Secondary care and referrals
In line with well-established plans, every hospital in England has now been asked to suspend all non-urgent elective operations and outpatient appointments, with some other procedures likely to be rescheduled to reduce spread and maximise the NHS’s ability to manage the pandemic and meet the government’s movement restrictions.
People who are affected will be contacted by the relevant department as soon as possible.
Emergency cases and cancer treatments will be carrying on as normal, but we know many people waiting for treatment will be disappointed or worried. If you have been referred urgently to secondary care, including for suspected cancer, it is very important that you still attend these appointments. However, if you have symptoms of coronavirus or are self-isolating, please contact the relevant hospital department in advance via the telephone number on your appointment letter for their advice.
Face masks in public
Government advice on the use of face coverings can be found here.
We are aware that some patients might be understandably anxious about the Government’s recent announcements around the use of face masks in various public settings.
GPs are unfortunately not in a position to provide individual risk assessments or letters for patients who feel that they should be exempt from wearing a face mask.