General practice staff have produced a video message to patients asking them not to put off contacting their GP surgery if they need to consult a doctor or nurse.https://youtu.be/z1jefywezAw
Do not to avoid contacting your surgery if you feel you need to. It is important that parents of babies and young children get in touch with their practice to arrange for their routine immunisations, and that women who are pregnant or new mothers contact their surgery if they are worried about their own or their baby’s or child’s health. Even though we’re experiencing a unique situation, it’s important to remember that GP services, pharmacies, NHS 111, out-of-hours services and emergency departments are all still available to patients.
Although the Covid-19 pandemic means that patients are asked to contact their surgery online or by phone rather than go in person, doctors are still able to see patients via video conferencing or telephone consultation. Doctors and nurses can also still see and examine patients in person if this is necessary. This may or may not be at your regular practice because, working together, surgeries in Lewisham have made arrangements to try and ensure that they assess people with symptoms of COVID-19 separately from other patients.
All Lewisham residents are encouraged to download the free ASK NHS GP app to any mobile device. The app features an interactive symptom checker which helps you find the right healthcare at the right time, whether that’s NHS111, your GP appointment or accident and emergency, it also provides great advice on how to stay well and self-care. For more information, go to www.onehealthlewisham.co.uk/asknhsgp
This is particularly important for adults and children who are living with long-term conditions who may require repeat medication and a review by a practice, nurse GP or pharmacist. Any routine annual checks still can be arranged, for example, to check blood pressure.