All NHS patients in south west Hertfordshire are being told to stay away from surgeries and have telephone appointments if they can.

At the end of last week, surgeries began putting notices on doors telling people the doors were locked and to call up instead, to try and protect staff amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group (HVCCG) says this policy applies to all surgeries it is responsible for in our area - but is it still possible to see your GP?

Why are Herts Valleys taking this action?

GP practices are moving to protect the patients and their staff against coronavirus by reducing visits into surgeries and switching to telephone and video appointments wherever they can.

What should you do if you are concerned about the virus?

Patients with concerns about coronavirus are being asked to follow government advice, rather than contact their GP practice. If you, or anyone in your household, have a high temperature or a new and continuous cough, however mild, stay at home and go to nhs.uk to check symptoms and follow the specialist medical advice.

Check if you have symptoms by clicking here

You can also contact the NHS 111 online coronavirus service. Only call 111 if you cannot get online or if your symptoms worsen.

What if I want to make any kind of appointment with my GP?

Patients who contact their local practice for an appointment with a GP or nurse will have an initial telephone assessment and could then be booked in for a follow-up consultation. Wherever possible, this consultation will be over the phone or by video.

Anyone who needs to be seen in person by a doctor or nurse will be offered an appointment at the surgery as long as there’s no risk to patients or staff.

Practices will review appointments that are already booked- in, and will contact patients about changing this to a phone or video appointment where appropriate.

Can I book an appointment online?

In light of this new approach, many practices are not accepting online bookings. However, patients are still encouraged to use online services for things like ordering repeat prescriptions and checking medical records.

Practices aim to send all prescriptions, including repeat prescriptions, through the electronic prescription service (EPS) to the patient’s nominated pharmacy. Patients without a nominated pharmacy can choose one online or ask their usual pharmacy to set this up. If your prescription can’t be sent through EPS to a nominated pharmacy you will need to contact the GP practice by telephone or online.

Dr Nicolas Small, GP chairman of Herts Valleys CCG said: "In keeping with the Government’s approach to protect people against coronavirus by moving to all but essential contact with others, our GP practices are moving to a new way of working.

"Our priority is to make sure that our GPs, nurses and wider teams in practices remain available to support patients and, while more of that support will be over the phone or by video, our practices are still open and will be arranging to see patients where needed.

"We would urge people to protect themselves and others – particularly those who are most vulnerable – by following government advice around coronavirus and not coming into practices unless they have a confirmed arrangement to do that. In this way we can help keep everyone safe.

"Finally, I would encourage people to be considerate of others when buying over-the-counter medicines, such as paracetamol, and only get as much as you need. If everyone is sensible there is enough to go around."