Ileach Update 5th June 2021
Modified Appointment System
Many patients will be aware from the national press that General Practice services across the country are experiencing unprecedented demand on appointments. Unfortunately we have not been immune to the effects of this on Islay. This increase in demand, coupled with significant delays in patients accessing specialist care in Glasgow; the on-going Covid-19 immunisation programme; and the recent increase in visitors to the island mean that there have been times over the past few weeks when patients have had to wait longer than usual to access routine, non-urgent GP care. We are still extremely fortunate that these waits are not on the same scale as those experienced in most other places, but we’re keen to try and put in place measures to help better manage this demand and increase the variety of appointments.
With this in mind, we will offer a number of slots for face-to-face appointments with a doctor which can be booked in advance without the need to speak to one of the GP team first. All urgent, ‘on the day appointments’ will still be offered as a telephone call in the first instance. As we are still having to work to physical distancing guidelines with significantly reduced capacity in our waiting areas, the number of these pre-bookable face-to-face appointments will be limited.
In order to ensure these are used appropriately, we would ask patients to consider the following when seeking care from the practices: Is my condition a medical emergency? If so, dial 999. Might I be able to manage my condition without seeking medical attention by following advice available at www.nhsinform.scot? Can my condition or query be dealt with over the telephone? If so, we will continue to offer a number of pre-bookable and on the day, urgent telephone appointments and we would ask that you specifically request one of these. If you are unable to access a direct face-to-face slot with a member of the GP team, please be assured that if a face-to-face review is required, this will still be offered following your telephone appointment.
When calling to book any type of appointment, a member of our team will ask for some more information on the reason for your request. It is important that you give as much information to our administration team as possible as they have been trained to help guide you to the most appropriate, first available appointment. It may be that your problem can be dealt with by another member of the clinical team sooner than the next available GP appointment or that the type of appointment you are offered is changed based on the information you give. All of our staff are bound by the same confidentiality rules as our clinical team and we take any breach of this extremely seriously.
We hope our modified appointment system will improve access for patients whilst also helping us to better manage the increasing demand on our service. We appreciate your patience and support whilst we implement this new system and our team adapt yet again to a different way of working.
Finally, if you develop symptoms which could be consistent with Covid-19 prior to attending your pre-booked appointment, please cancel as soon as possible and organise a Covid-19 PCR test by calling the Islay testing line on 01496 305308. More information on Covid-19 can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/coronavirus or by calling NHS24 on 111.
Covid-19 Vaccination Update
We have now delivered the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine to the vast majority of patients aged 40 and over as well as all Health and Social Care workers, those who are clinically vulnerable and people identified as unpaid carers. If you are aged 40 or over and have not yet been contacted by us, please call your registered practice to request an appointment.
Over the next four weeks we will be completing the vaccination of all those aged 18 and over, beginning with those in the 30-39 age group. In keeping with national guidance, all patients in these final age groups will be offered the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine. We will be contacting patients directly to offer vaccination appointments and would ask that those aged 18-39 do not get in touch to enquire about an appointment unless they haven’t heard from us by the end of June.
If you think your contact details may be out of date, please get in touch with your registered practice to ensure we have an up-to-date address, telephone number and, if possible, email address. The Scottish Government online registration portal for younger patients is not applicable to those registered with Islay Medical Practice, therefore any information loaded into this system will not be immediately visible to us. More information on the Covid19 vaccination programme can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine