NHS directive to close all GP surgeries to non emergencies!

[CherieBabySpliffUp]

After spending 40 minutes on hold waiting to make an appointment with my GP the receptionist told me that NHS over the weekend has sent a directive out to all GP surgeries to only hold phone consultations unless it's an emergency.
Also that they have to screen anyone wanting to enter the building (if they wanted to avoid the queue on the phone and book in person.)
Surely this would be all over the news?!?
AIBU to think this is a load of bollocks and not the case?
Can I ask if anyone else has had the same experience this morning?

Nonsense! I am currently at work in a GP surgery with a full clinic of patients as normal

It must depend on the practise. Ours is open as usual.

Maybe they've had a case of coronavirus?

We got a blanket text over the weekend advising online bookings have been suspended.

DH works at a GP surgery. He's doing telephone triage for all cough/cold symptoms, that's the only change so far.

Mine do have an emergency clinic - it is a city and several practices merged and seem to have one at 8am / 2pm for all day emergencies, when I rang at 8am the other day it was 'you are caller 19 in the queue'
sort of thing, also there were telephone consultations..

to be fair they called back within 15 mins, maybe as was urgent sounding. but nothing for routine atm for next two weeks

Make a sense to me. Presumably GP can phone and then decide if person needs eyes on them. It will stop people going in to check every cough and cold.

ours has cancelled the emergency surgery. Got a non-coronavirus related appointment for next week with no trouble - wasn't even asked what it is about though which is concerning.

No cases in our city yet, still got this with the GP though

I have an appointment (pre-booked a while ago) today and the only communication I've had is a standard reminder text.

I wouldn't expect to get a routine appointment before the 23rd March, if I booked it today!

It was in the guardian last week. Sounds like a good idea to me
www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/06/gps-told-to-switch-to-remote-consultations-to-combat-covid-19

My GP have suspended online bookings barring callbacks so you have to talk to a receptionist who will check your symptoms before letting you step foot near the surgery.

But just that so far.

More here might be of interest, on this

www.gponline.com/practice-20000-patients-two-week-shutdown-uk-coronavirus-cases-spike/article/1675968

My doctor's have suspended booking an appointment online, must book by telephone.

My Doctors had a Corona patient last week and they have just confirmed my appointment for my regular blood tests tomorrow.

@Orangeblossom78
24th March sounds perfectly normal for advance appointments.

our surgery has been pushing out links to the online video consultation service through Livi. I haven't tried it yet, but friends have and said it was good.

It’s probably a local directive, and might be for practices where someone is being tested or has a confirmed case

My GP does a lot of phone triage and phone consultations. I think that really does help with throughput

There are none at all and then after two weeks, everything is available, it is never usually like that there are always a couple of odd slots sue to cancellations etc. Pretty sure they have stopped them

I just checked the website of our practice- it's got a massive red text sign about if you think you have COVID-19 or have recently been to various countries to call 111 and NOT attend the surgery, but that's all.

Its entirely sugery dependent. If there have been cases, suspected or confirmed, they close.

I've been in and out of ours over the last week. They have all sorts of notices about reducing trips in, but their phiones are overloaded, so, as I live 100yards away, I went in to make my usual appointments, and have been seen far more quickly than usual

I phoned for a nurse appointment for DH this morning and got asked a lot of questions. We normally get an appointment within 3 days but this time it’s almost 2 weeks. Definitely unusual.

Walk in clinics have been suspended because stupid people with respiratory symptoms have been turning up to them.

You need to ring and be triaged for an appt. If thought to be appropriate, you will be given one. If not, you will be advised on the phone follow the very clear advice given by the govt. Which is not to turn up at your bloody surgery.

Standard practice here, when you phone for an app a duty doctor phones back, and either allocates an appointment or can prescribe/advise over the phone. It works really well, and I can see how that sort of thing is beneficial to try and limit the amount of potential people coming in person.

I was able to make an appointment for this afternoon at mine x

I’ve experienced this, this morning. They have taken the option to book online off of the website, phoned this morning for an appointment as I think I’ve got a chest infection. Was offered a callback, doctor phoned and diagnosed bronchitis and prescribed amoxicillin which is great as I’m pregnant and have been struggling for two weeks but also,a little unnerving to diagnose and prescribe without listening to my chest.