THE scale of change required at GP surgeries to continue to support patients during the coronavirus has been highlighted by new data on appointments.

In the 12 months up to February this year, more than 80 per cent of all appointments in Dorset were in person, with less than one per cent using video-link.

However, the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) says that has been turned on its head following government guidance, while the Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) says surgeries have implemented changes due to the pandemic.

Nationally, face-to-face contact with a GP is now making up seven per cent of all contact, RCGP's chairman professor Martin Marshall said, as he praised the profession's "remarkable" response.

Mr Marshall said around 40 per cent of patients would normally be triaged before booking an appointment.

Now all patients are initially assessed on the phone before booking either a call or video link with a doctor.

"Most of the consultations are taking place on the telephone rather than video link," he said.

"People are pretty happy with doing assessments over the phone and they are proving effective.

"Who would have thought this 150-year-old technology would still be just as useful today?"

He said there were occasions where a video appointment was beneficial, particularly in the case of assessing skin rashes.

But with people able to email in pictures of the affected area, he said phone calls have been used in around 90 per cent of cases.

In Dorset, the CCG said the most significant change has been asking people not to turn up at their GP practice without an appointment, but to contact the practice by phone or online via an eConsult form which is on all the practice websites. GPs call patients back and can also offer video consultations.

Face-to-face assessments are offered after the telephone call if needed. which may be at a different venue from the one patients normally attend.

Doctor Karen Kirkham, integrated care system clinical lead of Dorset CCG, said: “We recognise that this is a change for many people, however as everyone will be aware we are in a unique situation and the advice across the world is to reduce contact with others to help slow the impact of COVID-19.

“It is simple – by reducing personal contact with patients we can help slow the spread of the disease, help ease the pressure on services and save lives.”