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Original poster

GP's please why are you not back to seeing us face to face

657 replies

whenwillthemadnessend · 30/03/2021 22:46

Just that really ?

Please can any GP's explain the reasoning

If dentists physios and accident and emergency doctors can see people why can't GP doctors?

OP posts:
Magnificentmug12 · 31/03/2021 16:07

I hope it never changes!! All over the phone and send photos via email to the doctors. With the choice to go and see them though if you want/feel you need too.

Love parents evenings and doctors over the phone, it’s a game changer!!!

LadyWithLapdog · 31/03/2021 16:18

Yes, please, keep the parent-teacher evening online and with the strict 5 minute cut-off. No dirty looks and no one overruns.

needadvice54321 · 31/03/2021 16:19

@LimaFoxtrotCharlie

I don’t want telephone consultations. I want to book a face to face appointment in a couple of weeks time, when I can arrange it around my job. I can’t answer the phone when I’m working, so a call simply doesn’t work for me. I don’t have set breaks or lunch hours either, so cannot ask for a call back at a specific time
Same issue here, I work mornings which is when calls normally happen. I can request afternoon but it's not a guarantee. I can't answer my phone at work for safe guarding reasons
CarlaH · 31/03/2021 16:24

I've seen loads of people saying that they used to be able to book for things online and now they can't and have to spent ages on the phone trying to get through.

Can any of the GP's on here tell us why online access is being restricted.

nancy75 · 31/03/2021 16:29

We’ve been very lucky. Dp & DD never need a doctor, during lockdown 1 they both needed to.
Dp- skin infection in ear, filled in an online form with option for photos, got reply 8am following day with prescription sent to nearest chemist.

Dd (age 15) found a lump in her breast, filled in online form, got a call from gp within an hour & had a face2face straight away. Referred to breast clinic & seen within 10 days (saw consultant & had ultrasound)
In both cases I think we got treatment faster than we would have in normal times.
I hope they keep the online forms going forward

ExpulsoCorona · 31/03/2021 16:30

@CarlaH

I've seen loads of people saying that they used to be able to book for things online and now they can't and have to spent ages on the phone trying to get through.

Can any of the GP's on here tell us why online access is being restricted.

We stopped the online booking because people kept trying to turn up at their appointment times even if the booking system said they were online. We've left our nurse appointments online to make it easier to book smears but people keep booking inappropriate non-nurse consultations into these slots, we're not quite sure how to manage this. It's also tricky because the different things that the nurses do need different slot lengths. E.g a smear 20 minutes, first baby jabs 30 minutes, subsequent baby jabs 20 minutes. Pill check 10 minutes.
Suedo · 31/03/2021 16:41

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at OP's request.

Original poster
whenwillthemadnessend · 31/03/2021 16:54

I'm not even allowed to have my phone on me at work.

OP posts:
Boph · 31/03/2021 17:53

@Mouseback

Found a breast lump recently, gp called and said they're sure it's fine, they're very busy due to covid and to ring back in a month if I still need to. I'm sure it is fine, but not massively impressed. Getting into the surgery is nigh on impossible. Meanwhile I work in a madly crowded school every day!
That absolutely is not fine. Ask them to refer you to the breast clinic.

Even when you go to see a GP about a breast lump they will not diagnose it, they always refer to the breast clinic who will do a catalogue of tests and then hopefully tell you it's fine.
Two years ago I had a tiny lump. Went to GP who said it's probably fine but I will refer you. Two weeks later I was diagnosed with breast cancer.is not on.
99% yours is not breast cancer but a month delay

VanGoghsDog · 31/03/2021 18:02

Even when you go to see a GP about a breast lump they will not diagnose it

Mine did, he said it was nothing and sent me away. About eight years ago. I assume he was right, I've had two mammograms since.

MillyMollyMardy · 31/03/2021 18:10

DumplingsAndStew interesting response from them there. NHS Dentistry has new targets starting tomorrow. Give them a call next week and see if you get a different response.
In the meantime give the Dental Hospital a call about where she is on the waiting list

frumpety · 31/03/2021 18:17

@LadyDanburysCane

Rang my GP surgery this afternoon and booked my smear without any issues. It is odd how it is perfectly possible in one Practice and not in another.

Mouseback · 31/03/2021 18:18

Thanks Boph I think I will. I'm pretty sure it's a cyst or blocked duct- very small, doesn't hurt etc. I told gp and they said they weren't worried based on that, I was still surprised not to even have the option of seeing someone though.

PoppyStars · 31/03/2021 18:25

But as a teacher it does not work queuing for a phone call triage - when am in staff meetings at 8am, then do I just walk out and leave a class as Gp are unable to give a set time for the triage phone call or a Dr phone call!

When I had a face to face apt, I did not have to persuade a receptionist I needed an appointment, and could go at a time that suited me.

toocold54 · 31/03/2021 18:25

I have small skin lesion that won't heal.

If when you rang it was something more serious I would assume (hope) that they would see you. I’ve not had any problems personally.
They are also trying to cope with the backlog so you are more likely to be pushed to the back.
What do you want them to do glue it? You could mention it on the phone next time and see if a nurse can do it.

toocold54 · 31/03/2021 18:27

@Mouseback there are often vans in supermarkets that can examine your breasts it may be worth going to one of them to put your mind at rest.

FudgeSundae · 31/03/2021 18:29

I have used the GP a lot during lockdown (pregnancy related medication). I love the telephone app system - I call before 8.30 for a same day appointment which has been available every time except once on a Monday, I can email through info in advance, then they call and the one time I couldn’t take it they gave me the option to call them back. Twice I have needed a face to face follow up on the same day, every other time they send the prescription direct to the pharmacy who text when it’s ready. Seamless and SO preferable to spending time getting to the surgery, waiting 20-30 mins in a room of sneezy people, then going to pharmacy and waiting another 10-15 mins, then time getting home as that takes an hour plus out of my working day.

However... that only works because I am wfh and can mostly answer the phone at work (unless I am on another call). If I couldn’t answer the phone it wouldn’t work at all, and if I wasn’t wfh it would be really difficult to get to the local pharmacy during the hours they’re open.

It is likely most disadvantageous to key workers who can’t work from home, somewhat ironically as they’re most at risk!

FudgeSundae · 31/03/2021 18:30

[quote toocold54]@Mouseback there are often vans in supermarkets that can examine your breasts it may be worth going to one of them to put your mind at rest.[/quote]
Official vans, presumably. Do not try approaching random vans in supermarkets for this! Grin

Mouseback · 31/03/2021 18:34

Grin just imagining climbing into a random Transit and whipping my boob out

FrankieFalcone · 31/03/2021 18:46

I have found a few instances utterly ridiculous with our GP surgery. Honestly, it was like a comedy of errors the time I followed the ‘pharmacy path’ to pick up a prescription (after a telephone consultation with a nurse) to be told the script wasn’t at the pharmacy! Had to walk down the ‘GP path’ right next to pharmacy path so be told by the gatekeeper on the door that I’d have to ring and ask, when the person I needed to speak to was RIGHT BEHIND HER on reception! Everyone knows how bad it is trying to call the surgery, so I stood patiently ringing, engaged tone, every, single, time! Not even going to ‘you’re in a queue’ blah blah! Ten minutes later the gatekeeper decided to do something productive and asked me who issued the script and she would call the nurse to find some answers! I mean come on! Use some bloody sense please!

I have been for regular 8 weekly blood tests, due to receiving regular treatment at the hospital and the phlebotomist seems to be able to see patients f2f within seconds of eachother. Last week patient ahead was walking out as my name flashed up, so no fumigating of rooms between patients going on, so why can’t a GP do that?

Oh and I’ve seen my Dentist twice since November lockdown, our local ones are all up and running.

I think appointments really do need to go back to normal now! There will be many people who put off trying to see a GP because it just seems such a bloody ball ache trying to get past the first hurdle!

Kazzyhoward · 31/03/2021 19:13

@FrankieFalcone I think appointments really do need to go back to normal now!

I agree. Infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths are now at very low levels. On the online positive test map, our entire town area is "white", i.e. under 3 cases. How can GP surgeries say their hiding behind sofas is due to patient safety? Now that rates are so low, the entire NHS needs to be back to full speed to get treating all the people they've ignored for the past year and get the waiting lists down.

toocold54 · 31/03/2021 19:46

Official vans, presumably. Do not try approaching random vans in supermarkets for this!

just imagining climbing into a random Transit and whipping my boob out

GrinGrinGrin

DumplingsAndStew · 31/03/2021 19:55

@MillyMollyMardy

DumplingsAndStew interesting response from them there. NHS Dentistry has new targets starting tomorrow. Give them a call next week and see if you get a different response. In the meantime give the Dental Hospital a call about where she is on the waiting list
Oh interesting about new targets. I'll take a look, thanks.

I emailed the dental hospital and they mailed back. Apparently they've not been running 'routine' appointments due to Covid (1, I wouldn't say a required biopsy in a 12 year old is routine. 2, I know they have been running several routine clinics) but that she is on the list and they'll send out an appointment in due time.

I'll email them back when I've calmed down slightly.

Crappyfridays7 · 31/03/2021 20:00

I’ve seen 2 gp face to face
My 2 sons have both been seen face to face
I’ve had a colonoscopy, Abdo ultrasound and gastroenterologist appointment all in the hospital
Also several sets of bloods
Son has also had 2 consultant paeds appointments and a children’s specialist nurse appointment.

My gp has been brilliant can’t complain at all. I’ve also had telephone appointments and they’ve been fine too. Asked to come in when appropriate. It’s never been a battle to see anyone.

PoppyStars · 31/03/2021 20:09

The best was my young child’s audiology appointment over the phone! As no f2f - hilarious, useless and a waste of everyone’s time.