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Reassurances have been made about Public Health’s Covid Clinical Helpline after some callers struggled to get through to report symptoms.
Express was contacted by a member of the public who’d tried multiple times in one day to speak to someone on the Covid-19 Clinical Helpline about how they were feeling.
“I tried 15 times across the two numbers – it gave about ten rings and then cut off,” they said.
It follows Public Health urging people to call the Clinical Helpline to report any Covid-19 related symptoms. The States of Guernsey website states: “Phone lines are busy at times but please wait and call back again.”
Pictured: Symptoms of covid are continually updated to reflect new variants, with the latest list refreshed on 25 June.
Once symptoms have been reported you may be referred for swabs to find out if you are positive for corona virus.
“I have a runny nose and I’m sneezing a lot – I think it’s best to keep away from the office until it has cleared,” said the worker who contacted Express.
“Referrals for swabs which come via the clinical helpline continue to be busy but no unmanageable,” said a Health and Social Care spokesperson in response.
“Where possible symptomatic patients are booked in for a swab on the same day – where this is not possible, they are booked for the following morning.”
Pictured: The situation was exacerbated with technical difficulties yesterday.
It comes as Public Health looks to urgently recruit staff for its Covid-19 scheduling team.
1/2 We are looking to recruit staff for the COVID-19 Scheduling Team to start ASAP.
— States of Guernsey (@Govgg) July 6, 2021
This is a temporary role & may interest a returning student.
We're looking to recruit people to support with clinical administration and booking in patients for COVID-19 tests at the PEH. pic.twitter.com/yAgJSrsFgj
Pictured: The job role was advertised on Facebook and Twitter yesterday.
Despite busy phonelines, the spokesperson from HSC said the public are doing the right thing by getting in contact.
“It is encouraging that people are coming forward for testing when they are showing symptoms of Covid-19," they added.
You can call the Clinical Helpline on either 756938 or 756969.
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