Tag: GP appointments

Covid symptoms? See your GP!

Return to pre-pandemic procedures

Patients with COVID-19 symptoms are being asked to contact their GP instead of NHS 24 from the end of March.

The move comes after a fall in the number of people using the service since the end of December and represents a return to pre-pandemic procedures.

Currently callers to the 111 helpline are assessed and, if necessary, transferred to a local community hub staffed by clinicians from across the healthcare system.

From 31 March patients will be asked to contact their GP in the first instance during the working day, as they already do for other respiratory conditions. If help and advice is required out of hours, 111 should still be called. NHS Inform’s coronavirus webpage remains the fastest way for people to obtain the latest health advice and information.

Several boards have continued using GP practices as the first port of call for Covid-related calls during the pandemic, including Dumfries and Galloway and Tayside. It is now considered appropriate to return to this approach nationwide.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “This move represents another welcome step back towards normality.

“Call numbers and the number of serious cases are falling and the tailored arrangements put in place at the height of the pandemic are no longer required. But we remain on alert and should a more serious variant of the virus emerge the service can, and will, be swiftly restored.

“We are continuing to support GP practices as they manage acute COVID cases. The GP Escalation Framework remains in place to help health boards and practices deal with sustainability issues and we will invest £15 million this year in sustainability payments”.

NHS 24’s Director of Service Delivery, Steph Phillips said: “NHS 24 staff have provided an excellent service to the people of Scotland throughout the pandemic, both over the phone and online.

“We will continue to update the information and symptom checker on NHS inform and encourage people to use this resource.” 

‘Welcome step back to normality’? Covid’s far from over – 11,685 new cases were reported in Scotland yesterday – with 19 deaths.

£30 million to support more face-to-face GP appointments

The Scottish Government is to provide funding of £30 million to support GP practices to continue providing a high level of care to patients through winter and into next year.

The funding will help with the provision of existing GP services, including:

  • supporting more face-to-face appointments
  • extra GP sessions, practice nurse time and non-core hours covering all appointments
  • more administrative time and practice manager time
  • organised cover for reflection, learning and innovation
  • external GP locum sessions

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The contribution general practice makes to the health and wellbeing of communities, through continuity of care and meaningful relationships with patients, is invaluable.

“We recognise that, as face-to-face appointments have resumed and demand is increasing, surgeries are working overtime to meet patient needs.

“This support package will allow practices to target investment where it is most required to sustain the high levels of care they have always provided through what is likely to be the most challenging period in the history of the NHS.”

Chair of the BMA’s Scottish GP Committee Dr Andrew Buist said: “BMA Scotland has consistently sought a greater level of support for GPs and we are pleased that the Scottish Government has listened and taken this step in the face of the huge challenges of this winter and beyond.

“With demand continuing to outstrip capacity, this will help support practices in the coming months and plug some of the gaps caused by difficulties in recruiting to practice teams.

“It is particularly good GPs have flexibility to focus funding on what will make the most difference to their practice and their patients. As we look ahead to next year and the ongoing threat to the sustainability of practices, this is a welcome addition we have secured in negotiation with the Government.”

The support package will be given in two instalments of £15 million, in December 2021 and April 2022.