Bolton CCG have announced that ALL routine (non-urgent) patient medical problems should be dealt with at a later date, if at all possible.. This means that our GPs and Practice Nurses may not be able to help with routine problems in the same way or in the timeframe you are used to.
This is due to the National COVID-19 crisis. We are undertaking the largest mass vaccination the NHS has ever delivered. In the next week alone, we will vaccinate over 3000 patients at Breightmet Health Centre. Lots of Doctors, Nurses and Administrative Staff are required for this vaccination clinic and, therefore, the normal GP workforce will be markedly depleted.
We therefore, ask you to be patient. Please consider whether your medical problem can, or should wait. Consider alternative health professionals like pharmacists and dentists. Perhaps most important of all, use the Online Consultations (click here to be directed to this part of our website) and follow the links that give advice or watch the informative videos that can often give invaluable help to our patients. The online consultation forms will identify potentially urgent or serious problems, which means that the practice can contact you sooner, if required.
Please understand it may take longer for reception to answer your call, and we ask that all patients who are able to access the internet to use our online consultation forms to contact the practice.
It may be that the Doctor or Nurse is unable to return your call as you are usually used to, we are currently stretched like never before.
We ARE definitely speaking with and seeing those patients that need to be assessed. DO NOT ignore important symptoms and signs like:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Change in bowel habit
- Unexpected bleeding
- Severe abdominal pains
- Unexplained lumps or changes to skin lesions
- Severe mental health issues or feeling suicidal
- Significant weight loss
If in doubt please use the online consultation forms, as this these will help you decide whether your problem is urgent.
Many thanks for your understanding and co-operation.
Dr S P Whittaker, Dr M Hague, Dr J Couperthwaite, Dr D Fiske & Dr L Sprott
