What is going on with GP surgeries?

[Raspberries86]

Pretty sure I've got an ear infection so I ran my GPs as soon as it opened this morning. Was really fortunate to get a telephone consult about an hour after making the appointment.

I feel a little unnerved that I've been prescribed anti infammatories and antibiotics without anyone at any point looking into my ear. I've had ear infections before so I'm happy the GP responded appropriately. I just find it troubling that they are basically diagnosing down the phone without examining people (I'm aware that they do call some people in if they need to see them).

We call people in when examining them will make a difference to diagnosis and management. Most of our decisions are made on the history alone.
We also have very limited F2F or telephone triage slots currently due to the government asking an already stretched workforce to vaccinate the nation before Christmas- we found out at the same time as you did at the press conference!

We had this message from our GP surgery a couple of days ago.

Dear Mrs xxxxx In response to the current Omicron outbreak and on advice from XXXXX XXXXX Health Board, XX XXXXX Medical Practice has moved to deliver emergency care only until further notice. All routine appointments already booked will remain though no further routine appointments will be made for the time being. Please see our website and Facebook page for further information and updates.

Just think, it saved you an appointment and hanging about for something you didnt need seen for. I had similar recently and instead of time off work, going into town for appointment, handing prescription into pharmacy and waiting for it too me made up I just filled in the econsult, got a reply and went directly to my local pharmacy and picked up my cream. It was great!!

The government are pressurising them to postpone most routine appointments now because they want them to focus on the booster. GPs are on their knees. Sorry you are unwell but sounds like your surgery are responding much quicker than many others. Blame Boris, he has really done a number on them

I agree with the first 3 responses.

I actually love that I can get a prescription sent to the chemist without having to sit in the waiting room for 40mins then have the GP ask me exactly the same questions they could have asked me on the phone. It completely depends on what the issue is. They will see you if they feel they need to, but this is a very efficient way of responding to need whilst being as ridiculously stretched as they are.

I think it’s great that they diagnosed you based on your history and symptoms. It’s brilliant! Well done to them.

I think its fantastic now. You don't have to trudge to the doctor and sit in a waiting room full of people who are coughing and sneezing. They ring you and only want to see you if completely necessary, i hope they don't go back to the old way.

I love it! I’ve had numerous antibiotics prescribed (I’m immuno compromised so get a lot of infections) I’ve had bacterial tonsillitis, two different staph infections, bacterial conjunctivitis and not once have I had to step foot in the surgery. My son however, has had a f2f appointment twice as it was appropriate

Examination only changes our management some of the time. Fairly often, I decide what to do based on the history alone. There's no point calling you in if it won't change the management

I had the same today - was surprised to be prescribed antibiotics for pneumonia/chest infection without anyone listening to my chest. However my symptom list is pretty classic and I've had it before so know when it is beyond a very bad cough as it were. Was grateful to be able to send DH to collect and not have to leave my nest on the sofa though!

I'm amazed you managed to speak with a GP at all! The ones around here have pretty much shut down so they can offer boosters to the people who can't be bothered to go to the mass vaccination centre 4 miles away.

I also think it's been brilliant. I did an e-consult for my DS yesterday because he's had a virus (not Covid) for a couple of weeks. A GP rang back in an hour, listened to him cough and gave some good advice. Normally I'd expect to be on hold for the best part of an hour just to get to speak to reception.

I'm more than happy to be prescribed antibiotics and steroids over the phone for chest infections. I've been getting chest infections for seventy years now. The GP knows that I can actually diagnose them myself.

I'm contrast, in October I rang the surgery because a Dr abroad told me I had a very small brain tumour. I was seen in person with the hour.

Turns out I've got a very small cyst that shouldn't cause me any trouble.

In any case, they see me when needed, they prescribe over the phone when they, and I, are confident about what's wrong. Win win in my eyes

I haven’t actually worked out what my Gp surgery has done for the past year 🤷‍♀️

I’m late on all of my routine appointments, I can’t actually access an appointment I have to go via the receptionist and then if I’m lucky I may be able to speak to someone 5-6 days later which normally means I’m admitted into hospital via a&e (completely wasting everyone’s times if my Gp could have been arsed to see me and prescribe me the meds I need but they can’t do that as my routine medical appointments have been cancelled and one of them was for my repeat meds)

Best bit is being told to take a picture and send it via econsult….would love to know how I’m supposed to photo my IBD so I sent them a picture of the blood and puss in the poo 🤷‍♀️

I’ve had better luck finding unicorn shit than see my Gp and completely bypass them now and email my consultants directly which annoys them.

Pertinent thread for me at the moment. I'm someone who never understood why I couldn't just speak to a GP on the phone rather than traipsing to the surgery. But, there are times when you need to see someone face to face.
I'm post menopause (in my 60's).
I've got a few pelvic problems going on (pain/twinges) and a couple of nights ago had some bleeding, so yesterday for the third time in 4 weeks I spoke to the GP about these problems. They still don't think it's necessary to see me. I've already had blood and urine tests and today I've had to pick up a kit and tonight do my own vaginal swabs, lovely.
At least I've been referred under the two week thing for a pelvic scan - assuming that appointment materialises.

I had a telephone consultation booked for 09:25 this morning for a follow up on a medication change.
Surgery Reception called me yesterday to confirm I would be available today at 09:25 as they had had 'a lot of wasted calls this week where people were not available'.
The Dr called me at 11:05 . . . .

So long as it's a bacterial infection or virus that's going on an e-consult is perfect. If the consequences is a misdiagnosis then it's a different matter altogether. I'm not blaming GPs themselves - it's a consequence of more cuts to public services.

GPs are incentised by payments and at the moment they get a lot more for doing vaccines. Why people don't realise GPs are not private businesses who run NHS services I'll never understand.

I sturggle to get a telephone appointment at all, always takes a few days if it happens, and repeat prescriptions either don't appear or take more than a week. I've recently had to wait two weeks to get antibiotics for a UTI despite being 33 weeks pregnant. Feels like there's no primary care available really.

@Zxcvbnm123456

GPs are incentised by payments and at the moment they get a lot more for doing vaccines. Why people don't realise GPs are not private businesses who run NHS services I'll never understand.

My husband is a GP and this is true. However, they are also being told that they must focus on vaccines. This forms part of their local contracts and they don’t really have much option, and the workload is huge for them at the moment. Many GPs aren’t happy about the situation, even though they get paid per vaccine.