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Original poster

My GP service

30 replies

Lingles · 02/12/2022 20:06

Is great. You have to call during triage but that lasts till about 11am.
If it’s a rash or someone thing else visible, the receptionist you spoke to sends you a link and you send in a photo for a doctor to look at
if it’s something you don’t need a conversation for (like needing a replacement epipen after dropping mine in a lake) the receptionist sorts it out behind the scenes
if you are upset or hesitant, the receptionist asks no questions
You always get get a call back within a couple of hours from a doctor. If the doctor wants to see you, you come in that afternoon.
there are two practices in our town and they are both like this.
this week my son found a lump under his arm and got diagnosed that day.

of course they can’t magic away waiting lists but for things that they can deal with themselves it’s 10/10.

family members elsewhere tell me very different stories. I wondered why this might be?

OP posts:
ILoveAllRainbowsx · 02/12/2022 20:49

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icebearforpresident · 02/12/2022 20:54

My practice work the exact same way and it’s great. You still get the mad rush of people phoning at 8.30am but you could phone at midday and still get a call back within a few hours and be seen same day if required. My practice has also brought in a couple of advanced nurse practitioners and a particular type of paramedic, both of whom have more treatment responsibilities which is helping with appointments.

After having my youngest in hospital last week I phoned the practice at 2pm today when my eldest developed similar symptoms. We were seen just after 3pm and back home with a prescription before 4pm.

Msgrieves · 02/12/2022 21:03

Tbh it's hard to ring up and get an appointment at mine, they have the phone at 8:30 thing. But as a shut in type I love the econsult thing, also Dr's texting results and instructions, perfect. I imagine or hope they deal with less online people differently. It's a tiny surgery though, although part of a larger group.

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woodyandjessie · 02/12/2022 21:06

Ours works the same way, it's only very occasionally I've phoned after 9.30am and there have been no phone appointments left for that day. Also if I ever call for my daughter they automatically want to see her because she is a child which is great.
Ours has always run this way though it isn't just a new thing because of covid.

Thedoglovesmemore · 02/12/2022 21:13

I wish that those of you who like telephone triage or photos or whatever would be more vocal about it.
The media bashing that a GP surgery is judged on whether it does more face to face misses the points that A/ that simply isn’t feasible with demand at the level it is and B/ many patients (me included) really like the different access methods now employs and don’t particular want a face to face most of the time.

I can’t tell you how utterly demoralised GPs are. The relentless criticism and accusations they are sitting around doing nothing whilst drawing huge wages is so out of hand and a number of my GP friends have now left their jobs. It is the hardest job in medicine in my opinion. It’s brutal.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 02/12/2022 21:20

Our GP is also fantastic. They differ so much because essentially they are private businesses contracted to the NHS, and they can run themselves however they want. Some are really good managers, and some aren't. Also, I live in a naice town in the Home Counties where GPs want to work and live, with low deprivation and where the majority of people are self-funding for their social care so actually get quite good services.

user1471453601 · 02/12/2022 21:20

My surgery are doing the best they can do, given the current, appalling circumstances. When you phone, you are told where you are in the queue and given the option of getting a call back, with a reassurance you will not loose your place in the queue.

We are asked what our appointment request is for, with a reassuring message saying the receptionist is trained, and simply trying to direct us to the best and quickest appointment.

As a result, I see a nurse every week about a wound on my leg that isn't healing, no problem. I've been referred to a specialist to look at it after a two week wait, no problem. When I was told that I had a small brain tumour (in another country) I was seen two hours after I returned home and contacted them. I had a ct scan within two weeks with a reassuring diagnosis.

All in all, the NHS, in my area, is doing a fantastic job in very trying circumstances. And if they do have to go on strike to get a decent pay rise, they have my backing, 100%, despite being a NHS "frequent flyer".

cavily1806 · 02/12/2022 21:26

We have a similar (amazing!) online system. It seems the problem here is ppl wanting a doctor when a nurse/ pharmacist can deal with it. Obviously this needs someone with medical training triaging but omg it's wonderful. I've never not got an appt for me or my kids same day tho we are always respectful of the service and see others (pharmacist etc) when appropriate

autumn1610 · 02/12/2022 21:30

Oh mine have been great recently. Barely had to use them before but in the last few months I felt like I needed to. I’ve had a phone call with a dr then either referral (which I had for a moles which had changed and an ultrasound for some lumps) or they offered an appointment for a couple of days time both perfectly acceptable as not urgent (admittedly it has been a pain to get through sometimes but always managed an appointment) Had some mental health issues and as again it wasn’t urgent I did an online consult form and had a telephone appointment the next day and a referral to an online counsellor which I got within a few days. The latest an ongoing gyne issue which again I filled an online form for non urgent requests and got an appointment allocated with the nurse practitioner the next day and issue was resolved with some treatment. Had to do a drive in blood test (very bizarre I have to say) rang for my results today and got a message back within a couple of hours saying they were all clear. Honestly I have had no issues and everything has been dealt with so promptly.

GettingStuffed · 02/12/2022 21:32

This sounds like our practice too

Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 21:36

“Thedoglovesmemore · Today 21:13
I wish that those of you who like telephone triage or photos or whatever would be more vocal about it”

ok I’m up for that.

OP posts:
Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 21:37

Also yes getting the call back whilst keeping your place in the queue is excellent.

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Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 21:39

Lady, yes, doctors want to live in our town.
when not doctoring they are to be found cycling up and down hills.

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ElsieC22 · 02/12/2022 21:41

This is entirely anecdotal so may not be accurate at all but my experience has been that it also depends on the general health of the demographic the GP surgery serve. When I lived in a small seaside town, the GP practice were amazing! Plenty time for reassurance, all referrals that were needed were carried out without question. No hassle getting prescriptions either. Recently moved to an inner city postcode, which would be considered an area of high deprivation and the GP service has been terrible but they’re completely snowed under! Waiting lists are so much longer too. The demand for their services is just so much higher

Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 21:49

There is no one in their 20s here. If I was a GP I’d want all the people in their 20s!

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KaleAtYale · 02/12/2022 21:50

Ours is awful. You call at 8am and get put in a queue. They’ve had a problem with the phone lines forever and you often get cut off and have to start again. If you get through, it’s rare to get an appointment. Often they’re short of doctors and if you do get offered an appointment, it’s at another surgery in the group which can be miles away. It’s frustrating that some surgeries seem to have a way that works and others are failing so badly.

We do try to get an appointment if necessary but mostly end up relying on a private GP. Recently we needed an appointment for one of our kids, we called at 8am as you’re meant to and we were number 28 in the queue. We finally got through an hour later. No appointments left.

My child had already had 3 days off school school( we had tried to get an appointment the day before too). We called private GP and was seen the same day and got antibiotics for tonsillitis.

user1471453601 · 02/12/2022 21:51

Oh, and I do live in an area that could be described as deprived. But my surgery seems to be using technology in an appropriate way, and I have two advanced nurse practitioner s at my surgery, so they can prescribe too.

Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 21:53

:(
sounds like fixing the phone lines and organising callbacks would be step 1.

god knows what step 2 is though…

OP posts:
Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 21:54

“my surgery seems to be using technology in an appropriate way”

I think this is important for the staff too (people would be less angry)

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mindutopia · 02/12/2022 22:01

I have to say, ours is very similar and it’s wonderful. So much better than pre-COVID.

I’ve had dc needing an urgent appointment 4 times in the past year. I’ve submitted an online form before noon and they always see us that afternoon. 3 of the 4 times were in person and 1 was just a phone consult but that was just to prescribe a new medicine so didn’t need to see us.

I submitted a request for an appointment this week as I’d like a referral for sterilisation (not urgent). They texted me within 5 minutes with availability and I had an appointment booked (for 2 weeks time, soonest I had a morning off) about 10 minutes after that. I can’t fault them. Both dc were quite unwell over the summer (Lyme’s disease and a serious injury requiring surgery) and they were fantastic.

gamerchick · 02/12/2022 22:08

I wish we had something like that. Ours you have to ring, doesnt matter what time. Tell the receptionist exactly what the problem is and get an appointment for a phone call in 3 weeks. Still it's better than the 6 week wait it was before covid.

AriettyHomily · 02/12/2022 22:10

Mine is shit, and I'm very grateful I have Gp anywhere through work for my family. I'm at least a year overdue for a smear and can't get through.

Original poster
Lingles · 02/12/2022 23:02

Wow - So variable

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Thriwit · 02/12/2022 23:57

Mine’s terrible. There’s no online service apart from requesting repeat prescriptions. You have to call at 8am, and keep redialling until you get a place in the queue. Most times I’ve called, all appointments have been taken and the only option is to call back tomorrow. If I do manage to get an appointment, it’s either been for 3 weeks’ time, or 20 mins’ time.

Last time I tried to explain I was at work 20 mins away, and would have to go pick up DC from grandparents en route, so please could I have something a bit later? Was told no, if it was that bad I’d have stayed at home, waiting. Despite there being <50% chance I’d even get offered an appointment. Offered to send in a photo, have a phone appt…no, they don’t do that.

Oh and the last time I called up about autistic DS, the receptionist has told me to contact his paediatrician, because it sounds like his medication needs adjusting. He doesn’t have a paediatrician and isn’t on any medication! I’m not sure how it’s her place to say such things.

I just try to use a private GP now instead, I don’t see there’s any other choice here. I’m incredibly jealous (and also angry) of the people who have functioning GP services.

Original poster
Lingles · 03/12/2022 11:25

:(
I swear I don’t work for a phone company but that re-dialling thing - that could be fixed

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