surgery appointments by phone internet.

[mumwon]

Our surgery has just today announced dr/staff won't be doing face to face appointments until further notice unless its necessary because of Corona Virus - instead you can contact them by phone appointments, email or internet. For both patients & staffs protection.

Yes, ours did this a few days ago. Makes sense.
The Doctors can triage people by phone and offer individual advice.

Why don't people just google their symptoms - this is terrible there will be people that genuinely need to see their GP. Why can't the doctors wear protective clothing or something.

Not everyone will be there with coronavirus.

Our surgery has done the same today and I know of two others who have too. I think all surgeries will be doing this very soon.

Ours is converting to telephone appointments from Monday.

What about people who have to go in to get prescriptions? I need to go in next week to get a prescription for antidepressants (I'm only 4 weeks in on them). I'm not sure how this will be dealt with?

For most urgent things a telephone or video call will do.

What about people who have to go in to get prescriptions? I need to go in next week to get a prescription for antidepressants (I'm only 4 weeks in on them). I'm not sure how this will be dealt with?

Prescriptions can easily be sent to a pharmacist of your choice electronically. Surgeries have been doing this for a number of years now anyway.

there will be people that genuinely need to see their GP

Hence the 'unless it's necessary', presumably. Of course there are some people who will need to be examined, bloods taken etc but reducing the number of people using the surgery makes it safer for them.

Good idea - I hope they continue doing this, it should make appointments more efficient, easier for working people, less chance of surgeries being hubs of infection for other diseases.

Thanks but I think I have to actually go in though, last time I tried to ask for it over the phone they said i had to actually come in and see the GP in person. I think it may be due to my circumstances but will see what they say - if I can avoid going in I'd love that even beyond this whole coronavirus thing.