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.

Of course not, the letter doesn't say that, it's OP's interpretation of the tone of the letter.

I think it's good to make people aware that GP isn't the only port of call, but it would be a lot more helpful if they would list the other options actually available in OP's case!

Pretty extreme interpretation of a letter, although I suspect you are probably right as OP won’t answer that question.

They have exactly written in the letter that you agree to the terms and conditions and sign it to keep yourself from being removed from the list.

That’s mad my nephew had to go four times in three weeks due to a cough that just got worse and worse despite antibiotics and in the end was so worrying they prescribed inhalers. They actively encouraged my sister to bring him in as much as needed even if she was slightly concerned

But what are the terms and conditions? What does the letter actually say, exactly? Is this a condition that there ARE other alternatives to a Dr?

Did he need antibiotics each time?

4 times in a month is a lot. I can understand why they have contacted you - it’s probably an automated system. I wouldn’t sign the undertaking. I’d send a letter back, addressed to the practice manager, asking what action you should have taken in these circumstances, given your DC’s medical history and the fact that they needed antibiotics. Should you go to A&E? If your DC gets frequent infections requiring antibiotics, can you phone them for antibiotics in the future?

So if you don’t sign and return that letter it says they will remove you from the list? Is there a different GP practice you can switch to?

wtf? It’s entirely possible that many people don’t see the GP for 11 months of the year, and then you have several appointments within a short period because you are actually sick!

That's ridiculous. I attended the GP four times in a month a few years ago. I ended up with a breast cancer diagnosis - and it was actually a midwife at a breastfeeding clinic who accelerated the referral!

My dd and I had a text from our GP surgery reminding us the online booking form was only for routine GP appointments and urgent appointments (infection, sick child, home visits, sudden stomach pains) to call the surgery to go on the same day urgent list. There were other things in the text.
We have never used the form for urgent appointments and we're both a bit hmm about it as it felt we were being told off. But then after a think thought it must have a been an auto generated text.
In your case I would call the surgery on Monday asking them to clarify what they are saying. I can't believe a surgery would do this because you took a sick child there more often than expected. I really hope this isn't the case.

Schools do this too.

I had a SEN child in mainstream and they sent me a letter threatening to ban me from the school site for contacting the school too many times regarding my child. ( They had an ehcp which they were ignoring).

It worked. I didn't set foot in that place again.

Jesus, before covid and the advent of telephone appts. (which spoiled the fun) my elderly mother liked to find a reason to visit the GP at least twice a month for something to bloody do. Went on for years 🙄

She never got a letter telling her to cease and desist! I would have totally understood it if she had! But not a toddler needing ABs through a month.

How frequently have you taken your toddler to the GP before this latest batch of 4 visits?

I am pregnant and this is causing me so much distress thinking about both my toddlers care and my maternity care now.

@Watapain was the maternity care when you were preg with DD through this surgery? If it was and it was good, there's no need to worry

I think you need to make an appt. to have a chat with the practice manager if you can. Take the letter with you and tell her how it's affecting you.

what T&C are they asking you to agree to?

You say it's an ongoing condition and that child has ended up being in hospital? Has the ongoing condition actually been diagnosed?

At face value this sounds utterly disgraceful but I suspect some info is missing or has been misunderstood.

Are they perhaps thinking that if it's a known condition then he doesn't necessarily need to see the doctor each time?

I'm think ds had loads of ear infections that needed antibiotics to clear, otherwise his ear drum burst. Once it was established, I'd phone, leave a message and unless there was complications they'd send me a text telling me to pick up the antibiotics.

Maybe he doesn't necessarily need to be seen, and that's easier on you too.

Yet you continue ignoring the important questions.

@Watapain if you do have to go to A&E take the letter with you and show it to them.

I will be contacting cqc and local healthwarch

I'd send a letter asking as to whether in their opinion he didn't require treatment or advice on those occasions and asking what the complaints proceedure is.

Headed to the practice manager

Not too sure why you’ve bothered making this thread though OP as you’ve ignored most questions so nobody can advise properly.

What terms and conditions?

Even if you are over anxious you have good reason to be when you are pregnant and your little one has been in hospital.
What a horrible insensitive way to deal with a parent of an ill toddler.
It always used to be said that parents know their children and that as little children can get very ill very quickly it's better safe than sorry and they should be checked. I don't know when that changed.
If they are sending these letters automatically with no thought as to who they send them to they had better get ready for the backlash when a baby dies of meningitis because their mother was too scared to take them or a cancer diagnosis is fatally delayed because an older person didn't want to bother the GP after getting such a letter.
Shame on them
You absolutely must complain.