Obianuju Nwokolo PA-R, Aberdeen
I had just completed my 6 months internship in acute/emergency medicine and moved in to general practice at the beginning of March just before the lock down. I soon adjusted to the 'new normal' of doing things which was switching from face to face consultations to telephone and video consultations.
During the first few weeks of lockdown, we spent most of our day on telephone consultations reassuring patients that thought they had the virus and also pointing others to useful services for further assessment.
As part of my non-clinical work, I do telephone consultations with patients who are frail or elderly or those that have received shielding letter. I try to explain what the letter meant, discuss their anticipatory care plan with them, know what is important to them especially with regards to their health, if they ever become unwell. I also try to address any concerns they have got and provide them with information they may find relevant and where appropriate discuss about their resuscitation status.