GPs on the front line

PlEAsE don’t tar all GP practices with the same brush over not seeing patients face to face (letters).

In March 2020, as Covid took a grip on the country, the surgery in

Hampshire where I’ve worked for 19 years decided to work alongside three other local practices to provide the best possible healthcare.

surgery A saw anyone with Covid symptoms. surgery B provided home visits to patients across all four practices. surgery C conducted telephone triage for all patients. surgery d saw patients without Covid symptoms for blood tests, dressings and baby immunisations.

We have since returned to our own practices. After telephone triage, the GPs assess each case as to whether to carry out a video consultation, e-consultation, phone call or face to face appointment.

Each practice has three colourcoded areas: red for patients with Covid symptoms; amber for patients without Covid symptoms; and blue for the clinically vulnerable.

An army of local ladies made scrubs for our clinicians. After a hot hub was set up at the local hospital for anyone with Covid symptoms, our GPs did shifts there as well as working at their own surgery.

When vaccines became available, a vaccination centre was set up at a local hotel. Clinical and admin staff have worked evenings, days off and weekends to help get as many people as possible vaccinated.

this week, we’ve opened our doors for patients with appointments.

I truly believe we did and will continue to do the best we can for all our patients.

NICOLA GEORGE, Alton, Hants.