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.

My thoughts exactly.

I’ve known people die because of dismissive GPs
all you need to do is google news

Just like the dismissal on this thread…

At the very least!

This needs some sunlight

@lV12 and Drs have died / committed suicide because of spurious and over zealous complaints against them. And GPs are leaving in their droves because no one wants to do the job anymore.

we don’t know any of the facts here, and the @Watapain is refusing to answer any details or post the letter, most likely because she’s misrepresented it’s contents.

Give0fecks
yes im v aware of impact of GMC investigations into doctors
That’s on the GMC and lack of support for doctors - not on patients

very happy to give OP benefit of doubt and give them advice on what they have posted.
if true, this has potential to seriously harm patient safety

Surgery blaming the patient instead of taking responsibility for not triaging and signposting to alternative service if they feel this is more appropriate.

NHS is an organisation which is accountable to the patients as we pay NI for it to work. If they don't work for their patients then complaints need to be made to improve the services or raise concerns.
There have been huge failings in the past and if no one bothered there would still be lives being lost. I don't care about the dismissal from some posters. We all should stand for the right things.
https://news.sky.com/story/nhs-maternity-scandal-police-looking-at-over-700-cases-as-part-of-maternity-failings-at-shrewsbury-and-telford-nhs-trust-12583615?authId=19meyg7_a*UG45OF9lUC16MFVzNGRjaVl0WGpEdWZSckEzSU54eU9uTWZuUU42aDhDVTF6a1FXSEhnOE9BUHNObk9FT2pNQg..

Oh FFS, why are these "OMG how shit is the NHS" threads always connected to a 'new' poster? Almost every single fucking time.

OP, you said yourself they tried to direct you towards more appropriate services. Given that they know the reason for your appointments, I'd guess it is thought you have been using the service unnecessarily. If you disagree, fine challenge them, but don't do a wide-eyed naive "oh noes, someone will actually die because mean manager said no health care for you!", because even by your own (very limited) explanation, that's not what happened.

You've been asked about how many of your attendances involved being given treatment, and haven't answered. You've been asked to share the exact wording of the letter, but haven't.

If you did those two things then if they show that you did need to see the GP and that that they have in fact threatened to delist you, it's likely that you wouldn't be getting as much pushback as you are.

One out of how many patients?
Not everyone is a time waster and is a hypochondriac, and just because they can’t find the cause of the symptoms or validated the symptoms, does not mean that’s it’s all in the patients’ heads.
Ive heard enough of this patient thrashing and bashing comments blaming them for blocking appointments for no obvious reason. Maybe a tiny tiny minority is a hypochondriac and need reassurances but the rest aren’t.

But you seem unable to simply contact the practice and speak to them in order to clarify what the letter means. Why are you worrying about mythical 'others'?

Would you consider yourself vulnerable? Are you terrified?

If that sort of thing is done then it is absolutely awful that it doesn’t take into account who and what the appointment is for. For a baby/toddler/child this letter should categorically not be sent, and for adults I don’t believe it should be sent to anyone who was actually prescribed treatment in any of their appointments!

Someone has reason to believe you are wasting nhs resources. What we're the 4 appt in one month for? One a week is a lot. My husband's granny was the same. She should've got such a letter. Doctors are busy

Of course it is. But no need to escalate straight to GMC and the Press. Be a grown up, make an appointment, and discuss this with the GP. At the end of the day, you may both decide that your relationship is not going to work out and that trust has gone- and change GP practice.

It sounds extremely rude, but others said it's probably sent out to loads of people who've attended a certain number of times. I don't see how you could get antibiotics any other legitimate way so it clearly does not apply directly to your son's visits. I'd not be keen on signing anything though without clarifying its meaning.

fleurneige you’re really not getting it at all

How many patients can not get an appointment because of time wasters? 60% of the population get free prescriptions- so they prefer a prescription from the doctor than over the counter medication. So they are passing the buck to the pharmacists - who will give you advice and medication.

Some medications are no longer offered on prescription- about time.

Inwould love inhalers to be next - like spain - no doctors involved - saves a lot of time and money.

I am a GP … not in Uk ( thank heavens) but similar system here. Actually 4 times in 4 weeks is ok… kids get sick, especially over winter. I tell parents at 6 week check that if they don’t like me find someone else because they are going to see me an awful lot!
British General Practice is the scapegoat in a poorly funded and chaotic health system.
It sounds like a standard letter… there are some people who visit a lot .. but usually a reason. I am appalled.
I would write a complaint … emphasising how upsetting it is and asking for doctor to review notes and talk with you. I would not sign the form. If they don’t respond I would escalate.
Best wishes!

I think the letter is unfair if the patient received antibiotics after each appointment. Clearly not time-wasting if the child needed a prescription and there's a record of that.
Mine once needed lots of antibiotics in a short space of time due to reoccurring impetigo that we couldn't quite get rid of and kept going back, a letter like this would have got my back up too.

I'd send an email response so there's a paper trail. Ask for clarification on what you could do differently.

That's mad. I had really bad ears as a kid and several (failed) gromit insertions and a couple of other ops. As a toddler before I first operation I genuinely would often get an infection every two weeks. My parents definitely utilised the GP as much as once a week at my worst... because I needed to see a doctor! Preposterous and I wouldn't be signing and I'd be making a complaint.

I appreciate some posters are saying the letter is computer generated automatically if someone has multiple appointments in a short space of time but surely there should be some sort of human intervention before it is actually posted? If its auto generated for a patient who is not normally a “frequent flyer” and it’s clear the issue could not have been resolved by another service like pharmacist or practice nurse then surely the letter should be suppressed? Patients will be either annoyed, upset or fearful after getting a letter like this. It certainly won’t deter those few who feel entitled to insist on seeing GP for any old thing. It may lead to something serious being missed as patients don't want to feel they are being a nuisance when their problem isn't resolved after one visit. I would complain in this instance, especially as it concerned a very young child, they are supposed to err on the side of caution for small children. If practices need to address “too many appointments” perhaps a phone call from practice manager to discuss would be better to deal with any underlying issue for specific patients.

I'd be writing to CQC as a practice of concern and GDC detailing the hospital admissions and treatment received or px for ABs and be concerned this will lead to putting patients at risk and a safer incident - because creates culture of being afraid or anxious to book an appointment or seek treatment

I'd be livid !

Sending a 'bulk' letter without any screening is appalling to role with chronic illness or treated health conditions.

That's really awful OP. I would direct your response back to the practice manager. You can also leave reviews online for drs surgery's so that might get their attention.
I would explain that your toddler has been hospitalised, has a recurring complaint and ask, on what occasion are you able to take your toddler to the Dr without risking being struck off. Point out your vulnerability being pregnant and your lack of medical training in order to diagnose a medical issue yourself. Ask where you should have taken your child too instead. Honestly, I'm appalled by this. I cannot imagine our drs surgery doing something so foolhardy. So you have a copy of the letter so that you can post it here (minus the identifying features) and let people pick it apart.