Desborough and Hazlemere surgeries 'only offering urgent care until further notice' after 'high level of staff sickness due to Covid pandemic'

Desborough Surgery, in Desborough Avenue, High Wycombe and Hazlemere Surgery, in Roberts Ride, have announced they will still be taking calls but will only be able to offer urgent care to patients.

In a message seen by the Bucks Free Press, the surgeries wrote: “Due to [the] COVID pandemic we are experiencing a high level of staff sickness, therefore we can only offer URGENT care to patients until further notice.

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“We are still answering calls, but please do not attend either surgery unless specifically invited by a clinician.

“We are working extremely hard with a reduced team so please be understanding and patient with us.

“Consider using other services during this time; ASK NHS, 111 or community pharmacies can give advice for care of minor illnesses.

“Thank you from all the staff.”

On their website, they also urged people not to call them about the Covid vaccine, adding: “We will contact you when it’s available for our patients.”

NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group did not confirm or deny whether the staff sickness was Covid-related when asked by the Free Press.

It said in a statement: “Desborough and Hazlemere GP Surgeries remain open and continue to see patients as they have done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic – through telephone triage and then calling in patients who need to be seen in person.

“As would be expected, they are seeing the most urgent cases first.

“However, we would remind patients that if they have a less urgent concern or a minor illness, sources of health advice are available via the Ask NHS app, NHS 111 online and at their local pharmacy.

“By using these options for minor health concerns, they can help GP practices ensure that they support patients with the most urgent needs more quickly.”