Patients ordered to stay away from GP surgeries

PATIENTS were last night ordered to stay away from doctors’ surgeries under the latest dramatic moves to tackle the crisis.

GPs are telling everyone on their lists not to walk into the practice for appointments or to try to get prescriptions.

Patients are even being urged not to phone family doctors as they are so overstretched and instead rely on online assessments.

If anyone with Covid-19 symptoms does need to be seen in person, they will be asked to wait outside to avoid infecting others. GPs have also been warned they must return to the days of making home visits — because some patients who need face-toface consultations will be selfisolating or have been sent home from hospital.

Senior medical figures admit the drastic changes to general practice will cause huge upheaval for patients and doctors.

Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It will be different for patients, which can be challenging, but it is a necessary measure in our efforts to tackle this virus. We’re optimistic patients will be adaptable and understanding. Remote consultations will not work for all patients and not all patients will have the necessary technology to make it happen, so to ensure they don’t miss out on vital care, some flexibility will be necessary.’

The move follows guidance from NHS England last Thursday that stops most patients from seeing their GP for any reason.