Seven doctors’ surgeries across the borough have replaced face-to-face appointments with telephone calls, as local practices take steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Most of those who have introduced the telephone consultations have said they will provide face-to-face appointments if it is deemed necessary after the initial assessment.
Patients at the Amwell Group Practice, Highbury Grange Medical Centre, the River Place Group Practice and Elizabeth Avenue Group Practice have all specified that patients with pre-booked appointments should await a phone call from their GP.
Elizabeth Avenue Group Practice has not confirmed whether or not it will offer in-person appointments at all, saying “ all appointments for our patients will now be conducted over the phone (or in some cases, using video consulting) wherever possible”.
The surgeries all said their decisions had come in response to coronavirus, and many said they were “following guidance from Public Health England”.
The measures appear to have been introduced at the start of this week, with telephone consultations coming into force on Monday 16. It is unclear when the appointments system will return to normal.
Other surgeries have taken steps to reduce footfall without ending face-to-face appointments. St Peters Street Medical Street Practice, Angel, has closed its walk-in clinic temporarily to “protect our staff and patients”. However, patients can still call the practice to arrange an appointment.
Meanwhile, Barnsbury Medical Practice has suspended all online appointment bookings.
Some residents took to social media to compliment the steps taken.
Londoner Juliet Simmons tweeted: “London definitely ahead of the rest of country. My #gp practice started a total triage system a week ago. My sister’s in Islington 10 days ago #covid19UK”.
Dr Craig Seymour, a local GP, also took to Twitter this week to post: “Proud to be part of Team Islington committed to being dynamic and responsive to this situation as it develops and evolves. Doing our best for our population. @IslingtonGp @IslingtonCCG @nclstp @WhitHealth @AgeUK_Islington @HOYD_Connect @IslingtonBC (and CIFT!)”
The other 22 surgeries in the borough all had digital pop-ups on their websites urging residents to stay home if they have a new continuous cough or a high temperature.
