GP/Hospital appointments

[Silvermockingbird]

Does anybody know if we do go into lock down, would we still be able to attend GP/hospital appointments as usual? Say if you were booked in for a smear/blood test ect? Basically non coronavirus related ailments. Will the usual wards in hospitals be open or will they be putting as many non life threatening appointments on hold? Both of my children have pending hospital referrals for things which are important, but not life threatening.. would these still be going ahead as usual?

My doctor has cancelled almost all routine appointments. Including the review that was meant to happen for my asthma medication, and as my asthma is completely out of control right now I will be spending Monday on the phone trying to get them to let me have an appointment.

I expect many others will be doing the same.

If there are further measures put in place to limit social contacts then I imagine all routine stuff would be cancelled.

My son had a hospital appointment yesterday. I’ve never seen the place so quiet. I am assuming it is being done in a needs basis.

My next hospital appointment will be a telephone call.
Not sure how they do an eye exam and a neurological assessment over the phone, but I suppose they must think something useful can be achieved. I have been waiting 6 months for this particular specialist opinion. I hope they will reschedule for when this crisis has calmed down. I don't want to go out, I just hope I will get another chance.
I assume the phone call is just to keep me in the system.

I think they are cancelling out patient appointments and elective (non urgent surgery). This is to avoid spreading the virus and to have beds ready for the virus.

I have a hospital appointment next week. It's not been cancelled but it is urgent. I'm very dubious about going though and considering cancelling.

Yeah, my GP is only doing telephone consults at the moment but I guess it’s changing day by day.. my youngest also has her pre-school boosters in a few weeks time, hope that still goes ahead. endoftheline That’s so disappointing, I’m in the same boat with my sons referral, been waiting for so long and finally getting somewhere- typical!

My phone has been ringing constantly with people postponing DCs' operations, orthodontics. appointments, tests, etc.

One of DS's consultants called today to discuss over the phone in lieu of an appointment, and one of the play therapy people at the hospital was obviously at a bit of a loose end at work so she called to help DD mentally prepare for an operation that has been postponed indefinitely.

CAMHS staff in our area are likely being redeployed elsewhere within the NHS very soon, leaving only skeleton staff for dire MH emergencies.

I have had to go private (using credit card - not ideal) for urgent things the NHS aren't currently able to offer.

So I doubt many places will be doing routine appts in the near future, but I guess you might get lucky depending on your area.

Gosh, it’s frightening- especially when we don’t know when in the future appointments will be back on!

My hospital appointment this week has been cancelled.

My trust is running a few appointments next week, then that's it.

I work at a GP surgery and we are trying to do as many appointments by telephone as possible, and some routine face to face stuff has been cancelled. Asthma & COPD reviews are still being done by phone wherever possible, so I would ring and ask if you could have a phone review.

OP immunisations are still going ahead. We're in the community so I only know community based actions but the info we had definitely confirmed imms will continue.

For pregnant ladies health visiting has been cut right back. Antenatal phone call and new birth visit only. No developmental reviews etc just safeguarding.

My husband has an appointment on Monday deemed urgent they called him on Thursday he was expecting them to cancel instead they've brought it forward by half an hour. I know that he will need stitches and hoping they are dissolvable so we don't have to take up anymore time in having them removed.

My DF is diabetic and has terrible probs with his feet - he's self-isolating for other health conditions anyway but usually goes to the podiatrist weekly to have his dressings changed and wounds checked (he's ended up in ITU because of his feet - foot poisoning previously).

Instead now my DM emails photos of the wounds to the podiatrist and they talk her through how to re-dress them so she's been doing it for him (sorry, gross).

My post surgical appointment was cancelled. I had a telephone appt instead and took a picture of my scar and reviewed it by email. She's booked me in for an x ray (I had surgery on a fractured knee) but says it might not happen.

This is not good though for people requiring treatment.

My dd is waiting for major spinal surgery that was meant to happen in June and it’s been postponed until next year probably, but nobody can give me any firm details obviously.

I'm a Practice Nurse. We have been told to only do priority and urgent stuff face to face.
So still doing urgent bloods, immunisations, ECGs, INR checks
Not doing smears, ear syringing, NHS health checks.
Pill checks done by phone, asthma and COPD reviews by phone (if they aren't well controlled then can have a phone call with GP to get inhalers changed.
GPs still seeing patients but they all get a phone call first and only see people who need to be examined.
I was quite lonely at work Thursday when I only saw 7 patients, but did have some nice chats with my patients on the phone!