That doctors are only doing phone call appointments?

[Yellowskies1988]

I'm generally fit and well but I've found what I can't determine if it's a spot or a lump high up on the inside of my right leg. It feels asif it goes down inside quite deep maybe I'm overthinking but it also seems like the same leg aches a little. The doctors offered a phone call appointment which I took. But I may as well have done the dreaded Google search instead.

Ours I think are doing phone initially and then face to face if needed

@midgebabe I might have to ring them back then. I'm really concerned to be honest

They'll know the right questions to ask and may ask you to send photos and then may follow up (or not). I understand it's frustrating but it could very well just be a spot.

If they were fully open but COVID possibly all over the surgery and the people in the waiting room with you, would you make a face to face appt for it?

a relative has a lump and had a phone call appointment, followed by a f2f appointment and then a scan, and finally a phone call to give the all clear. If the GP needs to see you, they'll see you IME.

Well what do you expect them to do? I hardly think they could or should have just carried on like normal.
If you’re still worried, call back. If they think they need photos, they’ll ask you to send them. If they need to see you, they’ll see you.

I don't really understand your question. Are you asking if the doctor is being unreasonable by doing telephone consultations? Or asking if you are being unreasonable by comparing their years of study and extensive knowledge with a 20 second google search?

It makes complete sense to do telephone consultations - the last thing we need is more doctors being coughed on by covid patients.

Appointments are being given to those who really need them - if something can wait a few more weeks then it is perfectly reasonable to expect people to wait.

Speak to your doc on the phone and if they think you need to come in, you will be given a face to face appointment.

They are doing phone calls. If they assess that they need video and you can provide that, then they will do so, if they assess they need you to come in they will say so.

I've gone from a service that was nearly 50% face to face to about 1% face to face. A lot can be done with video calls but those who need face to face are getting it.

They’ll do an initial assessment over the phone and see you if they think it’s necessary. My OH called yesterday with an issue and they told him to go straight to the surgery. He was in and out with a prescription and referral within 20 minutes. It’s a lot better this way imo.

I can see the NHS learning a lot from how they are operating at the moment and streamlining the whole GP service/A&E admissions etc when it’s over.

They are still seeing people, just screening it through a phone appointment first. I think it works quite well and it's actually easier to get medical attention at the moment at my surgery.

Are you being unreasonable that doctors are only doing phone call appointments? I'm sorry OP but that doesn't make sense.

Lots of GP surgeries have moved heavily into a phone call triage system and lots (in some cases most) appointments are now over phone or video call. If they feel they need to see you they'll probably ask you to come in.

The doctor can take enough information at that point to decide what is needed.

I have a phone call from physio last week about DS, she phoned me back with a video call after what I had said so she could do a video call to assess him as best as possible and give an action plan.

My dad has been ill for a few weeks and the gp did a phone consultation via video, didn’t like what he saw so arranged for him to go to a and e where he got the treatment he needed.

I can't believe people here think that an accurate diagnosis can be made by phone or video. My FIL is a retired GP and tears his hair out when he hears of phone or video appointments and is adamant that to fully examine a patient you will need to see them and be able to prod and poke as needed to make an accurate diagnosis.

Years ago an older lady visited his surgery with her friend. She looked awful and had a history of anaemia. Her previous GP had kept simply giving her iron tablets. FIL examined her, found suspicious lumps in breast or abdomen (can't remember which). Anyway, turned out she had advanced cancer.

A good GP needs to be able to undertake a thorough physical examination. Obviously with Covid this has risks and PPE should be worn. But failing to offer face to face services is shocking.

Ours I think are doing phone initially and then face to face if needed

Yes this is what our GP are doing. They will call you, discuss over the phone and if you know what's wrong with you, or it's something you've had before, they'll just prescribe over the phone. I was pretty sure last week I had a UTI, had one before, recognised the symptoms. GP said ordinarily they'd do a sample but that she'd just prescribe antibiotics. But that if I wasn't better soon to make an appointment to go in.

There has been lots of coverage recently about the plummeting numberrs of people being referred for serious illnesses or arriving at A&E. If you need medical treatment, you can still access it.

Years ago an older lady visited his surgery with her friend. She looked awful and had a history of anaemia. Her previous GP had kept simply giving her iron tablets. FIL examined her, found suspicious lumps in breast or abdomen (can't remember which). Anyway, turned out she had advanced cancer

The plural of anecdote is not data.

Most gp practices will be offering telephone consultations and then face to face. If you feel that a face to face is necessary, ask for one.

Surely whether an accurate diagnosis can be done via the phone or video call depends on the concerns in question?

Some things will be able to be sorted by phone, others will highlight things that mean seeing the GP is needed, others will highlight things whereby the GP can do an onwards referal as needed.

Plenty of things can be dealt with without an immediate face to face, especially at the moment.

It's perfectly reasonable as an initial consultation to talk over the phone. How else does 111 work? Or assessing priority whilst triaging in a GP surgery or on a 999 call?

I think it is eminently sensible that GPs are first talking to people. You will be seen if need be.

I wrote mine a letter and enclosed photos when I had a similar situation a couple of weeks ago. Dr agreed a course of antibiotics over the phone and said if that doesn't work she'd arrange for me to come in.

All GP surgeries have been advised to run a 'triage first' system in order to risk assess patients before offering face to face appointments.

I am absolutely thrilled with the switch to phone appointments by default and hope it stays. Absolutely agree that they will follow up with f2f it required but so many appointments don’t need it and it wastes everyone’s time. I needed a referral yesterday- ordinarily I’d have to queue (on the phone) for an appointment at 8am. Maybe multiple day’s in a row Then take time off work to attend. I sent an email Wednesday night, was told I’d receive a call Thursday morning (they were even happy to work around my meetings)- ten minutes away from my desk on the phone, referral secured. So much time could be saved if this sort of triage was done ordinarily.

I'm really concerned to be honest

OP, you are clearly concerned and anxious because you have discovered an inexplicable lump which seems to be deeply embedded in your leg. You should call back and explain why you think you need to see your doctor. Your health matters and you should pursue this until you get a satisfactory response. Good luck.

They are doing all phone call appointments here and then if you need to be seen you are being directed to one of three surgeries - one for people with no symptoms of CV, one for people who have tested positive and one for people with symptoms - as they are working together during the pandemic.

My surgery have been doing this for a while - long before Covid. It's a good way of triaging and seems to work really well. If the doctor needs to see you then they are able to get you in ASAP.

I can't believe people here think that an accurate diagnosis can be made by phone or video. My FIL is a retired GP and tears his hair out when he hears of phone or video appointments and is adamant that to fully examine a patient you will need to see them and be able to prod and poke as needed to make an accurate diagnosis.

with respect, and no doubt your FIL was an excellent GP in his time, but times change. Methods of triage, ways to question and investigate, move on. As does technology. Unless he retired in the last few years, there is no way he would have worked with the online video and conferencing technology available to GPs today.

Telephone or video consultations are absolutely not replacing face to face appointments completely. Patients requiring physical examination will get it, even in the current crisis. But it is becoming evident that the majority of issues patients present can be dealt with remotely.