Please seek medical advice

[hobnobsaremyfavourite]

A plea to people that if you have concerning symptoms don't delay seeking advice because of the current situation
Medical professionals have huge concerns that in six months time we will be seeing people that have much more complex or even untreatable conditions that could have been treated if they had been seen earlier.
People are understandably fearful and don't want to be a nuisance in the current situation.
But please, if you find a lump that is worrying, have a sudden drop or change in your vision, chest pains, changes in your bowel habits just as some examples
Please, please speak to someone
It's great that people are thinking before using services but this may prove counterproductive in the long term as just when this is calming down and resources are thin and frayed you may need considerably more intense and complex treatment
Urgent medical care for other conditions is ongoing
Chronic health conditions need to be kept in good control
Clinicians will triage and see those that need seeing
Covid is a risk but other health issues still happen and may pose an even greater risk to you health and wellbeing

.

Keeping bumping this

Urgent medical care for other conditions is ongoing.

If you say so.

It is
If you get cancer you will be treated
They are seeing the most urgent things
If you have a retinal detachment it will be fixed
If you break a bone it will be fixed
Try reading this article and see what medical Experts are saying
www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-52239183

But yeah given where I work and what I see daily I'm making this up

Thanks for that, I've been wondering about that actually. Once the virus is under control (whenever that is) isn't the NHS going to end up in a massive mess because they've delayed so much treatment, so it's hood to know that not everything is delayed.

www.harwichandmanningtreestandard.co.uk/news/north_essex_news/18370565.doctor-dont-scared-seek-help-gp-amid-coronavirus-pandemic/

It's really worrying
Stats for strokes and heart attacks are showing a drop
These things are still happening and late presentation will lead to significantly worse outcomes

Scottish FM is reiterating this right now live on tv.

I have read there have been deaths of children that may otherwise have been saved due to people delaying seeking help because of CV fears.

Our GP is offering video consultations for this reason. They've emailed details and told patients 'please don't think we're only dealing with CV19'.

My partner has had an eye issue for three weeks now. The doctors can’t see him when he rang. I assume eye specialists aren’t working at the moment in the same way dentists aren’t. I’m not sure what to do to be honest.

Medics are requesting this currently, particularly for parents who are holding off phoning 111 for advice, 999 for an ambulance or taking their children to A and E.

Children have sadly recently died because of this form non-CONVID-19 related illnesses.

I agree OP.
I work in a GP surgery and our doctors are doing advice calls in the first instance and if they deem it neccessary, they invite the patient in for a face to face consultation with appropriate PPE. The patients are screened first on the phone to make sure they don't have any CV symptoms. We are still doing 2 wk rapid referrals for suspected cancer too. Patients ring and are sorry they are troubling us - they are not. Your health is still important and even if patients just need reassurance, then it's still worth ringing.

@ justanotherneighinparadise

Eye specialist are working every hospital will have an emergency eye provision or will signpost you to the nearest hospital that does
Please speak to your optician if you aren't getting any joy from your gp
Or pm me
Or ring the RNIB helpline they have eye health information thy at can help you access the care needed
This is just the kind of scenario that we don't want

I saw my GP when I found a lump. It wasn’t anything life threatening but he seemed genuinely happy I hadn’t left it. He also said I was to get back in touch if I developed other specific symptoms. Thankfully I haven’t. So not a DVT!!
I won’t bother them with routine things that can wait. But if I feel I really do need medical attention I won’t leave it.
Fingers crossed I don’t and they can direct their time elsewhere.

Glad it wasn't anything serious Wolfiefan

Me too! But so grateful to be seen.

My dad had excellent care in a major London hospital for a non-Covid thing last week. I'm so glad he went in.

Two people I know have had their next round of chemo cancelled - is there some kind of chemo triage?

Completely agree op - BUMP

There is constant ongoin gin triage with everything at the moment
Constant balancing of risks and benefits
Also huge issue with maintaining safe staffing levels
But it's still always best to check something rather than leave it

Oops
Gin triage
Now that would be a fun day at the office

I work in a hospital dermatology department and we're still doing cancer clinics and
minor ops for carcinomas and as of this week have been rolling out virtual video appointments along with telephone appointments for those less urgent.

Lots of virtual clinics, telephone assessments and rollout of video calls

I rang 111 the other evening when my young DD developed a UTI. Only a 20 min wait on the non-covid side of the line and they were very helpful.

My daughter was advised by her resperatory consultant she needed very urgent tests for cancer and sarcoidosis, she was supposed to have had them completed by two weeks ago today. So I'm afraid in the London area you're talking out of your backside.

Ooh aren't you a delight Thealaughinggnome
What a delightful kind turn of phrase