News & Blog

New National Campaign Urges People To Contact A Doctor

30th April 2020

A national media campaign is being launched to encourage people to seek medical help for urgent health issues which are not related to coronavirus (COVID-19).

During the lockdown, patients have been delaying seeing their GP, as well as drops in urgent cancer referrals and families getting their children vaccinated.

Possible reasons for this include people not wanting to put further strain on the NHS or fears over becoming infected with the virus, as well as a misconception that doctors do not want to see patients.

The NHS is Open campaign will urge people to contact their GP or hospital if they have any urgent health concerns.

The NHS is Open campaign, launching today (24 April) will urge people to contact their GP or local hospital if they have urgent health worries.

Dr Carey Lunan, a GP and chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland, said: "The NHS is open and it is safe.

"Appointments may feel a little different – they might happen on the phone or even by video-link. If people need to be seen face-to-face, we can arrange that too.

"A&E units are also still open and able to help. We are here for patients and we want to hear from anyone if they have an urgent medical problem."

Background
The marketing campaign will run on TV, radio and digital channels for an initial three weeks. It started Friday 24 April

The campaign will encourage people to call their GP surgery, or 111 out of hours, if they have urgent health concerns. In emergencies, they should still dial 999.