Update on the return of face-to-face GP appointments in Sunderland

Most practices have been holding consultations by phone, video call and email since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in an attempt to limit infections.

But despite accepting meeting in person is still the best way for a doctor to assess someone, practices in Wearside will be left to decide for themselves how they want to carry out treatment and diagnosis.

The issue was raised at a meeting of Sunderland City Council’s (SCC) Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee by panel chairman Darryl Dixon.

“It’s good GP practices have been using modern technology, like video conferencing, during all this,” he told city health chiefs.

“But it’s not possible for everyone and I’m pleased to see face-to-face appointments are now being reintroduced.

“Are practices being guided and supported on the reopening of surgeries to patients and how is this progressing, is there a uniform approach?”

A presentation to the meeting, which was held by videolink and broadcast via YouTube, had highlighted plans to resume pre-COVID levels of care ‘where clinically appropriate’.

This is due to include screening for diseases such as cervical cancer and childhood immunisation schemes.

But remote consultations between doctors and patients are set to continue.

David Chandler, chief finance officer at Sunderland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said GPs would be told to offer the best appointments for their patients, which in some areas may have more difficulty accessing remote consultations than in others.

He added: “We don’t specify to individual practices, of which we have about 40 in Sunderland, that they must provide a service in a particular way.

“But what we do measure is quality of care.

“Most GPs will tell you nothing is as good as a face-to-face consultation, [where patients might] tell you about something they might not do in an email.

“There’s no uniform approach, but we have ensured all our practices have the ability to do video or telephone consultations and it’s up to practices how they provide their services.

“What might work in Hendon might not work elsewhere.”

Chandler also revealed ‘hot spots’ in GP practices reserved only for patients with possible COVID-19 symptoms had now been phased out in Sunderland, but could be brought back if needed.

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