Although it is now a few years since the COVID-19 pandemic, some vulnerable patients remain very concerned about attending practices for fear of catching a virus or other illness. The potential benefits of attending in person need to be carefully weighed against the risks of adverse effects and interactions.
Consider the case of patient A, a 57-year-old patient with a long history of anxiety, which had worsened considerably during COVID-19 and persisted since this time. She has rheumatoid arthritis and is on methotrexate. She refuses to attend the hospital and has not attended the practice for blood tests for several months. She has also recently booked two GP appointments but cancelled them both on the day.
This scenario is not uncommon, although the clinical presentation and the details are likely to vary between patients. This particular patient may have good reason to be cautious, considering she may have an impaired immune system and therefore be at risk of severe illness if she catches an infection. She has also recently written to her GP to request that all her care is undertaken remotely. She has booked a telephone consultation with the GP to discuss her request further and for a general health check-up.