GP appointments in East Sussex have dramatically changed since lockdown – here’s how

More than 80 per cent of GP appointments in the county took place face to face in the 12 months before lockdown, and fewer than one per cent were via video link – according to analysis by the BBC shared data unit.

But since the Government introduced stringent measures to contain the outbreak, GP surgeries have had to rely on technology more and more, significantly adapting the way they communicate with patients.

The chairman of the Royal College of GPs said face-to-face contact with a GP is now making up just seven per cent of all contact.

Watch DGH staff observe minute’s silence for fallen NHS colleagues

He praised the profession’s ‘remarkable response’ to the challenge presented by coronavirus.

Figures from the four Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) which cover East Sussex show that, between March 2019 and February 2020, only about 15 per cent of GP appointments took place over the telephone.

For Eastbourne, Hailsham, and Seaford CCG, more than a million appointments (82 per cent) were face to face, while 15 per cent were phone and video (183,074), and even fewer were home visits (35,176).

Patients in Wealden, Lewes, and Newhaven areas were the least likely to interact with their GP via the phone.

Only 11 per cent of appointments were carried out over the phone during this period (94,566 appointments in total), the analysis of figures from the High Weald Lewes Havens CCG show.

When it comes to appointments carried out via video link or other online methods across East Sussex in the 12 months leading up to lockdown, the figures were even smaller.

Just 5,823 appointments (less than one per cent) took place via this kind of technology.

But now this has dramatically changed.

A spokesperson for Sussex CCGs said, “GP practices across Sussex have transformed the way they work to ensure local patients remain safe and get the care they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our top priority is to keep our patients and practice staff safe, while we ensure people can access the GP care they need in the most appropriate setting.

“Keeping GPs and their staff healthy is crucial so they can continue to care for everybody, and Sussex CCGs have been working together with practices to reduce attendance at practices by supporting and enabling the use of telephone appointments and video consultations where possible.”

New measures have been introduced through the creation of dedicated sites and areas within some practices, for anyone with COVID-19 symptoms to access GP services.

Anyone in need of a GP appointment is therefore urged to contact their practice first and not attend unless told to do so – and this may not be at the patient’s usual surgery.

Whereas before patients are asked general questions about why they need an appointment, now they will be asked to give an accurate and detailed description of their symptoms, which the CCG says will allow them to receive the most appropriate treatment.

Meanwhile, patients with COVID-19 symptoms who are not in need of hospital treatment, but have a primary care need, will be given an appointment at a ‘hot site’ or ‘zoning practice’.

“Hot sites are formed by a group of practices coming together and identifying a single dedicated site to offer patients from their practices face-to-face consultation following their assessment,” said the spokesperson.

“Other GPs in Sussex will be seeing patients without COVID-19 symptoms and patients with symptoms who will be separated into special zones, so they are kept isolated from other patients.

“This will be undertaken in a safe way for patients and staff, and includes the introduction of dedicated hot consultation rooms, with separate entrances and exits to maintain isolation.”

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In the meantime, GP premises will also be dedicated for treatment of those without any COVID-19 symptoms or acute illness, to help them in a way that minimises risk of contact with any potentially ill patients.

Patients will be screened for any fever or cough symptoms, so only those who are considered well can enter. The facility will be arranged to maintain social distancing measures and limit patient number on site at any one time.

The spokesperson said, “Infection control measures set by government experts will be followed at all sites and residents can be reassured of their safety, even when they are close to any site seeing patients with COVID-19 symptoms. At a minimum a daily, a full deep clean will be completed at each hot site, including disinfection.

“GP Practices are making alternative arrangements to ensure these patients from the deaf community, people with learning disabilities, those whose first language is not English, and anyone without access to a telephone can access appointments.”

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