now so our waiting room is almost always empty.

[ShellsAndSunrises]

Vaccinations are going ahead in most places, here you phone to say that you've arrived and wait in your car, and they tell you when to come in.

My smear was cancelled, as was a GP appt that wasn't urgent. I don't think anything routine is going ahead.

[Marieo]

DS had his jabs the week before last, as the surgery is doing callbacks and video calls for most enquiries now rather than seeing people in person; we were the only ones in the waiting room. The nurse phoned that morning to go through the new rules and check we didn't have any symptoms- when we got there we knocked and were let in, it seemed very clear about what was expected etc. I believe smear tests are postponed for now here, but it's worth checking in case. I decided it was worth it for jabs as there have been quite a few cases lately of mumps, and although we are at home 99.999% of the time at the moment, I didn't know what the wait list would be like in a few months. Maybe phone them and see what they say?

[Rosie38]

I had my smear on Wednesday,I was the only person in what’s usually a full waiting room. The only people I saw whilst I was in there was the receptionist and the nurse.

[Musicaltheatremum]

Children's jags going ahead. All else routine cancelled. Phone consultations for things as needed. 6 month and yearly reviews moved forward.
We need to contact all our frail patients and check up on them and what their wishes are.
I'm actually busier than ever and phone consultations take longer.
Also have 2/6 doctors off isolating and testing just started so too late for them. If things get busier GPs will be moved to the COVID hubs to man the phones and occasionally see patients.
We are treating every one as possibly infected now so gowning up for them. All takes longer.
The prescription pile has been horrendous. People asking for medicines they haven't had for years and early requests and this means the more urgent stuff not getting done at the pharmacy.
It's a very very strange way of working and very stressful. I've cried several times. Most people are brilliant but some people are incredibly rude and horrible to us.
And someone stole our hand gel!!!