NHS Lanarkshire has thanked GPs for their commitment and professionalism as they help manage significant pressures across health services.
This has included beginning to manage children and some other patients who are unwell with respiratory or Covid-19 symptoms. The arrangements for this will vary from practice to practice.
Health services across Lanarkshire are experiencing more pressure than at any other point in their history due to sustained pressure from Covid-19 and ongoing sickness absence.
Heather Knox, chief executive, NHS Lanarkshire said: “Our GPs have done a fantastic job throughout the pandemic and deserve all of our gratitude for the professionalism and commitment they have shown in adapting services and coping with the challenges of Covid-19.
“Their input has been vital to ensuring that we care for and protect the sickest in our communities and keep our health services safe.
“I know patients have been frustrated at times due to the way that Covid-19 has affected all health services. This has led to some unfair criticism of GPs in particular and I don’t think people have always understood the level of pressure they have been working under during the pandemic.
“The fact is that our GPs have been doing their absolute best to care for patients through a challenging time.”
GPs are open and have been throughout the pandemic and have been busier than ever. They have had to change the way they provide patient care to protect everyone, maintain safe infection control measures and minimise physical contact.
The third Covid wave, coupled with a significant increase in complex cases attending our hospitals and health centres and staff sickness absences, is having a profound effect on the number of people accessing healthcare across Lanarkshire.
Dr Linda Findlay, medical director, South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “The safety of our patients is always our top priority. We continue to see sustained pressures on the health and care system.
“Health services across Lanarkshire are being delivered in a different way than before the pandemic and I would like to thank GPs for all that they have done and continue to do for their patients in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
“All our staff continue to work extremely hard to ensure that patients are seen and treated as quickly as possible in the most challenging of circumstances and ask that people please be kind to our staff and colleagues who are committed to caring, no matter the circumstances.”
There is help and advice on NHS Lanarkshire’s website including Ask the expert which offers a range of services that local healthcare professionals across Lanarkshire can provide. You can go directly to the right healthcare professional for the help you need when you need it, without having to see your GP first or face a lengthy wait in A&E.
The NHS Inform website also provides advice on self-care, NHS 24 can provide urgent health advice out-of-hours and your local pharmacy is the first port of call for minor ailments. This can also help free up appointments for those who need them.
