To ask are all GPs surgeries like this?

[Mincepiesallyearround]

My local GPs are still not open for face to face appointments. Fine. Telephone only etc. I need a repeat six month prescription for my pill so emailed through the request. They replied saying I need a blood pressure reading first but they’re not doing them at the moment (due to Covid) - their recommendation is to buy a machine to use at home or try a pharmacy. I rang five local pharmacies this week but none are doing BP checks. I’m not happy that their casual response was just to buy a machine (£20-30ish and I’d only ever use it once). Money is tight and I can’t really justify it on a one time use. Are other surgeries like this at the moment?

This is awful. Complain. I haven’t needed a face to face appointment so I am not certain, but you are clearly being denied care.

Blood pressure cuffs are really a life-long useful health device. I think every home should have one. Why go out to the surgery/pharmacy when you can do it at home?

Abraid2

She can’t afford it. We live in a couple try where healthcare is free at the point of need, so she shouldn’t need to afford it.

MY GP surgery is still carrying out necessary face to face procedures such as smears and blood tests so I'd imagine they are still doing blood pressure checks too? I wouldn't be very happy at having to buy a machine either. I'd say ring them back and stress how important it is that you have this done.

All the surgeries in our patch are recommending patients who need BP measurements either regularly or occasionally purchase their own monitor for remote measurements. This will reduce the need for face to face appointments for simple BP readings during the pandemic. This is likely to be used In the future too and given a monitor is £15 on Amazon we don’t think that’s an unreasonable investment in one’s own health.

No, ours are doing blood pressures, blood tests, B12 injections, smears etc.

Most consultations are over the telephone but the Drs are brining patients in for face to face appointments if they feel they need to be seen and nurse appointments for the things I mentioned above - plus dressings, suture removal etc, are all being done by the nurses.

There are cheaper monitors - no, you shouldn’t have to but these aren’t usual times

www.amazon.co.uk/Pressure-Monitor-Digital-Automatic-Capacity/dp/B08LVVQ5DZ/ref=sr_1_26?hvlocphy=9045255&hvnetw=g&keywords=blood+pressure+monitor&hvadid=259093653286&qid=1604069480&dchild=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8-78BRA0EiwAFUw8LKR9nh9QzBXJWWrBgN8dbKX2naZ9KWRHZXrKOSWjzoyYG47vl0OcxRoCm9oQAvD_BwE&hydadcr=28178_1821119&hvdev=c&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-10222541&adgrpid=54270665998&hvrand=6948941041953910393&sr=8-26

My surgery is open for both emergency and routine appointments. They are doing some telephone appointments but will ask you to come in if you need to. I've have routine pill check and flu vaccine appointments in person and got a same day appt when toddler DS had a bad chest. A blanket no to in-person appointments is unreasonable.

My doctors is open as usual just has a buzzer on the door and they ask why you are there and let you in one at a time. They've done my blood pressure and my sons blood tests. They book you in for a doctors call back then if they need to see you they give you a time slot. I've been there quite a bit lately unfortunately.

I get what you’re saying Abraid2 but I’m in very good health, workout 4-5 times a week or run, I just can’t ever see myself taking my blood pressure regularly. It’s never crossed my mind. But clearly I need to for the kind of pill I’m on. I find it all quite frustrating as I can’t be the only woman in this position and many many people registered at the surgery will not be able to fling £25 away on a machine to keep at home.

Hi OP

My mum's G.P. surgery is the same as yours. She's mid-70's and they also suggested she should buy a machine!

I found out there is a G.P. service at our local minor injuries unit. It's a walk-in, i.e. you can't book appointments. They'll do B.P. checks though.

Do you have a local minor injuries unit that may do the same?

Face to face appointments are being done for smears, immunisations, wound dressings, injections, stitch removals, implant/coil procedures, as well as being triaged first if needing physical examination for medical issues needing it eg Breast lumps/abdo pain etc etc. We are also seeing Covid patients in a part of our surgery building so need to keep footfall to a minimum to reduce risk for patients and staff

No not all surgeries are acting like that and I'd complain about them maybe via this.

My GP surgery saw me in person during the height of Lockdown because I was due a routine blood test. It's weird procedure (phone from the car, wait to be called in, thermometer temperature check, answer questions). But they are there to provide a health service and not everything can be done by phone or email.
I also had to go to the hospital for specialist eye medicine, again weird but fine.

Mine's asking. But if you can't afford one they will give you an in/out apt for BP and weight (if you don't have scales too). Then a call back from a dr or nurse for the pill check.

Not ideal because blood pressure may be high from rushing, but it is a (not preferred) option.

More people have one (or access to their parents' etc) than you might think

You can get some for £15 on Amazon. It's not so bad for something that's always good to have for you but also the rest of the family.

NHS guidance in covid times is BP needs to be checked every year for routine pill. Checks, so if no problems they should issue it anyway. I'll try and find you a link op

No. That's so bad. I'm surprised at how our local GP practice has been so accommodating actually. Face to face appointments through out but only if you really need one.
I know ours are still doing blood checks, blood tests etc. They're not doing children vaccinations to cut the people down that enter the practice etc but will book you the appt for the vaccinations you just need to turn up at the other GP practice down the road for them. Not a problem for us as was easy enough because they booked it.

My doctors is exactly like this at the moment. You have to have a long, very personal conversation with the receptionist whose job seems to be putting you off getting an appointment. Then they book a telephone appointment with a practice nurse. I had a physical issue and I had to send photos of it, but obviously, photos don't really capture what's going on. Then if the nurse can't help you (or get you to piss off) then you might get to speak to a GP on the phone eventually.

Can you get a blood pressure machine second hand? You sometimes see random stuff like that on facebook marketplace or gumtree!

It’s crackers as surely people could just lie and tell them they’ve bought one and it’s fine?

Thanks yes it’s a year since my last BP test. I don’t want to lie and just give them a good sounding reading from what a healthy BP should be because I know the pill I’m on can cause issues. I find it utterly bizarre that the surgery can just have a blanket no on face to face appointments. Fine for routine stuff like diagnosing impetigo on a toddler via video call but what if (like in my ancient mother in laws recent case) you had a prolapse - are you supposed to just get your arse out over a video link?

Fsrh.org will have details

Do you live in Manchester by any chance?
A friend of mine had this the other week

Honestly I’d probably just ring them and say you’ve checked your BP and it’s fine but I agree that the way GPs are doing things at the moment is a tad silly . At our GP you get a same day telephone call and then if they need to see you they book a time for you to go in . This weeks new development is that only people with actual booked appointments are allowed in the surgery so if you are collecting something and / or booking something in person you have to go to the reception window and they deal with you whilst you re basically stood in a car park in ear shot of all and sundry .

Elderly people should definitely have cuffs at home, if they can afford £15 and are compus mentis.

Why, as winter approaches, would they want to go to a surgery for something they can do at home?

My parents always did home readings. My mother is 82 and still does. They’ve probably easily saved the £25 they paid in petrol over the years.

Every GP surgery is taking its own approach to face to face appointments. Yours sounds completely over the top. I am surprised pharmacies aren't prepared to take your BP too. Ask around, you'll find one. Although how they will know that the reading you give them is actually accurate I really don't know.

I've had the same issue. Back in March ( start of lock down) they just gave me 6 moths over the phone and asked me to get the Pharmacy to do BP test. They obvs said no way
Now I need my next prescription but am still in the same situation. Can't have a face to face apt, so a telephone apt it is. But I have to find somewhere to get my BP done before. Receptionist wasn't able to help me with suggestions about where I could try!!
Why can't I go with a mask and the GP have a mask/PPE. And we sit on opposite sides of the room ( apart from the BP test)????
Last year my go said I needed to have a review due to age etc...now it's not a problem. !!