GP surgery sent letter to deter us book appointment for toddler

[Watapain]

Today we received letter from Surgery saying that we have booked several appointments in the last month for our toddler who has been sick often and has got a recurring issue needing doctors attention. We should consider other alternatives and not see the GP.
This has really concerned us as me and DH never see the GP. I am fuming as they have sent a form asking us to sign an undertaking that we acknowledge the letter. We are not happy about it and to sign the letter.
Have you been through anything similar and how do we approach about complaining about it as the tone on it seems threatening that they are looking to remove people from their list.

Well I recently read that the GPs were offered flat rates for patients (which would mean less bureaucracy) during one of the contract renegotiations, and they wanted to be paid more so have gone for rates depending on the patient illness, type of care etc. which of course means tons more paperwork.
so that endless bureaucracy GPs complain about is self inflicted

@DodoTired your comment is ignorant and and based on no knowledge and understanding of the work plead of GPS and the expectations about their work.

My parents were accused of this. 15 years later it turns out their concerns were right. And I'm now fighting to get someone to realise it's causing the symptoms I'm having.

Have you ever worked for a GP practice? Or been a GP? I'm afraid, you have no idea of the realities. Having different of categories of patients, patient care and relevant fees, is NOT done by the GP at all.

You do realise GPs are leaving in droves, and are not being replaced. Many are going to work abroad, or in private care. And just like any professionals, YES, they can choose their clients, aka patients- especially if they feel that the patient-GP relationship is not working, for the patient, or the doctor. Just like dentists.

Within the next 10 years- it won't be possible to find an NHS GP for many people- just as for dentists now. Because GPs are self employed, and not servants of the Government, or the people. They have a choice.

Its not done by the GP but it was negotiated on their behalf by their organisation.

and I find it shocking that GPs are private businesses unlike the rest of NHS employees (thats a bizarre remnants of pre-war Britain), and I also find it shocking that they complain about working too much when there are never after hours services, they can work part time etc. Comparably paid professionals (eg lawyers or bankers) work much longer hours and do not moan about it. (Im a lawyer)

Hopefully the government will make them employees of the NHS, like in other countries. This “private business” of a vital primary care service that’s a gatekeeper to the rest of the NHS is ridiculous.

Which other country? You force GPs to become 'employees of the State' and they will just be gone, like dentists. Can't you see that? there are shortages all over the world, where they would get much higher pay, much better conditions. Why should they stay?

Every time?

The antibiotics are not relevant.

What is relevant, is that the OP was worried about her toddler and got through the triage process to see her GP.

An automated letter has been inappropriately sent.

You can't make an appointment for a small sniffle anymore.

"Can't you see that" is SOOOOO patronising.

So why do GPs and dentists have to be independent, but other medical (hospital-based) staff are employees of the state? What's the distinction in your view?

As a senior doctor, I find your response dismissive and quite childish. The surgery is at fault here. I agree that talking to the practice would be a good first step. But you can’t blame people who feel they might not be taken seriously by a surgery that sends this kind of letter.

And maybe the practice has a point. Perhaps the OP is overusing the GP service. In that case, somebody senior from the practice needs to pick up the phone and have a conversation with the OP about the issue and discuss other ways of them accessing help. A letter like this is inflammatory and not helpful in anyway. Asking a patient to sign a receipt is such a bizarre request.

of course, this is another sign of the NHS in collapse. But this is not the way to go about reducing demand.

Just seen in our fb group that the online booking system at our surgery has closed for the day ..............at 8.11am "as we have reached capacity for the day"