Utterly frustrated at not being able to see a GP?

[ismiseeire]

My health is detiorating! Sorry, in pain, so not a long explanatory post.

I've not had a problem seeing a GP when I need to. What's the issue with your surgery?

Out GP has refused point blank to see people, to the point that my DD has to go to audiology to have her ear checked after an infection. She had recurring ear infections during first lockdown and despite repeatedly being prescribed antibiotics the GP wouldn’t actually examine her ears. I did use out of hours, who found a cause but at a routine audiology appointment this year they found further infection - they just booked me back in to see the consultant for her post infection check because there was no point asking my GP to do it.

Phone appointments are fine for some things, and I’ve been happy with them for the most part but the absolute refusal to see folk who really need examined is appalling.

I work for a GP surgery, we do telephone consultations, GP has to phone back same day, video consultations, GP will see patient if deemed necessary, even seeing patients in the car park if it's easier for the patient. Along with the regular GPs we have a duty doctor every day, 2 on Monday as it's the busiest day. I'm shocked to hear of others experiences. We have a list size of 13,000 patients. It's a very good practice. It is wrong if they are refusing to see you. If health is deteriorating email Practice Manager should get their attention. Good luck.x

If health is deteriorating email Practice Manager should get their attention.

As long as the manager is a good one. The one where I am is worse than useless.

Our go did not see ds last august, he was in agony with a severe ingrown toenail, couldn’t walk or sleep and badly infected. Took him to a and e and the doctor was lovely and said he needed an urgent podiatrist referral, except they were shut. Our gap just kept issuing antibiotics but the source of the issue was not treated. In the end I went private and he had to have his nail removed.. the doctor in and e said it was going sceptic and the redness was spreading up his foot
If private podiatry can open why on earth cant nhs ?
He also needs eye surgery and is still waiting two years later

My GP practice is doing telephone consultations, followed by face to face appointments if necessary. Can't believe all these practices refusing to see patients - why? Presumably most healthcare providers have been vaccinated? Complain, complain, complain.

Severe pain whilst passing urine, then blood. Two weeks ago, at around 5 am I rang 111. The operative I found a bit brusque, although she did get my details, and said I'd get a call back.

Within 10 mins, a call from out of hours GP, (absolutely lovely), who decided I needed antibiotics. Prescription electronically sent to nearest pharmacy, meds picked up first thing, sorted. I was fine within a few days.

111 should be everyone's first port of call before any visit to A&E, except in life threatening situations.

I haven't had any problems consulting a GP. But it's hard to help based on one line. What does this mean? You can't see them, or you can't get an appointment of any kind. Why not? What is deteriorating?

@Kokeshi123

I read a good analogy the other day--that "protecting the NHS" by closing down most of the services it offers, is a bit like trying to protect your new sofa by leaving the plastic covers on it. What's the point of protecting a health service that isn't actually doing half the things it's supposed to do?

I thinks more like leaving the covers on and also forcing everyone to sit on the floor!

But you're right, what's the point in protecting something that isn't performing it's most basic function?

My GP practice is doing telephone consultations, followed by face to face appointments if necessary. It seems to work well. Have you tried accepting the telephone appointment and seeing where it goes from there?

A lot of my relatives seem to be refusing to engage with telephone consultations at all, and then complaining bitterly that they can’t see the GP.

You need to complain to the commissioner in the CCG (Google ccg your area). They are not providing the service they are being paid to deliver

YANBU

I feel very badly let down by our GP’s surgery. It has been virtually impossible to get a face to face appointment. They want photos of things you are having problems with and there are some areas it is very difficult and embarrassing to take photos of. I have managed to see a nurse a few times with no problem. Why are nurses allowed to see patients but Doctors don’t

Yanbu.
I live next to the surgery.... But cannot get the phone answered let alone anything else.
Yet oddly enough, they're now open weekends too... For covid jabs which they're getting paid overtime for 🙄
Fucking place does fuck all for its regulars Monday to Friday but happy to get overtime jabbing folk from out of area.
Protect the NHS? Bollocks. It should be protecting us.

I've been in and out of A&E - 111 sends me in. The GPs at my practice are working from home. You have to ring in the morning to try to get a telephone appointment but you can't get through as the calls keep dropping. I'm in pain and have nausea, so need to be referred for an endoscopy I'd say. But I need to see MY GP for them to coordinate my care properly. The out of hours doctors are fine, but they can't really manage your care fully - that is supposed to be done by your own GP. I'm just going round in circles.

@Suedo

I also work for a GP practice again it’s telephone triage then if necessary the go will see the patient they are seeing a fair few each day. I’m surprised by how many still aren’t. Why don’t you complain to practice manager and then make a petition as it’s seems to be a common problem if you go by how many on mn are saying their GP’s aren’t serving them well. I don’t mean this in a rude way but It’s no good complaining on here as nothing will come of it.

Re my 94yo dad complaints have been made to the practice and to his MP. Response is just to re-iterate what their process is and to refuse to acknowledge that it isn't appropriate, despite having a letter from the consultant pointing out that failure to correctly diagnose due to lack of physical examination had directly resulted in his condition deteriorating to the extent he had multiple hospitalisations.

There is just 1 large practice in their small town so they can't even change.

It’s appalling. My GP is doing telephone appointments, which is hugely inferior to face to face. Lots of people don’t like speaking on the phone and will put things off. You can’t SEE the patient, see their body language, what they look like, etc. Physically seeing people is so important. I was signed off with morning sickness when I was pregnant with dc1 - the GP took one look at me and did the note - I’m not sure a phone call would have quite the same effect.

@Suedo

I’m so shocked to read what I have here. Very odd GPs only working from home I don’t see how this would actually be allowed they would not be fulfilling their contract with the CCG. no where local to me has GP’s wfh I’ve been in the surgery and so has all staff throughout the pandemic. People do assume the GPs are at home though as they are doing telephone triage and only seeing those who need a f2f appt. however the nurses and HCA’s are all doing usual bloods wound care contraception smears etc

I wonder how much of this is speculative rather than facts?

If you are not getting care for your GP you need to go further than the practice manager contact the CCG they will (should) take this seriously.

Based on what the snooty receptionists have told me time after time. Almost ridiculed me for requesting to actually physically see a GP. 'Well you can't, they're working from home!'

I don't understand how gpa here can think wven remotely that this is acceptable.
My family is in lockdown and still can see a gp because it is actually a must have service (outside of uk it seems)

I just had a quick google and last year NHS was saying people who need it should be absolutely able to get f2f or it's a breach of contract on gp's side.

I would complain to NHS www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/about-the-nhs/how-to-complain-to-the-nhs/

Most GP's aren't working from home. They're dealing with patients on the phone, usually one every ten minutes for several hours a day, then bringing those in that are deemed necessary, i.e., those that need exam. It works very well for most (admittedly not all) patients.
Our GP's have seen hundreds and hundreds of patients face to face during all this. Including many many more with suspected Covid in a hot hub wearing a paper mask and plastic apron. That slows things down of course. As does sickness and enforced self isolation of staff.
We can't just have people booking appointments of their own free will, there would end up being several months wait to be seen due to social distancing guidelines.

I don't know what the CCG is and I don't have the energy to look them up. The practice involves the following:

Dr. A (elderly male) - GP - I would estimate his age as 80 - appears to be my official GP, though I request Dr. C when I can. He is rude and abrupt and will spend 30 seconds max on a telephone consultation. He will say that he's prescribing it, but it doesn't happen. So begins the 8am runaround trying to get through again. Doesn't happen. End up in A&E
Dr. A's son - GP (my age)
Dr. A's wife (elderly female) - Practice manager
Dr. B - female from same ethinicity to all of Dr. A's family (my age)
Dr. C - female with English accent who I have never met in person - no idea of age/ethnicity - absolutely brilliant and attentive. Listens and discusses for about 10 mins per consultation over phone
Nurse A - same ethnicity to Dr. A's family

4 reception/admin staff - all English - some very elderly (as in 70 - past retirement age)

All the GPs are wfh. All admin staff are in the surgery.

Ethnicity not particularly important though it can make them difficult to understand as their accents are really really strong. It's hard to understand them and sometimes they don't understand me.

They don't action referral letters. You have to chase that up with them, except you can't get through on the phone to even get as much as a telephone appointment. I have written to them about the phone system and physically handed in the letter. I was given a telephone appointment the following day. I am now too unwell to go to complain every time I need an appointment so I simply can't get one.