I thought GPs were supposed to be open?!

[DrPatient]

So, I had a routine appointment booked in to check my anaemia - cancelled due to Covid back in March and they'll let me know when I can have it. Fair enough, I get that. But it's now July and they're still not ready. Then, I tried to make an emergency appointment as was told that, no, they aren't doing any emergency appointments and to phone 111. I phoned 111 and they said to book a GP appointment or go to A&E - but I obviously can't book a GP appointment because they said no. I received the letter saying I should book my son in for his one year vaccinations. When I tried to book, they said they aren't doing vaccinations due to Covid - but everywhere is encouraging parents to still vaccinate during Covid. I'm due a smear test - can't book it "due to Covid".
I've had issues with my GP in the past, for example they refuse to provide contraception at all - they tell me to go to a private sexual health clinic about half an hour away instead, and I needed a medical check done for a new job and they flat-out refused. It's very difficult to get an appointment at the best of times with the receptionist demanding to know every minute detail in order to decide whether or not you're "worthy". This was all prior to Covid.
AIBU to think they should be doing appointments now? Are other GPs back up and running?

@Musicaltheatremum I received the letter saying to book my smear and received the letter saying to book my son's vaccinations - they GP surgery have said no to both.

@DrPatient that's not good. We might be a bit slow at getting these appointments up and running but you should be being seen. We can't ignore this stuff for ever and to be honest the infection rate is low so we should be grabbing the time to do this now in case we have to shut down again. I am so busy with patient contact and our nurses are fully booked although we are seeing fewer so we can distance patients. We are making progress but it's hard to get it right sometimes. We are currently trying to get the balance right between telephone appointments and face to face. If we have too many telephone appointments then we don't have time to see the patients and do the mail and the prescriptions and run the business...I'm senior partner so do a lot of that. Sorry you're having such a rough time.

My DH phoned his practice this morning and told that a doctor would ring him back. He then went out and phoned me later to advise that the doctor phoned and he had a face to face appointment at 12.
Also back in May after a phone consultation with my mums doctor I was able to bring her for an appointment.

We’ve had a really positive experience with our GP during lockdown.

DS was sheilding and the GP called to see how DS was and to remind me that his repeat prescriptions may need to be ordered a little earlier than usual.

DD has had some worrying symptoms. DD filled in an online consultation, GP called next day and gave advice. A week later things hadn’t got better so DD filled in another online consultation, GP asked her to come next day for an examination and ordered some tests. As soon as the results came back the GP made an urgent referral to gastroenterology. Using the e-consult service has actually worked better than waiting to see a GP in person which is probably what we would have done before. I can’t fault the GP and am really pleased with the service they are currently providing.

Also DD didn’t really take in what the Dr was saying when she got her test results so I called the GP surgery the next morning and asked if we could speak to her together , the GP called back within a couple of hours.

Practice nurse here. I've been seeing patients throughout all this in PPE in pretty full clinics. B12, smears, vaccinations, injections etc. The nurse practitioners and GP's have been consulting by phone in the hundreds and also seen patients if thought necessary, in a 'hot hub' if symptomatic of Covid.
We're now trying to get back slowly to routine chronic disease care but we all have so many outstanding holidays to take. The backlog is horrendous and things won't be normal for a long time.

I'm in Scotland and I think things are gradually being reintroduced. I had my smear test this morning, after it was due in Feb (cancelled due to nurse sickness) then was booked again for the day lockdown started. I saw last week that smears etc were being brought back, so I called last Tuesday and they booked me in for today.

I would call them back OP.

[quote DrPatient]@heartsonacake Can you not read?[/quote]
What part was untrue? You haven’t contacted them recently to ask them when the next available appointment is.

It seems to be variable at the moment but your practice sounds particularly bad!

Normally, getting an appointment at ours is a nightmare but I needed them for something near the start of lockdown and it was easy. Telephone appointment on the same day (within an hour or so) which turned into a video call with the GP as the issue was with my foot. Diagnosed and treatment advice given there and then.

I had a routine appointment with my dentist the other day and opticians are open so I can't see why GP practices are not running more normally. Surely all services cannot simply be done away with because of coronavirus?

I'd be inclined to contact the practice manager.

I have had three phone consultations. In person blood tests, and a 2ww referral, within 12 days, and had the referral and all the tests. The phone is being answered quicker and the service is better than before the pandemic re the triage and phone.

@Musicaltheatremum is the HPV test a blood test or an internal as per the smear? I've had abnormal ones in the past but luckily never to the point of needing anything done, I just had retests quite soon thereafter.

Our receptionist always asks for a full reason if you want to make an appointment. I recently had surgery for endometriosis and have had serious issues due to my bladder being damaged in the surgery. The receptionist asked me how to spell this
And after all that referred me to the dispensing pharmacist.

They had no idea why I had been sent to them for my issues and then I had to wait another 2 days for a GP.

My surgery is awful. I went to one Gp for 2 years with dreadful stomach pains, period issues and exhaustion and fainting. And several times the male GP was very dismissive and put it down to "the menopause" at the age of 38.
Thank goodness it was diagnosed when I collapsed in work. By that time I had endo everywhere!

I’ve had phone appointments and been in for blood tests. Your surgery sounds really bad, sorry

[quote DrPatient]@heartsonacake I am not responding to you - your attitude, behaviour and language is patronising, pathetic and unhelpful. Please toddle off and bully people elsewhere. Have fun being big and clever. For the record, July started six days ago, so I can't have contacted them in July (like I said in my OP) and it not have been within the last week. Imagine being the smartest person on Mumsnet and not knowing there are seven days in a week.[/quote]
Oooh were you this rude with the GP receptionist? That might be why you didn’t get an appointment.

@Buttybach

Our receptionist always asks for a full reason if you want to make an appointment. I recently had surgery for endometriosis and have had serious issues due to my bladder being damaged in the surgery. The receptionist asked me how to spell this And after all that referred me to the dispensing pharmacist.

They had no idea why I had been sent to them for my issues and then I had to wait another 2 days for a GP.

My surgery is awful. I went to one Gp for 2 years with dreadful stomach pains, period issues and exhaustion and fainting. And several times the male GP was very dismissive and put it down to "the menopause" at the age of 38.
Thank goodness it was diagnosed when I collapsed in work. By that time I had endo everywhere!

That's what I mean. The receptionists are in charge now

@MaxNormal part of the smear test now. They test for HPV and if it's negative that's fine. I had read up all about it and the figures on detection rates for cancer but I forgot it all when we were getting 30+ emails a day on COVID alone 😭

My surgery has been awful.

Having some really bad side effects from my implant and its due to come out this month anyway and after trying to book for 3 weeks they've suddenly decided to close the clinic....even though they've been running fine since it all started.

Had to escalate to the practice manager as its obscene I've been trying for weeks to speak to someone and get the consultation and then the whole service is retracted.

My iron has dropped significantly as a result and and I'm about ready to chance cutting it out myself and then going to a &e and saying whoops

Change GPs

I hear you. I'm having a similar problem, my little boy is 9 and there is something wrong with his throat. Due to covid they are refusing to see him, so we just have to suffer. What if it is / was something serious developing? Do I just turn up at A&E? I rang the local walk in centres aswell and they also refused to see him because it's his throat!

My parents' surgery has been like this and pulled the drawbridges firmly up.

They have had some serious issues throughout lockdown. They are shielding, rather immobile and usually cannot go into the surgery. Their doctor does some phone consultations only. These have involved guesstimating some medication, and it has been very hit or miss. Twice my mother has ended up in hospital (not covid related).

The doctor will not come out to them or see them in the surgery, but will only send paramedics. The paramedics have been lovely to them but have admitted that they have been thrust into a role that they are untrained for and which was up until lockdown performed by GPs.

So in short, their GP has been well shielded whilst being happy for paramedics to take on the risk and the paramedics themselves are noticing this.

I don't live near my parents so haven't been able to help. I don't know what is really happening at my own local surgery as I haven't had to really put it to the test. I have been getting my own repeat prescriptions issued without any issues though, and my prescription charges exemption certificate was renewed when prompted. I haven't needed any appointments though.

Your GP sounds rubbish OP. My daughter has been able to have her 8, 12 and 16 week jabs and I have just booked a smear test. Are you able to register at a different GP locally?

What part was untrue? You haven’t contacted them recently to ask them when the next available appointment is.

Depends on what you mean by "recently". The OP has quite clearly stated that she has contacted the GP surgery in July. As it's currently the 6th day of July, that means she has contacted them within the last 6 days (last 4 working days).

We’ve had several text messages ( mass mailing, not personalised) from our GPs surgery over lockdown urging people to not ignore problems or routine needs and to contact them to make phone appointments ( can be booked online or by phone) , which then may be turned into in person appointments if necessary. They do say to call 111 if it is about Covid symptoms.

EnlightenedOwl, the receptionists are not, and never have been in charge. We simply carry out the instructions given to us by our employers, i.e. the GP’s.

@Worriedmum4
Throat examination has been a real issue due to increased risk of transmission. Royal colleges have advised against where possible to avoid not that can never be performed, but have said when is being performed needs high level PPE

Does he have something you can see? We’ve been assessing children but asking for photos of throats to review rather than directly examining. Could that work for you ? Either way you should be able to access help so sounds rubbish sorry