Please keep in touch despite Covid, says GP
‘I MISS MY PATIENTS IN THIS PANDEMIC ‘ – FAMILY DOCTOR
A GP is urging people to continue to get in touch despite the new Tier Three restrictions.
Dr Manik Arora, who works at the Rivergreen Medical Centre in Clifton, says he misses his patients after GPS had to resort to seeing most people virtually and over the phone amid the coronavirus pandemic.
However, while the GP of 14 years says patients and GPS have been forced to adapt to a new way of interacting, he says it is important patients “work with him” if they feel anxious about the pandemic or uncertain about telephone appointments.
Dr Arora, who lives in Gamston, spoke as tighter Tier 3 restrictions are imposed on the county.
He said: “I would say I miss some of my patients who I know were frail and vulnerable and I miss seeing them in person.
“But I know they are keeping the faith. As a clinician, I want to look after people and I’m having to adjust to looking after them differently.
“I see everyone finding this change tricky because what we are having to do is assess everyone’s needs and address the patients’ questions in a different manner.
“My message to people is to work with us. If your health needs require an appointment in person we can arrange that.
“Some people do not have a smartphone. Telephone calls do not work for people who struggle with hearing, so people can still come and see us if their need requires it.”
Appointments at GP surgeries changed fairly quickly at the start of the pandemic, with intercom systems and video calls being introduced.
Speaking of some of the difficulties of working in this way amid the pandemic, Dr Arora added: “People are getting in touch with us at the point of crisis and [mental health problems] are increasing.
“Some people are getting upset as they are not getting the same interaction as they were last year.
“I would urge them to be patient with us, work with us.
“I was also talking to a relative of a patient last night and we were struggling trying to support someone who would be dying in the near future.
“I’ve been having to deal with someone in their final stages of life on the phone.
“It is very unusual.” Cases across Nottinghamshire have been rising considerably in recent weeks, with hospitalisations and those in critical care as a result of Covid-19 increasing “dramatically” in both the city’s hospitals and in the north of the county.
This has led to the cancellation of some non-urgent and cancer operations at Nottingham University Hospitals sites.
Despite this, Dr Arora has urged people to not be afraid to call their GP. “The key difference between the first lockdown and this time is that back in March/april we were still trying to figure out what to do,” he said.
“If you have a lump or are concerned about an uncertainty with your health, get in touch. Now we have experienced working like this for a few months.”
As a clinician, I want to look after people and I’m having to to adjust to looking after them differently Dr Manik Arora