Local doctor Maree Puxty said there would be delays in treatments but people needed to be patient.

"We [regional general practitioners] want to let people know what's happening in the region," she said.

"Over the next week or so, the staffing in the local health district and general practises is very difficult. There's limited staff available and there's a large extra work load so we just want people to try and have patient patience.

"Unfortunately people will have longer wait times and they will need to be patient.

"Emergency departments are for emergencies.

"If people have more routine issues that need sorting out, for example they are going away and they need extra prescriptions, can they try sort out with their GPs or wait until everyone is back on board after Christmas.

"Not only will the health district be short staffed but a lot of general practitioners will be close or only on an on-call basis."

Dr Puxty has been a GP since 1993 and is the chair of the New England Division of General Practice and chair of the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network Rural Clinical Council.

She is one of the practice owners of West Armidale Medical Centre, and a senior lecturer in rural health for the University of New England School of Rural Medicine.

Dr Puxty said general practitioners in the region wanted to get this message out following discussion with the local health district.

"Unfortunately because of the ongoing rural health workforce issues in all of NSW ... that's contributed to the proboem," she said.

"Lots of people are on leave at the moment and that leave was organised before before Omnicorn popped its head up and a lot of people have had to be furloughed because of contact status. It's a bit of a perfect storm.

"It's not that people won't be able to get the help that need but they may have to wait a little longer but if it's urgent or important then they will be seen.

"If people could be 'patient patience' and plan ahead."

Dr Jenny May, a Tamworth general practitioner, has been speaking with the media as well as general practitioners for New England Division of GP, Tamworth Health Professional Network and Barwon Division of GP.

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