To wonder if doctors surgery's will go back to normal.

[Ciaram55]

In light of the latest news that covid restrictions are ending and things supposedly getting back to normal, I wonder if doctors surgery's will go back to how they were, as in get to be seen more easily.

Mine has been good throughout. I don’t mind the video appointments - in fact sometimes they’re far more convenient. I’ve never had an issue getting a face to face appointment when a physical examination is required.

@Ciaram55

I just need treatment for a nail fungi, the receptionist said she'd send me a template for me to add a photo to, but I've phoned ,twice now and it's not been sent. But really a photo won't tell the doctor what kind of treatment I need. Before the pandemic I'd have been seen.

They'll need a sample, so ask the receptionist to leave you a sample pot and the right form, collect it, fill it in, send it back.

The GP can just tell you the results on the e consult thing, and then you'll need to go for a blood (liver function) test if it is fungal and they are treating it.

The treatment is three to six months of anti fungal tablets, you need a liver function test before you start, halfway through and at the end.

I'm on month four. I had my liver function a couple of weeks ago.

There's really no need for a face to face consultation for this.

Ours is much better than pre covid. Much easier to get an appointment, less time off work, face to face appointments if needed. I don't want it to go back!

They'll need a sample, so ask the receptionist to leave you a sample pot and the right form, collect it, fill it in, send it back.

Thank you. I wish this had been said to me, I thought at the time what good is a photo.

Telephone appointments are no good if you can’t answer your phone at work. I much preferred the old system when I could book the last appointment of the day when I knew I’d be able to leave work in time to attend.

Every practice is different, mine hasn’t changed much

I work full time so I used to ask for phone appointments before the pandemic happened. I could get the advice/referral I needed, or pick up a prescription later that day, without worrying about balancing it around work. So phone appointments being offered now is fine for me.

Currently I’m suffering with a problem that needs to be examined in person and honestly, it’s such a faff trying to call in at 8am for the chance of an appointment then trying to get last minute leave from work the same day. You can’t pre-book at my GP. I’ve just resorted to suffering in silence tbh

My DPs Dr surgery is utterly disgusting how they treat people. They have declared a permanent change that you can no longer ring them for appointments, prescription requests, admin related issues or advice. Instead it all has to go through the online e consult form which they only open between 8am and 2pm. Then they say they will get you seen before 6.30 the next working day but so far they haven't called him back ever. We have to call them after 3 days asking what's happening to be told by a snotty receptionist she will add him to the queue of phone calls and to expect a call the next working day.

As soon as I saw your post, OP, I knew the thread was going to fill up with people assuring you that their surgery was great, and the new system works better, and you should just suck it up. And if you don't, you are a doctor- hating idiot who is out of touch.

I reject most of this. It is possible, but very difficult for most people, to be seen face to face. Telephone appointments ARE acceptable in some situations for some people, but the patient certainly doesn't get to specify a preference. I've seen how my elderly disabled DM and DMIL (in different parts of the country) have struggled to access primary health care, and it's really frightening.

It's going to take time to recruit and train more GPs, but I can't see them wanting to go back tbh. And, in spite of this egregious govt, never forget that it was the BMA that capped GP recruitment to protect wages. (Google it if you don't believe me). The more I see and learn of how the NHS operates, the less convinced I am that we shouldn't be moving to a system like Germany's.

@Bookridden

As soon as I saw your post, OP, I knew the thread was going to fill up with people assuring you that their surgery was great, and the new system works better, and you should just suck it up. And if you don't, you are a doctor- hating idiot who is out of touch.

I reject most of this. It is possible, but very difficult for most people, to be seen face to face. Telephone appointments ARE acceptable in some situations for some people, but the patient certainly doesn't get to specify a preference. I've seen how my elderly disabled DM and DMIL (in different parts of the country) have struggled to access primary health care, and it's really frightening.

It's going to take time to recruit and train more GPs, but I can't see them wanting to go back tbh. And, in spite of this egregious govt, never forget that it was the BMA that capped GP recruitment to protect wages. (Google it if you don't believe me). The more I see and learn of how the NHS operates, the less convinced I am that we shouldn't be moving to a system like Germany's.

Well I was a bit surprised tbh at how many are happy with it. Before covid I could see the doctor very easily, now I'm struggling to get a comparatively minor ailment sorted out. There's so many people I've spoke to that aren't happy at all. So many things have changed since covid but now things are back to normal I just wondered if there is a reason why many GPs are reluctant to get back to how we were.

I hope it does improve. I've had a nightmare trying to speak to or see a GP. I phoned six times today - each time I was told there were more than 30 people in front of me in the queue. Twice I was cut off after waiting over an hour- I finally got through after another 50 minute wait . I was told they won't take repeat prescription orders over the phone, you can't book to see a GP and the earliest telephone appointment for a GP is 16 March. I am diabetic and running out of medication - unfortunately despite ordering my prescription online and receiving an acknowledgement it still hasn't been processed a week later .

I will phone 111 in the morning but I cant keep doing this every month - its exhausting! I am sure there are some great GP surgeries but there are others that are rubbish.

@mynameiscalypso

I hope they don't get rid of the e-consult system; it's brilliant. So handy when I need a new prescription or something and the one time I did an e-consult that required more action, a doctor rang within an hour.

I wish my GP would start USING the e-consult system! We can't email them, can't fill in anything online, can't do video calling.

The ONLY option is to phone up and hang on in the queue until reception picks up, listening to messages about COVID and COVID and COVID and sanitise, and "keeping you all safe".

I was in the chemist the other day picking up my prescription and there was a big poster advertising a service where you pay £15 a month and get access to GP advice by video call within the hour. I'd pay that. Because the "service" from my GP at the moment is absolutely shocking.

That sounds terrible Mogs43, you shouldn't have to struggle like that.....and yes I'm sure there's lots of really good surgeries out there, and people who have them are very lucky. Unfortunately they aren't all like that.

5 months ago, My one experience trying to get an appointment in last 4 years -- they were suppose to ring & never rang. Can't say I am impressed. Hopefully I won't have any reason to ask to be seen for at very least another 4 years. Heaven knows what system will exist by then.

For me, the e-consult thing is so much better. I have had three operations since March 2020 and the times I have needed to see someone the appointment has been straight away and for the other times its been a phone call or a text - which have saved all of us so much time.

@Ciaram55

In light of the latest news that covid restrictions are ending and things supposedly getting back to normal, I wonder if doctors surgery's will go back to how they were, as in get to be seen more easily.

My surgery has been seeing patients althrough the pandemic,we had a triage phone call first and then an in person app if needed. This has been the case for all my friends and family across England.

Our GP works like this -

You ring at 8am and get an automated message saying to use eConsult.

You hang up and go on the surgery website where a message dated November tells you eConsult is temporarily down, which is probably good, because they never answered it anyway.

You ring back and when you get to the front of the queue, the system hangs up on you. After about half an hour, you get through and the receptionist tells you they aren't offering any routine appointments.

You explain you have suspected sepsis/head falling off etc. They say dr will ring at 2pm. Dr apparently doesn't get that memo and rings at completely random time. If you manage to answer, they ask you to come for bloods/ urine sample.

If the results come back with something wrong, they will tell you, but if there's nothing obviously amiss they don't bother, meaning you wait a week or so in pain before ringing to find that that test didn't show anything and you start all over again.

I hope it doesn't "go back", but that they take the positives and keep them, but are able (once back log thins out) to pick up the positive things that aren't happening.

For me, I think the telephone appointments have been SO much better than sitting in a waiting room (filled with other ill people) waiting for an appointment. On the occasions I have needed an appointment over the last 2 years, it has been great to be able to stay at home and wait for the phone call, being able to either get on with work, or, when needed, rush to my own toilet (TMI!). Equally, my dc away at University has been able to get an "appointment" with our GP rather than having to deregister (tricky, in the middle of ongoing medical situation) and find somewhere to register at University.

I do, of course understand that just because it is better for me, doesn't mean it is better for everyone. I am fortunate that I am registered with an excellent GP. But pre-COVID there were always lots of people who didn't have that privilege.

So, same with work (for many) and lots of other things - let's take the things that have been better, and keep them, and let's pick up the things we've missed. "Going back" is rarely a good option.

The issue isn’t that GPs are reluctant to get back to normal. It’s that the demand on them isn’t normal. This is a good place to start to see the imbalance between GPs available and the amount of appointments needed: www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/nhs-delivery-and-workforce/pressures/pressures-in-general-practice-data-analysis

If we want a GP service that meets our needs we need to ensure our government has the will to invest in it and nurture it and we need to stop blaming GPs.

I actually prefer what happens now at ours. We call them at 8 or 02:30, they then give you a morning phone appointment or afternoon if you call them at 02:30.

Mine is like this, although it's 8.30 and 2. Completely impossible if you are a primary school teacher who cannot hang around on the phone at those times.

Mine has lots of face to face now. But if you don’t need to be seen, eg last week I wanted to ask GP for bloods for my DD so she didn’t need seem so that saves time for them and us

I've given up with ours.

2 years without a diabetic review (I'm on medication) and I'm nearly a year overdue having a smear (had cervical cancer in my early 30s).

I made 2 appointments late last year and had them both cancelled while sat in the car waiting to go in. 30 mile round trip from work to attend both....... I was absolutely fuming.

Rural practice so I'm stuck there too........

My surgery has worked right through so no problem at all being seen.

We have been back to normal for months.

We've had e consult for years now, love the bloody thing.
I actually prefer how my surgery is running now as to pre Covid.
Actually had less hassle getting seen, call back etc.

I'd be happy for telephone triage to remain in most cases, but with an actual time slot given. I can't have my phone in class, so I need to make an actual timed appointment. My surgery just says they'll call during the day - and only if really pushed will they agree to say am or pm.

For some appointments a face to face should still be available, without the need of telephone triage. Some things just can't be dealt with by phone.

I would also like to be able to book more routine appointments in advance - my surgery isn't permitting this at the moment still. Only same day.

And I want them to reinstate the app which allowed you to book appointments online. I'm in work at 8:30am. And I don't generally have the luxury of time to sit, pressing redial (we don't have a queue system either) waiting to get through. I need to be ready to have children in the classroom at 8:40am so it's really tight,