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Original poster

Has the service from your GPs taken a massive nose-dive in the last year or so?

48 replies

Liz1tummypain · 23/02/2022 09:18

I've currently been " caller number one in the queue" for half an hour. Caller number zero must be a right nuisance. I'm just here to rant I guess. What are your GPs like where you live? I know when I see someone it's fine. It's just the difficulty in getting an appointment to see someone. I'd like to change surgeries ( as we moved about 10 miles away last year), but I expect they're all pretty much the same.

OP posts:

Chishnfips · 23/02/2022 09:48

I moved part way through the pandemic and changed surgery. My previous one was pretty awful even before the restrictions came in. Couldn't get appointments, doctors were quite churlish and didn't really listen to what I had to say and always felt rushed. New surgery is pretty great. Offers phone appointments or face-to-face if we want it. doctors and nurses all very kind and thorough at the appointments. I've just come back from an appointment this morning and whilst I was waiting they gave the option if I wanted to wait outside or come in if I felt like it. It seems like they are relaxing but adapting well with all patients in mind.

Greydog · 23/02/2022 09:49

Ours have always been poor, and they're no better now. They forget to make referrals, then tell you that they have. You can't book appointments, have to start ringing at 8.00 in the hope of getting one. My favorite one happened a few years ago when DH was told he HAD to make an appointment with a GP to check his medication - I went with DH at his request. Shown into surgery, and asked by the Doc "What can we do for you?" DH replied - "I have no idea. You sent for me" I have no confidence in them at all

Mint5 · 23/02/2022 09:51

It’s worse. 6 GPs in the practice, one of them works full time, all the others work two or three day weeks. We fill a very long form online and someone may or may not respond with an email or phone call within a week. Face to face appointments, no.

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broccolibush · 23/02/2022 09:52

Ours has been shocking. They refuse to do anything without an e-consult and then refuse to give you an appointment, just prescribe (or not) what they think best rather than engage with me and my specific issues (which are multiple and difficult). I have had really shitty text messages from GPs refusing to fill a prescription requested by my psychiatrist because “you are not engaging adequately with managing your mental health” - whilst having weekly psychiatrist, CPN and counselling appointments.

I tried to fill an e-consult on the weekend about a medication review (I can’t tolerate the side effects) and was unable as you can only do e-consults during working hours. I did it first thing on Monday and am still waiting to hear back.

It’s absolutely shocking service.

megletthesecond · 23/02/2022 09:55

I will add I haven't needed to see a GP. She just refers us to the relevant consultant so it works well and saves her time.

Frazzled2207 · 23/02/2022 09:55

You literally cannot see someone at ours. They promise a call back the same day which is all well and good but most of us can’t sit next to our phones and wait for a call all day. I am fine with a telephone call in most cases as it can often be a simple chat about medication but why on Earth is it not possible to book a time? I wonder what it’s like if you’re a teacher etc

On both occasions recently when I really needed to see someone they said they couldn’t help and sent me to a&e. No wonder our local a&e are on the news all the time as waiting times so long. Tbf I did get sorted out there fine but felt like a fraud as in neither case was it an accident or emergency.

Eve · 23/02/2022 09:55

@Abra1d1

Our GP practice has been pretty good during lockdown. The only people I hear complaints from are from people who refuse to use e-consults or emails to make contact.

Two of them are 70, and fit and active people, but say they're too old to use the online system to request a callback from a GP, which will lead to an in-person appointment, if necessary. I refrain from saying that my 84-year-old mother seems to manage the e-consult system pretty well.

local town facebook page full of complaints about having to use econsult and how can they be expected to use it etc.

... pointed out if they can use facebook on their phone to whinge they are capable of using econsult!

Toddlerteaplease · 23/02/2022 09:58

Yes. They were excellent before covid. Now I'm on the phone for 45 minutes. And no appointments for weeks.

BoodleBug51 · 23/02/2022 09:58

Ours is appalling, we don't even bother anymore and use a private GP near where we work. It's £70 for a same day 30 minute face to face appointment.

Our NHS surgery still has locked doors, and if you're close to death a GP will come out and see you in the car park in scrubs and PPE but only if you wave a negative LFT out of the window like a white flag

I don't think they've had the memo about Covid restrictions ending and are firmly stuck in March 2020 with no signs of budging. There are so many complaints about them daily on the local FB pages that the Mods have had to ban the subject.......

CandidaAlbicans2 · 23/02/2022 10:03

After reading lots of negative stories recently (nationally and locally) I was expecting the worst when I tried getting appointments via my GP's online system. But both times it's been great! First one was to get a mole checked, and I got an appointment within 3 days, and the other was for starting HRT, and I was seen within a few days then too. Both GPs were lovely, as were the reception staff when we spoke on the phone to book.

LIZS · 23/02/2022 10:07

Has been since pre-pandemic. Ours has recently been taken over after the partnership lapsed but any improvement seems slow.

HappyAsASandboy · 23/02/2022 10:17

No. Ours has become more efficient.

They had been running a triage phone service to decide whether you need to physically attend an appointment for a while before covid. During covid they then reduced face to face appointments further by introducing the IT systems to do video/photo appointments too.

All in all, it has meant I don't always have to travel to the GP at all to be diagnosed and prescribed, and that if I do need a physical appointment then there is fewer people at the surgery when I go.

As long as I ring them by lunchtime ish then I'll get seen, in person if necessary, on the same day.

I think my GP surgery is fabulous!

Montague22 · 23/02/2022 10:21

Fine here
Same day appt when necessary

Iheartmysmart · 23/02/2022 10:24

Mine was awful pre-Covid and is now absolutely dire. You can only book same day telephone consultations but they don’t have a queuing system in place so you just have to redial until someone answers. If there are no appointments left they don’t answer the phone at all. If you do get lucky then a GP will call anytime between 10-6 so you can’t actually do anything until they’ve called. No e-consult, no email services and no online booking.

Oh and there is still a chair outside so the fortunate few who can get an appointment can sit out in the cold and rain until they open the door!

Uttoxerly · 23/02/2022 10:24

Yes. Phone appointments are relatively easy to come by, but as far as I know they are hardly seeing anyone face to face. I’ve asked and basically been told no.

Original poster

Liz1tummypain · 23/02/2022 12:26

@CormoranStrike

Can I ask whereabout ( roughly ) you live? Can I come and live with you please?

OP posts:

CormoranStrike · 23/02/2022 12:32

[quote Liz1tummypain]@CormoranStrike

Can I ask whereabout ( roughly ) you live? Can I come and live with you please?[/quote]
Of course you can - the couch is yours!

Central Scotland.

CoffeeBeansGalore · 23/02/2022 13:00

Mine are brilliant. Small rural practice in Scotland. Receptionists are lovely. GP goes over & above. I've had a major health issue recently & my GP even rang me to see how I was after a new medication was prescribed.
He chased a consultant referral when he considered the appointment I was given was too long & got me in as an emergency 2 days later. I was admitted & loads of tests done before the date of the original appointment. All thanks to my lovely GP pushing for me.
No issue getting face to face appointment when needed, same day if considered necessary after phone consult.
Can't fault them.

AmberGer · 23/02/2022 13:05

I feel very fortunate that our surgery has been offering face to face appointments. They're brilliant anyway, in so many ways!
I think it's very hit and miss with what people are getting.

Floralnomad · 23/02/2022 13:11

From my POV they are worse because you can no longer book an appt in advance , from most peoples POV they’re probably ok because you can get a same day telephone response if you call before 10:30 to book in . Interestingly I’ve just had a conversation with my sister who needs a GP appt and she has called her GP every morning this week to try for an appt , the line is always busy and when she has managed to get through the advice is appts have all gone and to call 111 if it’s an emergency .

Silkierabbit · 23/02/2022 13:26

Ours is really bad. I've got cancer and took 4.5 months before referred, told a 5cm lump would be nothing first time, even now with diagnosis which at one point they thought was likely to be stage 4 you get someone will contact you in 3 days. Can't get any counselling for it via them. Refused to refer son on for autism assessment as well.

Quite happy with e-mail or phone rather than in person but its so hard to get that. Would love to change surgeries but in a village and do not think there is another option. Think there's a lack of doctors and also there are lots of elderly here and gps just seems to be doing lots of covid vaccines there. Only thing that's improved is its very easy to get antibiotics now.

NewPictureFrames · 23/02/2022 15:14

Ours is poor, almost impossible to get a face to face appointment - although a GP will give you a call back. The practice don't seem to want patients bothering them at all - I've had to do my own vaginal swabs.
I've recently been diagnosed with endometrial cancer - I knew something wasn't right (constant pelvic pain and post menopausal spotting) and just wanted a referral so I kept ringing until I got it.

thereisonlyoneofme · 23/02/2022 15:34

Mine is dreadful, was impossible to get an appointment before Covid.
Now its even worse, I believe we only have one part time Doctor and a paramedic now. The amount of house building in our town is unbelievable but no provision for GPs. Apparently our county has the worst doctor to patient ratio in the country.
Im CEV and still cant get to speak to a GP

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