During the coronavirus pandemic, our staff have been working hard to ensure that all patients who need urgent care – not just those with coronavirus – have been able to get it. To avoid unnecessary contact, some non-urgent appointments and surgeries have been postponed and others delivered differently using technology.

We will continue to ask patients to attend face-to-face services only when it is really necessary, and where it can be done safely without putting our patients, the public or our staff at greater risk of catching coronavirus. Where possible, appointments will continue to be offered using remote services such as a video or phone consultation.

If you feel unwell or have hurt yourself, you can still get the care and treatment you need. It’s vital that if you’re having a potentially life-threatening medical emergency, such as a heart attack, stroke or really bad flare up of asthma, you contact the NHS.

You might be worrying about a mole that’s changed shape, or grown larger, and think you need to contact your GP.

Everyone in the NHS really appreciates people taking pressure off services for conditions that can be safely managed with over-the-counter medicines, and taken care of at home.

But it is crucial that for anything else that you do not risk life or wellbeing – contact NHS 111 online or by phone, get in touch with your GP, visit an Urgent Treatment Centre, or for emergencies go to A&E or call 999.

Watch Dr Avi Bhatia’s Here to Help video. Dr Bhatia is a GP in Derbyshire and Chair of NHS Derby and Derbyshire Clinical Commissioing Group.

If you want to know how Derbyshire’s NHS services are changing in response to the pandemic visit: https://joinedupcarederbyshire.co.uk/public-info-covid-19/help-us-help-you