A doctor's surgery has stopped seeing patients face-to-face due to staff being either ill or self-isolating.

Sun Lane Surgery in Hythe is now offering telephone consultations only, and has teamed up with Oaklands Health Centre, also in Hythe, to continue supporting patients.

A statement urged patients to consider whether they need to be seen by a doctor, or if it 'could hold until next week'.

The surgery has put the new measures in place to 'keep patients and other staff safe from infection'.

The statement reads: "Sun Lane Surgery is offering telephone consultations for patients but face-to-face appointments have been postponed temporarily due to a number of staff being either ill or self-isolating.

"The practice is working hard to ensure that key services remain accessible for patients who are most in need and are working in partnership with Oaklands Health Centre, which is providing additional support.

"Patients who are trying to call the practice may experience a delay in getting through and your phone call may be answered by a staff member at Oaklands.

"Please consider carefully whether your request is urgent or if it could hold until next week, or whether you can use an online service.

"Online services continue to be available on the practice website and we would encourage patients who can use these to do so.

"If you are unable to get through to the practice and you have an urgent medical need, please call NHS 111.

"Prescriptions will continue to be processed.

"We will make changes to this arrangement as the situation improves and further updates will be added to this website.

"We would like to apologise to all our patients for any inconvenience and thank them for their support and understanding as we take the necessary steps to keep patients and other staff safe from infection and protect the NHS."

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