ALL of the Isle of Man’s GPs will be meeting for an educational and training session on Tuesday afternoon next week.
This is a follow up to a successful meeting held in December last year.
Doctors’ surgeries will still be open and able to deal with simple queries, book routine appointments and deal with requests for repeat prescriptions. Practice nurses will also be available.
The Department of Health has provided GP cover based from surgeries in Douglas, the south and the north to deal with any urgent problems which cannot wait until the following day.
Patients should contact their own surgery, but may be phoned back by a GP from another area.
Urgent appointments and home visits will still be available but in the event of a life threatening illness it is recommended that the emergency services are contacted by dialling 999.
GPs have been working over the past few years with the Department of Health to provide a primary care service of high quality which is accessible and affordable. During this educational afternoon, GPs will have presentations from hospital consultants about chronic pain control and orthopaedic problems.
They will also be discussing drug and alcohol problems in the island, and how GPs can diagnose and treat psychological problems in young people more effectively to stop these continuing into adult life.
GPs have been working with their consultant colleagues to try to reduce hospital waiting lists by developing more skills in primary care.
Dr Alex Allinson, chair of the GP subcommittee, said: ‘This afternoon will allow GPs to provide a better and more comprehensive service to their patients.
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this meeting, but trust that patients in the Isle of Man recognise the need for on-going GP training and development of services provided by their local surgery.’