Health leaders have been told they need to make sure patients can access care if GPs close on the day of the Queen’s funeral. NHS England has written to local and regional leaders saying that, while GP services will be able to close on the bank holiday, there needs to be “sufficient” out-of-hours care for patients.
It also asked for scheduled Covid booster care home visits to be carried out as planned and “strongly” encouraged clinics due that day to stay open. The letter, signed by NHS England’s director of primary care Dr Ursula Montgomery, added: “Given the importance of delivering the Covid-19 autumn booster programme, we would ask that scheduled care home visits (which are a high priority for the programme) are maintained and delivered as planned.
“We strongly encourage any clinics scheduled on that day to be maintained, particularly where there is a high population need. GP practices will be contractually able to close on this day for their core services as it is a confirmed bank holiday.
“ICBs (integrated care boards) will need to urgently work to ensure sufficient out-of-hours (integrated urgent care) services capacity is in place during what would have been core hours to meet patient’s urgent primary medical care needs.”
The letter, sent to ICB chief executives and chairs as well as regional primary care directors, GPs, dentists and pharmacies on Monday, also said areas must make up for cancelled appointments and make sure patients can pick up prescriptions in advance. Health bosses will also need to work with dentists and community pharmacies to confirm available services on the bank holiday so patients can access urgent dental care and medicines, it added.
It said: “The PCN (primary care network) must make up the cancelled time by offering additional appointments within a two-week period unless otherwise agreed by the commissioner. The PCN must ensure that all patients are notified of any cancellations and rescheduling of appointments.
“GP practices will also wish to consider rescheduling pre-booked appointments and enabling patients to receive prescriptions, especially repeat medicines, in advance of the bank holiday.”
A separate letter sent to ICB leaders and NHS trust chief executives warns there may be higher levels of missed appointments or cancellations, which could impact on elective care and clinics over the mourning period and funeral day. The letter, signed by NHS England’s chief operating officer Sir David Sloman, said NHS trusts should also have a method to identify overseas visitors and have plans to manage them and make sure they are charged “appropriately”.
Millions of visitors are expected to converge on London in the lead-up to the Queen’s funeral. The letter added: “The organisation should have a method of identifying overseas visitors, including foreign dignitaries and VIPs, and have plans to manage these patients, and ensure that those not entitled to free health care at the point of use are charged appropriately.”
