HEALTH & BEAUTY
The Doctor
attend with. Also remember practice nurses and health care assistants who offer a range of services from wound care, to chronic disease treatment and monitoring. The most important thing is seeing the right person for your condition, as quickly as possible. f some news stories and social media sites are to be Why am I speaking to a GP who is not at my believed, back in March 2020 our GP surgeries closed practice? their doors and have yet to start seeing patients face to Many GP surgeries these days are now part of larger face, or at all. organisations called Primary Care Networks (PCN). As a GP who has worked throughout this exceptionally Sometimes this means the clinician you speak to will challenging time, I can tell you be based in a practice that is categorically that nothing could It was clear that we needed affiliated to your usual practice, be further from the truth. Despite than the one you are used to work in different ways, and rather huge logistical challenges all to. In addition some practices may practices have continued to see one of the few positive side use a remote GP service eg Push their patients in the safest way effects of the COVID pandemic is Doctor. This means you may use possible and of course have also link to have a video or telephone the acceleration in adopting new aconsultation been planning and delivering the with a clinician you vaccine programme. models of care. haven’t met before. Rest assured Primary care was already under that they have access to your unprecedented pressure even before the pandemic hit. records, and can help you in exactly the same way. It was clear that we needed to work in different ways, Why do the receptionists ask me personal and one of the few positive side effects of the COVID questions? pandemic is the acceleration in adopting new models of GP reception staff are a vital part of the team, and care. are trained to ask you the right questions. They abide So I thought it might be a good opportunity to answer by strict rules of confidentiality and whilst it can be some of the most common questions we have been frustrating answering lots of questions, it means they can getting lately: get you the right help, from the right person, first time. Why can’t I get a face to face appointment? Why is everything online now? All practices are offering face to face appointments — Along with most sectors these days, health services are when clinically required. There are many problems increasingly using technology to enhance the service they that can be dealt with more efficiently over the phone offer. E-consults, video consultation, text messaging and or digitally eg discussing blood test results, arranging electronic prescribing are all valuable additions to the fit notes, and reviewing medication to name a few. traditional way of accessing healthcare. Many patients Problems will often be triaged by a clinician first, to are surprised by how convenient, quick and easy these assess the best way to deal with a particular problem. methods are, and whilst they may not be for everyone, Why cant I see a GP? if you are having any problems understanding how it all Not all problems require a GP. Sometimes there are works, your practice are only too happy to help. other clinicians who are better placed to deal with the We know it can be hard to adjust to a new way of doing problem. For example many practices now will employ things, but please know that your GP surgery has been Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Paramedics, Pharmacists, there for you through the pandemic, and will continue Physiotherapists and Physician Associates who are well to be. Your support is truly appreciated . qualified to deal with many of the problems that patients #supportyoursurgery n
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Dr Rachel Tyler is a doctor at Stirling Road Surgery, St Budeax
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