Published on: 1 August 2024
The NHS in Herefordshire and Worcestershire has issued reassurance to local residents that their GP practice will remain open and should be used as normal during collective action by GPs. This comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) announces this week that its GP members have voted in favour of collective action, which can take effect from 1 August 24.
Under the collective action, GPs can choose from 10 actions, which include limiting their daily contacts to 25 per clinician, stopping the use of certain referral systems, serving notice on some voluntary services, as well as a range of other actions related to use of data.
Charmaine Hawker, Director for Delegated Commissioning for NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire said: “As a health and care community we respect the right of colleagues to take action. While this takes place health and care partners across Herefordshire and Worcestershire will work together to ensure the impact on patients is kept to a minimum, and we thank our local population for their patience and understanding during this time.
“GP practices will remain open and you should use them as you normally would, especially if you have urgent or an on-going health concern, and attend any planned appointments, unless you are informed otherwise.
“GP practices manage your healthcare needs in many different ways to get you the right care for your particular medical issue and a GP is one of the many healthcare professionals in a practice who look after you. It is vital you continue to come forward for medical help if you need it.”
The NHS would like to remind patients of the following advice for using their GP practice and other services,
Self care
If you are generally in good health, many minor ailments can be treated at home with no need for medical attention.
If you need some support to look after a minor ailment, you can get support from the NHS App, NHS 111 online or your local pharmacy.
Pharmacy and medicines
Your pharmacy can provide advice and over-the-counter medication for many illnesses, but they can also provide prescription medication for oral contraception, earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64 – without the need for a GP appointment.
Your GP practice may also ask a local pharmacy to see you on their behalf for certain conditions.
If you take regular prescribed medication, keep an eye on how much you have left and order your repeat prescriptions in good time so you don’t run out. You can now use the NHS App for this and can arrange to collect your medication from any pharmacy..
GP practices
GP practices’ core opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm, excluding bank holidays. Many practices are open later in the evening and at weekends.
GP practices are made up of a wide range of health professionals who work together to look after people’s health and wellbeing. To help practices match you to the most appropriate person in the team, it is important to provide as much information about your medical issue when you contact the practice to book an appointment. At many practices you can fill in a form that you will find on their website, known as an online consultation form, or you can tell the care navigator or receptionist you speak to on the telephone.
You will not usually need to see the same GP each time, because your medical record can be seen by every professional in your GP practice.
As well as for ordering repeat prescriptions, you can also use the NHS App to make other requests from your GP practice at a convenient time for you, for example for booking appointments, and viewing your health record or correspondence.
You may find it more convenient to have a video or telephone appointment, rather than face to face.
Urgent and emergency care
If you need urgent help and your GP practice is closed, use NHS 111 (online, by phone or using the NHS App), available 24/7. They will review your symptoms and refer you to the most appropriate service based on your needs. They can even book an appointment or arrival time at local urgent care services to keep your waiting time to a minimum.
For urgent Mental health support please contact NHS111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option
The 999 service should only be used in a life-threatening emergency.
