Accessing health services

What should I do if I'm unwell?

You may feel like you should avoid getting help for medical conditions because you’re worried about putting the NHS under additional pressure or be worried about catching the virus by going to a doctor’s surgery or hospital.

But your health needs are just as important as before and you should seek care and treatment that you need. The NHS has systems in place to ensure that care is still available for anyone who needs it and measures are in place to minimise the spread of the virus.

If you become unwell you can still speak to your GP, although they may do this over the phone rather than face-to-face.

If you have an existing health condition, you should continue to follow your treatment plan. If you have any concerns then contact their GP or specialist.

If you need urgent medical help, whether or not you have coronavirus symptoms, you should contact 111 or call 999 in an emergency.

GP appointments

Your GP surgery is still open and is able to provide care, so you shouldn't put off getting any help you need. Ring the surgery or visit their website for an appointment if you need to see the doctor. 

Your appointment may take place over the phone or by online video chat for the time being. You shouldn't go to the surgery in person unless you're advised to do so. 

Your GP may have postponed routine appointments, such as medicine reviews, check-ups, and annual health checks. It's important that you let your GP know if you've developed any symptoms since they saw you last so they can decide if you need to be seen.

Will my appointment or treatment be postponed?

Some medical appointments have been postponed or they may be delivered in a different way. This is to help stop the spread of coronavirus and to protect the NHS.

Outpatient appointments

There’s going to be some changes to outpatient appointments. Some people will be asked to have their appointment over the phone or by online video consultation. Other patients will find their appointment has been rearranged.

Patients who need to have their appointments face-to-face will be asked not to bring a friend or relative with them, unless completely necessary.

When you visit the hospital, you'll need to wear a face covering that covers your nose and mouth, unless you have a medical reason which prevents you from doing so. 

Cancer treatment and clinically urgent care

Cancer treatment and clinically urgent care will still be treated as a priority, but your treatment plan might be reviewed. They'll consider whether the risks of your treatment have changed as a result of coronavirus. Your clinical team will talk to you and answer questions you may have about any changes to your treatment or appointments.

Anyone who's worried they have signs or symptoms of cancer should contact their GP. Don't put off getting help as the earlier cancer is detected the better. 

Cancer Research and Macmillan have specific guidance on coronavirus for cancer patients. 

Cancer Research's coronavirus information

MacMillan's coronavirus information

Surgery and procedures 

At the start of the pandemic, many operations were suspended to ensure that patients were kept safe and the NHS had the resource needed to tackle coronavirus. 

Some hospitals are now starting to resume operations. However, due to infection control measure they won't be able to see as many people as usual. 

If you're having surgery or a procedure there are things you might need to do:

• You, the people you live with, and anyone in your support bubble may need to self-isolate before you go into hospital.
• You may need a coronavirus test before you go into hospital. 

These measures are to help stop the spread of the virus. Your clinician will advise you on what steps you need to take.  

If you have symptoms before an appointment

If you have symptoms of coronavirus, or a member of your household does, you must let your doctor or clinician know before attending your appointment. You must also let your doctor or clinician know if you've been advised to self-isolate by the test and trace service.

In most cases your appointment will be rearranged, however some people who are receiving life-saving treatment will be asked to still attend. If this is the case, your clinician will put in place extra precautions to keep you safe.

If you are shielding and need ongoing treatment or care

If you have health conditions which make you extremely vulnerable to coronavirus and have been advised to shield, then you should contact your GP or specialist for advice on how to continue receiving your care and treatment.

How will I get to my appointment?

Patient transport services are being used to transport people who have been discharged from hospital, which means they are under more pressure than usual.

To help ease this pressure, patients whose treatment is still going ahead are being asked to see if a friend, family, or household member can take them to their appointment. But they shouldn’t take you if they have symptoms of coronavirus or if you have symptoms.

Patient transport services are still available for certain patients, but the eligibility guidelines have changed. Priority is being given to:

• patients who are classed as extremely vulnerable from coronavirus and who need to attend ongoing care appointments or treatment but have no access to private travel
• patients suspected of having coronavirus who need to attend ongoing care appointments and have no access to private travel.
• patients with life-sustaining care needs who need to attend a care setting, such as for dialysis, and have no access to private travel.

Patient transport services will be taking additional precautions, including extra cleaning of vehicles and proportionate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to make sure patients and staff can travel safely.

If you're unsure if you should still be attending your treatment, speak to your hospital clinician for advice.

What happens when I come out of hospital?

If you’re currently in hospital or are admitted as a result of coronavirus, there are a few things it's worth knowing about how the discharge process will work during the outbreak:

1. You and your family should have the current discharge process clearly explained to you as you're admitted to hospital. You should also be given a leaflet explaining this process.
2. You'll be reviewed regularly during your time in hospital and once it's agreed you no longer need to be in hospital, staff will explain the next steps they will follow so you can will be discharged quickly with the necessary support. You should be given a short leaflet explaining what to expect either if you can go home or should you need to move to another location for further care.
3. Once moved to the next agreed location – that may be back at home, into a community hospital or into a care home – you may then have a more detailed assessment.
4. The NHS will pay for any follow-on care that it's agreed that you need when discharged. This should be explained by staff, including how long this is likely to last and what happens next.

As part of plans to increase testing for coronavirus, the government announced its intention to test all residents before they move into a care home, starting with those moving to a care home after a hospital stay. If you are to move into a care home, discharge staff will explain how they are managing testing in your hospital

Can I visit someone in hospital?

The coronavirus pandemic means that there are extra restrictions on visiting someone in hospital.

The guidance previously said that most visitors would not be allowed. From the 5 June this has changed and rules around visiting are now down to individual hospitals. They will make decisions based on the threat of the virus and the best way to keep everyone safe.

You should not be visiting someone in hospital if you or anyone in your household is self-isolating because they have symptoms of coronavirus or have received a positive coronavirus test result. You also should not visit if you have been advised by the test and trace service that you need to self-isolate. 

When deciding whether to visit someone in hospital, you should also think about the risks to your own health. People who are classed as clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus or who are immuno-compromised will be at greater risk and are advised not to visit people in hospital at this time. 

If you want to visit a friend or loved one you should first contact the ward they are on to check what arrangements they have in place.

In most cases patients will be allowed one person at their bedside. If somebody is there to provide support to the person in hospital, for example as a carer, they will not count as a visitor and one other person will also be allowed to be at the bedside.

If it is possible to socially distance while visiting, and there are special circumstances, then the ward may allow two people to be there. For example, you may be allowed two people to visit somebody who is receiving end-of-life care.

If you’re able to visit, you’ll be asked to take precautions. This will include making sure you wash your hands when entering and leaving the hospital and not touching your face or eyes. You should also go straight to the ward you’re visiting and not visit other areas of the hospital. You will need to wear a face covering for the whole visit unless you have a medical reason which prevents you from doing so.

There is specific guidance in place for people who wish to visit someone during the final days of their lives. When a person is expected to only live for 24-48 hours, the hospice, care home, or hospital they are in will try to ensure that a close family member or friend is able to be with them. This will be the case even if the person receiving end-of-life care has coronavirus. Only one visitor will usually be allowed but if social distancing is possible, then two people may be allowed to visit. The hospital, hospice, or care home where your loved one is staying will be able to advise you of what precautions you will need to take when visiting. They will also tell you how long you are able to visit for.

Not being able to visit a loved one is likely to be distressing. Try to find different ways to stay in touch such as over the phone or by video call. Some hospitals may allow you to deliver a phone if the person you want to visit does not have one. Even if they are unable to communicate with you, they may find hearing your voice comforting. You could ask staff who are caring for your loved one to pass on messages, pictures, cards or laminated photos.

It is especially upsetting if you are unable to visit someone you care about when they are in the last days or weeks of their life. Marie Curie offer advice and a dedicated helpline for anyone going through this difficult time.

Can I get a dentist appointment?

From the 8 June, dental practices in England started to reopen. Not all dentists will be opening and those which are open will not be able to provide all the same treatment as usual. They will need to prioritise patients with the greatest need and to enable social distancing and ensure the practice is cleaned properly between patients there will be fewer appointments available. Most dentists will not be able to offer routine treatment or check-ups at the moment. 

If you need dental help you should ring your dentist to see if they are open, what treatment is available and to book an appointment. Don't turn up at your dentist unless you have a booked appointment. You should not go to the dentist if you or anyone in your household is self-isolating because of symptoms of coronavirus or a confirmed positive test. You should also not visit the dentist if you have been advised by the test and trace service that you need to self-isolate. 

Even if your dental practice is open, they may be unable to offer the treatment you need, and you may need to be referred to an urgent care centre. They will be able to advise you on what to do if this is the case.

If you do go to the dentist, there will be processes in place to keep you safe. You will be asked to wash your hands when you arrive and leave and there may be two metre markers in place in areas like waiting rooms. Dentists will be wearing PPE to keep you safe and will be cleaning down equipment between patients. You may be asked to wear a mask or be given one on arrival for when you are moving about the practice. 

Where possible you should go into the dental practice by yourself as this will help to limit the spread of infection. If you arrive early for your appointment try to wait outside. Some practices may ask you to wait in your car and will send you a text message when they are ready for you to come in.