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?

YABU

I'm just home from seeing a GP this morning, and she's made me another appointment for next week. No mention of any phone consultations or directives. They had installed more hand sanitiser and bins, and had antiseptic wipes for the check-in machines, though.

It might help people to know, we rang for DH who had a chest infection and had a call back quickly and they did a prescription over the phone for antibiotics (coughing up brown phlegm, temp etc, on immune meds) anyway was given from pharmacy within half an hour, very quick.

they said would normally need to see and examine but in this case did this, I collected it for him and is now much better

For anyone in similar boat

I mean YANBU (to think it's bollocks) obviously.

@notanotherjigsawpiecenotanotherjigsawpiece

Not life threatening ones, no. Would you really want to wait for a GP appointment if you were having a heart attack? grin

A lot of women don’t realise they’re having a heart attack so won’t know to call an ambulance but may go to the GP.

Also told to stop immune meds for week or two to get over it

So, similar to Hillbillyhotel, hope you also feel better soon

Kazzyhoward if a GP had gone to help the ambulance would have taken longer if they knew a medical person was on hand. I've had to call an ambulance as a patient had chest pains in the surgery. As there is oxygen, a defib, nurse and GP on the premises they didn't turn up in the specified 8 minutes.

Thanks @Orangeblossom78 and to your husband. I’m in Bedfordshire but haven’t heard of any confirmed cases in the area and not sure if it’s being rolled out across the county.

Thanks, yes we have no confirmed cases in our city either

No one can ever get a non-emergency appointment anyway, unless you go on a waiting list and wait 4weeks at least, so what else is new.

A few single handed GPS will be saying phone call triage only - because if they get Wuhan Pneumonia then patient care is up the creek.

COBR are meeting today, and the Scottish governments equivelent so expect Big Changes thereafter.

GPs are not emergency services - so unless they have contacted to offer emergency services (and some have) their advice will be to go to ED with emergency symptoms.

They are trying to reduce UNNECCESSARY footfall in practices. This is because despite probably half a dozen big sings saying "If you think you have Covid 19 do not come in - phone us" you will get captain dunderheids going up to the recptionist, coughing over them, the other patients and the surgery cat and infecting the whole place cos "I diddent know".

I called my GP today, they’re open.

Hello all, we've moved this over to our Coronavirus topic!

I just looked at my GP website, and there is a very angry message about patients requesting to order (stockpile) medications and the answer is no.

Just heard from my elderly Dad in Scotland, they rang and cancelled his appt today but said he can see the nurse for a jab later in the week. Seems it is there also.

This isn't just virus related though, affects everyone.

I’ve got an asthma check scheduled for tomorrow and just had a text reminder.
We have 2 cases locally.

I'm currently in this situation, have what I think is a sinus infection and chest infection I think (been ill for a few weeks and cannot shake it), don't really want to go in as I imagine they are very busy but equally would rather not sit on the waiting room. Will call and see about a telephone consultation.

Would you really want to wait for a GP appointment if you were having a heart attack?

I worked for a healthcare company and a women rang us once while her husband was having a heart attack to ask if he was covered...theres nowt as queer as folk

I hope routine appointments aren’t cancelled dd has one for april!

I noticed some online consultation options on our online booking system options today. Maybe setting one up ready, just incase. Appointments still very much available though. My GP surgery is excellent so maybe that they are getting ready for such an option if it comes into fruition.

Our surgery texted to say they are doing telephone triage for all appointments now. Seems quite sensible really, to make sure those who need to be seen urgently can be.

@Wombat79 - do you mean you're going to book an appointment with your GP when there's nothing wrong with you just in case?

Surely that's not what you mean?

Ours is open and booking appointments as usual.

I think wombat meant the gp surgery are setting up a system in case

Oh thank god for that