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?

Interesting to read a couple of previous posters who have been contacted by their GP to say their annual BP medication review is due (even if actually getting it done seems to be more of a challenge). As I said in my earlier post no-one has contacted me at all and it's now been well over 2 years since I last had a review.

They seem to be happy enough to just keep processing my repeat prescription though so I guess i'm not at that much of a risk :)

@LaurieFairyCake

I use GP at hand (nhs online). I have loads of different medical conditions and have had 3 face to face during Covid

You pick the surgery appointment online - they're in all different places, had hundreds of appointment times - one time I went to an office in Canary Wharf, one time a private (!) clinic in Bloomsbury (I chose this as I was meeting a friend for lunch)

All nhs staff and no cost

I actually moved to GP at hand as I couldn't get appointments at my local surgery well BEFORE Covid - I'm not calling up for half an hour in the morning not to get an appointment

The last GP at hand appointment I had was at 10pm - the GP's choose their own shifts so there's no such thing as a 'working day' - Id only just finished work and I want appointments after I finish

How do these gps know your history though, surely its better to have a gp who knows you?

I ended up being admitted to hospital after being sent to a&e by a walk-in centre after difficulties getting seen by my stupid GP practice. I’m so fed up of them.

I’ve had to continue to go that walk-in centre daily to get packing and dressing changed as I can’t get appointments with my practice nurse.

These nurses have been phenomenal, actually. And the nurses in the hospital ward were amazing too. I have a lot of respect for them... one of them told me she’s taking a course to become a prescriber and I think I’d prefer to see her in future over a GP! She’s infinitely more sensible and realistic.

Thinking about it, my physio (!) has referred me to an ophthalmologist and a psychologist as my GP is so useless at the moment.

Our gps have been really good I have to say. Since the start of this year I've been in to see my gp three times and had a phone consultation 5 times. Organised twice via phoning receptionist and the rest via e-consult, getting a call back/appt the next morning. Though the Gp tried to book me in for bloods, no appointments until June (doing 2nd covid jags atm) wonder why gps can't just do the bloods while you're there?!

I mean the nurses in the walk-in centre are phenomenal.

Just seen this is London only

[quote everydayiwritethebook]@MintyMabel this is not about slagging off GPs. I merely pointed out my experiences, and the fact that since lockdown eased on 12th April, access to the surgery has actually got WORSE not better. And I do think that quarantining my letter for 72 hours is utterly ludicrous. [/quote]
I'm one of the covid-anxious and have quarantined mail since the days when we didn't know how likely fomite transfer was, and the CDC/ medical experts were giving advice about doing this. I have struggled to give up the quarantining, personally (my own mental health issues), however - even at my most anxious - post (i.e. paper, rough-surfaced material) was only ever quarantined for 24 hours. Smooth-surfaced objects were 72 hours. Now we know this is over-cautious and unnecessary. But your GP is not simply following out-dated advice with regard to paper objects and fomites, they are following guidelines that never existed.

Our surgery has used AskMyGP since before COVID and it's brilliant. No advance appointments just use the message service online and depending on what you need it just gets sorted. We've all had face to face when needed and telephone consults when not. The only time I've spoken to a receptionist was to schedule my smear test!

I have another surgery literally at the end of my road and I'm so glad we've other options as it's madness at 8am on the phones and in person. Move if you can - there are great surgeries out there

And I do think that quarantining my letter for 72 hours is utterly ludicrous

I think it’s unbelievable.

I've been fairly impressed with most of the phone consultations at our gp surgery. They seem to have much more on the day apts than when they saw people in RL. I had several phone consultations last year, and my DD has had several.
However DDs apts were for issues with her periods. The initial dr apt was very good and then the dr arranged for blood tests and an ultra sound, (at the nearest hospital) but despite having 2 apts since then weve never been given the outcome of these (I presume all was ok). The last time I arranged an apt for 4.30pm as the first one they gave was when DD was at school. Then the dr called at 4pm when I was on my way home from work and I had to answer questions about DDs menstrual cycle and bleeding, which was not ideal without her present!

Meh. You'd all better get used to it, I'm afraid. It's never going back to sitting in a crowded waiting room to spend 20 minutes talking to 'your' GP face to face. Apart from the fact that triaging (when done properly) really does work, there simply aren't enough GPs, there's an aging population, and many Health Care Professionals are giving up.

If you're not happy with that maybe don't vote Tory for the last 12 years.

Tory voters don't care if people don't get gp access, probably won't affect a lot if them

@MintyMabel well believe it, because it happened yesterday.

@MintyMabel

And I do think that quarantining my letter for 72 hours is utterly ludicrous

I think it’s unbelievable.

It’s basically an excuse not to do work. The blanket ‘cos Covid’ mindset that assumes you can claim your salary while not lifting a finger to do your actual job.

GPs have become lazy and complacent- hiding behind locked doors, avoiding patients with scant excuse and letting obstreperous receptionists fob people off.

GPs will be only to pleased to make this permanent, virus or not.

The sooner they are made to return to face to face appointments, and the most lazy ones booted out, the better.

GP’s are following instructions from NHS England.
All the GP’s I know (lots as DH is one) have being seeing patients via phone and f2f where appropriate inline with the new guidelines.
The changes are here to stay and it will be less easy to get an appointment as many Gp’s are now leaving after such a difficult year.

Meh. You'd all better get used to it, I'm afraid. It's never going back to sitting in a crowded waiting room to spend 20 minutes talking to 'your' GP face to face. Apart from the fact that triaging (when done properly) really does work, there simply aren't enough GPs, there's an aging population, and many Health Care Professionals are giving up

I agree with this

Personally, I much prefer telephone appointments, you can get so much sorted out this way- I am really not bothered with getting a face to face appointment with a GP just for the sake of it

I really do not wish to go back to how it was before- dozen or so patients sat in a waiting room. Telephone/video appointment so much better in terms of flexibility- I work full time, it was hard enough finding time to go to the GP for an appointment just to sort out contraception!

Obviously if the GP deemed it appropriate to come in and be seen, I would go, but otherwise I am completely happy NOT to see my GP face to face and get most of it sorted out on the telephone.

I hope this system is here to stay!

I think everyone does, when it's properly implemented.

GPs have become lazy and complacent- hiding behind locked doors, avoiding patients with scant excuse and letting obstreperous receptionists fob people off

The GPs at my local practice have certainly not been lazy and complacent, I've had telephone appointments, prescriptions sent electronically to my chosen pharmacy.
The reception staff have been pretty good overall. No complaints from me.

However, sympathise with those finding it a struggle.
Why not try looking around locally for another practice to sign up with? (unless you live in the middle of nowhere, then you're probably a bit stuck)

I hope this system is here to stay!

Well yes, as long as there is actually a triaging system in place. Rather than ringing up incessantly for hours, finally getting through, being told that all phone appointments are gone and to ring again the next day, and the next day. And then getting an unscheduled call that there's no guarantee you'll be able to answer if you're working full time.

I wish people would stop contrasting illness-ridden GP waiting rooms with a seamless telephone appointment system which clearly does not exist for many GP practices.

My smear test was due managed to book an appointment for the same week and obviously that was done in person.
Not had to go to the GP for anything else but they are doing phone appointments in the first instance.
I have had several hospitals consultant appointments by phone which was fine for the issue one they send me forms for blood tests and a prescription by post another they book some further tests and I will have another phone appointment where these will be reviewed. Easier than having to go to the hospital and reducing the risk for patients that have to actually go to the hospital.
Do feel sorry for the doctors receptionist they seemed to be dealing with alot of abuse.

I'm in Ireland and we are still in lockdown and my gp and all other gps it seems are seeing patients more or less as normal (obviously with a lot more precautions in place). I've had my smear test done and over the past twelve months we've had other appointments and no issues

I spoke to the gp about anxiety and depression a couple of times last year and cried during both appointments. I was quite glad we werent in the same room!
I would prefer telephone consults for some things and like PP have said it works better around work etc and it has been much easier to get an appointment than pre covid. The only problem we had, as I previously mentioned was when they called half an hour too early. I planned to be (and was) home 15 min before the apt to give some leeway.

I wish people would stop contrasting illness-ridden GP waiting rooms with a seamless telephone appointment system which clearly does not exist for many GP practices

Not denying there are many improvements needed for this telephone system, but for me the waiting room thing is not from a fear of picking up something from another patient, it's more simply the fact I can get a lot of things sorted out via a telephone appointment.

@Lucidas

I hope this system is here to stay!

Well yes, as long as there is actually a triaging system in place. Rather than ringing up incessantly for hours, finally getting through, being told that all phone appointments are gone and to ring again the next day, and the next day. And then getting an unscheduled call that there's no guarantee you'll be able to answer if you're working full time.

I wish people would stop contrasting illness-ridden GP waiting rooms with a seamless telephone appointment system which clearly does not exist for many GP practices.

I think this is spot on. If you knew you'd get a call back or you had an appointment in a few days it would be bareable. But ringing for an hour each day to be told there's no appointments and you need to try again the next day is stressful and demoralising