GP appt saga

[Paininthebutth0le]

Just went into my GP as I have been sent an auto appt for something and I can't attend on that day. I was in the reception which was empty with 3 staff members behind the window... I explained my situation and was told I am unable to reschedule in person and I need to call them instead!

None of them were on the phone, it was empty. I just said ok, went out to my car and called from there getting the lady who had spoken to me 60 seconds prior. Have all GP surgeries fully gone mad or is it just mine?

In short… yes!

Mine is constantly empty and it all seems to be done on the phone! I have been waiting since 2019 for surgery and I have been warned it is likely to be 2 more years.

its the same at ours, call them or fill in the klinik form online but they cannot assist in person.

The wait for surgery is not really the GP's fault though is it?

Not all surgeries work like this, no.

I would have called them while looking at them through the reception glass.

We've recently changed GP as we moved house. I used to think the admin team at the old one were bad. This one takes the biscuit.

So, it takes over a month for us to register as they kept arguing they needed "proof of work" and a utility bill. Normal right? Not when they demanded it for my 15 year old. I pointed out, at first thinking it was a computer error, that I can't provide this for him, for the moron I was talking to to say we couldn't all register then.

Finally, after a complaint, got registered, so needed to do some prescription requests because it took so long to register. Can't do that. They waited the 4 days of time they say to give for the prescription to go to the pharmacy though. So I call the prescription line. She says we all require a medications and service review as new patients. I say well can you organise this.
How absolutely ridiculous of me to think this.

Called the line back, picked appointments. Spoke to possibly the rudest person ever.
This was in December. Told no. I can't have any appointments for this. It's not urgent. So I ask when can I make the appointment, DS especially needs regular medications for his conditions. Tough apparently. They will only book "non urgent, admin appointments" 6 weeks in advance. These are all gone. Try again. In February.
When I point out my DS needs his medication and can't wait that long, told that's up to their GPs discretion of whether he needs them.

These are medications from an expert consultant. It's not the call of a GP to decide. According to her it is.

I'm already looking for a new surgery and we've only just registered. Utter idiocy.

Yes me too. Called them in my mobile whilst staring directly at them.

I wish I had! It's the kind of thing you'd see on little Britain 😂

I'd have done this too 😂😂

Have been unable to get an appointment in months. Had to go to the surgery to get a flu jab. Completely empty. Not a soul there. It used to be bustling. I have no idea what these people are doing all day. Similar with receptionists who won't speak to you through a screen but you can ring them from outside. You can get a telephone appointment but it's hit and miss. None of this was happening before Covid.

It’s madness. I don’t know what receptionists do now. When you arrive for an appointment there’s a screen to log you on. When you ring there’s a countdown ‘you are number 33 in the queue’ which reduces at about 6 per hour. It’s madness.

The results line works though. Possibly because no one can get in for any tests!

I was unable to order a rpt prescription because I needed a review and blood tests. No way to book a review or blood tests. They issued an emergency prescription ‘while you book a review’ which I have still been unable to do. Now they are just renewing my prescriptions as usual- but no review or tests.

I would literally pick up my mobile and phone them while standing there looking at them. Madness.

When this happened to me, this is exactly what I did. It was equal parts bizarre and awkward.

😂

Perhaps it’s preferable by phone or online because it’s recorded, then there’s no “I said, you said” situation if there’s an issue. It protects you and the staff.

Gosh I feel very lucky with my GP surgery 😳 cannot fault the staff or the processes.

I cannot comprehend that kind of nonsense at all

You absolutely should not have gone to your car, but instead, made the phone call right there, standing a metre away'

If it's anything like my surgery, the people who answer the phone sit behind the scenes. At the front desk they don't answer the phones unless they're really overloaded but usually only see walk ins and are the go between for patients, admin/back office and the GPs and nurses.

I find that it's not often can't but won't. The only thing I'd say is you have to try and understand the reason why they won't help sometimes. It's most likely the time it wastes several staff members instead of you calling and speaking to them directly. The people on the phones might even be monitored on calls answered so unable to come out for a chat about the issue. Not great service but that's their view.

I would have sat there and called in front of them but I can be pass agg like that.

When I call the doctor by phone all my details come up automatically on their system so this might be part of the reason?
No Excuse but an explanation?

I only want the pill but they won’t let me order online or over the phone. I have to go in and fill out a repeat form every time, no idea why.

This might well be it but they could just tell OP that.

Sorry to hear you've been waiting for surgery since 2019 but it's not the fault of the GP practice is it?

It's the hospital where you're on the waiting list, take it up with them to find out what's going on, can you be put on a cancellation list etc...

Me too. Really appeals to my passive aggressive nature.

I don't drive so I'd have either rung from inside the surgery or when I got home, to avoid standing in the cold.

Me too!