Wiltshire GPs under pressure with staff shortages and rising Covid cases among the factors
Health bosses have written an open letter highlighting concerns
Last updated 11th Oct 2021
The clinical lead for Swindon is one of three leading Wiltshire GPs who have signed an open letter detailing the pressure affecting primary care services.
Dr Amanda Webb, along with her colleagues, Dr Bryn Bird and Dr Edd Rendell, explain how a "mixture of staff absences, increasing numbers of coronavirus cases and an increase in demand for urgent and emergency care means we are working in conditions not usually seen outside the middle of winter."
The trio acknowledge that some patients have struggled to get through to their practice and recognise that "this hasn't been ideal" but stress practices are open.
More patients are being offered face to face appointments with more than half of the 336,000 appointments in August carried out in person but stress virtual appointments help clinicians to be more efficient with their time and prevent overcrowding in waiting rooms.
The locality clinical leads said:
“Our GP practices will always offer appointments, either face to face, or via remote consultation, with the health and care professional most appropriate for a patient’s needs.
“We know that people have been hugely supportive of us throughout the pandemic, and we truly appreciate this, but it’s important to remember that Covid-19 has not gone away, and we still need your help.”
How you can help ease pressure
The letter goes on to highlight practical steps residents can take to help ease pressure, that includes visiting a pharmacy for health advice and information instead of automatically calling a GP practice and using the NHS 111 service.
Other measures include having the necessary vaccinations for both Covid-19 and flu and investing in a home medicine cabinet with essential items like a digital thermometer, paracetamol and anti-diarrhoea tablets.