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?

Why are people not grasping that the receptionist passes on the details so the doctor can triage?

I don’t buy the myth that all doctors receptionists are horrible - I’ve mostly encountered lovely ones actually.

I have been struggling with my mental health due to the pandemic and the lovely receptionist has been so so kind. I don’t think it’s nice to bash them for doing their jobs.

The gps have to be careful because they are potentially seeing vulnerable patients who can become very sick with COVID. It's a bit different to an optician or a teacher.

A family member is a gp and he is still seeing patients who need to be seen.

Its a shame your surgery aren't doing the same. I'm really surprised they aren't doing vaccinations on your child, that is awful.

kennyjenny, of course opticians are seeing vulnerable people who can be made very ill by Covid.They are seeing diabetics etc and all the practices I know see a high proportion of elderly people (70+)
They also work close to the person they are seeing for a chunk of time. Its high risk for transmission of infection.

Mine's just phoned me out of the blue to book in a general health check, a smear test and a vaccination. Appointments in a fortnight. I've been told to wear a mask, use handgel they'll provide and not to worry about numbers of people in there (I'm high risk). I also had messages before every bank holiday and a letter telling me to not worry about contacting them as I'd be able to get treatment throughout for urgent matters. I suppose they're working through the backlog of routine/non urgent cases to make sure that people aren't being missed whilst prioritising those who do have actual urgent needs, rather than those who want to be seen urgently (two different things). I've also had three telephone appointments with my hospital.

They're pretty good, IMO.

Mind you, if I'd been taking iron tablets for anaemia, I'd probably have just bought some OTC ones with the advice of a Pharmacist to tide me over until I could see somebody once things settle down, rather than think of it as an emergency. And if I needed contraception, I'd probably go to the clinic with the experts rather than ask somebody who doesn't deal with family planning every day, whether or not they exercise their right of religious exemption or that the funding isn't provided for GPs in the area. Or change GP as soon as the contraception issue came up.

Meh. I expect they're fed up of signing death certificates for the local old people's homes and monitoring people on chemo/palliative care/etc.

@MitziK if I'd been taking iron tablets for anaemia, I'd probably have just bought some OTC ones with the advice of a Pharmacist to tide me over until I could see somebody once things settle down, rather than think of it as an emergency
I'm not sure if you actually read through the thread. OTC medications are not the same as prescription medications. Also, the way it works, as I've previously explained, is that I take the medication for three months then I stop for one month and then they do a blood test to check my levels after a month without medication. If it's too low, they then put me back on the medication for another three months. So, I shouldn't be taking the medication until the test is done - but there shouldn't be five months between stopping and having the test.
If the GP is refusing to provide the healthcare that they're paid to provide then it's pretty cheeky to accept the funding for it - and the GP who decides whether or not they provide contraception is not the same as the nurse who would fit it so it in no way reflects their ability.

@heartsonacake It's really very sad that you take time out of your day every single day to seek out threads that I'm on just to be nasty and disagree with me about totally irrelevant things. I'm bored of you.

Like "were you directed to us by NHS111 for an emergency appointment?" or "do you need an appointment today?" or "is this regarding a medical issue or do you need some paperwork doing?

You could use the patient's age as an indicator, whether they phone up every week with the same mild headache or you haven't heard from them in the eighteen years they've been registered.

Firstly do you have any idea how many telephone calls a surgery gets each day? This would take ages to go through and cause even more call backlog

Secondly it would involve even more triage - everyone would say yes to being seen on the day anyway. Patients don't always understand all the processes for an admin related question, they are just calling their GP. Then you are expecting that each call handler open your record to see how frequently you call, how old you are, if you have known conditions?

GP lists work downwards in time slots. There is not really going to be an extra special top slot for emergencies sitting empty to be seen before everyone else. If you call, and dint say what it’s for, you will go on the next slot on the list ie the bottom. Or asked to call tomorrow. Everyone has to go on the bottom of the list or another day when they run out

If the receptionist notes that it is urgent she will call/message the GP and the GP will pick up that patient much quicker on the day or before the other routine patients

Phone call comes in
Reception asks the Nature of the call
Appointment is booked with a few notes
Move on to next caller
GP calls patients from list
Anything urgent - picked up quicker

DrPatient
Have you called them today and asked to booked in or referred elsewhere for your blood test?

[quote DrPatient]**@MitziK* if I'd been taking iron tablets for anaemia, I'd probably have just bought some OTC ones with the advice of a Pharmacist to tide me over until I could see somebody once things settle down, rather than think of it as an emergency*
I'm not sure if you actually read through the thread. OTC medications are not the same as prescription medications. Also, the way it works, as I've previously explained, is that I take the medication for three months then I stop for one month and then they do a blood test to check my levels after a month without medication. If it's too low, they then put me back on the medication for another three months. So, I shouldn't be taking the medication until the test is done - but there shouldn't be five months between stopping and having the test.
If the GP is refusing to provide the healthcare that they're paid to provide then it's pretty cheeky to accept the funding for it - and the GP who decides whether or not they provide contraception is not the same as the nurse who would fit it so it in no way reflects their ability.[/quote]
They wouldn't be funded for contraception services if they aren't providing them. And if they are taking the religion exemption, it's their practice, they are perfectly at liberty to decide that their nurse doesn't provide them either. Their business, their decisions (when they aren't the specific decisions of the CCG, anyhow, which they could be).

In ideal times, I'd have had 3 separate specialist blood tests at the hospital by now, an MRI scan and probably a change of medication, along with some others to mitigate the need to change. But I haven't, because there's been more pressing things for them to deal with than me.

I usually take high dose vitamin D, as I've got a deficiency (side effect of meds), prescription only. Can't get a new prescription at present as they need a recent blood test to check the levels before prescribing high doses and can't get the levels checked to see whether the dose needs to be tweaked/other things added in, so the pharmacist assisted with something OTC to keep me ticking over with in the meantime. It's not the same as following the protocol set up before there was a pandemic and shutdown of non essential services. But it's better than nothing - or getting angry about it.

It's annoying, it's frustrating if you're worried about stuff, but living in one of the UK's top places for Covid deaths overall, I think that adopting a slightly more philosophical approach where it isn't of immediate life threatening urgency is better for people as a whole.

I'm not one of those people who need ITU right now or did a month ago. I got better without admission (ish, I'm still short of breath and now massively deconditioned), they're working through their patient lists to try and catch up now they've had further guidance/instructions, I'm doing OK.

Hope you manage to get an appointment soon, though.

I've just had a look and private clinics are open and will do smears. Its 100 quid mind but you get reassurance I suppose.

My GP has been open the whole time. They do telephone appointments and decide if you need to bee seen. I've not needed to be seen as I just have a monthly medication review. But did ring for an on the day appointment re sinuses. I didn't need to be seen and would not have wanted to go in anyway. Its an issue which flares up often for me. But I totally trust the practice to see you if needed. Also tmy practice doesn't offer any private services. Except I suppose they charge for insurance letters like everywhere? Your GP sounds poor I'd move on to a new practice.

OP in your posts you come across as quite aggressive. I've previously worked with people with mental health issues who struggle to access health care because they get angry and frustrated with the system very quickly. Stuff like waiting times for appointments or being on hold. Is this something you recognise in yourself?

[quote DrPatient]@heartsonacake It's really very sad that you take time out of your day every single day to seek out threads that I'm on just to be nasty and disagree with me about totally irrelevant things. I'm bored of you.[/quote]
What on Earth are you talking about? I don’t even recognise your username

By the by, what have I said that’s nasty? All I’ve literally said is that if you’re going to hide your ailment then they can’t triage you, so of course you’ll go to the bottom of the list. That is applicable to anyone refusing to disclose the problem, not just you.

My surgery is brill. Phoned due to earache expecting phone consultation. He asked if I could come in so he could examine me. I asked when and he said, could I come now and he would fit me in. Half an hour later I'm home, having had thorough examination, been prescribed antibiotics, went and got them from chemist. Job done.

Our surgery hsve asked the nature of the problem for tbe last year or so. It makes sense to direct you to the right person

I work in a GP surgery, and your one is very odd...
Vaccinations have gone ahead throughout, including now.
Smear tests continued throughout until recently, as we have gone back into lockdown.
Some of the non urgent blood tests were just being put back on the list and referrals were about to get moving again.
We have daily emergency appointments - all appointments by phone, and face to face where deemed necessary.
I don’t understand what is going on at your doctors tbh, or how to report? Maybe via the CQC?
They will have to do certain procedures to be paid for them though... they have to keep records.
Move surgery? 💐

Also, in order to put you with the right person, or redirect you-it helps to know what you need. It’s not a nosey thing. I’ve honestly enjoyed helping people more fully and having a more understanding conversation with them, by a bit of openness 🙂

I know what you mean. I had a letter to remind me about a routine smear late last year. I have to phone doctors at 8 in the morning to book an appointment but cause I start work at 7 I can't phone up till first break which is at 9( not allowed phone during work time). I tried a few times to book but either no appointments left or lines are busy. Got this every time I phoned. Then covid came and went into lock down so no appointments. Last week in June I get a letter from surgery saying that I wish not to be recalled for a smear. Was annoyed as it wasn't my fault I could never get an appointment. Phoned gp on 3 consecutive days to try and book and still couldn't get in. Fourth day finally got to make an appointment but had to wait for a triage nurse to phone me back to tell me what time I can come in.

My Dr has been great. My daughter has had a reoccurring throat problem and has been seen twice, once at a hot hub during the peak and once just yesterday. They can’t to fa about it but service was good.

I've had a similar experience with my GP surgery this month. I'm having to pay private and can see a consultant next week for a face to face appointment but I'm having to pay 200 pounds to get the consultation I need.

YANBU but as others have said, provision is patchy although this sounds likes you've caught as case of Asshole GPitis.

My old surgery used to be like this, you couldn't get an appointment for love nor money and god forbid you had an illness that required actual treatment.

I have a new GP now and they're wonderful, wish I'd moved sooner.

OP does your local hospital have a venepuncture service in their Outpatient's Department? If so you could ask your surgery to provide you with a pathology form detailing the blood test required. For anaemia I expect that would be a FBC with U's and E's. You could collect the form and take it to the Venepuncture suite, bloods taken and results sent to your GP. Otherwise I would ask the Practice Manager what provision they have made for patients who need regular blood tests to manage a long-term condition. I really hope you get a solution soon which will put your mind at rest. BEST WISHES!

I haven’t had my routine 6 month diabetic check in 18 months and GP still won’t see me due to covid. I’m due full blood work, flu jab, med review, repeat thyroid function and the usual nurse stuff. As soon as things calm down I’m changing GP. And I can’t believe your GP won’t prescribe contraception! I suggest you look at changing GP too OP.

I am surprised by that! I took DD for all her routine vaccinations (12 weeks and 16 weeks) during lockdown and went for my smear test Middle of June. Also I had three telephone consultations. Although also they prescribe contraception and they are very helpful via the telephone and email.
Could you switch doctors? Your surgery sounds very unhelpful.