AIBU to be annoyed that my GP seems to have no plans in place to see patients as we come out of lockdown?

[everydayiwritethebook]

After reading another poster's thread where she couldn't be seen by a GP and ended up at A&E, it struck me just how angry I am about not being able to see a GP face to face (socially distanced of course).
I have had a couple of instances where I've needed to see a GP, and my DC urgently needs to see one face to face, but we can't. I understand during lockdown it was necessary, but I haven't been able to see a GP in 14 months and now that most places are back at work (I work with the public and have been back for several weeks), it feels like they're taking the piss.
It's actually got worse at my surgery - today I took a letter in for my GP about being referred for a condition, and whereas previously they had a locked foyer which you could enter one at a time, now the front door is locked and you speak to the receptionist via intercom! I was also told my letter would be quarantined for 72 hours, even though I said it is urgent.
I feel like they are really failing their patients now, and I wondered what other people's experiences or thoughts were about this?

Though our GP practice has been OK, I still don't understand why all the desperate patients are being told to go to A&E. They won't be treated there by robots but by other human beings (doctors! nurses!) and both run a greater chance of catching something nasty than if the GP had extracted his/her digit and saw a few patients. Some practices have been brilliant, some so-so, the majority have been, and still are, providing an inadequate service.

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

My GP sent me a text saying I needed my annual blood pressure check (I am on a very low dose BP medication) and did I have a blood pressure machine at home?? I don't so I rang for an appointment with the Nurse who normally does it. Receptionist was scathing-no they are not currently doing it. I said couldn't I see Nurse in carpark or something? No- she suggested I go to chemist to get it done. So they want it, want me to get it done but won't do it. How is it safer or more Covid compliant for me to go to a busy chemist vs GP? They are really starting to forget what they are there for. Some-obviously not all-receptionists may need reminding as gatekeepers it is not their job to keep everyone away!!!! I know mine not critical like the poster the other day with diabetes but there seems to be a disconnect somewhere...

This really pisses me off too because the GP's are palming everything off to pharmacies and they don't get paid for offering free bp checks. Meanwhile it's so busy that all the other jobs are piling up cos we're too busy picking up the GP's slack.

Quarantining your letter for 72 hours is in the hysterical section....yikes. Pretty sure all those staff in the surgery go into supermarkets and pick up groceries, common sense has gone out the window.

I couldn’t get through to my surgery so just called 111, they were great and took me very seriously. I got a dr telephone consult the next day from my surgery and the Dr apologised for how hard it is to get through.

@99victoria

I take BP medication. Apparently I'm supposed to have annual check ups to make sure my heart, kidneys etc. are all functioning as they should. In fact, a few years ago they refused my repeat prescription when I didn't make my check up appointment within 3 months of being due as they said it was dangerous.

Haven't had a check up now since February 2019 and no-one seems in the least bit bothered!

This is why people are dying! GP's are just using Covid as an excuse to reduce services to suit themselves.

@BlankieBops yes, I was a bit taken aback by that to say the least!

This sounds like my parents' surgery. I actually blame them for the death of my dad last year. He just couldn't get past the triage system to see a doctor, and by the time he did it was too late. My surgery has been great though. Phone consultations with a doctor, but will see you in person if needed. It's a complete lottery.

[quote everydayiwritethebook]@Feetupteashot this is not intended to be about slagging off GPs. It's genuine frustration that all other sectors are opening up apart from this. [/quote]
It always baffles me when people complain about their GP practice they assume every GP practice or the whole health sector is like this. Why are you assuming this is the case?

I've had several hospital appointments, my GP does advance bookings and will see you if needed, my partner has seen his GP at a different practice, I've been supporting my grandparents with their health issues, both have seen GPs face to face and had hospital appointments.

Complain about your gp all you want but I think it's really unfair to complain about the whole sector based on one experience.

Also I think there's a huge amount of people just want to have face to face appointments because they have always had them. How many appointments actually need to be face to face?

@Saker

As the wife of a GP who is starting work at 8am and not returning until 8pm often not stopping for breaks, I wish to say that certainly some GPs are doing their best! My Dh's surgery is running AskmyGP where you email for a consultation and they get back to you the same day. It can then be a video consultation, a phone consultation, you can send photographs and if they think that they need to see you they invite you to the surgery the same day. However they are reluctant to see people unless necessary because it puts the staff and surgery at risk as well as the patient themselves. The staff involved in seeing a patient have to have a full change of PPE for every patient they see and wipe down the whole area etc, so it is also quite time consuming and taking them away from dealing with other patients. I am sure that some surgeries are not working as well, but I have to put in a good word for the GPs I know.

What about patients who don't use the internet....don't do online consults/emails/send photos etc? A GP service is face to face not at arms length! And why do GP's have to have PPE for every patient now? Its completely over the top! Put up perspex screens so at least a patient can see the doctor face to face. Everyone is getting fed up of those GP's who are using this situation to minimise patient contact. Its dangerous to have untrained staff dictating who can and who can't get through the system.

Do any of you actually work at a GP’s surgery?

You have no idea what they have been told they can and can’t do. NHS England has told them how they are to operate at the moment.

I actually like the system at our surgery as I have been able to speak to someone the same day every time I have needed to call. Since April 2020 I have been seen twice and have had a number of telephone appointments mostly with GPS. In both cases where I was seen I had a telephone app first. On one occasion I was asked to send photos of an insect bite. Prescriptions are sent direct to the pharmacy. I have never minded explaining to the reception staff what I am ringing about and always feel they have appropriately dealt with the call. I have never been fobbed off.

I am shocked when I hear that others are not getting the same level of service. That said, I know people must have been giving reception staff a hard time for their questions at ours as one of the GPS has done a recording now when you phone explaining why it is necessary.

There have been hospital delays (getting scans and appointments) but I do understand why. I have had appointments though with the hospital by phone and in person. It has just taken much longer in some cases than it would have pre covid.

Something I've often wondered is whether the GPS are poorer in areas where the local hospital is poor and has a poor reputation. My mother's local hospital is QEQM in Kent and the local GP services have always been excruciatingly poor.

Is there a correlation between areas with excellent and/or teaching hospitals attracting better quality GPS who wouldn't be attracted to work in areas where it must be disproportionately difficult to secure high standards of care for patients?

I was gobsmacked to hear my step father's consultant had advised that the bar to treat his cataracts had been raised and he was no longer eligible. Step asked if he could pay privately. Not a problem: same consultant, private wing in same hospital and could be booked in a week on Friday. The only difference was £5000 . Regrettably my parents won't kick up a fuss and write to their MP.

I should add my GPS have also made advance tel bookings for follow ups there and then so no need to phone again.

@Parker231

Do any of you actually work at a GP’s surgery?

You have no idea what they have been told they can and can’t do. NHS England has told them how they are to operate at the moment.

That doesn’t remotely explain the vast differences in surgeries in the same area. Funnily enough the surgery I go to and the one DH attends are both under the same rules yet one is working well and the other is absolutely dire.

Placemarking to read later.
Apologies if covered but Quarantining letters can't be the norm at this stage,?

Do any of you actually work at a GP’s surgery?

Do you work in everyone single one?

No smear (now over a year overdue)
No flu vaxx
No pneumonia vaxx
Refuse to do ambulatory BP monitoring requested by consultant.
No e mail access
No video consults
No e-consult service
No regular blood tests

Sometimes I have called over 100 times before getting through to book a telephone appointment that will be some time between 9am and 8pm.

I was diagnosed with a serious illness in December 2019, but haven't seen a doctor face to face since February 2020 and have been told I will not be able to 'for the foreseeable future.'

The surgery doors are locked.

Where in the guidance does it say it is all right to operate like this? The repercussions are going to be huge.

@Parker231

Do any of you actually work at a GP’s surgery?

You have no idea what they have been told they can and can’t do. NHS England has told them how they are to operate at the moment.

In which case they would all be operating the same which is is clear isn’t happening. So either some places are breaking the rules and doing things they shouldn’t or some are implementing their own illogical rules.

Our GP surgery has removed the option to even book an appointment (or day waiting for a phone call!) online. Is that in these rules?

I think telephone appointments are very much here to stay. For some things, it is easier, and saves patients attending the petri dish that is The Waiting Room. All of my telephone appointments have been on time, whereas F2F ones tend to overrun.

I think the future is telephone triage UNLESS it's something that the GP needs to look at, such as moles, lumps/bumps, etc.

There is definitely a place for telephone appointments, but they do need to work hard to get that balance right.

For me, telephone appointments have been amazing. I have anxiety and would never, EVER have had the courage to go and see my GP face to face. But now, thanks to phone apps, I've had the help that I need and feel a good deal better for it.

@NaToth

No smear (now over a year overdue) No flu vaxx No pneumonia vaxx Refuse to do ambulatory BP monitoring requested by consultant. No e mail access No video consults No e-consult service No regular blood tests

Sometimes I have called over 100 times before getting through to book a telephone appointment that will be some time between 9am and 8pm.

I was diagnosed with a serious illness in December 2019, but haven't seen a doctor face to face since February 2020 and have been told I will not be able to 'for the foreseeable future.'

The surgery doors are locked.

Where in the guidance does it say it is all right to operate like this? The repercussions are going to be huge.

If they are this bad, then change surgery.

@Parker231

Do any of you actually work at a GP’s surgery?

You have no idea what they have been told they can and can’t do. NHS England has told them how they are to operate at the moment.

So if they're all running under the same "advice", why is there so much difference between surgeries?

It's ridiculous
My surgery you ring at 8, get through and all the appointments are gone. So that's wasted 30 mins I've had to ask my boss I can take off work, and you can't pre book appointments
Ring back tomorrow, they say
That's great but I've got an infection and I'm neutropenic and need antibiotics so no it can't really wait
Ring back the next day, same procedure
Eventually get a telephone appointment which I have to take a full day off work for as I can't answer the phone at work
And because I'm neutropenic, this happens a lot so all my annual leave is used up on GP telephone calls/hospital appointments etc
Same for thyroid review. Bloods now only done between 9-3, no weekends, no evenings so I need a day off for that, and then a day off for a telephone thyroid review

To add I don't mind telephone triage but when I have tonsillitis (bacterial) I can't take days off work to press redial and pray for an appointment before I get sepsis

@Soontobe60 You do realise that’s not always possible, right?

DH’s surgery is dire. Mine is doing good, but isn’t taking new patients. They are the only two surgeries locally. None of the surgeries in the nearest villages are taking new patients either atm.

I think people are missing the point that this isn’t a decision made because they don’t want to see patients. Medical facilities are subject to much stricter guidelines about how they can operate. People keep mentioning dentists, they’re certainly not operating normally or fully either. Health services have been very seriously affected and if you want treatment for anything that isn’t medically urgent then you may be subject to delays or less than what you feel is ideal treatment. Things aren’t normal, it may be worth looking into private treatment

GPs need to grow the fuck up and so the job they are paid for like everyone else in this pandemic. And at weekends too.