People in the Black Country are being urged to come forward for care as usual during collective action by GP services.
GP services across England will begin collective action on Thursday 1 August for an indefinite period of time. While there may be some disruption to services, practices will remain open and patients can make requests by phone, online or by walking in as usual.
During collective action, practices are still required to be open between 8am and 6.30pm, Monday to Friday.
It is vital that patients still attend their appointments unless they are told otherwise, and practices should inform patients of any changes to services.
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.
NHS teams in the Black Country have worked hard to plan for disruption and to mitigate this where possible to ensure services continue to be provided for patients.
Patients should continue to use 111 for urgent medical help when their GP practice is unavailable and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency call 999.
Dr Mona Sidhu, Medical Director of Primary Care for the NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board, said: “During the collective action, our priority is to continue to provide safe care for those who need it. Patients should continue to come forward for care, as GP practices will remain open.
“Choosing the right service during this time is important. It not only means you receive the treatment you require, but also helps reduce pressure on NHS services during this busy time and allows them to focus on who needs them the most.
“Your local pharmacist should also be your first port of call for any minor health conditions. Pharmacists are trained medical professionals who can help with a range of ailments, from abdominal pain and sore throats to coughs and colds and urine infections.
“If you need urgent medical help or advice, you should contact NHS 111 online in the first instance and they will direct you to the most appropriate service for advice or treatment. If you call NHS111, lines may be busier than normal so please be patient.”
Local pharmacy services and opening times in the Black Country can be found on the NHS website.
NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. You can contact the service online 111.nhs.uk or by calling 111, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
People should only call 999 if it is a medical emergency.
