Dr appt - encouraging experience

[Odoreida]

I have a condition that needs looking into. It's not urgent, it's not causing terrible pain, but it is impacting my life and it could be the symptom of something worse. I've been ignoring it for a long time. This morning I filled in the form on the surgery's web system, they called back about an hour later with an appointment an hour after that, I was seen, they have made an appointment for blood tests next week and the Dr suggested various referrals that might be made. The Dr was female, the same age as me, sympathetic, interested, intelligent and friendly, the appointment took 5 minutes. The waiting room was pretty full but everyone was quiet and patient, it seemed like people weren't having to wait too long. I mention this because the whole thing added up to such an overwhelmingly positive experience. It has made such a difference to my day and my mood, and I believe that I will be looked after. It's an NHS surgery in East London.

Does anyone know how I can feed back to the right people that this kind of experience should be the norm when you want to see a doctor? From everything I read on here, it certainly isn't.

Let me guess...and then you woke up?😂

I'm a GP - a nice card saying thank you and what was good is always really appreciated!

@passport123 I will do that, thank you!

I'm glad you had such a good experience.

In answer to your question though I think everyone is aware it should be the norm, those with the ability to do something about it aren't listening though!

@GreenLunchBox I did think the phone call was an auditory mirage when it came

@passport123 My GP's are wonderful! I've also just written a thank you card to A&E at the local hospital for looking after my 27 yr old DS so well (and supplying me with coffee) when he was short of breath & had chest pains.
Yes, things go wrong, and the NHS in underfunded / understaffed, but you ARE appreciated. :-)

This has been my experience with most of the Drs at our surgery but then you get the odd Dr who just seems to brush off everything you say and you leave feeling like you wasted your time and weren't listened to.

I've been in twice recently with a similar type problem (not urgent but causing daily pain and needing referred somewhere where they can figure it out) and unfortunately been seen by a locum who just sent me to A&E even though I told her I've had the issue years and then the one regular Dr at the surgery who always brushes everything off so I'm hoping to be able to see one of the 'good' Drs next time I ring but it really is a lottery of who you get to see.

The reason it isn't the norm on here is because a) people generally post on forums like this to complain/let off steam/etc when things annoy them rather than the 95% of times it goes well, and b) understaffing, so sometimes stuff runs late.

I have had negative experiences, e.g. find it hard to get through on phone line if need to get GP appt, but almost every experience I have had with a doctor or nurse (or HCA, midwife, ...) has been ranging between fine to excellent. They are people who are trying to do a good job and look after you despite very limited resources, difficult working environments and poor staffing. But they are just people, sometimes even a good one has an off day. Anyway, just my two cents.

I'm sure you can leave feedback on the NHS website

Oh and re feedback, card or email to surgery especially great if you can name people who were especially good.

A positive Google review will cheer the staff up.

@SayCheeseBoris that sounds so frustrating, you have my sympathy.

The thing about the online form is it asks 'what outcome do you want' and I said 'tests and referral if necessary'. The doctor referred to that during the appointment and it has made me decide to be really clear about what outcome I want in the future, in any situation but particularly a medical appointment. But of course it's much harder with an unsympathetic doctor.