Fenland GP group set to introduce video consultations in wake of COVID-19 pandemic
Patients at a group of Fenland GP surgeries are being advised to stay away with video consultations set to be run from Monday.
The Fenland Group Practice which covers Doddington, Wimblington, Manea and Ramsey is asking people with symptoms of COVID-19 to stay away and is suggesting older at risk patients avoid coming into surgeries.
They said: "Many of you will no doubt be wondering what we at the surgery will be doing in response to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 crisis. For now the advice is: If you have symptoms STAY AWAY from the surgery.
"For our older at risk patients, avoid if possible coming to the surgeries.
"From Monday (18) we will be triaging all patients, only those we deem it necessary to be seen will be seen in surgery.
"We hope to have video consultations running on Monday, more will be done on the phone.
"If you are invited to a surgery, please wait outside when you arrive, call in by phone and you will be collected by the doctor or nurse. We want the waiting rooms empty.
"Please do not come in to drop repeat slips, leave them in an external mail box, or better still use our online service. If you are not set up for this we will relax the rules about getting you set up. We will temporarily be taking medication orders by phone again.
"Where possible you should avoid crowded places. The over 70s and those with asthma/COPD and other long term conditions are most at risk.
"Many young children will get this virus and they will not be badly affected by it, but will be very good at spreading it (this has happened in Spain and Italy). Avoid contact with poorly kids!
"Stay safe, don’t panic. The last major flu pandemic in 1919 killed 2million, corona virus has killed 6000, not nice, but in a different league."
This is the latest in a long line of local responses to the current coronavirus pandemic with several events already being cancelled or postponed.
Among those affected was an anti-slavery conference planned for Saturday in Wisbech by the town's museum.
A Fenland museum spokesman said: "Organisers of a unique conference due to be held this weekend (Saturday Mar 14) at Wisbech have decided to postpone it as a precaution against the spread of Covid-19.
"Speakers expected to travel from all over the UK have been told the Cambridgeshire Abolitionists Conference at St Peter's Church Hall will not go ahead as planned for the time being."
Octavia Hill's Birthplace House had already announced its decision to close for six weeks from Monday (23) to Friday May 1 with all events, group visits, room bookings and meetings scheduled for that period being cancelled or postponed and the Clock Bookshop is also set to close.
A museum spokesman said: “It is important to make clear that this is a precautionary measure to protect visitors, volunteers and staff and not a shut down because of a suspected case.”
The trustees will continue to monitor the global and national situation and decide the correct way to proceed from the beginning of May and beyond.
In Parson Drove, Thursday night bingo sessions have been cancelled for the rest of the month. Organisers say the precautionary measure is because the majority of players are elderly.
