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.

Ask them for a copy of terms and conditions and ask them to specifically show you where you should not book an appointment for a condition that's returned that hospitalised your toddler previously.

I always find ask putting the ball back in the other persons park is quite useful in moving forward.

Request a meeting with the practice manager to discuss the reasons for the letter.

Maybe I’m being thick but how does two episodes of illness requiring antibiotics mean 4 visits?

I don't think it's any excuse that the letter may be automatically generated. It can't be difficult to set up a system where such letters don't go out when it's accepted that each visit was necessary.

I would write back and ask them to state precisely which of your visits was not necessary and why, bearing in mind the hospital's advice and the fact that the need for treatment was acknowledged on each occasion. I think you need to insist on a response, because it clearly needs someone in charge to address whether the letter was justified and for any withdrawal to be firmly on record.

What did they suggest as an alternative?

The fact that antibiotics have been prescribed means that the DC had to be seen.

the hospital admission makes this worse still.

You really need to write back to them and say you are disgusted by the content and tone and are taking it further and then do so.

Exactly. Nobody should be getting sent such letters as a routine “oh you’ve had x appts so we Weill send you this letter “. Especially for a child! It could really deter people seeking medical treatment when it’s needed. I mean maybe an individual should get sent a letter if they were making weekly appointments about an ingrown toenail or something but not this. Especially when there’s been a genuine reason and antibiotics were prescribed. Where else does the letter sender think antibiotics should be acquired from?

id report to the CCG and CQC.

Yes, auto generated letter are usually sent via machines that fold, envelope, seal and frank mail so it can be put in a sack that is then deposited at a post office. . No human intervention at all.

I wouldn't send the form back. I would instead send a strongly worded complaint to the practice manager back tbh.

I suppose it all depends on the wording of the letter and the context. I know my GP sends out letters which I suppose you could say are similar to these but their intention isn’t necessarily to put people off going to the GP, it’s more them signposting other services which would maybe have been more appropriate given the circumstances for example walk in centres, calling 111, a&e for emergency, telephone appointment.

Every single time? Because each course is 5-10 days which means they’re basically on them constantly. What’s the infection?

He didn't need antibiotics on a weekly basis 🤔

Definitely write to your MP explaining what happened and make a PALS complaint. That’s ridiculous and unacceptable, do not let them get away with it.

I don't know why people seem to think that "computer generated" means that it's all ok.

Someone drafts those letters and programmes the computer to send them out.

It is not ok. OP, if you think your visits have been warranted, and my view is that any visit with a toddler is, then go in and complain in person.

And your qualifications for knowing that are...

This came up on another thread - sometimes infections don't clear up as quickly as doctors or dentists think they will, and you need another course. Or more.

As for signposting other services that would be fine except that

111 doesn't answer the phone
The queue at the pharmacist is as long as your arm and that assumes they are even there
Not all areas have drop in/minor injury units.

So what they are effectively saying is go and die or go to A&E.

Also why is the computer not programmed to cross ref to outcomes- if the doctor prescribed antibiotics then the child needed to be sèen.

Shocking and disgusting! Could you write to your MP? How are they are allowed to conduct themselves in this way. The comment about keeping this yourself is very concerning.

Highly possible.

I'm on my fifth course since the start of January.

Started another course today.

This isnt the first time either.

I'm stoked you've never had a resistant infection. Doesn't mean we all haven't.

Blimey that's awful, and frightening! I would demand to see the Practice Manager and ask for an explanation. They can't do this. Fucking hell! Who signed the letter @Watapain (Hopefully not the practice manager!)

That's not an answer.

In fact, what you've said is rather worrying to many people.

Can you imagine being told , in effect, that you've made too many appointments for your sick child ( who in this case had been hospitalised) and to stop making appointments?

Christ on a bike.

I don't know why people seem to think that "computer generated" means that it's all ok.

I think it's massively inappropriate and could easily deter people seeking help with tragic consequences and more potential impact on local A&E services.

But I did think autogenerated as OP say treatment was needed and there was a hospital admission - so it's less directed at their situation which make it even more obviously pointless all the posters trying to pick apart the OP son medical treatment with fuck all knowledge.

Though I am jealous at all these GP practises that mange to diagnosed and get effective treatment in just one appointment - that's a rare occurrence IME - if you're not fobbed off in first appointment it can still take time and another appointment or two to find an effective treatment.

Yep and that includes threatening letters from housing associations to their tenants Its computer generated so its all good. And they even count when they are unsigned as well.

Babies who are resistant aren’t getting letters like that from the GP.

And I have. Normally a swab identifies you’re on the wrong antibiotics. Still found myself in hospital twice with mastoiditis.

WHAT TERMS AND CONDITIONS?