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Original poster

Does anyone else have a great GP?

59 replies

WaggyTailsWetNoses · 22/02/2023 18:01

I hear so much about people struggling to get appointments or being fobbed off. It must be a terrible experience, especially if there’s no money for a private alternative. We have a brilliant GP surgery with helpful staff from all professions and I’m always impressed by their kind, responsive service.

We don’t use them much ( although much more this year than usual) but in 2022/3:

DD14 was referred for a hearing test the day I sent an econsult about it.

DS was seen on the same morning for sore ears/ sinuses, was examined by the nurse, prescribed spray and a referral letter to ENT ( he has a long history of ENT issues) was picked up the next day.

At 44 I had peri symptoms and was listened to and prescribed ( life changing HRT) with no fuss.

DS had symptoms of scarlet fever. I sent a message about it at eight, spoke to the GP and collected the antibiotics from the village pharmacy at noon.

I’ve got a herniated disc. I sent the econsult Monday morning and had a prescription for pain relief at lunchtime, and an appointment with the practice physio for Friday. Medication didn’t agree with me and doctor called me back today ( after I messaged at breakfast time) with an alternative to try tonight. She was so kind about the pain too.

I don’t think anyone could argue that this isn’t an excellent service, and with no cost at the point of delivery.

There are amazing GPs out there ( or at least one!) and I feel so lucky our family has one.

OP posts:
beeswain · 22/02/2023 18:08

I love my GP, she would be my friend if she wad mot my GP. Sadly not seen her since pre Covid but over the years she has been very supportive. Generally tge practice is good too, easy to get phone appointments, repeat prescriptions.

Testng123 · 22/02/2023 18:14

Yes. There's always more of a wait for her but that's because she is thorough and so always runs over time. It's worth the wait.

If you just need a routine prescription, any of the GPs in the practice are fine.

PilatesPeach · 22/02/2023 18:15

Am v lucky! I can text mine direct. A longstanding friend for over 25 years.

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General health
Nimbostratus100 · 22/02/2023 18:17

o. I was coming on to tell you my last great grandparent died when I was 20, and he was AWESOME

HelpMeGetThrough · 22/02/2023 18:23

My actual GP is spot, the reception staff are a different ballgame. It's easier to milk a gnat than get through them.

HelpMeGetThrough · 22/02/2023 18:25

My actual GP is spot,

Spot on, that should say.

Original poster
WaggyTailsWetNoses · 22/02/2023 18:26

Nimbostratus100 · 22/02/2023 18:17

o. I was coming on to tell you my last great grandparent died when I was 20, and he was AWESOME

Ah, I get how you read it like that. I didn’t have any great grandparents alive growing up. But I found my great grandfather’s name on the Thiepal memorial and it was very moving. I’ve now derailed my own thread!

OP posts:
YorkieTheRabbit · 22/02/2023 18:26

My lovely GP retired a couple of years ago. I’m not one for going to the doctors frequently but I’ve been going to get sorted with hrt, I see the advanced nursing practitioner, she is wonderful, helpful, very patient. She’s even convinced me to get booked in with her for a smear, I’m well overdue but having had a horrendous experience some years ago, I absolutely dread them. I trust her.

Original poster
WaggyTailsWetNoses · 22/02/2023 18:27

HelpMeGetThrough · 22/02/2023 18:23

My actual GP is spot, the reception staff are a different ballgame. It's easier to milk a gnat than get through them.

I always use the econsult service. To be honest, I think that’s part of the secret. It seems to go straight to a GP/ nurse while the rest of the village are in telephone negotiations.

OP posts:
ConfusedNT · 22/02/2023 18:29

Yes mine is great

I've developed really bad asthma since getting covid and I have a couple of disabilities and she's fantastic.

She does phone consults with me as standard because getting into the clinic is harder for me, but always offers me the option of a face to face if i want it.

She trusts me to know my own body and takes my opinion on board with treatment plans

The asthma nurse is also fabulous as are the reception staff. I get a same day phone call whenever I need one from a doctor/nurse and the reception staff are always happy to help me pinpoint who will be the best person to speak to

I've also had same day/next day face to face consults when I have needed them and they have referred me whenever I needed it

HelpMeGetThrough · 22/02/2023 18:30

I always use the econsult service.

They've stopped using that for some reason.

PermanentTemporary · 22/02/2023 18:31

Mine. I think he may actually be an angel. I feel a bit wobbly just thinking about how kind he is. He has helped every member of my family so much. If the hospital had taken his letter seriously and acted accordingly, dh would probably still be alive.

I have to say that for gynae issues I tend to go to his colleague who is also fantastic - I just prefer seeing a woman if I can for those things.

Orangesandlemons77 · 22/02/2023 18:32

yes, ours is really good

they use the systmonline computer online access which is really useful

can book appts in advance, or get a call back on the day.

MissMarplesNiece · 22/02/2023 18:32

My GP is great, as are the HCAs and reception staff.

So1invictus · 22/02/2023 18:32

Mine is amazing. I'm not in the UK but that shouldn't matter, should it? We have her WhatsApp and can call her personally day or night. She'll do home visits with no hassle. We were randomly assigned her when she was new to the town and I was newly pregnant and now (19 years later,) people say "oooh how did you manage to get on her books, everyone wants her"
I literally love her.

HeyBwoss · 22/02/2023 18:36

I have a rubbish GP surgery but there is one GP there who is fantastic. He actually listens and examines you, he is reassuring, kind and explains why you have this problem and what the treatment will do to help you. He always follows up if he needs to, and always briefly reads notes before he sees you.

Unfortunately he is so good that you can rarely actually see him because everyone else knows how good he is too!

HeyBwoss · 22/02/2023 18:38

We have e consult too but you just get a phonecall from a GP anywhere in our county 2 days later

ConfusedNT · 22/02/2023 18:39

on the subject of smears I should also praise the nurses at my GP surgery too

I stopped having smears after a few fairly horrific ones where I used to live with a nurse who was appalling at them

The nurse where I am now is amazing she really took the time to reassure me and then kept me as comfortable as she could the whole way through

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 22/02/2023 18:45

Our GP practice is fab - there is a pharmacist who tracked down HRT for me and got the prescription reissued all in the space of a morning - and my DHs GP has been wonderful in stabilising DHs mental health. My mum adored the GP who used to visit her care home.

We are very very lucky.

Iamclearlyamug · 22/02/2023 18:48

Mine is fantastic, so lovely and kind and supportive and understanding when she diagnosed severe depression 6 weeks ago.

Econsults are sorted within a day, and when I emailed the office with a prescription query it was sorted in an hour

Original poster
WaggyTailsWetNoses · 22/02/2023 18:51

I remember our family doctors as a child. A 2 doctor practice who quite disliked each other.

One used to find any excuse for a home visit as he loved our particular (rare, and he’d had as a child) breed of dog.

The other used to have a fag in his office between each patient he saw. I remember his rival colleague showing us the overflowing ashtray in disgust one visit!

OP posts:
Newstartonwards · 22/02/2023 18:55

Yes. Mine. I phoned at 8am once I realised the chemist hadn’t had the prescription authorised on the Saturday- phoned on the Monday morning at 8 am said of course I could have an appointment did I want face to face or phone and morning or afternoon. I asked for a phone call, she said about 10 am phone call - GP rang at 10.05 am and I discussed the issue (more to do with stock at pharmacy then GP) she immediately did another script and send it direct to the pharmacy. It’s long term meds so she extended it monthly to x3 monthly and did scripts to get all the medication in line so I only needed to order once every x3 months and can order all of them in one go.
she then asked me to make a blood test appointment and a smear and told me I can download an app etc to order the prescriptions every three months on the phone and pinged me back to reception, spoke to them and they booked me in for a smear and blood test on a day that suited me, they printed out a sheet explained how to access the app and passwords. Swung round to the chemist after work - prescription there and then to the GP surgery for access codes. Everyone is so pleasant and lovely! Can’t fault them

hettiethehare · 22/02/2023 18:58

The other used to have a fag in his office between each patient he saw. I remember his rival colleague showing us the overflowing ashtray in disgust one visit!

The GP I saw when I first moved to London in 2000 used to put her practically overflowing ashtray into her desk drawer as soon as you walked into her room for an appointment!

I'm still with the same practice (original GP has long since retired!) and there is one GP there who is fantastic if you get her (so good with the children as well) and the others are a mixed bag.

BlueThursday · 22/02/2023 19:01

I hate my surgery and how inefficient it is. No option to book anything or order anything other than by phone.

my GP is always late; I’ve not seen her for maybe 4 years granted but I doubt she’s changed her ways, but I really just LIKE her. She seems to just get me and remembers me despite the no doubt thousands of patients she’s had over the 22 years I’ve been with her.

my practise nurse too has been there the whole time and given me every smear and vaccination since I was 19.

I’ll be gutted when they retire 😥

Oblomov23 · 22/02/2023 19:01

Yes. Same one for 15+ years. She's fab. Some of the other practice gp's aren't great, but she is.