PATIENTS displaying symptoms of Covid-19 may be seen by doctors away from their usual GP surgery as practices continue to adapt to “new ways of working”.

An update on the way in which GP surgeries are operating was shared by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) this week.

Patients will now receive an initial assessment, conducted by a trained clinician, either via the web or over the phone.

Another telephone assessment will then determine whether those displaying symptoms of Covid-19 require a face-to-face appointment – but that appointment any take place away from the patient's usual surgery.

Those who do not display Covid-19 but still requite a face-to-face appointment may still be able to access their usual surgery. However, this arrangement may yet change.

The CCG has apologised for any inconvenience but stressed that the move is important to keep people safe and help reduce the spread of coronavirus.

A spokesperson for the NHS said: “Changes in the way GP surgeries are run are being rolled out across Hampshire. Some groups of surgeries are working together and splitting patient care across different sites, meaning some will see patients with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, and other sites will aim to remain virus-free.

“To limit the spread of Covid-19, we need to reduce the number of people who need to visit their practice by using telephone appointments and video consultations. That helps us to give people the care they need, safely.

“When people contact their surgery for an appointment they will receive an initial assessment through e-consult or by telephone, by a trained clinician. Any patient assessed as requiring a face-to-face appointment, will be seen at an appropriate surgery, which has been set up to meet their needs.

“Whilst we realise such arrangements may be inconvenient, we think it is important to keep people safe, reduce the spread of Covid-19 and get the maximum benefit from the healthcare resources which will be available.”

The group's statement read: “Over the last couple of weeks, you are likely to have noticed a marked difference in the way things are being done in general practice as we manage Covid-19. Thank you for adapting so quickly to these new ways of working.

“To limit the spread of Covid-19, we have worked to reduce footfall through practices by using online consultation systems like e-consult, telephone appointments and video consultations to ensure we continue providing you with the care you need.

“Our top priority is to keep our patients and staff safe whilst ensuring patients get the care they need. Keeping our staff healthy is crucial so that they can continue to care for everybody, therefore GPs and their staff have been working together with other local surgeries to develop a system which will be able to meet these changing needs.

“From now on, when you contact your surgery for an appointment you will receive an initial assessment through e-consult (on the practice website) OR by telephone, by a suitably trained clinician. It is essential that you give an accurate and detailed description of your symptoms when asked. This will allow us to provide you with the most appropriate treatment.

“If you have suspected Covid-19 symptoms and, following a telephone assessment, need to have a further face-to-face appointment, this may not take place at your usual GP surgery. Instead you may be directed to another local site that has been specifically set up to better deal with your needs.

“If you need to have a non-Covid-19 related face to face appointment and do not have any Covid-19 symptoms, you may still be able to access your usual surgery. However, please be aware that this may change. Services may need to be provided from a smaller number of practices if staff become unwell.

“If, over the course of the next few weeks, you do have to go to a different surgery to the one you are used to, you might also see a doctor or nurse who you are not familiar with. Whilst we realise this could be inconvenient, we think it is important to keep people safe, reduce the spread of Covid-19 and get the maximum benefit from the healthcare resources which will be available. Your records will still be accessible securely to you and to them, ensuring they are able to provide you with the best possible care.

“A home visiting service, for patients who are housebound, will be provided but increasingly through practices working together.”

The CCG has also thanked patients for adapting so quickly to the new ways of working. It also notes that a normal service will be resumed as soon as the situation allows.