To think the government needs to stop selling online GP booking systems as an improvement as they’re not particularly when they’re switched off for most of the day

[Gr3yStar5]

Like many GP surgeries ours switched to an online system and no longer takes booking calls. This was some time ago so it has had time to bed in. You fill in a form which gets triaged and it’s decided if you need urgent or a 2 week wait. It was sold as improving patient care and a better booking system except it isn’t. The system is supposed to be open from 8.30-3.30.In reality the system mostly actually seems to close by lunch time until the next day due to being “overwhelmed”. So basically if you don’t get on first thing you’ve had it, you can’t even ring and you have to keep checking to see when it reopens. It’s worse not better and most of the time you can’t see a doctor for 2 weeks if you do get to fill out a form. There is now no in between. You are supposed to say when you can’t do appointments but it just ignores that. It’s nigh on impossible to get a doctor of your choice. If they don’t get you in for a 2 week appointment or you can’t do the time they’ve allocated you have to resubmit your form for the next batch of 2 week appointments( if it’s open). The setting up was dire with condescending staff on the phone just basically shooing the bemused elderly off. My mum has told me of several of her elderly friends who have been reduced to tears by the whole process. I thought this was maybe just our surgery but it isn’t. Lots online with similar tales particularly re the “overwhelm” switching off of the booking system. Oh and now apparantly our GPs can't do gynaecology appointments, that has to be in gynecology clinic and booked separately which is actually currently closed and not taking appointments. Back in the day you could request a female GP and have female issues treated by your GP, not now, being female is an extra loop to jump through.

So AIBU to think that the government needs to be honest and concede that the new online system is actually shite for patients and getting a GP appointment has never been so hard and stressful particularly when they’re apparently going to be investing in extra spaces at GP surgeries. Thanks but no thanks I’d rather have more GPs and a better booking system that actually benefits patients and gets you an appointment in a timely fashion.

My GP is like this and most of the time is efficient and I prefer it tbh.

What part do you like? The online booking system closing not long after opening so you are unable to be triaged or to book a doctors appointment? Or is it how if you do manage to miraculously access the short golden time that the booking system is actually open and fill out an online form but don’t manage to get an appointment for 2 weeks later the joy of having to go though the whole process again? Or is it having to jump through extra hoops to access an appointment for anything to do with women’s health?

The problem here is the GP surgery, not the online system. It’s the extent to which they are now being run as individual businesses of sort.

We have an online eConsult system at ours and it’s great. It’s open 8-10am. You get a response back within 30 minutes. Quite often it’s as little as 5 minutes. If it’s urgent, after 10am you can call 111 for out of hours or go to minor injuries. Or if not urgent, you wait til the next day. You can also just ring them, but I never do that.

I’d say at least half the time, I’m seen the same day. I’ve even had then be like, can you be here in 20 minutes? I literally couldn’t even drive there fast enough, so they had to give me a later appointment. If the appointment isn’t convenient, you just ask for a different time.

It works really well because our GP surgery is well run. A little bit of tech isn’t going to fix the problem of being understaffed and poorly managed.

This is how my surgery ran things until recently when they changed to a nationwide system (can't remember name) and you have to call for urgent appointments. I suppose it'd better than most but I preferred the e consult.

The truth is there aren’t enough GPs nor appointments. It doesn’t matter what booking system there is - people, who can’t get an appointment within a few days, are not going to be happy!

We remember as children, we had a family doctor and if necessary, they came out to visit us at home - in the days of childhood illnesses like measles. When we moved here 30 years ago, we could see the GP of our choice within the next few days. All of that has gone - it’s online booking with triage, and an appointment within a week or two, unless it’s an emergency.

I hardly ever go to the Drs but I want them to prescribe me some propranolol for my public speaking anxiety. Tried that online thing this morning and nothing available. System connect I think.

I need it soon too! Anyone recommend a private online Dr as a back up?

Just google private GP service and you should be able to book an appointment although may need to go through signing up faff

You just need a doctor who can prescribe propranolol for you