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An open letter to patients in the Vale of York

As a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak, primary care is facing unprecedented demands on its services. In addition, we are also facing substantial staffing shortages due to those needing to self-isolate in line with current guidance. We understand that many people will be feeling anxious and uncertain in these challenging times.

In response to the pressures across healthcare the way in which primary care operates is changing to enable us to continue to provide services where they are most needed.  Practices will be working to minimise face-to-face contact with patients in order to:

The vast majority of consultations will now be done via phone, e-consultations or video consultation.  Non-urgent work is being stopped or postponed until there is capacity to do so. Practices are working together as networks to manage this unprecedented demand. 

Patients may find that they are assessed by a neighbouring practice if needed.

Clinicians will need to make case-by-case decisions based on their knowledge, experience and skills to determine whether it is safe to manage each patient without physically seeing them or whether, in some circumstances, they need to see a patient in person.

It is essential that each clinician is allowed to make the decision in the best interests of the patient, their family and also the staff looking after them under extremely difficult circumstances. We would ask all patients to:

As the Chief Medical Officer has stated, NHS services are likely to come under intense pressure as the coronavirus spreads, and we need to ensure that we have as many beds available as possible to care for patients with severe respiratory problems when the number of infections peaks.

Therefore, in line with well-established plans for situations like this, every hospital in England has now been asked to suspend all non-urgent elective operations and outpatient appointments, with some other procedures likely to be rescheduled to reduce spread and maximise the NHS’s ability to manage the pandemic and meet the government’s movement restrictions.

Urgent and emergency cases and cancer treatments will be carrying on as normal, but we know many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried. People who are affected will be contacted as soon as possible.

If you have been referred urgently to secondary care, including for suspected cancer, it is very important that you still attend these appointments. However, if you have symptoms of coronavirus or are self-isolating, please contact the relevant hospital department in advance via the telephone number on your appointment letter for their advice.

We are all facing an unprecedented and challenging time and this may make us feel anxious, fearful and helpless, this is completely understandable. You may be worried about how COVID-19 will impact on your wellbeing and that of your family and friends. The NHS Every Mind Matters campaign has expert advice and top tips on how to look after your mental wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. It also includes guidance if you’re feeling worried or anxious about the outbreak. Please visit: www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding at this time and as our response continues to evolve. We are fortunate to have an extremely dedicated and hard-working NHS workforce that is doing everything it can to help in this extremely challenging situation.

Yours sincerely

Dr Nigel Wells

Clinical Chair

nigel-wells

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