Latest COVID-19 guidance
The COVID-19 outbreak is arguably one of the greatest public health challenges of our time – not least for general practice, where over one million patients are already treated every day.
The College is closely monitoring the situation and developing practical resources and support for GPs and their teams. We hope you will find this page and its resources useful in your day to day work and for keeping yourselves, your families and your patients as safe as you possibly can over the coming difficult weeks and months.
Latest advice
Every attempt will be taken to keep this advice current but please continue to refer to the latest advice in your area.
England
Latest advice for GPs in England
For members in England, NHS England has set up a PPE supply and distribution helpline.
Are you experiencing PPE shortages?
Tel: 0800 915 9964 or 0191 283 6543.
Email: supplydisruptionservice@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
This service is operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Government statistics
Public Health England
NHS England
Department of Health and Social Care
Northern Ireland
Latest guidance for GPs in Northern Ireland
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) Northern Ireland, guidance and support, easing of restrictions, symptom checker, testing and contact tracing for Northern Ireland, NI Direct
- COVID-19 NI latest news and updates, with symptom checker, information and community services, Health and Social Care, Northern Ireland.
- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2020.
- Health and Social Care Northern Ireland Public Health Agency
- Department of Health dashboard for tests, deaths, hospital admissions and capacity.
- COVID-19 information for primary care, from a working group collating the most up to date and relevant information, GPNI
- Letter from Head of General Medical Services to all GPs, Proposed Covid-19 Vaccination programme in Northern Ireland (321 KB PDF) - 26 November 2020
- RCGPNI response to the COVID-19 crisis, 19 June 2020.
- RCGP Northern Ireland and Independent Health and Care Providers joint statement on care homes, 4 May 2020 (148 KB PDF).
- Frequently asked questions on Verification of Life Extinct (VLE) by nurses working in community settings, HSC Public Health Agency, 29 April 2020 (332 KB PDF).
- Briefing from RCGPNI to Stormont Health Committee Evidence Session, 16 April (165 KB PDF).
- Letter to COVID Centres, 2 April (493 KB PDF).
- Letter on Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) – Update to service, 25 March (371 KB PDF).
- Letter on caring for people at highest risk during COVID-19 incident, 25 March (159 KB PDF).
- Letter from GP to high risk patients during COVID-19 template (42 KB Word).
- Covid19 Poster for GP surgeries.
- Suspension of Performance Targets, BMA, 16 March 2020.
Scotland
Latest guidance for GPs in Scotland
- Letter from Interim Chief Medical Officer to GPs in Scotland about COVID-19 vaccination (505 KB PDF) - 4 December 2020
- General Medical Practice: Business continuity and mitigating the risks of COVID-19 (351 KB PDF)
- Letter on business continuity and mitigating the risk of COVID-19 (179 KB PDF), 16 November 2020
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you can and cannot do, Scottish Government
- General practice priorities in remobilisation (417 KB PDF), 3 July 2020 joint statement between RCGP and BMA Scotland
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) latest information on infection prevention, PPE, community settings, and learning, Health Protection Scotland.
- COVID-19 - guidance for primary care with guidance on case definition, PPE, cleaning, and attending deaths, Health Protection Scotland.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): clinical and practice guidance for adult care homes, with clinical and practice guidance to support those working in adult care homes, Scottish Government.
Wales
Latest guidance for GPs in Wales
COVID-19 vaccinations guidance for General Practice
The latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine and managing flu vaccinations during the pandemic.
Visit our vaccination guidance page on our COVID-19 Resource hub.
General Practice is open
As we head into the second lockdown in England, the Royal College of GPs have launched a new resource for GP practices urging patients to continue accessing primary care services when they need to. General practice is open – and has been throughout the pandemic – but because of Coronavirus the way patients are seen in primary care has changed.
Find out more about GP is open.
General practice post-Covid
Our report General Practice in the post-Covid world (295 KB PDF) has highlighted emerging evidence that suggests that patients who have recovered from the virus have experienced a range of health problems, including chronic fatigue, ongoing respiratory difficulties and mental health problems. These patients will now be managed in primary care which needs to be supported to effectively ensure high-quality patient care.
Find out more and sign up to the campaign online.
COVID-19 Appraisal and Revalidation support
RCGP guidance
Guidance on delivering mass vaccinations during COVID-19
Download the guidance on Delivering Mass Vaccinations During COVID-19: A Logistical Guide for General Practice (PDF 732 KB), 25 August 2020.
Version 3.1 of the guidance incorporates new guidance on Infection, Protection and Control and the use of Personal Protective Equipment. Previously, with requirements to change PPE between patients, our view was patients could be vaccinated at approximately four-minute intervals. With the new guidance that only hand hygiene is required and the wearing of a mask for the duration of a session, we expect that patients could reasonably be booked at two-three minute intervals (allowing for social distancing measures).
Guidance for Remote Verification of Expected Death (VoED) out of hospital
During the COVID-19 pandemic the processes in relation to death registration and management across the UK have been changing to ensure the deceased are treated with the utmost respect, to help minimise delays and distress for bereaved families and to protect public health. In these extraordinary times, there is a need for various groups of workers to work differently and together as one system.
This is why, in collaboration with the BMA, we have produced guidance for the verification of expected death with the remote assistance of other workers so that the verification process can be completed by a clinician safely, ensuring that bereaved families do not experience needless delays, reducing the risk of unnecessary exposure to the virus and allowing clinicians to continue on the front line.
Download the Guidance for Remote Verification of Expected Death (82 KB PDF), 21 April 2020.
Workload prioritisation during COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the RCGP and the BMA’s GP committee has prepared joint guidance to help practices across the UK to prioritise the clinical and non-clinical workload in general practice.
Guidance on Workload Prioritisation during COVID-19 (357 KB PDF), 11 January 2021
Ethical dimensions of COVID-19 for front-line staff
RCGP has produced Ethical Guidance on COVID-19 and Primary Care which is available on the COVID-19 resource hub.
The Royal College of Physicians has published (31 March) ethical guidance for frontline staff dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, supported by more than a dozen other health organisations including RCGP.
Royal College of General Practitioners Ethical Guidance on COVID-19 and Primary Care.
Royal College of Physicians Ethical Guidance for frontline staff dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, 31 March 2020
GP returners
Thousands of GPs have responded to the call to return to general practice during the COVID-19 crisis and we are very grateful to you.
You can download our Registration Beyond COVID-19 (433 KB PDF) guide which includes next steps for GP returners who wish to remain in the clinical workforce after the COVID-19 emergency period.
You can also access our resources on Returners and read a blog post from College President Amanda Howe on the important contribution of late career and retired GPs.
Masks and face coverings
Download the Guidance on masks and face coverings in primary care (298 KB PDF), RCGP, 31 July 2020.
Medical students in response to COVID-19
This resource acts as a guide to practices considering supplementing their workforce (e.g. use of medical students) in response to COVID-19. This document offers guidance, examples and best practice to suit the needs of your local circumstances.
Download Recruitment and implementation of medical students in response to COVID-19 (759 KB PDF). Last updated 8 April 2020.
RCGP online resource hub
The COVID-19 Resource Hub has been created to support GPs in understanding and managing this pandemic, with topics ranging from diagnosis to keeping your practice safe. This hub will be updated daily with the latest developments and guidance.
The resource hub includes:
Essential guidance
Key information for GPs during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Remote consultation and triaging
Advice on adapting to changing consultation formats, including best practice for online and telephone triage appointments.
Post-COVID syndrome
Information and resources for GPs supporting patients through recovery from COVID-19.
COVID-19 Vaccination programme
The latest updates on the COVID-19 vaccine.
General clinical management
Essential information for GPs about COVID-19, from symptoms and diagnosis to protecting practice staff.
Specific clinical management
Managing COVID-19 alongside specific clinical conditions.
End of life care
Guidance on dealing with palliative and end of life care, and supporting carers throughout the pandemic.
Specific patient groups and settings
Information on dealing with specific patient groups throughout the COVID-19 period.
Safeguarding and vulnerable groups
Advice on safeguarding vulnerable patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, including shielding those in high-risk groups.
Ethics and challenging conversations
Guidance to support GPs with making challenging decisions during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Health inequalities
Information about health equity and caring for socially vulnerable patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.