HEALTH chiefs are reminding residents that GP surgeries and other primary care service are open – although access to them may have changed.

Local GPs are urging patients if they have any health concerns they should get in touch.

Dr Forbes Watson, a local GPO and chairman of the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: "During the Covid-19 pandemic we have all learnt a great deal and had to adapt our ways of working to enable us to carry on offering care to patients whilst at the same time ensuring they are protected and risk to our own staff is minimised.

"This is why we are asking people to contact us first via the phone or online rather than turn up as they may have done in the past.

"Despite these changes we still want to see people so please don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local practice if you have any concerns, and if you are invited for a check-up or vaccination please make sure you attend.”

During the start of the pandemic the numbers of people contacting primary care services for health issues unrelated to Covid-19 fell dramatically, as did, on the whole, admissions for non-Covid cases to hospital A&E departments.

Research from the Royal College of GPs does indicate that routine GP appointments are back to near normal levels for this time of year.

However, the fear is this may fall again if a second peak of the virus comes in the next few months.

In a recent British Medical Association survey of more than 8,000 doctors and medical students, some 86 per cent believed a second peak was likely, or very likely, in the next six months.

Dorset CCG says if patients need face to face appointments, they will be offered one with the most appropriate person. However, it is more likely you will be contacted remotely for example by phone or offered a video consultation.

A Dorset CCG spokesman said: "If your GP thinks you need to be referred to a hospital for treatment or tests, they will arrange this and let you know the details.

"If you have an appointment for a vaccination or treatment, please still attend."