To want a GP appointment

30 replies

Lasanyaa · 23/01/2023 10:37

I’m not blaming receptionists or doctors for this- it’s not their fault that services are so overwhelmed. I’m just so frustrated in general (not helped by a lack of sleep)

Booked a GP appointment for worsening asthma (fine today but significantly worse recently), tried to convince the receptionist that I wanted a face to face appointment for obvious reasons with asthma, but was interrupted and he told me he would speak to a doctor and just get another ventolin ordered for me. I had to insist that no, I wanted an appointment as it has changed and become worse recently and I’m using my ventolin much more frequently, and I wanted a face to face but he said it doesn’t need that and that a phone appointment would be sufficient. He had already told me there were face to face appointments available but he kept signing and said it didn’t need that.

i have no idea when the phone call will come in- could be anytime until 6.30 and I’m worried to go out whilst waiting for it in case it comes through when I’m driving because it’s near on impossible to get back through if you miss the call, and I don’t want to be discussing my medical details out in public as I have other existing conditions that are relevant but private

am I being unreasonable by being a bit frustrated at this? Not at the individual receptionist who was just doing their job, just the system in general where it’s impossible for everyone.

At my work I cannot take a phone call on a whim - there’s no service most of the time, and we are not allowed our phones on us anyway. You could speak to management and request time off to attend an appointment but not a phone call that could come in at any time and you have to drop everything you’re doing to answer. But because of high no show rates, it’s only a same day appointment service unless the doctor requests otherwise for future appointment. They also stopped the app, online and photography service and you can’t book appointments in person either, you only get buzzed in with an appointment.
I requested to move practice but all others within the allowed boundary are full.

If I hadn’t dug in, as others may not feel able to, I wouldn’t even have a phone appointment at all so I’m grateful to have something. I’m just so frustrated about it all and needed to get it off my chest. If anyone else who’s had a virtual appointment for asthma can reassure me that I’ll still be able to get the help I need I would be ever so grateful as I’m stressed and fed up now.

long term, I’m going to register with a private GP. Does anyone have any recommendations?

OP posts:

Musicaltheatremum · 25/01/2023 15:06

BigMadAdrian · 24/01/2023 08:13

The whole situation is appalling and depressing. Our GP surgery was excellent pre-covid and now it is dreadful. I can't believe that phone appointments are still considered acceptable - there are multiple reasons why they are not:

It discriminates against people with ADHD and ASD, as they often find speaking on the phone difficult and overwhelming - they may not bother seeing their GP for this reason (speak from experience on this one).

The above applies to people with anxiety and depression, so people struggling with these conditions may not seek help.

It is impractical for an enormous number of people to wait for a phone call for all sorts of reasons (many stated above).

It is unacceptable for people to have to discuss their private medical concerns/conditions out in public if the doctor calls when they are out and about.

The doctor can't use visual cues to assess the patient - how the patient looks can be really important (eg - a usually very smart person looking dishevelled).

No body language!

A real danger of missing something important, which has been in the press on a few occasions.

It is far more akin to a tick list exercise for the doctor - much harder for them to properly connect with the patient over the phone - the phone appointments I have had were rushed and horrible.

Overall it is just awful - telephones have been around for decades, but it was not considered acceptable to have a GP appointment over the phone pre-pandemic. I too will be registering with a private GP - I have had enough.

As a GP you summarise that just how I see it. We have been face to face for everything since nov 21. Really reduced my stress levels as it took longer to decide whether to see someone than to see them in person with all the safety netting.

GettingStuffed · 27/02/2023 09:20

I needed a GP appointment (not urgent to me ) and as I was in town I popped I to the surgery. After explaining why I needed the appointment I was offered an appointment the next day.

Tinkerloo · 27/02/2023 09:57

I’ve had an urgent referral to the GP from another medical professional. I’m supposed to see the GP and if no resolution I have to be referred to a specialist team. The fact that urgent was marked all over the referral would make you think I would see the doctor quickly……………..No, they’ve booked a telephone appointment for 3 weeks time

Scienceandreason · 27/02/2023 10:02

Write to the practice manager and complain. Put everything into writing and keep a copy. I've been forced to do this a couple of times when I've received sub standard care and this has always resulted in a proper, face to face appointment. It's sad it should come to this but it's now the only way to get any proper service.

misteek · 23/05/2023 12:51

whats it got to do with the "Tories" ? What changed post the initial crisis of the pandemic for GP's ? dont say they all went to Australia etc as we didnt have flights leaving the UK for months, the organisers of this fiasco have cynically manipulated the pandemic"break in normal services" for their own ends, and the service we are getti.ng now is disgraceful

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