FUCKING GP SURGERY

[Screamscreamscream]

Sorry for the swearing. I could actually scream, or cry, or both. My GP practice is great if you can get an appointment, but an absolute nightmare to do that. There’s no email or online system, no apps, no econsult, nothing. You can’t go in and book an appointment anymore after covid- it’s phone call only. It takes hundreds of calls to actually get through, then when you do, all the appointments are gone. There’s no advance booking- it’s only appointments on the day. The receptionists are lovely but have to interrogate you and decide if you can get an appointment or not (not blaming them at all, I understand why they have to do it). I was once serviced by a receptionist to take Imodium and call tomorrow when I explained I was having stools with old blood in it.

there's another practice in the same down that has the apps and online system and has great reviews. My friends are registered there and can send a message on the app and have a reply within a few hours. It saves the phoning up hundreds of times every morning not being able to get through. I work during the week and cannot go on my phone at work so the way my current practice is set up isn’t working for me whereas the other would be better.

I tried to change surgery but apparently that’s not allowed within the same area, and the health board won’t allow it under any circumstances. I explained I literally can’t contact my current surgery because of work and even when I can it’s a nightmare but they were really apologetic and said it’s just not allowed.

has anyone had any experience of this? I’m so disappointed and frustrated. I understand it’s neither surgerys fault but I can’t believe I’m now locked into the shitty GP practice.

Sounds like my GP. I popped in yesterday, they'd told me there was no appointments. There's never any appointments. Last three times (over three years) they've sent me to the hospital... anyways yesterday ... not a soul in the waiting room. Lots of doctors doors open on the corridor so nobody in there either.
I feel they've used covid as an excuse to stop seeing people and haven't started again. Hospitals are inundated and they're sitting cosy. I had to get a sick note the other week (follow on from being seen at the hospital the week prior), the nurse told me I'd have to collect the next day because she was WFH 😂

Yeah we’re in Scotland 😞

When speaking to the new practice about re registering there, I asked if I could just de register at my normal practice, then wait some time, then re register at the new one and they said they felt really sorry for me but that it wouldn’t be possible because on re registering at the new practice they would see I had previously been registered at a practice in the same town so I would have to register there because they are accepting new patients 😞 it’s one of those situations where I honestly have no idea what to do for the best!

It's the same at our surgery. And depending on the problem I don't always want to discuss it with the receptionist. I've got a water infection and ended up paying £26 for antibiotics from Boots as I haven't a hope in hell of getting in before Christmas.

I am prone to water infections, how did you get antibiotics from Boots? Did the pharmacist prescribe?

Not much help I expect but do you have a walk-in surgery near you? We do, and it’s become the go to (not as bad as A&E) for people who stand no chance of getting an appt. Goodness knows how anybody who is not tech savvy or who really is very I’ll copes with all of this. We have to call bang on 8am - and usually, even if you are bang on 8am, you are eg number 40+ in the queue etc. One minute past and you’ll be person 100 in the queue, and any later than 8:30, you can forget it because all the appts have gone.

Our GPs are still usually great though, once you finally get to see one. Last time I saw one, he got his own online diary up onto the computer and made me a follow up appointment with him, same time 2 weeks later, bypassing reception, ‘so you can avoid our horrendous booking system’. Told me to write it down as there would be no reminder etc. It’s all so crazy.

Yep we are all in the same situation.

@amiold re sick note, you can/should self-certify for the first week. Also, it shouldn’t matter where the nurse was working from, the sick notes are sent by link in a text message.

It was beyond the first five days and no link in text I had to pickup from the practice. It didn't matter to me she was wfh but I'm unsure how much healthcare staff can provide from home

Interesting to read about Healthwatch. I’ve looked on their website and they are a committee of the CQC.

@amiold still working with paper sick notes?! WFH for lab results, letters, referrals, answering to complaints, all sorts of admin work, some clinical too.

Exactly the same set up at my surgery. I emailed the practice manager last week with my concerns and to be fair to her she contacted me straight away and said she agreed! Apparently the practice are looking at ways to improve the system...we shall see.

To confirm it was definitely a paper sick note and nothing else was offered.

I think nurses doctors etc should be in the practice. They done all their admin there prior to covid and we're still on hand if something popped up. Nhs is on its arse for various reasons but allowing staff to wfh is a backwards stop and a cop out. "Sorry not there so can't possibly provide support to someone who is actually really because wfh 💅🏻 "

@amiold be fair, no surgery is left un-manned, despite what the right wing rags tell you. Also surgeries are not really for emergencies. Of course there will be first aid, a plaster, a nebuliser, but there shouldn’t be stuff popping up. That’s for A&E or urgent care centres, though I know many have closed thanks to 12 years of Tory government.

I'm not blaming the staff but the process.

More people could be seen if they offered appointments but they'll never squeeze an extra one in whilst sat on the sofa. The staff at the hospital are ran off their feet and surgeries just seem to have give up providing a service.

Also the "Tory" argument is really old on me. Yes it's cut back and it's shit and they've made some questionable decisions whilst lining fat cats pockets but labour were no better. Hand outs left right and centre and spending money that wasn't there. They're as bad as each other but really uneducated slur to suggest it's all a Tory blame (although it's fashionable because everyone else says it, I get that)

Squeezing one extra person in, and the dozen of others, is probably why they are burnt out and demoralised. Also not safe medicine IMO as 10 minutes is not enough, let alone 3-4 minutes and trying to make complex decisions you can defend in court even 10 years later based on a 3 minute interaction.

@amiold I’m old enough too to remember how it was before the Tory government. What’s more, I was having my kids and using the NHS much more at the time. IMO it was better. It’s not a slur and definitely not uneducated. They are not as bad as each other. How sad that you see on your own health how things are going but turn the other cheek. Till when?

I'm hardly turning the other cheek, it's shit. This is the point I'm making... we're paying (as in us who pay into the system) staff who should provide healthcare but the system allows them to wfh. The government will cut them all shortly as we haven't needed them in the surgeries since 2020 apparently. It's a shocking state of affairs but nhs staff should be in the practices and available

For most of this year we've had a text almost every week telling us they are short staffed and only very urgent cases will be given any kind of appointment, usually a telephone call back with an HCP, rarely a doctor, which requires ringing at 8am until you get through or not as the case may be.
This week we had a further text telling us eConsult has been suspended and won't be back in operation until sometime in the New Year.
They have only unlocked the front doors after Covid in the last month and the way things are I can't see that lasting.
Fortunately I haven't needed them for a couple of years, apart from repeat HRT prescriptions but I'm terrified of getting getting ill in case I need to see a doctor.
Hell and handcarts spring to mind!

I feel your pain. I hate all GPs and the receptionists. Condescending and rude. I had a rash on my boob. CAlled 111 described the rash. They asked me to go see GP. Now you cannot get a GPs appointment for love nor money. So I walked there. I have previous called 300 odd times only to be told that they have no appointments for the day. Cannot pre book appointment. Econsult only works during 8 to 5 pm. No idea what ecouncult cannot be done anytime of day? Its not like the GP will see if and immediately get in touch.they take 48 hours!! Anyway, queued up at surgery, only to be asked by receptionist what my issue was. She couldn't hear me so had to lietrally scream so the whole world can hear. Only to be told that rash on boob is not an emergency. GPs is only seeing emergency appointments till 4th of JAn.

I have to pay for GP in Ireland. Many have free GP though, depends on your income. Anyway I can get same day appointment for urgent stuff no problem. Today (like a pp) I have developed UTI ouch!. I know what it is and I know what fixes it. Doc surgery closed for Christmas. They have an automatic connection with online/phone/video/house call GP service. Phoned at 2pm. Phone consult at 3.30pm. Took all the usual information blah blah. Script emailed to pharmacy and delivered to my door at 5 pm. Everything is urgent with the Christmas shut down on the way!

It did cost €60 and a tenner for the antibiotics. I will get the GP fee refunded on my health insurance which costs €120 a month and covers for pre existing conditions, GP charges, private room in either public or private hospital, all scans, bloods, surgeries, day procedures, consultant fees etc. The private hospital I use has an A+E for everything but strokes.

Many without health insurance here have to pay for GP but you get a tip top immediate service in most cases. I read here often about waiting weeks for a GP appointment and I can't believe that things are so bad.

www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1688682/gp-workforce-uk-nhs-face-to-face-appointment-pre-pandemic-level Here for info, right wing rag so should do. @amiold perhaps read some more, there’s more to it than your simplistic solutions. Merry Christmas. I’ll leave you to it.

Thanks will give it a read.

Merry Christmas. Let's hope staff are back providing a service in the new year - have a good one🥂

I hate it when receptionists try to diagnose / advise over the phone , like I'm sorry do you have a medical degree ? I find them insufferable at my GP. Not friendly in the slightest and so sarcastic and won't let you get a word in edgeways

I changed surgery for the same reason. Had to just keep phoning at 8am until you got through. I'm a teacher I couldn't be sat on a phone without taking a day off. I don't understand how they can stop you changing