Health bosses are aiming to ease the pressure on GPs during the winter months by urging people to be more responsible.

Dr Peter Graves, a consultant in Primary Care, has spoken out through the Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority about ways people can help their GPs during one of the busiest periods of the year.

He said people should take into account the extra number of patients that doctors see during the winter and try to be patient during long waits when there might be more urgent cases.

Similarly, calls for medical help when the surgery is closed should be kept to urgent conditions which cannot wait until the next day.

In some cases, reassurance or advice can be given over the phone by the GP or nurse. Visits to the doctor may even be unnecessary in cases of flu, coughs and colds, where remedies from the chemist are more likely to help than antibiotics - which have no effect on these viruses.

Dr Graves added that patients who decide their appointment is unnecessary can help by notifying the surgery so the consultation can be reallocated.

People can pick up a leaflet from their doctor's surgery giving details of services and out-of-hours arrangements.

A call to 24-hour helpline NHS Direct can also save time for patients and doctors as its nurses can give on the spot advice as well as information about the nearest walk-in centres. Call 0845 4647, at local phone rates.

December 7, 2001 12:01