Access to GPs

[TankFlyBoss]

Is anyone else just sick and tired of GPs surgeries at the moment? Mine is constantly plastering all over Facebook don't call us unless it is urgent. I am so fed up of the impossibleness of accessing basic primary care and being made to feel like a nuisance if I try

Personally I don't think my GP practice is operating safely any more.

But what does the regulator do - close it down? Where do the patients go??

It varies so much from GP to GP. Our GP is fantastic - yes there is a ridiculous phone queue on Monday at 8am but if you call at a sensible time or use their messaging system or drop in then you will get the appointment you need. GPs can do it if they are well managed and well organised.

If yours is crap then complain. Complain to the practice (there will be a ‘feedback form’ somewhere on their website although there should be a whole complaints procedure). Copy your complaint to your local commissioner (google ‘gp commissioners’ for your area) and to your local Healthwatch.

Complaining gets you nowhere! It’s a sounding board but nothing happens. Services for the elderly who have just come out of hospital are non existent. You bypass the gp snd pay. There’s no follow up at all.

I have raised concerns, and asked questions.

Two emails to the Practice Manager - unanswered.
One email to the Practice Admin address - unanswered.
One email to the CCG - unanswered.

The practice website says to use Push Doctor, and Push Doctor says there are no appointments and to ring the practice. If one manages to get through to Reception after many days of trying, one is told to use Push Doctor - 'you'll have to keep trying, because we can't give you an appointment because we've only got two part-time GPs left'. (This is for around 13,000 patients.)

Unsafe.

Same with people with chronic conditions. My OH has cancer, and his oncologist has several times referred him back to the GP for things that aren't directly related to the cancer itself, i.e. vitamin deficiencies, back pain, lump in neck, etc., but the GP just isn't interested and just says "contact your oncologist" - they simply won't communicate directly. He's been trying to get strong Vit D tablets for six months now, after a deficiency showed up in an oncology blood test, but GP simply won't prescribe anything - he's phoned the surgery numerous times and had 3 phone consultations with either a GP or prescribing nurse, but they still fob him off.

I'm not surprised they think they're too busy because they cause multiple phone calls/consultations by not engaging properly earlier on, thus patients needing to chase things up and arrange subsequent appointments that wouldn't have been necessary if the GP had done what they should have done at first.

Ditto, @Badbadbunny I have side-effects of Adalimumab injections such as severe deficiencies that I have been told about, but am having to treat myself.

I've bought myself 'ultra vitamin D' tablets, for example, from VitaBiotics. No idea if they're right or not, just that they were the strongest OTC I can find. GP not responding to requests for assistance. Hospital says there's a shared care protocol and the GP is definitely responsible.

Same with getting stitches out post removal of basal cell carcinomas recently. The last one I did myself with some bloody tweezers.

Sorry about your OH. Absolute bummer.

< screams into the void >

Ours have always been hopeless for appointments. At one time my brother worked away Monday to Friday. He also needed something checked with the GP every 6 months. So, either first thing Monday or last thing Friday would be ideal. Couldn't book in advance, No, had to ring up at 8.00 on the day to see if there were appointments. Sometimes something available Monday evening, so had to take a day off. If he rang Friday morning from work they would offer 10.00 but he was 100 miles away. They would then get huffy and say well do you want an appointment or not. Had a stand up row with the practice manager in the end and he was given a 'special dispensation', FFS, to book his appointment a week in advance for early Mondays or late Fridays.

I rang mine yesterday morning and was very pleasantly surprised. Was offered a choice of face to face or telephone, no quibble when I said face to face, and got an appointment for this coming Friday. I really wasn’t expecting that, they usually have a couple of weeks wait.

I’ve completely given up with my surgery. They’ve initiated a same day only appointment system but they haven’t got a queuing system on the phone so it’s pot luck if anyone answers. If by some miracle you can book a call you aren’t given a time slot so you just have to hope you can answer your phone. For the rarer than hens teeth face to face appointments, you’re not allowed in the surgery at all until your allotted time. There is a chair outside to sit on.

There used to be 4 full time GPs but now it’s down to 1 FT and 1 PT. I’ve been getting private blood tests and self medicating accordingly. It’s bloody ridiculous.