No wonder you can't get a GP appointment

[Intherightplace]

Currently all first GP appointments at our surgery are telephone. Which is OK for most things, even good, more efficient for both GP and patient. However, for some things a telephone appointment is never going to be any use. For example, if I'd been able to explain to "someone" that I needed an appointment for a dodgy looking mole, surely they could have seen that a face to face appointment was necessary?

Anyway, I waited 3 weeks for my telephone appointment. GP said she couldn't do anything by phone and she'd need to see me (like it was my fault, I hadn't seen her!). So that's one completely wasted appointment.

10 days later I had the f2f appointment. Buzzed the door, not allowed in before they've checked you out. Receptionist said she'd tell doctor I was there. 10 mins later the doctor herself came to collect me from the door. Now this is a large medical practice, it's a fairly long walk, involving 2 flights of stairs and she was wearing heels she could barely walk in

I was with her literally seconds before she said she'd refer to a dermatologist. So, at least 20 mins of her time, for a few seconds with the GP to do something she probably could have done at the telephone appointment, if that was going to be the level of the examination.

Either way, she could have dealt with other patients in that time. Why on earth are the admin staff still working at home? There are usually loads behind the large reception desk, but only the one answering the buzzer currently.

And why not just refer the first time and save everyone so much wasted time?

im finding the whole GP situation appalling if im honest & i work in the NHS. where is their work ethic of wanting to be the best & do the best by their patients.Ringing up first to then wait to be called back is not convenient as no time given .

Our surgery is still locked and barred. Any communication is via intercom, any paperwork we need us pushed through a crack in the door. They have disabled most of the online access so we cannot order repeat prescriptions, send a message, book an appointment or see any but latest test results.

Since March last year, so 17 months, I have had:

No flu vaccination
No pneumonia vaccination
No smear (now over a year overdue)
No annual review for either of my long term conditions
No blood tests for either of my long term conditions
Medication review carried out by a pharmacist who had to be told what I was taking, how much and why
No F2F appointment and no prospect of one for the foreseeable future
Refusal to give me a telephone appointment within a couple of weeks, which resulted in my benefits being stopped

When I had COVID in Spring 2020, I was triaged over the phone by 111 and then advised that, because I was CEV, I needed GP input within two hours. I called the surgery and explained this. A doctor called me back and said "Why are you calling us?" I explained and his response? "Call is on Monday if you're no better."

I've been advised by my consultant to stick with it as this is one of the better surgeries in the area

The big problem with GPs is that the practice gets funding "per patient" whether you use them or not. So, quite frankly, they have no incentive to make more appointments available.

The system needs to change so that they're paid for what they do, not what they don't do. Then you can bet your bottom dollar they'd be falling over themselves to give you appointments etc.

Like a lot of things, it was a good idea to pay them "per patient" to encourage a hollistic "look after you" and pro-active preventative approach, but in reality, they just take the money and ignore the patients on their books who don't seek appointments from them.

And I thought mine was bad

I got my prescription! It turns out all the info I'd been given was wrong - if you don't have a smart phone then go to your GP's practice website on NHS.gov, then click the AskMyGP icon. The details you need are your name, address, phone number and email.

@Thelnebriati unfortunately not all practices have askymygp or other online service switched on (econsult seems to be the most popular).

My surgery refuses to use Doctorlink even though they have access. So we must wait on the phone at 8:15 each time.

It’s so frustrating but all the practices where I live are the same.

GP chum has just walked after 30 odd years following a disciplinary when she said she wanted to see more patients face to face - said this isn’t medicine and triage isn’t what she trained for - said her managers basically told her to get stuffed. She was an absolutely spectacular GP, it’s dreadful .

She did say that an average day she was told to personally triage and treat 75-100 patients - said majority needed at least 15/20 minutes of time and often much more - said huge numbers of very, very ill people with multiple complex illnesses that have progressed to being very serious due to no monitoring, screening or routine secondary care, so was working 6am-12 midnight most days ... that was a fully staffed practice in quiet suburbs so god knows what it’s like elsewhere .

[quote Lapsidasicle]@Thelnebriati unfortunately not all practices have askymygp or other online service switched on (econsult seems to be the most popular).

My surgery refuses to use Doctorlink even though they have access. So we must wait on the phone at 8:15 each time.

It’s so frustrating but all the practices where I live are the same.[/quote]
Indeed. Our practice used to have an online appointment booking system. The appointments available were usually for the less popular GPs in less popular locations at less popular times, but they were OK if you needed an urgent appointment. As soon as covid struck, they removed the system and still haven't put it back up. It's a little counter-intuitive to have the system before, but then take it down when it's needed, i.e. when the surgeries are bolted shut and no one answers the phone!

Honestly, I think not having f2f appointments is a disaster. I have given up trying to see a doctor - the last time I saw someone (a VERY abrupt and rude GP), my appt lasted about 20 seconds, and I am awaiting a blood test - 4 weeks and still nothing come through.
A friend told me yesterday that she has had to speak over the phone about leg pain - then got prescribed a repeat prescription of extremely strong painkillers for 12 months - and all without seeing her. More worryingly, she has a friend who has also had bad leg pain - over the last year - phone calls only - ended up in A&E in agony last week, had a scan and has bone cancer.
Plenty of people cannot wait ALL DAY for a phone call at a time you don't know when it will be. Plenty of people like me cannot talk freely on the phone.

I keep getting letters from my GP surgery telling me to come in for a smear test. Unfortunately there’s no way of booking an appointment for it unless I spend hours every morning waiting to get through on the phone only to be told all appointments have gone. I have a job and a life, I’m not doing that. Especially as if I have one on past form they’ll lose the results anyway. And if I manage to get one, they don’t lose the results and there’s something wrong I’ll have to wait so long for treatment that I’ll die anyway. I don’t have the money to fund private cancer treatment. On the whole I’d rather cut out all the messing around with the NHS, especially if by ill fortune I don’t have very long to live.

@poorchurchmouse

Ring at any point of day

They will be able to make a nurse appointment a day and time that suits you for a smear.

It doesnt work the same way as ‘same day’ appointments work

Ring them about 10am or 4pm

They will be able to make a nurse appointment a day and time that suits you for a smear.

It doesnt work the same way as ‘same day’ appointments work

Not at your surgery, but this thread is clear that different surgeries work in different ways.

Trust me, in our surgery it’s the same system- ring in the morning or fuck off and die (but preferably just fuck off and die). I’ve tried already, I’m not wasting any more time on it. I might write them a snail mail letter pointing out that they’re spamming me with letters about a smear test but that there’s no way to actually get an appointment, especially at the right time in my cycle, so can they please stop sending the letters as it’s a poor use of scarce resources.

For a smear?

Yes they will because they have a duty to
@EBearhug

@poorchurchmouse

Have you actually said its for a smear?

It makes a difference

Yes, I said it was for a smear. I do wish people would believe that my surgery is just shit (clearly in common with many other people on here) rather than telling me I must be getting it wrong.

@poorchurchmouse

Yes, I said it was for a smear. I do wish people would believe that my surgery is just shit (clearly in common with many other people on here) rather than telling me I must be getting it wrong.

I believe you - last time I phoned mine I was about 25th in the queue - gave up when I got to 20th after 20 minutes. Your posts are how I feel, I just don't know how the government can think it is all OK like this - it is a TOTAL SHAMBLES.

For those of you receiving poor care or no easy access to appointments... complain!

You don’t have to put up with it. If they receive a complaint it has to be addressed otherwise they will get into trouble with the regulator. If enough people complain, it will shine a light on poor practices.

If you’re not sure who to complain to, contact your local Healthwatch. They will help you.

My husband did complain - it did get the Practice manager to ring him and apologise for the issue, but ultimately, it hasn't made any difference. I suppose if they "solve" the individual complaint, it won't go further. Maybe I will have a look at Healthwatch, thank you for that.

Why haven't the drs gone back to face to face appointment. When almost everything else has. How long are thry going to keep this up

Because Public Health England infection control guidelines say not to.

@Egghead68

Because Public Health England infection control guidelines say not to.

So why do some offer F2F and others don't? Why the vast disparity between practices if they're all following the same rules?

try waiting 10 weeks for some sample bottles for a 48 hr urine collection..supposed to collect these from GP but they needed to get them from the hospital 2 miles away....10 weeks...I even passed the dept they were coming from 3 times at the hospital and asked myself but no procedures must be followed,