STOURBRIDGE’S Lion Health GP practice has increased the number of telephone appointments available to reduce footfall at the surgery amid coronavirus fears.

Bosses at the surgery off Lowndes Road announced the precautionary move this morning (Tuesday) – days after disabling the online booking system for appointments to help avoid the risk of any patients with relevant travel history or symptoms of COVID-19 presenting at the practice without being effectively triaged.

A statement issued this morning read: “In order to make every effort to keep our patients and staff safe, we have increased the number of telephone appointments available at the surgery.

“This is a way to support patient contacts and facilitate access to our clinicians, without the need to attend surgery for matters that can be addressed by phone.

“This will reduce traffic through the surgery and still enable patients to access services effectively.”

Surgery chiefs have also said members of the staff would be asking patients relevant questions about any travel history as they wait in the reception area in order to direct them appropriately.