AS lockdown restrictions are gradually eased around the country, the teams at Abbottswood Medical Centre and Pershore Medical Practice, are already planning for the flu season from September and face the challenge of organising vaccination clinics within pandemic restrictions. 

At the start of the lockdown, access to the surgeries was restricted in line with Government recommendations, but the care of  patients was still supported by new ways of working.

The two practices may be separate but often collaborate to improve services for the inhabitants of the town and surrounding areas.

As the needs have changed during the pandemic, the surgeries have reassessed their way of working and are now working from their own premises again.

Surgery staff have adapted to new ways of working behind the scenes too. Social distancing is in place, with offices rearranged to give two-metre distancing for staff to work safely. Some staff work from home, supporting the practice remotely.

To keep in touch with colleagues, technology was invaluable with meetings taking place via Zoom for example. These new ways of working have proven to save time and resources and will definitely be used in the future.

To keep in touch with patients, further technology was utilised. This has the advantage of making the most of available time as well as being more convenient for the patients.

One example of this is E-Consult, which can be accessed via the website of each surgery and gives the patient the ability to contact the surgery about a range of issues, from requesting a sick note to asking for advice from one of the clinicians.

Looking to the future, these clinics will be very different in comparison to those from past years to maintain safety restrictions.

Further information will be available regarding these arrangements in late summer.

For further details, contact abbottswoodmedicalcentre.co.uk or call 01386 552424, or pershoremedicalpractice.co.uk or call 01386 553346.