Cheshire GPs have said operations are still open and “here for you” despite concerns that people are having difficulty booking appointments.
The reassurance from the NHS Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) came when people claimed they were having trouble getting a personal appointment with a family doctor.
The concern came after a note in the Alderley Edge Medical Practice prescription box was shared on social media.
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The note says, “When will GPs come out of hiding and start giving people the service they deserve and have paid their taxes for?”
The Alderley Edge GP account on Twitter tweeted a picture of the note and said, “That was in our recipe inquiry box today. How demoralizing when we’ve worked so hard. We never closed. We don’t hide.
“We have provided unprecedented service to those in need during this pandemic. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for ignorance.”
Cheshire Live readers replied to the note on Facebook, with many saying they agreed at least in part.
One said, “The person who wrote it is obviously not happy. While I acknowledge the work of the NHS during the pandemic, I can’t get an appointment with my GP out of love and not out of money.
“I have struggled with my mental health and sometimes struggled to stay afloat. If my family hadn’t complained to my GP, I might have gotten into a real mess.
“Instead of being shocked by the news, you may have to acknowledge that there is a patient out there who feels completely abandoned.”
Another said, “I totally agree with the note. I requested personal appointments with GPS and said that they don’t make personal appointments. Yet the health care workers, nurses, etc. are face to face.
“You need to get back to normal now. There are some things you MUST HAVE to see face to face with a family doctor.”
“But there were those who expressed their support for the general practitioner surgery, with one person saying,” I’ve never had a problem with it, my Dr. Maybe they could be looked after over the phone and didn’t need a face-to-face appointment.
“I saw Dr in person, had phone consultations, was seen at the hospital for appointments and also had a phone consultation with the hospital.
“To tell the truth, I prefer a phone call rather than dragging to the office or hospital as I save my time traveling and so on.”
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When asked about the concern, the Cheshire CCG referred to the recent launch of the In It Together campaign, which emphasized that the NHS had been under unprecedented pressure from the pandemic.
But during the campaign launch, the group’s clinical chair, Dr. Andrew Wilson that family doctors are still open.
He said, “The general practice is still open and there for you, and we continue to provide services, as we have done throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. However, due to the coronavirus, the way you contact your doctor or nurse may differ currently.
“In primary care, people often have the most contact with the NHS. I encourage more kindness and understanding, as we know that these are challenging and stressful times for everyone. “
The CCG said that face-to-face appointments will continue to be available if there is a clinical need, although some people may be asked to discuss medical issues first by phone or online.
The family doctor’s practices in the district held more than 1.3 million personal appointments in the period 2020-21 despite the pandemic.
