GP receptionists?

[cherrypied]

They are called care navigators.

I’m so poorly and fed up but they seem to want to do everything tiny to not give me a an appointment with a GP.

Is this part of their training?

If you cannot get an appointment - it probably down to GP Partners. They instruct the receptionist what. Most of the issues with a GP is down to them and the practice manager.

My father had a number of serious health conditions, leading to his death at 54. One time he struggled to access the g p and was asked at the counter what his illness was...he replied he was getting out of bed and stood on the end of his penis...very loudly...half the surgery knowing him howled with laughter

As in all professions, there are pure arseholes who seem to enjoy making other people miserable.

GP receptionists seem to be at the top of this list because we only contact them when we are feeling our lowest and in need of help.

Far too many GP surgeries adopted new procedures during covid and have not reverted back to what was a workable system in that you could phone up, book an appointment for the next week or so and feel reassured that you were going to see a doctor face to face and discuss whatever was concerning you.

These days, you have to phone up at exactly 8.30am and 4 seconds and are made to feel as though you are a complete arsehole for even daring to phone up and merely exist let alone feel the need to see or want to speak to a doctor.

Scheduled appointments really need to return as the lack of these is straining our A&E depts.

According to NHS England in June 2024, there were 28.7 million appointments, also roughly 20% above June 2019 levels (22.8 million). GP’s are seeing more patients post Covid but with less GP’s.

In 2024, there were 63.4 million patients registered, meaning an average caseload of 2,293 patients per GP—up 18% since 2015

Who has no access to the internet?

Like seriously... Who?

The 80 plus year olds often and they need more appointments. Anyone who is blind sometimes the homless who are sofa surfing.

Well because 90% of patients can contact the practice online it leaves the phone lines clearer for those who can’t.

But the poster said that their surgery ONLY accepts online booking. Next....

It is. But it is equally a reality for lots of people that they cant sit on a phone at 8am hanging on for an appointment

No system is perfect but these days the folks who are (like my mother) in their mid 70s, have had access to the Internet since the 1990s/2000s and are perfectly capable of navigating an online form with very clear and simple questions.

That the answer for digital exclusion is not to make a system that exclues people who dont want to be analogue. It is to help those people find a way to engage. In our practice you can go to reception and do the form with their support.

How do they know they are not medically trained. They don’t have any training.

if they are carrying out the go instructions, why don’t they diagnose and prescribe if it’s that easy?

I think they have it all wrong. The most senior person should do all the triaging. As they are doing in some places.

Oh do grow up. Of course there will be a phone option. I’ve worked in primary care for many years, it is NEVER a one size fits all approach. No need for the teenage “next”. How embarrassing for you.

You could have both systems. Phone and Internet booking

Ok then the pp was lying then?

They stated " BusWankers · Today 21:12

Our GP has no phone appointments now. It makes you fill in a form online...it gets assessed and often they ask for photos back etc. then they make an appointment with who they decide..

They will not talk to you about appointments on the phone, not will they book anything for you in person. They will make no exception, doesn't matter if you've spent £35 on a taxi or caught 3 buses, they will direct you to the online appointment system.

This works really well, because, they can triage and send you to the right person in the first place, instead of having to deal with the fucking arseholes who say "I will only discuss my health issues with my GP" when actually they just need a quick flu jab that the walk in pharmacy could have provided for free with no appointment."

So why the fuck are you telling ME to grow up?

Actually with your attitude it shows you work in primary care

My parents. Late 70s. No Internet, mobile phones, WiFi, computers. They only got a telephone in 1995, still write cheques and any banking is done via visiting the branch.
They can't be the only ones.

Why aren't they using mobile phones or tablets ?.
They know you who has internet access and could book for them.
They presumably have the ability to go to a library or whatever.

My mother is 84 and uses her iPad and Samsung phone quite happily.

But they DO only accept online appointments.

They absolutely will not book one on the phone or in person. They made it very clear and sent some woman away to to the library to use a computer to book an appointment.

@hyggetyggedotorg g obviously knows better lol

Nope. My mother is 84 and can use an iPad. They're very easy. Even 3 yes olds can use iPads..

And if she wasn't capable, there's other people in her life who could.
The sofa surfers are staying with people who have internet access.
The blind have adaptive technology or again,know people who could do this.

People can go to libraries etc.

Choice perhaps?

Because it's very fucking obvious that a person who is after a flu jab doesn't need a GP, or an ear irrigation... doesn't need a GP.... Someone who needs dressing changed... No GP.

The receptionist can easily triage based on set criteria. A computer can do this!

People insist on seeing GPs for every tiny little thing when they could probably just go to Tesco and get a off the shelf product.

I'm sure here are people that fall through the cracks. And if you think about it then people are usually not at their best when needing a GP appt so to face a system they not familiar with isn't so easy.

In fact I remember when my own gp introduced online booking. You had to ring to get a code to book appointment online lol

Well they are disadvantaging themselves on purpose, which is an odd choice. And then can't complain they don't have access to x, y z.

You don’t work there I take it? This is just what you think you overheard?

If so, please report the practice to CQC as this is not permitted practice.

The specialist should have referred directly not asked the GP to do it. That’s the rule and the GP is probably really pissed off about it hence not hurrying to do someone else’s bidding .

If any of that made sense I would reply to it.

You do realise these “online forms” can be completed by the Receptionist on behalf of the patient I assume?