From the 1st July, doctors will only be able to return telephone advice calls placed before 11am and a limit will be placed on the number of messages that each GP can handle. The reason for this is a capacity one; the service is facing a sustained increase in demand and in order to manage patients safely, doctors need to manage their time efficiently between surgery appointments, prescription signing, home visits and hospital correspondnece.
We hope that you understand why this decision has had to be taken and would ask for your support going forward. You can help in not over burdening your GP practice in small ways:
* Only phone your GP when self-management has not worked and medical advice is needed.
* Tap into community pharmacy services for non-urgent conditions.
* Always cancel appointments when you no longer need them.
PLEASE DO NOT CHALLENGE RECEPTION STAFF WHEN THEY CANNOT TAKE YOUR CALL AFTER 11AM, THEY ARE SIMPLY ACTING ON PRACTICE POLICY
