The NHS is urging people in the Harrogate district to be patient when booking GP appointments amid concerns some patients’ anger is boiling over at delays.
Health leaders issued the plea today, saying a combination of exceptional demand and staff being affected by normal winter sickness and covid was causing strain.
NHS North Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Vale of York CCG, which buy health services for the county, acknowledging ‘the wait to speak to a member of a surgery’s reception team in some areas may be a little longer than normal’ and asking people to show ‘patience and kindness’ in the run-up to Christmas.
Dr Charles Parker, NHS North Yorkshire CCG clinical chair, said:
“We recognise how frustrating it can be to be in a call queue but surgery staff are doing their very best in challenging circumstances.
“GP practices have been asked to vaccinate the 50-64 year olds against the flu, to give the covid vaccine, to work in constrained ways to keep patients and staff safe and to do this with higher numbers of staff off work, isolating or ill.
“This is a lot to cope with at the same time. They absolutely do not deserve to be shouted at and abused.”
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Dr Parker added people should not ring GP practices asking about the covid vaccine but instead wait for notification. He added:
“This will help keep the phone lines clear and help practices cope with providing prompt care.”
Local pharmacies can also help with minor ailments, such as coughs, colds, sore throats, tummy trouble and aches and pains.
Patients can also get non-emergency medical advice at all hours by using the NHS 111 service online or over the phone.
