GP appointments - is this widespread or maybe I am being sensitive?!

[Alpa2]

I’ve NC but regular poster. Whenever I’ve called my GP over the last few years, which has been rare maybe once or twice a year, I come off the phone almost shaking, a few times in tears. This is usually from speaking with the receptionist but sometimes the GP when they’re a locum. It’s either very abrupt rude and invasive questions from the receptionist (ie once telling me that my reaction to some tablet wasn’t a gp issue ). Or it’s the actual GP sounding like they couldn’t give a fuck and just find you a pain. I don’t even call unless it’s urgent or needed, I don’t books appointments unnecessarily.

This treatment has caused me to go privately for GP consultations (luckily I get that through work but they can’t deal with anything ongoing due to the nature of the insurance policy, just one off things). I’ve also gone direct to a consultant in the past simply to avoid having to call up the gp surgery and then even if I get through and have an appointment, have to feel like I’m fighting for my right to be seen or referred. Again, I really have not called up about anything and everything so I can’t see it being a case of them thinking I’m a problem patient and mostly I speak to locums so always seems to be a new GP there.

I’m really fed up of it and just wanted to rant really. I had to call them on Tuesday and it was just awful again, when I was allowed to book it in after loads of questioning, I was then speaking to another apparently new GP (to me at least) who got my name wrong (it’s a basic English name) and didn’t ask me to confirm my address and just said she only had 10 minutes before I had even spoken!

I’m not a little princess and I truly understand the pressures, especially now, and I’ve had some wonderful doctors (usually in hospital settings) treat me and family/friends in the past.... but I have begun to feel aggrieved that I am paying huge amounts in tax to find something where I frankly feel like I get treated like shit. It’s a sad state of affairs that it takes 200 quid to have an appointment with a doctor who will provide you with care where you feel at ease and entitled to book an appointment.

Just sad about it really and makes me feel like sometimes people are just terrible unless there’s a financial incentive. Am I being dramatic after a horrible call or is this a widespread feeling?

I don't understand these problems. If your doctors are shit just move doctors. Like all services some are good and some are shit. Just move practice.

Not normal. Move surgery and let the practice manager no why. Tbh though you do have to be quire robust and pushy at times within the NHS as a whole to get the care you need and GPs are the same.

I think your reaction ie shaking is possibly abit extreme, but then we don't know what was said. But either way you have a right to treatment and to be spoken to respectfully. Don't be bullied into not using the service!

I find our local surgery pretty bad. There is nowhere to move to though.

I think of them as a barrier I have to breach to get care for me or a family member. I don't take it personally although when I was at a low ebb I did once leave on the verge of tears without resolving the issues. I needed an advocate at that time but don't have one for myself.

Had a lovely conversation with my gp surgery recently...
I need my annual checkup.
They want to do this as a phone thing.
I am autistic. I dont do phones.
They want me to have a blood test. Fine.
No issue there. Go to hospital, give arm. All done.
Then get gp appointment to review bloods.
Haha.
Yes, just phone in the morning at 8. We will make your appointment then.
Sorry, I dont have a phone. And if I did, it would be illegal to use it at 8, as I am driving to work then.
Oh,ok. Phone at 8 on the day after.
Sorry, I still dont have a phone. And I will be driving to work at 8.
Well, we only take appointments by phone.
So, you are happy to have me in the surgery, collecting papers for blood test.
Speaking to you at the desk.
But you cant give me an appointment?
No, sorry, we can only do that at 8 in the morning when you phone.
That's not very helpful.
It's ok, you can tell them you dont have a phone when you ring at 8 for your appointment.
She actually used that last sentence 3 times during the conversation.
Such a contrast from my last surgery.
They let us stay with them for a year after we moved from that village.
They were both helpful and well mannered.
To get an appointment, you walked in. Spoke to reception lady.
She asked for a brief description, so she could send you to right person.
Looked on her computer and gave you some choices.
Always friendly. Always polite.
Always had time for you.
Ds had hurt something, probably rugby...
Got him an early appointment so he didnt miss much school.
Got seen bang on time. Ds then promptly faints in the surgery. (Hot room, no breakfast). He got to sit there fir about 20 mins. Had some water and some biscuits.
Nothing was an issue. They were a small village surgery, in a retired age population.
They were brilliant.
The new ones... well. I appreciate they are human and busy. But I'm sure they have been on a course in rudeness!
I have heard dozens of people shouting at the reception staff. I initially thought it was the patients being rude. But I now see why!

I wish there was another surgery we could move to!

I have written to the practice manager before about an exceptionally rude receptionist. I hadn’t been to the doctors for years so was hardly a time waster.
All calls are recorded thankfully. The practice manager listened to the call and and I received a written unreserved apology about the way I was spoken to. The receptionist in question was apparently spoken to and was going to be given more training on how to speak to patients.

Funnily enough I was then offered a variety of different appointment times (the original receptionist said there were absolutely no appointments available for the next 8 weeks.) I guess she was having a bad day but I was not rude or off with her in the slightest.

I was in tears after the original call but I am glad I followed it up.

@Allamericanreject

I don't understand these problems. If your doctors are shit just move doctors. Like all services some are good and some are shit. Just move practice.

That is not always doable though is it? Our next nearest available practice is almost an hour away, rural roads mean journeys that are only 18-20 miles can take the best part of an hour to drive.