Winter Pressures

Dear Patients,

We ask that you please remain patient with our reception and clinical teams. We are working harder than ever to see people as quickly as possible.

To help us ensure that everyone gets the care they need safely, we are asking for your help with the following three areas.

1. Managing Coughs and Colds

We are seeing a high volume of patients presenting with respiratory infections. It is important to know that if you have a typical “chesty cough” accompanied by nasal symptoms (runny/blocked nose), the cause is almost certainly viral.

In these cases:

Antibiotics are not appropriate and will not help you heal faster.

There is very little a GP can do other than offer reassurance.

When to contact us: While most of these bugs need time and rest, safety is our priority. Please do get in touch if:

You are short of breath.

Your symptoms are severe or unmanageable.

You have an underlying condition that makes you vulnerable.

You are generally concerned about your condition.

We will absolutely see you if you are concerned, but for standard viral coughs, please help us keep lines open for emergencies.

2. Think “Pharmacy First” for Infections

Community pharmacies have evolved. They are no longer just for picking up medication; they are a highly skilled clinical resource.

For many acute infections, a pharmacist can fully assess you and, if appropriate, prescribe antibiotics just like a GP would. Visiting them frees up our appointments for patients with more complex or chronic conditions.

How It works: 1 Walk in. 2. Consult Pharmacist. 3. Receive advise/treatment (NHS prescription if needed).

3. Hospital Referrals and Follow-ups

If you are currently under the care of a hospital consultant or on a waiting list, and you feel you need their input sooner, please contact the consultant’s secretary directly. Similarly, if you have a query about a letter you have received from the hospital or are waiting for results, contact the consultant’s secretary directly.

Why not the GP?

We have no influence over hospital scheduling. We cannot speed up the waiting list.

Getting us involved simply adds a “third party” to the conversation and slows down the process.

Your relationship is with the hospital team; speaking to them directly is the quickest route.

Results are sent to the person requesting the test; patients are informed before we are.

The Exception: If your symptoms have changed significantly, please let us know. We can write to the hospital to highlight this change, which may allow them to re-triage your referral. However, for standard follow-ups or status checks, the secretary is your best contact.

Thank you for working with us during this busy period. Your cooperation helps us keep our services running safely for everyone in our community.