Government failing on coronavirus, say GPs

GPs have shared their experiences of the government’s handling of coronavirus, warning that they have concerns about how patients are being managed.

The Guardian has revealed that doctors across the county believe that NHS 111 is giving wrong advice and not enough patients are being tested for the virus. A GP from Derbyshire, where one of the latest British coronavirus cases is thought to have been located, went as far as to describe the Department of Health’s response to the virus as ‘ridiculous’ and ‘negligent’.

The doctor, whose name has not been revealed, said none of his patients who had travelled back from at-risk countries had been given any information at airports or sea ports on what to do if they developed symptoms of coronavirus. The lack of information has led to many booking appointments with their GP, which risks infecting other patients with weaker immune systems.

Another GP practice in South London criticised the government’s response to the virus outbreak, after two parents, one of whom had travelled to a number of affected areas in Asia and become sick for a short time afterwards, brought their child into the practice after the infant developed symptoms of coronavirus.

A GP at the practice called NHS 111 on the parents’ behalf, but was told the family must call themselves to get help. When they called the helpline, the family were told to attend a GP hub centre, a service to which 111 regularly refers callers, which is not specific to coronavirus. On arrival, the family were turned away as no appointment had been booked.

A doctor at the surgery described the situation as a ‘catch 22’, saying that the ‘government aren’t doing one thing or the other. They’re not containing it, like they did in China, and they’re not testing for it. They have no idea of the problem’.