To ask if we know when GPs will return to ‘normal’ working?

[Pottedpalm]

Just that really.

Why? Are you trying to be goody?

Hopefully they'll continue the way they are. A telephone consultation and then an in person one if required.

@CharlotteUnaNatalieThompson

Why? Are you trying to be goody?

🤨

I don't think they will and I hope they don't. The vast majority of appointments are far more convenient for the patient by telephone. They do need to become more available to those who do need to see them though.

They were advised in May to make patients aware that they were now supposed to offer both and that patients have the right to not have a phone consultation but f2f if they wanted.

I dont see any offering it yet tho

We can do f2f with prebookable appts. It’s just same days which are phone calls unless needed to be seen.

I think they’ll probably continue as they are. Our GP was moving more towards this kind of system before COVID.
The only thing I find annoying is the ringing at 8.30 and think it would be better to have, say 8.30-9.30 so everyone wasn’t ringing at the same time. I do like e-consult though.

Ours are operating better than ever! They’re doing a amazing job

Expect someone to pop in shortly to tell you their surgery has been normal throughout the pandemic. "I'm alright Jack" springs to mind.

Sadly for those of us that do not have their fortune, this is the new normal in terms of primary healthcare. Everything online and f2f only when absolutely essential. It's what Matt Hancock wanted for a long time. It completely fails to take into account the needs of some of the most vulnerable, those experiencing abusive relationships, and those with mental health issues. But who cares about them?

Mine are operating as normal and have been for months.

For those saying they prefer the new system, have you paid any thought to people that it does not work for? No?

Whenever they want to, I expect. Ours has a sort of hybrid system now, you can do much more online, but you’ve been able to see a doctor in person almost all the time (I think they limited it for a bit last March, but it’s been mostly open)

I suspect they'll try to continue as is for the foreseeable.

Until the pandemic is over and research shows a massive lapse in service/quality and face to face is reinstalled for most consultations. Telephone just doesnt work for so many people, especially the most vulnerable.

No this is the new normal. The government have told GPs to only see people who require a face to face appointment. The rest should be dealt with virtually. It’s a government initiative which Matt Hancock put in place to help reduce demand as the NHS is overwhelmed

@Mantlemoose

Hopefully they'll continue the way they are. A telephone consultation and then an in person one if required.

This ^^

So much better than wasting time in a waiting room, let's face it, it's a rare occasion that you actually go in at your appointment time.

I love the new way of working.

@WandaVision2

Ours are operating better than ever! They’re doing a amazing job

I've found that too!

I've actually been able to get an apt through e consult for routine issues, phone consult for things that's are obvious solutions can be discussed on phone and for once I've been able to get f2f when that's actually needed!

@corrblimeygg why does it exclude those people? I had mental health support a fortnight ago via the econsult system, and a month before that. Previous to this you had to ring for an appt. That hasn't changed. The only thing that has changed is whether you get an appt or a phoenecall. That doesn't stop anyone accessing it does it? For any who are more vulnerable, this is a damn sight easier than traipsing up to the surgery and sitting in a packed waiting room for half hour. What about it is preventing access?

Mine still have not updated their website dive January and it’s splashed all over it saying they really can’t see anyone because of the pandemic.

When I went for my whooping cough vaccine o had to jump through various hoops, including an initial phone consultation with a nurse which seemed ludicrous and a waste of everyone’s time- it’s a vaccine, I can only get it in person she didn’t understand why that had been booked in either.

Then when I went to the surgery I was barked at through an intercom to stay outside, so I sort of leant against the wall for 25 minutes.

The phone appointment I did have for terrible pregnancy heartburn was good but involved a lot of form filling and description online beforehand then those same questions being asked all over again when the GP finally rang- at a random time of the day that I’d had no heads up of beforehand, so it was only luck that I wasn’t on the tube/too busy at work to answer. So no, I don’t think they are all being particularly productive with moving to mostly phone appointments in all cases at all.

Phone appt is fine but only if they can give you a proper time. Saying between x and x doesn't work if you are working yourself, in meetings or having to be out and about. Not all of us have 3 hours to set aside waiting for a call and maybe I don't want to discuss my medical details in shops or supermarket, in front of colleagues etc.

Hopefully soon. I realised yesterday that the country had lost the plot a bit when I rang the doctors yesterday because my 1yo ymchest sounded really bad and she was breathing quite quickly when she was running around and the receptionist (after spending 25 minutes on hold) said might be a bit pointless to get a call back as the doctor will just ask you for a covid test to be done but I'll ask them to ring you anyway. How they can diagnose a bad chest on a toddler over the phone is beyond me but have been told to 'see how she goes'

There's no thought for anyone who would like the privacy of a f2f appt.

My mental health is in tatters because I don't want to discuss it with some random doctor over the phone.

I think it's unfair to call the OP goady. Hopefully most people recognise that GPs have continued to help patients and are extremely busy. I do think it's reasonable to ask if any return to "normality" is on the horizon. Are f2f appts not the norm because of the risk of Covid OR because doctors can deal with more patients more quickly if they do phone calls rather than f2f? This isn't clear to many of us.

I'm pretty concerned at this point about things like scrapping face to face for contraception appointments. I was given my last year's lot of the pill by phone and it's looking like it will be the same this November. That's twice without any weight or blood pressure recording.

It does seem to be a much more efficient way of allocating both doctors and patient time than the face to face appt system. There should always be a way of accessing face to face appts but hopefully it will deter the time wasters and trip to doctors as a social visit type appointments.

Agree with others, telephone appointments are convenient but need to mutually agree a time. I've been called and missed calls in the middle of meetings. It's daft. I wish they'd embrace online booking systems. It's 2021.