Apparently you can no longer call the GP to book a GP appointment.

[AngeloMysterioso]

You now HAVE to book online, and it HAS to be through the website and NOT the app.

I found that out the hard way today when I tried to book an appointment for my son, the app said none available so I rang up and waited half an hour on the phone to get through to reception, who told me I had to book it online.

You make a request and they’ll get back you within 48 hours.

AIBU to think that’s bloody ridiculous?!

Really bad advice given from the reception to take Imodium under your circumstances. Under no circumstances should they be handing out ill informed medical advice.

When you're feeling better might be an idea to speak to the practice manager and tell him/her that this person is overstepping their remit.

Being a fan of E Consult, I am not very impressed by what has happened for you there. It may be an okay course of action but since you have already been trying to deal with it alone for several days, I would be miffed at being told to see the pharmacist on the day that I had finally decided I wanted the NHS to help me. Are you confident that the receptionist referred to someone medically qualified before giving you this fob off?
You would hope that had you done an E Consult, whoever had triaged it, would have thought you maybe needed more re food poisoning and feeling weak...I don't know a blood test maybe given that it has been a week already?
I think we have already reached the point where the reality tv series 'GPs behind closed doors' no longer corresponds to reality in any shape or form.
The pandemic caused GPs to lock down and they have never recovered to normal 'face to face' service levels. The practice I go to already had E-Consult and Advanced Nurse Practitioners pre-pandemic and was using it sensibly with fast response times.
So although the technology can help provide more targetted care, there is still a real risk of conditions going untreated for far too long. To some extent we are all being turned into the managers of our own care as E Consult asks 'what outcome do you want?'. If you have googled, you can make suggestions, could it be X?
I am not saying this is a good thing but it seems to be the reality post-covid. How long before everyone has a 'wearable' to check blood pressure, ECG etc which feeds back to an App at the GPs? Would this be a positive?

Hope you feel better soon and that the immodium works.

This is part of the problem, untrained receptionists dishing out medical advice, completely unacceptable

"E consult asks "what outcome do you want?""

And it doesn't let you submit the form without filling this in. I often end up writing that I have no idea because I don't know and don't want to make it sound like I've googled my symptoms.

The NHS website is actually very good on symptoms so it is worth having a look beforehand. I think the question makes the satisfaction levels for the service go up, as it is directly asking what you want the doctor to do and then it is up to them to refuse this or go along it, knowing this is the outcome you would like. Best play the game I think. They can't fob you off so easily if you have researched in advance.
You could just put that you would like 'appropriate diagnosis' and throw the ball back in their court lol.

I usually put along the lines of, dr Google suggests, or
With my new doctorate via Google I think I should have...

But then I can be a sarcastic cow.

I agree with a PP, that's appalling advice. If you have food poisoning, your body needs to get rid of the 'poison', not bunging it up with immodium! Definitely complain.

After six days of it I think the poison was gone, I had no pain the last four days. She did say phone this morning if I'm worried. I was having awful gas even in my sleep 🤭 but that's stopped now. I've actually been out to the co-op for some broth. Managed to shower, dress, make the bed and hoover the bedroom as well as nip to the local shop. I'm on the mend.

I read this thread when it was posted. Yesterday my practice texted to say from now on all appointments are to be booked via Anime sounds like a Japanese cartoon site. It states there will now be same day appointments, I think thats highly inlikely as the present wait time is 4 weeks. Someone will be missing out, I suspect the elderly, poor and non techie.

I used Anime back in May Im still waiting for a reply

Last time I used e-consult it told me I need to see someone urgently instead of using it though I knew it was a non urgent issue so I gave up and made a routine appointment.
Now, if you ask for an appointment reasonably soon, you will get a phone consultation with a pharmacist or, if it is for joint pain, a physio. There are no face-to-face or GP appointments.
I had a phone call, blood tests, prescription, then another phone call and prescription in early July. I have just now seen a GP and been referred to hospital. There is a shorter wait for hospital outpatient clinics and procedures than to see a GP, which is ridiculous.
Since covid asthma reviews are by phone with a pharmacist. They are not allowed to check peak flow or inhaler technique.
I used to always stick up for the NHS but I think the complete unavailability of GPs is scary.

And the elderly without smartphones or computers are supposed to do what? Or those with learning disabilities? Poor literacy skills? Poor English? Not everyone can do things online.

Why do you think there isn’t sufficient GP appointments?
Its very basic - more people want appointments than there are available.

18m more people in the UK than when I was born and 1.2 immigration a year now (600k net immigration) is having an effect although Labour and Tories seem to have no problem with that.

Luckily I have only had 2 GP appointments in about 20 years. I call them my £100k a time 7 minute appointments! I would rather be allowed to opt out and keep my cash.

The NHS is significantly staffed by those not from the UK. The Uk also has a labour shortage so immigration is good and necessary.

I think for the massive underfunding by a certain govt they do the very best they can. My daughter has DS and my husband has MS, and both need a lot of appointments atm, and we can use the app or ring up or we could just go straight to the surgery. I cannot fault them.

That is disgusting in my opinion. My great auntie is 95 with macular degeneration and almost blind. She still lives independently with help popping twice a week, but no way in the world would she be able to use this system.

It is indirect discrimination and they should know better. I am disgusted and if I were in your shoes I would be contacting the local paper to encourage them to do a piece on it. I might even go so far as to seek out some elderly / infirm / impoverished people for interview about how they have been cut off from vital services.