To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to lift social distancing regulations to allow an increase in face to face appointments at GP surgeries.
Answered on
28 October 2021
On 14 October, the UK Health Security Agency published an online review into changes to COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidance to help ease pressure on the National Health Service, Recommendation 4: a more flexible approach to patient consultations in primary care and general practice. The review states that face to face consultations should be permitted where this is safe for patients and staff, whilst recognising that telephone and video consultations continue to have an important role. Physical distancing can be reduced from two metres to one metre with appropriate mitigations, such as the continued use of face coverings or masks.