“THE NHS is open,” and not just for suspected coronavirus patients – that’s the message from Dr Ed Wernick, Farnham’s GP lead for Covid-19, as he backed NHS England’s new ‘Help us help you’ campaign this week.

Launching the new campaign, NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens warned that delays in getting treatment due to coronavirus fears pose a long-term risk to people’s health. This, after a survey suggested four in ten people are too concerned about being a burden on the NHS to seek help from their GP.

And his concerns are shared locally by Downing Street Group Practice GP Dr Wernick, who stressed the NHS is still there for patients without coronavirus who need urgent and emergency services for stroke, heart attack, and other killer conditions.

He said: “I saw one worrying statistic this week, that we’re seeing only half the attendances we would normally expect for suspected heart attacks. So where are those people?

“Is it the fact heart attacks are not happening because people are less active, or that people are simply self-managing at home, which is very worrying.

“I completely agree with the key message that if you’re worried or need help, then contact your GP.

“We’re not turning anyone away, we’ve got we got plenty of capacity for talking to people, triaging, remote managing and seeing people physically if we need to.

“Yes, the NHS has tried to reduce activities in terms of planned routine care. But if it’s for urgent care, then we need people to come and see us and get the help and support that’s required.”

‘Urgent care’ extends to getting a lump or new mole which does not go away after a week checked out – with England’s top cancer doctor Professor Peter Johnson also warning that waiting to get help could have serious consequences for patients, as well as putting a greater burden on the NHS.

In terms of who to ring, the advice is clear: If you have suspected Covid-19 symptoms, ring 111. For everything else, contact your GP surgery as you would normally, or 999 in an emergency.

Seeking medical help is one of the four reasons that people can safely leave home, in line with government guidance.

But online consultations mean people do not necessarily need to go to GP surgeries for check-ups, while Covid-free cancer hubs have been set up to provide surgery along with independent sector hospitals who have signed an unprecedented deal with the NHS.

On the present situation in Farnham and the surrounding area, Dr Wernick added the flow of new coronavirus cases continue to “go down rather than up” locally, and a number of outbreaks in the area’s care homes have also “stabilised.”

“Personal protection equipment (PPE) routes are stabilising as well,” he added, “and the PPE flow has become more via the desired routes rather than relying on the good will of the community”.

He also welcomed the potential roll-out of contact tracing phone apps in the UK, as have been put to good use already in Asia, and believes these will be embraced by the public, so long as they do not compromise personal rights.