GP practices open as usual during collective action

The NHS in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland would like to assure local patients that their GP practice will remain open and should be used as normal during collective action. This comes as the British Medical Association (BMA) announces its GP members have voted in favour of taking collective action in a ballot that concluded this week. The action can commence from today, 1 August 2024.

The nature of the action means that the impacts will vary at different GP practices and from area to area, but could include GPs limiting the number of patient appointments per day. Your GP practice will inform you if there are any changes to services.

During the collective action, practices are still required to be open between 08:00 and 18:30 Monday to Friday. Patients should continue to attend any appointments unless they are told otherwise. For urgent medical help when their GP practice is closed they should use NHS 111 and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency call 999.

The NHS would like to remind patients of the following advice for using their GP practice and other services:

Top tips for using your GP practice and other services

•If you are generally in good health, many minor ailments can be treated at home with no need for medical attention. In most cases the illness will get better by itself and so an appointment with your GP practice or another NHS service isn’t required.

•If you need some support to look after a minor ailment, you can get support from the NHS App, NHS 111 online or your local pharmacy. Your pharmacy can provide advice and over-the-counter medication for many illnesses, but they can also provide prescription medication for oral contraception, earache, impetigo, infected insect bites, shingles, sinusitis, sore throat, and urinary tract infections (UTIs) for women aged 16-64 – without the need for a GP appointment. Your GP practice may also ask a local pharmacy to see you for certain conditions. 

•GP practices’ core opening hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 6:30pm, excluding bank holidays. Many practices are open later in the evening and at weekends.

•GP practices are made up of a wide range of health professionals who work together to look after people’s health and wellbeing. To help practices match you to the most appropriate person in the team, it is important to provide as much information about your medical issue when you contact the practice to book an appointment. At many practices you can fill in a form that you will find on their website, known as an online consultation form, or you can tell the care navigator or receptionist you speak to on the telephone.

•You will not usually need to see the same GP each time, because your medical record can be seen by every professional in your GP practice.

•If you take regular prescribed medication, keep an eye on how much you have left and order your repeat prescriptions in good time so you don’t run out. You can now use the NHS App for this and can arrange to collect your medication from any pharmacy. Do continue taking your medication as recommended to prevent your condition deteriorating and remember to take your medication with you if you are going away.

•As well as for ordering repeat prescriptions, you can also use the NHS App to make other requests from your GP practice at a convenient time for you, for example for booking appointments, and viewing your health record or correspondence.

•If you need urgent help and your GP practice is closed, use NHS 111 (online, by phone or using the NHS App), available 24/7. They will review your symptoms and refer you to the most appropriate service based on your needs.  They can even book an appointment or arrival time at local urgent care services to keep your waiting time to a minimum.

•There are eight urgent care services that can be used without an appointment and three for x-rays instead of the Emergency Department. Find out more at https://bit.ly/LLRUrgentCare

•For urgent mental health support, call the Central Access Point on 0808 800 3302, 24/7, or visit a Neighbourhood Mental Health Cafe.

•The 999 service should only be used in a life-threatening emergency.