GPs in Calderdale are reminding people to get in touch if they need medical help.

Surgeries have remained open throughout the pandemic, although they have made changes to the way they work to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.

Dr Steven Cleasby, GP and Chair of NHS Calderdale CCG said:

“GP practices in Calderdale are still here for you. If you have concerns about a medical condition or need advice you should contact your GP practice as soon as possible.  A delay in treatment can pose a risk to longer term health, so don’t put it off.   Appointments are available from 8am to 6.30pm on weekdays, in the evenings and at weekends.

“Face-to-face appointments are still available to patients, but you may be asked to discuss your conditions over the phone or online first to assess what would be most appropriate for you.”

“There were over 80,000 appointments provided by primary care across Calderdale in July 2020 of which roughly 42,000 were telephone consultations and 36,000 face-to-face appointments.

“Coronavirus is still in our community and we must continue to do everything possible to reduce its spread. This includes making changes to how GP services operate. We also need to be clear that these new ways of working will be in place for some time to come.  I would urge people to continue to support our efforts to keep patients and staff safe during this challenging time”.

Patients are being asked not attend their surgery unless they have an appointment.  Instead, they should contact the practice by phone or online through their GP practice’s website or using an app like the NHS App. Reducing the number of people who visit their GP practice helps to protect patients and staff from the risk of infection.

To avoid having to wait on the phone, patients are also encouraged to use online services or the NHS App to order repeat prescriptions or access their medical record. This can be done at any time of the day or night, even when the practice is closed.