General practices in the UK will be allowed to take part in the bank holiday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth on 19 September.
NHS England has written to GPs saying while practices will be able to close on the bank holiday, there is still a duty to provide enough out-of-hours care. Additionally, the letter states that primary care networks must make up the cancelled time by offering additional appointments within a two-week period unless otherwise agreed by the commissioner, and must ensure that all patients are notified of any cancellations and rescheduling of appointments.
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‘Given the importance of delivering the Covid-19 autumn booster programme, we would ask that scheduled care home visits (which are a high priority for the programme) are maintained and delivered as planned,’ said NHS England’s director of primary care Dr Ursula Montgomery.
‘We strongly encourage any clinics scheduled on that day to be maintained, particularly where there is a high population need. GP practices will be contractually able to close on this day for their core services as it is a confirmed bank holiday.’
The letter also asked for scheduled COVID booster care home visits to be carried out as planned.
‘ICBs (integrated care boards) will need to urgently work to ensure sufficient out-of-hours (integrated urgent care) services capacity is in place during what would have been core hours to meet patient’s urgent primary medical care needs,’ added Dr Montgomery.