In Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, our NHS is busy as we continue to respond to coronavirus whilst restoring services to support people with other health needs.
Download our information poster – Why are GP Practices still working differently?
How you contact your GP and surgery staff will be different at the moment to avoid face to face contact whenever possible and help stop the spread of coronavirus. Contact your surgery online via the GP surgery website, the NHS App or by ringing your GP surgery.
Contacting your GP remotely
Watch the video below which explains how to contact your GP remotely and explains how online, video and telephone consultations work.
A guide to local health services in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
Help us help you and your family stay well by downloading our leaflet which provides a guide to the different local health services available.
GP Access in BLMK – Help Us Help You
Our GP surgeries are still open, but are working differently. They are carrying out appointments virtually or over the phone or internet and seeing people face to face when necessary for their care. Watch our video which explains GP access in BLMK.
A British Sign Language (BSL) version of this video is available here.
Online Consultations across Bedfordshire Luton and Milton Keynes.
Many GP practices across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes now offer Online Consultations. This means you can speak to a GP directly without having to visit the surgery.
You may see links like this on your GP Practice’s website:
When you click on these links, you will be able to explain why you are contacting the surgery. You will then be told what happens next.
In this case you would click on “Get medical advice and treatment from a Doctor.” and follow the instructions.
If you have any problems or questions about Online Consultations at your practice, you can contact them by phone.
You can find more information on services offered by our practices here: https://blmkhealthandcarepartnership.org/your-health-and-care/your-primary-care/
For general information on Online Consultations the NHS has set up the following page for guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/gps/gp-online-consultations/
What if I can’t see one of these links?
You may still be able to use Online Consultations. On your surgery’s homepage, you may see a link labelled “Consulting Room” like this:
Healthcare professionals who work in GP surgeries
GP surgeries are still open but are working differently to how they did before the pandemic. Long waiting lists mean that GP staff are helping patients to manage their conditions at home while they wait to be seen.
When you ring your GP surgery to make an appointment, you will be asked some questions which are designed to help staff guide you to the most appropriate clinical person to help you with your condition. This could be a nurse, clinical pharmacist, physician’s associate, GP or paramedic.
For more information about the different healthcare professionals that work at GP surgeries and the wider community, download our leaflet.
Watch our video which introduces your local GP practice team.
Introducing your local GP practice team
A British Sign Language version of this video is available here.
How to access your GP service
Types of Appointments
We aim to deliver a range of different ways you can access care so we can provide more choice and more convenience for you.
Types of appointments include phone consultations, online consultations or video consultations. Face to face appointments are still available if you need them.
We still have work to do, and we appreciate the support and feedback we receive from patients and partners such as Healthwatch.
Supporting foreign language speakers and BSL users to access primary care
GP practices are able to book foreign language and BSL interpreters for Face to Face, telephone or video appointments. If you need an interpreter, you should contact your GP practice to request one.