To think not having any pre bookable dr's appointments is very inconvenient?

[SweetElizaRose]

Apparently my GP is changing so you have to phone on the day you want the appointment and can no longer pre book even for routine type stuff like medication reviews.
Why? If you are working this will be very difficult to manage because you won't be able to book or arrange any time off. I don't understand why they are doing this?

NHS Scotland and NHS England are separate and NHS in Scotland is devolved to the Scottish government.

I think you will find that Scotland is very heavily subsidised.

Exactly - which is why it's like comparing apples and oranges. My GP service was much better when I lived in a less densely populated area. A lot of it is too many patients and not enough doctors which is exacerbated in places like London and the SE. There are many better ways to address that just restricting access to GP's though - because that is what these measures are intended to do.

I have also had an experience of being refused help by the GP. Luckily my DH is a hospital doctor so I was able to see a consultant privately and get on the NHS list that way. I just don't see why we boast about "free at point of delivery" medical care when often that care is illusory or non-existent. Having had experience of other countries' health systems, my mind boggles as to why we put up with this level of "care".

I was about to say that if NHS Scotland and NHS England are separate, you cannot actually compare your experiences with those of us in England and realistically comment about the standard of service we do or don't receive.

Tomorrow I'll research where Scotland receives most of its revenues from and endeavour to find out if any of my taxes are subsidising your free prescriptions

Och Beau feel free

Agent, I'm a scottish GP. "Waves" it's tough out here but I think England with their CQC groups have it even worse.

Musical hello! I honestly have no experience of NHS England so I can only talk about the goods and bads of what I know, my GP practice is great, really accommodating with fantastic support staff. Some how it has turned in to some England v Scotland competition which is utter nonsense. I think being a GP is a very difficult and challenging job (you'll know better than me) and I just don't think putting the blame solely on the doctors is right, although I totally accept there are some practices on both sides of he border that aren't performing as well as they should be

Agent if you know nothing about GP practice in England then I really don't understand why you think "complaining" is the answer or why you seem to think that all of us posting about negative experiences simply need to have "how hard doctors try" explained to us and magically our service will be okay.

On complaining.... I complained about a busy practice in London after a GP failed to refer my grandfather for investigations for dizziness - it turned out to be a brain tumour and he died. GP refused to meet me or even discuss the complaint.

The following year I was refused a referral - for months. I also had cancer. Another complaint, another big fat FO from the GP. This time I sued successfully and they admitted liability pdq (although the local NHS hospital took longer to settle).

This happened under Labour when money was supposedly being hosed at NHS England so I find the rationing that is the subject of the OP pretty terrifying for people without a private alternative, particularly given the population increase in the last 10 years or so. My DH is an oncologist and sees patients all the time who have been treated by GP's for infection, IBS and most recently "referred pain" when what they really needed was a prompt referral to oncology services. In England, they often don't get this.

I have no idea what the NHS is like in Scotland and I have no intention of commenting on something of which I know nothing. However I can assure you that primary care in England has problems that no amount of "complaining" or "being more understanding of doctors" can fix. Just ask my DH, who is going to a patient's funeral next week.

Young I'm sorry those things happened to you and your family, and I had no way of knowing at the beginning of this thread where OP was from, so attacking me for my opinion is not the answer.

Private healthcare doesn't help you either as you need to go to a GP to access it. If insurers allowed you to self-refer for more conditions, or provided a telephone or private GP service, some of the pressure on NHS GPs would go.

I can book ahead at my GP so one strategy is to book an appointment for 4 weeks away and then cancel if I don't need it. I have done that twice, both times I ended up not needing the appointment because I was better by the time it came up. I suppose they rely on that - either you'll be better or dead, either way not their problem.

It does seem absolutely stupid to remove all pre-bookable appts for things like medication reviews or something that just isn't urgent.

name

I want to a private GP, who referred me on

So i paid £90 and then the insurance kicked in

I suppose the answer is to write a little note when the prescription is refused because you haven't had your blood test/medication review to say you have spent x hours on the phone and have been unable to get a mutually convenient appointment as you work full time. I'd note that I quite understood but as their services were inaccessible I would have to hold them responsible for my ill health unless they either provided another repeat prescription or got someone to phone me up with the offer of a suitably timed appointment. Not a complaint as such but a little reality check. I find that approach works better than conversations with jobsworthy receptionists who are probably only following doctors orders. Probably would irritate them but they can't claim it's rude.

Not a complaint as such but a little reality check

yes
that'll help
because we are providing a less than ideal service because we want to - not because of a chronic lack of underfunding

notes like that get you icy politeness and a GP who will never go above and beyond for you

I don't have as much of a problem with icy politeness as downright rudeness to be fair. Also I don't expect above and beyond I expect a transparent and fair competent service delivered equally to all patients. If working people can't access the service then that doesn't represent equal access. If I can't continue working I can't continue paying tax and the service will have fewer resources than now.

I have to take levothyroxine. I have taken 100mcg for 25 years. Up until about 15 years ago I saw my GP annually for a blood test and prescription for 365 tablets. Then it changed to 28 day prescribing to save money. Over time I can get three months' worth now. Levothyroxine is as cheap as chips. Writing the same script 12 or 4 times a year for an otherwise well patient isn't an effective use of resources. Jt takes gp time, admin time and pharmacy time. It also takes rafts of my time, not least when I'm putting through requests reception claims not to have received or sends to the wrong pharmacy. They agreed once they'd cocked up and the script would be ready I three hours. I asked for it to be put in the post. They refused without a stamp although it was their cock up but hey I've got 40 minutes to go back for their error. I hope you agree that sort of carry on elicits icy politeness from the patient who won't leave you a good review. Parking twice near my surgery cost me £2 let alone the cost of my time which is as valuable as that of any GP.

notes like that get you icy politeness and a GP who will never go above and beyond for you

That doesn't sound very ethical to me. Sadly it doesn't surprise me either.

So we're talking about not even being able to get an appointment with a GP, and we shouldn't mention it because it would lead to "a GP who will never go above and beyond for you."
Seems a bit irrelevant if you never see the GP.

My perscription was refused til i had the medical review, 1st apt was two weeks later (this was years ago, a routine apt is now 8weeks)

When i saw the dr he was angry that i hadnt taken my medicine for two weeks, when i told him that the receptionist had refused it (probably following protocol from the doctor) he said "yes...they can be a bit over zealous "