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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:
SallySunrise · 22/02/2023 19:02

My GPs seem to change pretty regularly but my current one is brilliant. I've been about a few different things since he started and I finally feel listened to. I had lots of possibly related, possibly not symptoms. He did loads of bloods etc to rule out a lot of things. Really put my mind at rest when I was worried something was seriously wrong. He was also very sympathetic about my PND the first time I saw him. Just hearing him acknowledge how tough it was. I didn't realise how much I needed to hear that.

Thank you Dr Khalil.

Whoopsmahoot · 22/02/2023 19:03

Been with same practice about 25 years. They’re excellent.

MarshaBradyo · 22/02/2023 19:04

Yes and very close to what you needed - ear infection antibiotics for dc, peri menopause and scarlet fever check

Mix of f2f and e consult. Same day no issue

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General health
Vitriolinsanity · 22/02/2023 19:06

No. It makes me sad. I miss the GP's of my childhood that knew your whole history, your families history and made house calls.

Horsesandatoddler · 22/02/2023 19:08

Yes! We moved house and GP practices 2 weeks before my very prem DS appeared. Had a long hospital stay and ongoing issues, I had bad PND and my new GP was utterly amazing. I’m not sure how I would have got through that first year without a lot of support from her (and her referrals to the right teams for me and my DS).

Scarecrowrowboat · 22/02/2023 19:08

Yes. He's amazing especially compared to the others at surgery. He always makes me feel listened to and is kind and sensible. I never feel rushed at apts even though he must be so busy. The head GP at the practice in contrast is atrocious, rude and borderline negligent.

Brazilagogo · 22/02/2023 19:08

I’ve been very impressed by all the GP’s in the practice but the reception staff and nurses are a very different ball game. Our systmonline options are negligible, computerised check in never works, and there’s only ever one receptionist on duty dealing with people who turn up in person to make an appointment, pick up results etc and the queue is often several minutes long so I’m late for my appointment as a result.

Thatcatisdrivingmenuts · 22/02/2023 19:08

Yes we do. Perhaps we're lucky.

Quent · 22/02/2023 19:09

My practice is fine. I can always get an appointment when I need it, and I don't have to ring at the stroke of 8am or anything like that. I occasionally get another doctor subbing in for my main GP, but they've all been fine.

mrsdolittle · 22/02/2023 19:10

Love my GP. She is awesome (my husband has a mild crush on her and quite frankly so do I! 😂) I go to a small rural practice and there are only 3 GP's, two of which are part time. They are all excellent and the reception team are fantastic.

I feel very lucky indeed. I am forever urging local friends to register there - and quite a few have. I feel I should be earning commission!

50change · 22/02/2023 19:20

We do. Always use online form. Always get a response. It helps that I use to work in healthcare so I have a realistic timeframe of how urgent my problem is. Receptionists are always helpful and accommodating. The way some people speak and talk to them is shocking but I can empathise because pain and immobilisation can have a such a negative impact in how you communicate. As soon as my kids were 16 they were set up on-the online system and they manage all their own healthcare now (hay fever and acne mostly but also other stuff I don’t know it’s their private business). My elderly parents were so against using online form at their GP but as soon as I set them up they love it now.

squashyhat · 22/02/2023 19:23

Yes. All GPs, locums, nurses and reception staff are great - kind, empathic and treat me like a partner in managing my chronic illness. Econsult works fine with a same day callback. Appointments (f2f or phone) are reasonably easy to get. I have to have regular blood tests and they text the results. I'm just about to get access to the patient record system so I can see my notes. And a shout out to my local pharmacy who (unlike the national chains) turn repeat prescriptions round in a day, and even deliver.

prescribingmum · 22/02/2023 19:43

Consider myself incredibly lucky to have a wonderful GP Practice, it is a big one with lots of GPs but every single partner is brilliant and I've had great experiences with most of the salaried GPs too. Have my favourites but I can genuinely say I've only had a bad experience with one GP

When e-consults involve the children, we get a response within 24 hours the majority of the time. The very few I've completed for me have taken a bit longer but not been urgent. Practice nurses brilliant and reception staff amazing to anyone who speaks to them nicely (which I can't praise them enough for when I see how much the person in front of me has shouted at them and then they compose themselves and speak to me with a smile moments later).

Also very lucky our receptionists don't ask what the problem is when calling for appointment, they just book them until all gone. If you call later then only need to tell them to pass onto GP to triage

SophieJo · 22/02/2023 19:46

I belong to a wonderful practice with an online contact form as well as phone. My doctor retired last year but am happy with whoever I see.

KatiePerrier · 22/02/2023 19:47

Yes mine, absolutely outstanding every single time I deal with him. The whole surgery is amazing. A doctor call back generally takes 15-30 minutes, appointments always available on the day. Always first rate. I phoned them at 8:34am one day last week, a GP (not mine but one of the partners) phoned me back at 8:44am and I had a prescription to collect before 9am.

whataballbag · 22/02/2023 19:50

My GP is fantastic. I called yesterday afternoon because I am struggling with MH due to various things going on.

An hour later I had a phone appointment and 15 minutes later I was sat in his office sobbing, left the appointment laughing, therapy arranged, meds tweaked.

He was absolutely made to be a GP and is one of the most fantastic people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

CrotchetyQuaver · 22/02/2023 19:56

I have no complaints about my current and previous GP, both at the same surgery. Both women. I did however have issues with a male GP there after he told me it was all in my head. It most certainly wasn't and the various referrals he did for me had all resulted in diagnoses that required medication/treatment. I complained about him to the practice manager and requested a note was put on my record to request I didn't get to see him again. They're a good surgery, the one my late parents were with was dreadful, you couldn't rely on them to do anything without chasing it up, (and it was the only surgery in the village, they had no other options) so I know I'm very lucky.

HelpMeGetThrough · 22/02/2023 20:06

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!

This reminds me of the surgeon who did one of my operations. Came to see me the evening before to discuss the op, it was quite a lengthy one. Told me not to smoke, but all this with a smile.

I nipped out for one last one, only to bump into him having one, we both had a laugh about it.

Apparently he used to smoke in his office at the hospital. They never did a thing about it, as he was so good at what he did.

Cocochai · 22/02/2023 20:19

We’ve been with our GP practice for 8 years ever since we moved to the area and they have always been wonderful, even through the worst of Covid restrictions.

All the GP’s and other practice staff are polite, helpful, listen, dedicated and just plain excellent at what they do. Getting through is always fairly easy (never on hold for more than 10-15 mins), appointments are always available including urgent (none of these only phone call backs I read about on here) and no receptionist has ever refused to give an appointment. I told a receptionist a few months ago exactly this and why and she sounded so touched and asked for my permission to pass the feedback on.

Some of the medical situations I read about on here are completely alien to me and sound absolutely disgraceful. The government needs to crack down on GP surgeries who are still making it impossible for patients to be seen face to face, virtually no urgent appointments etc.

WidthofaLine · 22/02/2023 20:42

Vitriolinsanity · 22/02/2023 19:06

No. It makes me sad. I miss the GP's of my childhood that knew your whole history, your families history and made house calls.

Those were the days.

We had a double GP surgery the doctors names Killam and Dearden, always found that quite funny.

pinkpigletjoe · 22/02/2023 21:15

Yes, I don't use them often, but they are excellent.

FizzyStream · 22/02/2023 22:05

Mine is brilliant. She is a similar age to me and her kids are the same age. I think we'd be friends if we'd met elsewhere. She's been very supportive with everything I've ever seen her about.

cassiatwenty · 22/02/2023 22:05

Yes!

keffie12 · 22/02/2023 22:38

I couldn't ask for a better Dr's surgery and GP. He has been my family GP for 27 years. I'm dreading his retirement. That will not be for a few years, though, thank goodness.

I know how to get to my GP when I need him only re my health issues. Fortunately, our practice is contemporary and innovative.

I've known a lot of the staff many years. I know we are lucky

GyozaGuiting · 22/02/2023 22:41

My GP is great, she's VERY good at working out who needs to be seen and I'm not a time waster.
So when I've really needed a GP:
Heart tachycardia/unusual arrhythmia
Whiplash
Chest infection in Child
Ear Infecition
She has seen us within 2 hours each time. She likes to treat the urgent things before they get worse. Seems to work!