Central Healthcare has made the declaration in order to access additional support.
Central Healthcare say that along with other GP practices in their Scarborough group, and many others across the country, they are seeing a significant and sustained demand for their services.
In the last two weeks alone requests for appointments and care have risen 16%. The practice say this means they are having to prioritise patients with an urgent need to ensure they receive safe and timely care.
Dr Thomas Patel-Campbell is a GP partner at Central Healthcare, he told This is the Coast about the problems they are facing and the steps they are taking to ensure patients can access healthcare services.
The team from the practice say:
"Due to these pressures we have declared ourselves to be under significant pressure, under NHS reporting measures, and are working with NHS partners across the area to seek additional support if available.
As a result, we may redirect patients to other support, where necessary and appropriate, such as NHS111 which can book appointments for urgent care at Urgent Treatment Centres, or local pharmacies which can help with many minor illnesses and ailments.
Please, only use hospital A&Es in genuine ‘life and limb’ emergencies.
We very much hope that this situation improves and would ask our patients for their understanding.
All patients will be triaged and we will provide support for patients with urgent needs first and other patients may be redirected to NHS111."
Patients calling the practice hear a recorded message advising them to book an appointment online, but the surgery's website says it is unable to take bookings until Monday and redirects patients to the NHS 111 service.
Patients with an urgent health care need are advised to hold the line to speak to a member of the team.
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