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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

GP practice "not offering appointments"

492 replies

Darkestseasonofall · 16/10/2020 15:31

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?

OP posts:
Iola4 · 16/10/2020 16:40

Only telephone appointments here. As soon as lockdown in March they just immediately stopped all face to face appointments.

Dollywilde · 16/10/2020 16:43

There are two receptionists at my surgery. One of them has been telling everyone they’re not doing appointments at all, the other one is being a bit more sensible and booking in the ones they need to.

Unfortunately, I had to call four times to get the receptionist who would let me book an appointment. What for? My newborn’s eight week jabs. Angry Other receptionist said they ‘weren’t doing vaccinations right now’

I’ve written a letter of complaint to the practice manager and copied in everyone I can think of. Would suggest others do the same.

Hardbackwriter · 16/10/2020 16:43

@Frazzled13

My GP is doing appointments. You call, someone calls you back for a phone appointment, and if it's a face to face issue you go in.

That’s what mine is doing and it’s fine for me as I have a job where I can take calls. But they don’t give you a time for the telephone appointment, and if you miss it that’s it. So, my mum who’s a teacher can’t get any appointments during term time unless she gets lucky and they call her during a break. This system doesn’t work well for anyone who has a job where they can’t answer the phone at a moment’s notice.

Yep, I called for a telephone appointment when my toddler had a horrible sudden flare in his eczema and when I asked they put on a note on that I couldn't answer between 11-12 because I was in a work meeting they told me that the call would be any time between 8.30 and 6.30 and if I missed it I wouldn't get another one 'so really it depends on your priorities' Hmm
lyralalala · 16/10/2020 16:49

@Quaversplease

I couldn't book an appointment online and phoned as I needed a repeat prescription for HRT. I usually get 6 months at a time after a review.

Because I can't see a GP for a review (they are only doing telephone appointments) they will only give me 1 month at a time so it's currently costing me £19 per month for the prescription instead £19 for 6 months. I'm about to be made redundant and that's a significant expense.

Doesn't help with your GP appointments, but you should get a pre-pay prescription certificate and it'll be £10 a month
scissy · 16/10/2020 16:51

@WrongKindOfFace -

"I have managed to get an asthma review booked - but it’s over the phone. Presume I’ll just need to breathe extra loudly."

My DP had an asthma review recently over the phone. Beforehand the nurse had prescribed him one of those things to measure breath output (I can't remember what they're called!) so he could give her the figures himself at home. It's quite useful for general monitoring too.

I don't even qualify for a phone review (it'd normally be done by GP for my condition). There's now a web form to fill out. It's overdue but they haven't stopped issuing prescriptions so "shrug".

user1497207191 · 16/10/2020 16:52

About time the country "opted out" of paying GPs!

Proudboomer · 16/10/2020 16:52

My GP literally left the building. The whole surgery was closed and the staff moved to another surgery a couple of miles away. No face to face appointments and you rang and waited 5 or 6 hours for a doctor to ring back for a telephone diagnosis. My mum needed a doctor during lockdown aged 83 disabled and housebound with a urine infection. Told to pee in a bottle and get someone to drop it in the letter box of the surgery where they had decamped to. Lucky my mum has me to be able to run get it there as god only knows how someone else without support would have been able to. No doctor saw her but a prescription for anti bs was emailed to a chemist and I was duly sent to pick it up. Anti bs didn’t clear it and so went thought the whole thing again and different anti bs given still no doctors visit.
They have only just gone back to their own surgery but it is locked and the door is only opened if after a phone consultation the doctor has decided to see you.

On another note my 3 year mammogram was due months ago and I have yet to receive my appointment.
And another family member has had a hernia surgery put back indefinitely. A hernia that is quite large and the result of having major cancer surgery last year.
I dread to think of the back long of health problems this country is storing up for itself.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 16/10/2020 16:52

Our surgery has eConsult. Which they simply don't answer.

Sometimes they answer the phone - sometimes it just rings out.

They have started vaccinations for children though which is good. One morning's worth for an entire practice of children. Luckily we got slots but plenty won't.

But DH had an accident in March. He cannot move his leg normally or walk. No one will see him. Thankfully we have the money to pay for private physio. What about someone who couldn't?

stclair · 16/10/2020 16:53

I’m a practice nurse and don’t understand a lot of what I’m reading either. We are crazy busy, GPs included, and have been for ages. Yes, it can be over a week to get an appointment (and this is with us squeezing patients in during breaks etc), but SIX out of the 9 patients I had this morning booked in for a smear didn’t show. Such a waste of appointments!!

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 16/10/2020 16:54

*run! He can walk Blush

AibuTellMe · 16/10/2020 16:55

My gp have appointments my sons unwell and we have been there multiple times

scissy · 16/10/2020 16:57

I forgot to add though, my surgery is doing vaccinations and smears. I was offered a smear test slot next day!

dottiedodah · 16/10/2020 17:09

My Surgery has just started back with face to face appointments .You call them from outside /car wherever and announce your arrival ,GP comes out to collect you and walk you in .After you have been seen they have to clean down their room apparently .I had an examination ,but if you just need advice /prescriptions then they will offer Telephone Appointments .This seems quite a good system to me really .

GuyFawkesHadTheRightIdea · 16/10/2020 17:09

Ours is the same. You might get a call back if you're lucky. They're not dealing with blood tests, vaccinations, baby clinic or pregnancy either. Face to face appointment in an emergency only.

MushMonster · 16/10/2020 17:14

At least they are saying it straight, because mine just tell you that they only offer 3 weeks appointments and they are all taken. Call Monday. You call on Monday, and they say the same! 172 calls I did last time to get through to them. 172!
Receptionist says, but you should call at 10 am, and it is 11:30 now, you know.....
It is pathetic, blood boiling!
We capn get emergency appointments, same day. But for regular appointments is a NO, there is no way!

So OP, you will have us all turning at the hospital with serious issues a few months laterSad

Heyahun · 16/10/2020 17:14

Surely a phone consultation is enough for a lot of people and they will see you if it’s necessary ? My gp is an app where I do video calls and then if deemed necessary I’m offered an in person visit - I’ve done this for a few years now ! No issues - it works well

MushMonster · 16/10/2020 17:15

And I mean phone appointments. No face to face available at least it is an emergency.

LondonLassi · 16/10/2020 17:16

I gave birth 16 weeks ago. I have not seen a medical professional since my last midwife visit at 5 days post birth. I had gestational diabetes During pregnancy and I’m pretty sure I have developed type 2 diabetes. I’ve been monitoring my sugar levels and they are in the diabetic range. I rang to book an appointment for a blood test/consultation. I was told they are only offering appointments for urgent cases. I was also told they are no longer doing blood tests. I’m not quite sure what to do now.

TheBluePringles · 16/10/2020 17:17

@Heyahun

Surely a phone consultation is enough for a lot of people and they will see you if it’s necessary ? My gp is an app where I do video calls and then if deemed necessary I’m offered an in person visit - I’ve done this for a few years now ! No issues - it works well
I'd happy have a telephone consultation for my medication review but I can't book one, I'm told it's emergency and urgent appointments only. Even the prerecorded message before you get through to the actual receptionist says it now
Calledyoulastnightfromglasgow · 16/10/2020 17:19

How many folk are going to end up in A and E as a result of this? Sigh

Jammymare · 16/10/2020 17:22

I can’t believe the variation in service across the country. My local surgery has been great, always get a call back the same day and the one time I needed face to face, I saw my GP within an hour.
I had emergency surgery two weeks ago and the hospital ward was nowhere near capacity, and ambulance got to me within 40 minutes of calling 999.
I really can’t fault the service I’ve had from the NHS since lockdown started, so it’s even more shocking to hear how substandard the experience is elsewhere.

Someonesayroadtrip · 16/10/2020 17:24

I'm in Wales too OP and it is really just taking the piss. I've been referred for emergency and urgent referrals, scans etc and I keep getting letters saying they are not running any appointments due to the "current circumstances". I contacted the health board and health minister as was immediately offered appointments only to get a letter cancelling them due to the "current circumstances". I'll just sit here and slowly bleed to death while they decide if they are open or not.

chaosisaladder · 16/10/2020 17:24

I’m a nurse in secondary care and I’m finding with my patients that the GP surgeries local to me are being very knee-jerk in their reactions and not communicating the reasons for change in service

I am patient-facing and take precautions and my service is running as normal

Iheardarumour · 16/10/2020 17:26

I also need a cervical smear. Nurse only works 2 days a week, and because I'm a shift worker it might be Christmas before I get it done. I was fobbed off from March to now, saying only women with higher risk could get tested, oh, and back then, you have to take two buses to a nurse that will do it for you. I've given up.

I also had to attend A&E for my atrial fibrillation (was feeling faint and my heart was thumping) but it turned out it was my anxiety...I was in, assessed, had the tests and was out in 45 minutes. There was no-one around. The nurses seemed to be hanging around at a loss for something to do.

wink1970 · 16/10/2020 17:27

Our entire area is serviced by 5 linked GP clinics.... not one of them doing F2F appointments. That's over 750,000 people not accessing basic services.

What are they doing? They're not working in the hospitals, I checked.