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 for click bait headlines.

just googled my surgery this popped up. So been in place for a week now.

Coronavirus
The symptoms of coronavirus are:

a cough
a high temperature
shortness of breath
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu and it does not necessarily mean you have the illness.

Phone NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 or phone 111 if available in your area (Hywel Dda, Powys, Aneurin Bevan and Swansea Bay). Use this service if:

you think you might have coronavirus
you've recently been to a country or area with a high risk of coronavirus – For the list of countries please click here
you've been in close contact with someone with coronavirus
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
For the latest information about the Coronavirus (including the list of countries) please visit: phw.nhs.wales/news/public-health-wales-statement-on-novel-coronavirus-outbreak-in-china

Updated: 02.03.2020

Is there a need for click bait, misleading thread titles OP? As it turns out you are merely asking a question/seeming verification - so why have you created a thread title where the subject appears as thoughts it’s a given, as though it’s information? Do you not see how these things play a role in a pandemic situation and in atmospheres of rumours and anxiety and hearsay?

Mine has just said it is suspending online appointment booking and to check latest advice before making any appointment.

I’m running three antenatal clinics in GP surgeries this week. None have been cancelled. I’ve also booked a GP appointment for tomorrow without any problems. Must be a regional thing. May be part of the CCG’s contingency plans. Likely there has been a high (compared to the general population anyway) number of cases in your area.

@PopGoestheWeaz that is what I was told!! By a receptionist at my surgery. The purpose of my post was to check if anyone else had heard the same. I have subsequently found out that the receptionist gave me (as well as many other patients I would guess) the wrong information. I apologise for not updating my thread sooner.

Is there a need for click bait, misleading thread titles

works well for the DM

@Thoughtlessinengland and anyone else who has commented on the click baitiness of my thread title I am genuinely sorry. It was not my intention for it to be so. I was trying to post a thread to ask a question and didn't pay enough attention to the way I worded it.
I shall ask MNHQ to remove the thread or ammend the title.
Again I am sorry for my poorly worded title.

Child has an appointment tomorrow afternoon and just received a call to see if they would have phone consult or if they preferred in person. Never had that before

I think doing triage by phone sounds very sensible

Above all else we need to protect the Drs

My gp surgery said most appointments will be phone consults now unless during that appointment they decide person needs to be examined.

Our GP has taken down the online booking system.

We have just had a text saying not to go to GPs at all without phoning first, routine or emergency. My blood tests on Wed have been cancelled too, but not sure if that is because I am immune suppressed or because of something unrelated - had two texts one after the other

@CherieBabySpliffUp

My Mum was trying to get a short notice appointment at the GP today. She was on a cruise from California two weeks ago and has a flu / fever type symptoms since she got home (which have worsened today) so obviously wanted to get tested to rule out Corona.

She works a lot in schools so has called in sick and also does not want to go to A&E just in case she was contagious...

GP surgery told her today that they basically are not bothering with any people exhibiting the known symptoms (temperature / fever type / cough) unless they have recently travelled to a Cat 1 or Cat 2 country. They have prescribed her antibiotic and paracetamol over the phone.

We are in Northern Ireland. There is no route for information or point of contact for Northern Ireland on 111 - no contingency plan - nor any clear signposted way for people to get tested (probably short of going and sitting in A&E...)

What are you meant to do?

Just checked online and I can book an appointment (Scotland).

*GP surgery told her today that they basically are not bothering with any people exhibiting the known symptoms (temperature / fever type / cough) unless they have recently travelled to a Cat 1 or Cat 2 country. They have prescribed her antibiotic and paracetamol over the phone.

We are in Northern Ireland. There is no route for information or point of contact for Northern Ireland on 111 - no contingency plan - nor any clear signposted way for people to get tested (probably short of going and sitting in A&E...)

What are you meant to do?*

GPs hands are tied. Testing can only be done at hospitals, and GPs can only refer for this if symptomatic patients meet strict criteria, as outlined by public health. I’ll attach the algorithm though it should contain a clicky link to an up to date list of category 1/2 areas. It’s not the case that GPs are “not bothering”, but rather they are limited by the current guidance.

going and sitting in A&E...)

This won’t result in a patient being tested either, unless they meet the current criteria for testing. I’m not saying I agree with this, but it’s unfortunately the situation we are stuck with at the moment. Even HCPs who have symptoms but do not meet case definition can’t currently be tested.

Our surgery has taken down online booking and I received a text on Saturday saying not to go into the surgery. I was due an appointment today so rang them up. They said the doctor would call me instead. The doctor called and said I had to go
Into the surgery! 2 hors later they called me back with an appointment for Wednesday

I had my appointment this morning - as I mentioned upthread - and as it was an emergency one I needed to wait a fair old while to be seen, not a problem.I'm just very grateful I was seen and given treatment.

What did fascinate me was the number of people who came in after me, signed in on the on-screen checker and didn't use any of the hand sanitiser that was in the great big bottle right next to the screen. Yet, they then sat down and the general topic of conversation was - you guessed it - CV!

@concentric - people are daft, aren’t they?!

I read a news article about this happening to a doctors surgery in Argyll because they had a huge number of elderly and fairly seriously ill patients so they were holding phone consultations first to stop any spread of the virus.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/coronavirus-scotland-gp-surgery-closes-21649071.amp

I think my practice might implement something like this as soon as tomorrow, they held an emergency meeting today and put signs up stating that receptionists must ask corona related questions to all patients before they’re allowed to be seen (paraphrasing). They didn’t ask me anything today though.

Ours had to close today after someone went in with Corona virus symptoms. Apparently they were making a huge fuss demanding to see someone and saying they didn't care that there were notices all over saying don't go in with this symptoms.