To want to be able to contact my GP about a ongoing issue without having to fill out a econsult?

[Lovemusic33]

Everything just seems so hard these days regarding contacting a gp, we used to be able to call, ask for an appointment or a call back, or email but now each time I want to speak to gp I have to fill in the econsault, wait for 48 hours for a call back and then get given an appointment (sometimes 3 weeks wait to see a gp).

GP has been unwell since last May, she has seen the GP, has had some tests (awaiting results) but DD’s symptoms are getting worse and I just want advice on what to try next and just reassurance as dd is looking more unwell and is losing weight. If I phone they tell me to fill a online form but none of the questions on the form are really relevant, it’s not a new illness, it’s a ongoing issue that the gp is aware about.

Does anyone else surgery have the same process? I can see why people end up going to A&E because the process of contacting your gp isn’t really for for purpose.

Either complain to practice manager or change GP but in all honesty they have all changed since the pandemic

They are utterly useless.
Fill the consult in and just tick a random box and then you'll be able to type the issue in at some stage.

I had a similar issue - ticked the heart box and then just typed my symptoms in. Someone actually rang me back very quickly.

Say you can't? Not everyone will be able to. Not everyone has internet. They won't require it as this would be discriminatory. You could just say you've IT issues at the moment which is sort of true in that you don't want to fill in the online form and it doesn't let you give the relevant info.

Thank you, I think I’m just stressing as I’m worried about dd, she has SEN’s so can’t tell me how she’s feeling, GP wants to test her for Crohn’s and colitis but I’m hoping it’s just an intolerance but it’s been ongoing for ten months and she’s losing weight. Filling in the same form over and over is tedious and then having to wait in for a call back (my mobile rarely has a signal and I can’t answer it whilst working). I just want a referral for dd to be tested for food allergies/intolerances, things are just moving so slowly and I’m worried she’s getting more unwell.

I have emailed the practice complaining about the system 😬. I will fill in a form tomorrow or try and demand a call back via the phone.

The forms are so daft and never have any relevance to anything I need to speak to a GP about no matter how many questions there are on it. I just randomly tick boxes that aren't true to get through to the next page and then write out what the issue is. They always call back and never complain about my form so I guess it's ok with them. It is very alienation and off putting though that you have to do this to get medical help, it's a little inhuman

@Volhhg

The forms are so daft and never have any relevance to anything I need to speak to a GP about no matter how many questions there are on it. I just randomly tick boxes that aren't true to get through to the next page and then write out what the issue is. They always call back and never complain about my form so I guess it's ok with them. It is very alienation and off putting though that you have to do this to get medical help, it's a little inhuman

I do the randomly tick boxes then it suggests I call 111 or 999 for an ambulance 🤣, i then have to go back and tick a different box.

I hate hate how GP’s are these days. I don’t want to talk to a receptionist or even a doctor on the phone.

I want to talk to a person. They’ll be doing dental consultations by phone next. Not that anyone can see a dentist.

I must say I love being able to do a phone or FaceTime consultation though. Less waiting in waiting rooms. I can get on with stuff. I like the e-consult for this reason too (apart from the annoying lifestyle questionnaire) Although, I understand it's not for everyone.

It's taken weeks for me to get an appointment for my dd and still not face to face...just a phone consultation. I see no reason why we can't have face to face appointments now!

@Comedycook

It's taken weeks for me to get an appointment for my dd and still not face to face...just a phone consultation. I see no reason why we can't have face to face appointments now!

It’s awful isn’t it? We had to wait 3 weeks for a phone consultation and then another 3 weeks for a face to face, we are now waiting for test results (should be in any time) and no doubt we will have to wait again for a month to speak to a GP.

Thankfully, we don't have E-consult. We are able to ring up and book appointments in advance. I really hope we don't go down this route. It sounds very frustrating!

It's irritating that the forms seem to be set up only for people contacting the GP for the first time about a new issue. Plus, loads of hoops to jump through, and an unpredictable format which means I end up trying to fit something into a tiny text box, not realising that later on there'll be another text box for part of the thing I need to communicate. I just have to try and fit the forms around what I need, and if I've had to tick a box I didn't really mean, I say so in the free text. Under time pressure, too, because they now only open econsults for a limited but unspecified period of time first thing in the morning.

I think it depends on your area. My GP service is excellent, you speak to the receptionist and they send you the form via text to fill out and add photos if relevant. If they want to see you they call you back and give you a time, usually same day. If not, it can be a phone appointment; and if not, the receptionist will call back to advise that a prescription has been issued to the local pharmacy.

It works really well and I’ve been very impressed by our local one, but it sounds like I’ve been very lucky

I have found these econsults very dangerous. I had a lump appear on my hand, fairly big, felt and behaved like a vein. The doctor diagnosed it as a ganglion cyst from the photos. It was actually an aneurysm that then burst and nearly killed me. The consultant told me that had the doctor actually examined it, they'd have known what it was. Doing these things by photograph will kill someone.

That’s another thing….you can only fill a econsult during surgery open hours, this isn’t easy if I’m busy working during the day, I can’t complete one in the evening. You used to be able to fill one in any time but they changed it.

I’m going to leave it a day or 2 in hope DD’s test results will be in and they will contact me. I feel awful for dd as this has been going on so long and each time I need to discus it with gp I have to wait 3/4 weeks to speak to anyone, my fear is dd will end up in hospital and she will hate that due to her SEN’s.

I think it depends on your area. My GP service is excellent, you speak to the receptionist and they send you the form via text to fill out and add photos if relevant. If they want to see you they call you back and give you a time, usually same day. If not, it can be a phone appointment; and if not, the receptionist will call back to advise that a prescription has been issued to the local pharmacy

This is how mine works. But l want to see a doctor, l don’t want to explain everything. I just want a face to face appointment. How are you supposed to have a relationship with a voice on the phone?

Apparently mental health problems are often only picked up on the third visit. We don’t even get a first visit. Body language is responsible for the majority of communication . How do you get that on the phone?

I loathe this system.