Question reference: S5W-34047
- Asked by: Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 14 December 2020
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Current status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 14 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what guidance and advice is available for GP practices to enable them to offer face-to-face appointments in a safe way during the current COVID-19 restrictions.
Answer
GPs practices follow the advice in Health Protection Scotland's guidance: Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance for primary care - Management of patients in primary care .
The guidance does allow for face-to-face consultations where that is clinically appropriate, but GP practices are advised to make every effort to triage all patients by telephone to avoid patients presenting at the practice unnecessarily.
Where patients need to attend, they should follow physical distancing guidelines. Physical distancing by staff of 2m should be followed in all areas of the workplace, including non-clinical areas. Where 2m physical distancing cannot be maintained, for example in direct patient contacts, the use of PPE in accordance with guidance will reduce the risk of exposure. Other considerations might include measures such as staggering staff breaks, and toilet use to limit the density of staff in specific areas are required. The use of Perspex (or similar) screens should also be considered to reduce risk in non-clinical encounters.