GP practice "not offering appointments"

[Darkestseasonofall]

This is a new low. Just called to make an appointment to be told they aren't doing any for the foreseeable future.
If it's an emergency you can call on the day and try to get a telephone consultation, but that's it.
I can see a huge rise in people attending ED in appropriately or just becoming very ill with avoidable things.
This isn't NHS bashing, I'm a nurse, but I can't understand how primary care can just opt out of 90% of their contract.
AIBU to think this is just silly?

I’m struggling with my surgery, have been told to take beta blockers for anxiety . Told I can have a weekly prescription only . But I have to give them a weeks notice each time I want more . And I’m not allowed to miss a dose, run out or go cold turkey .

So I have to go down to the chemist, pick up meds, come home, phone for more, and explain to the receptionist why I want more .

Apparently the dosage and weekly prescriptions will be reviewed in March 2021 as GP is only doing six monthly reviews for depression . Because COVID . Surgery said they don’t handle routine matters eg mental health now and when I queried it, was told I’d be best contacting 111 instead .

I’m allowed my antidepressants, etc on a four weekly basis - so bewildered at this one .

@EyelinerRocks

My GP surgery is same as most PPs in that you call on the same day for an appointment. Lines open at 830am It was 2pm before I eventually got through after constantly hitting redial To be told - you should have called at 830 can you call back tomorrow

I was due to run out of contraception The next week and only needed a repeat prescription.
I haven’t had my blood pressure taken in over a year due to Covid.
Eventually managed to get a repeat prescription over phone sent via email to local pharmacy.

Told my next review will be December when I should be able to get blood pressure tested ( won’t hold my breath for that )

Surely for repeat prescription we could just fill in an online form ?
This would leave the phone line open for actual medical issues.
I dread the day when one of us Or DC actually has tonsillitis or something needing urgent antibiotics etc and can’t get through on the line whilst sitting feverish and in pain.

And the posters saying “ go to your pharmacist “
No this is ridiculous , any minor ailments I just google and then purchase myself from pharmacist

Things like tonsillitis/ conjunctivitis ( most common things my DC encounter ) only a doctor can prescribe the antibiotics so it’s back to the stress of trying to get thru on the phone lines. It’s extremely stressful just sitting redialing.

My smear test is overdue too , no information on when these will be up and running.

All dentists still on emergency only

So basically zero healthcare unless it’s an A & E emergency is how I feel our system is right now.

Would they accept a home blood pressure reading?

@LadyWithLapdog

I’ve just googled it, is that Livi GP?

Yes

@DrFoxtrot yea I'm still not buying that gps would choose to fully be part of the nhs if given the choice.

Regarding services provided over the decades since the inception of the nhs gps have negotiated doing fewer and fewer services while increasing pay and improving their conditions - eg barely doing "out of hours" work.

So I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask "what are gps paid for?"

@MushMonster tread carefully when complaining about gp service it does NOT go down well and can cause problems for the patient complaining.

@bettythebuilder So sorry for your loss 

@bobbiester I agree I think appointments would miraculously become available if they were paid per appointment

If they weren't negatively financially impacted by making referrals to specialists then many patients, including me and my dd wouldn't spend decades seeing the gp for the same undx ailment multiple times yearly for treatment and trying to GET a dx, this would also free up a shit ton of appointments.

I'm always amazed at how people's lived experiences are dismissed on these threads by HCPs.

I'm no longer amazed or even surprised, saddened and frustrated and angry though yes.

GPs should be integrated, and held to account if they deliver a shoddy service.

Absolutely

I'd not be at all happy with that outsourcing to a foreign company nonsense! How much is that costing I wonder? Yet they keep pleading poverty? I don't buy it!

No they didn’t even ask for a home blood pressure result

I have been feeling super stressed and upset recently with lockdown , wouldn’t be surprised if my blood pressure was high at all.

But no test , just electronic pill prescription sent over.

There is no way they will do my BP in December is there.

Oh also our surgery still doesn’t have stock of kids Flu nasal spray and I was sent the NHS letter asking to book my son in two months ago.

Why would putting a complaint about them not providing appointments would turn to be an issue for the patient? That is really wrong on its own. A serious one indeed. Nobody is above the law, or free of any guilt, or able to shut the rest of the world up just because they have an important job. We are all accountable for the service we provide. Again, it is the system that needs sorting, and if not reported they will not look into it, so how will the patients get a better service?

@MushMonster you're right it SHOULDN'T happen, unfortunately in real life it can and does and if you're in an area where there are few gps or they're massively "oversubscribed" it can be even more likely. Sometimes it's done very subtly (making it harder for "awkward" patients to get appointments, often "awkward" actually means mentally ill or even just assertive) sometimes it's more overt.

Just be cautious is all I'm saying and tread carefully.

@madcatladyforever

I think it is quite absurd how they are wrapping themselves in cocoons quite honestly. I'm an NHS podiatrist and have been working full on right through this epidemic doing clinics, home visits, hospital visits everything. I have not had the opportunity not to see people throughout this as it's my job. I have medical problems myself and I've had to use minor injuries as a GP surgery the while time. Its ridiculous.

I’ve been working throughout (GP) but the local podiatry service has shut down completely.

[quote Graphista]@DrFoxtrot yea I'm still not buying that gps would choose to fully be part of the nhs if given the choice.

Regarding services provided over the decades since the inception of the nhs gps have negotiated doing fewer and fewer services while increasing pay and improving their conditions - eg barely doing "out of hours" work.

So I think it's perfectly reasonable to ask "what are gps paid for?"

@MushMonster tread carefully when complaining about gp service it does NOT go down well and can cause problems for the patient complaining.

@bettythebuilder So sorry for your loss 

@bobbiester I agree I think appointments would miraculously become available if they were paid per appointment

If they weren't negatively financially impacted by making referrals to specialists then many patients, including me and my dd wouldn't spend decades seeing the gp for the same undx ailment multiple times yearly for treatment and trying to GET a dx, this would also free up a shit ton of appointments.

I'm always amazed at how people's lived experiences are dismissed on these threads by HCPs.

I'm no longer amazed or even surprised, saddened and frustrated and angry though yes.

GPs should be integrated, and held to account if they deliver a shoddy service.

Absolutely

I'd not be at all happy with that outsourcing to a foreign company nonsense! How much is that costing I wonder? Yet they keep pleading poverty? I don't buy it! [/quote]
There are so many factual errors in the post, I don’t know where to start.

My gp and nurses have been carrying out a call back to discuss and if urgent, your asked to go in.

Iv had face to face doctor and nurse appointments, hospital appointments, a procedure, a scan and got another hospital appointment next week and a MRI the following week

A lot of GP surgeries seem to forget they arnt just doing us a massive favour for free and are expected to provide a decent service.

@user1471565182

A lot of GP surgeries seem to forget they arnt just doing us a massive favour for free and are expected to provide a decent service.

That is definitely the sense I get from my GP. But for years and years - not jyust recently.

recent examples.... I had an appointment a couple of years ago when inspectors were in and some patients were asked if they minded a person sitting in on the consultation. I was not asked, but I commented to my GP (by way of making conversation) that it must be a stressful day for them and was treated to a tirade about what an affront it was to their professionalism.

More recently... I have been asking my GP for more than a year to refer my DS to a paediarician query tourettes and (possibly) epilepsy. I went back 3 times to be over the course of about 12 months as the tics were becoming worse and finally the third time she literally huffed and rolled her eyes and made the referral.

(anwyay, the diagnosis is back and he has been diagnosed with paediatric tourettes with further exploration necessary to see if anything else is going on).

More recently... I have been asking my GP for more than a year to refer my DS to a paediarician query tourettes and (possibly) epilepsy. I went back 3 times to be over the course of about 12 months as the tics were becoming worse and finally the third time she literally huffed and rolled her eyes and made the referral.

(anwyay, the diagnosis is back and he has been diagnosed with paediatric tourettes with further exploration necessary to see if anything else is going on).

It’s the most stressful thing in the world when you have to fight your GP to take your child’s health seriously. I don’t understand why people go into this profession when they obviously don’t care a jot about their patients and treat them like absolute dirt. Well, I do understand actually - it’s clearly for the generous pay packet; GPs earn between £60-£90k a year according to the NHS. www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/doctors/pay-doctors

As I say, I’m just praying every day that my baby doesn’t get sick any time soon, because I effectively don’t have a GP at the moment. The government should force them all back to work IMO - and when I say back to work, I mean F2F appointments, not sitting on their backsides misdiagnosing people over the phone.

This used to happen to me years ago - downright refused to book me an advance appointment and said I had to ring at 8.30 for a same day urgent one. It wasn’t urgent and I tried to explain I’d be commuting to work at that time and wouldn’t necessarily be able to get back in time if they offered me a morning slot. I changed GP in the end. I can only imagine how chaotic it is now

Genuine question - how would patients like to book appointments? I understand it is so frustrating to wait for the phone to be answered, however if advanced appointments are bookable too far in advance the attendance rate drops, and then there ends up being a backlog where the next routine appointment is 4 weeks away.
When there are say 3 GPs morning and afternoon plus a practice nurse all with 18 slots (plus emergencies) how do you propose it is managed when there are lots of requests?
The demand is so great I really don’t see how the system can cope without more doctors and nurses (which were promised years ago). As I’ve said before it is not the personal fault of the Health care workers that appointments are hard to come by.
Also those who would like “their money back” (not really how taxes work) - “you” pay £152 a year to your GP. Would love to know how far that would go in the private sector.

I would just like to be guaranteed to actually get through to the surgery when I call.

Like a PP above I am just really hoping none of us need medical treatment over next 6 months as trying to get through is horrible and stressful.

Also having to call at 830 - this is school run time , I’ve had to call pre Covid whilst pushing a pram With one hand up a hill in driving wind and rain.

8 am opening of lines would be better as at least I’d have between 8-830 to try and call whilst still at home.

There are really big variations from town to town.

My parents surgery has been seeing them for high blood pressure checks / booking in ECG etc after visit.

We can request a call from a GP, and then if they think it necessary after speaking to us, they will arrange an appointment. I was very ill earlier this year, with some sort of virus. Several months on and I was still not right, so I asked for my GP to contact me. He did, and he made an appointment, and then sent me for an xray. It was clear, but it was obvious my health was still an issue, so he gave me a prescription (which is helping), and I'm seeing him again this week. It can work. Oh, and I had my flu jab in September.

Our small surgery used to publish missed appointments, the numbers were quite high, at least that doesn't happen now.

I don't even mind waiting a few weeks if I am treated with dignity and respect.
That's too much to ask a lot of the time.

Not read the thread but I'm a triage nurse in A&E and see many many patient who 'can't get' appointment with own GP surgery including practice nurses. It's ridiculous, how can they just decline to do their job!?

I don’t think they are ‘declining to do their jobs’. Not met any GP who isn’t doing their job. Most are working incredibly hard.

The appointments are limited because there aren’t enough GPs for the population. Video consultation can be used for many things. It is still seeing a GP. It is still an appointment but enables more people to be seen.
I’m sure most GPs would love to have 20 minutes per patient plus administrative time but there aren’t enough of them. That doesn’t make them lazy, bad people or negligent.

Not read the thread but I'm a triage nurse in A&E and see many many patient who 'can't get' appointment with own GP surgery including practice nurses. It's ridiculous, how can they just decline to do their job!?

So not only are they letting down their own patients, they’re also causing more work for the hospitals.

How many of the complainers on the thread would choose to work an additional two or three hours most days for none extra money? Perhaps if there were less time wasters, if people took greater responsibility for themselves there might be better availability for those who really needed to see a doctor?

I’m sure most GPs would love to have 20 minutes per patient plus administrative time but there aren’t enough of them. That doesn’t make them lazy, bad people or negligent.

It IS negligent if they spend about a minute on the phone with you before prescribing your baby the wrong medication. Had we had a face to face appointment it would never have happened, because they’d have been able to see my baby’s symptoms for themselves and not rely on my description of what was going on. If that’s not negligent I don’t know what is.

@CherryPavlova

How many of the complainers on the thread would choose to work an additional two or three hours most days for none extra money? Perhaps if there were less time wasters, if people took greater responsibility for themselves there might be better availability for those who really needed to see a doctor?

They are salaried aren't they? Handsome pay packages generally mean unpaid overtime. Ask anyone that works in the city ((shrug))

This isn’t my experience at all. They are doing appointments if needed, or phone consultations (usually same day-it’s normally impossible to get a same day appointment).

Lots of emails, which are quick and efficient. I prefer this way of doing it.