Dear Patients,
We are seeing an increase in calls from patients who have cough and cold symptoms.
Research shows there are no longer just three main symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, and loss or change of smell) – and there’s increasing crossover between cold and COVID symptoms, particularly among those who have been vaccinated.
We are finding that many of our patients who call up with cough and cold symptoms, which could also be possible COVID symptoms, have done a lateral flow (home test) but not a PCR test – booked online or by phoning 119.
Lateral flow tests, even if negative, are not conclusive and you may still actually have COVID. It is advised you take a lateral flow test if you don’t have symptoms. The test helps to pick up cases that otherwise might not be found as it is estimated one in three people with coronavirus do not display symptoms.
We ask that you please arrange a PCR test before calling the GP (unless you are unwell and need to speak to a GP whilst awaiting PCR test). A PCR is the most accurate test available for current infection, but results do take longer to process as they have to be sent to a laboratory.
This will help us to care for you better and allow us to examine you more easily if needed, with a negative PCR.