GP Surgey, is this the new norm.

[jenkel]

Since the first lockdown my family have successfully had dentist appointments, orthodontic appointments and dental surgery in hospital. Everything is getting back to near normal apart from our surgery. They have stopped the walk in and wait service which is never to be restarted, I understand why they initially stopped it but obviously just a money saving exercise for it to never be restarted. I recently made an appointment, I knew a phone consultation wouldn’t work and explained this to the receptionist, but I had to have a phone consultation, the soonest they could offer this was 5 weeks, when my appointment came, I briefly explained to the gp who immediately said I think I need to see you, the soonest appointment was 2 weeks away, so 7 weeks in total. And it’s like trying to break out of a prison to actually get into the drs. You can’t just walk in, you have to shout through a closed window, to the receptionist with all your details. It’s not so much the gps, but it’s the receptionists, are they really that vulnerable that they have to be protected at all costs. I am a teacher and have worked throughout, I just don’t get it and not sure how they are allowed to continue like this. One of my elderly neighbours health has deteriorated quite quickly in the last week, they are in their 80s, they have tried to make an appointment to see a gp and and had to wait 5 weeks, so they are so worried that they have had to pay and go private to see a gp quicker. Fortunately they can afford to pay, but this is awful, I have tried to persuade them to explain to the gp how potentially serious this is but they aren’t those type of people. Is this the new normal?

YANBU since January unless a filling or hygienist deep clean I’ve had dental checkups with just temperature check and mask and face cover for dentist only

My nurse has been taking bloods and getting a lot more close and personal since then as well

I personally love the triage system because I’ve not had to see a Dr face to face. I do think however it’s absolutely ridiculous and putting lives on the line not seeing people face to face

The sooner all GP practices move to online consultations, the better. Econsult, Askmygp or Doctor link ... etc. Waiting on the telephone and releasing appointments that everyone is scrambling to get is an ineffective way to manage demand imo.

Friends who’ve benefited from more digitally advanced practices have seen efficiency improve. GPs then waste less time on routine queries that don’t need a f2f and presumably have more time for face to face appointments with the more vulnerable patients, older people who can’t use online and those who need to be examined f2f.

There is absolutely no sign of my surgery offering this, even though the NHS said they were all supposed to be offering online services from last year.

GPs are private companies and not part of the NHS. Apart from the contract, they can pretty much operate how they want. In my case, my surgery is not operating efficiently. 6 months to get contraception!

I don’t blame the GPs... they’re just firefighting most of the time and are the customer service end of the NHS. It must be very tough. But hearing from friends who have online services it’s working so much more efficiently and I bet elderly patients are getting the f2f appointments they need faster.

How does the econsult type thing work please?

Mumblechum that’s absolutely awful I hope you’re ok.

I feel very lucky. Our GP is business as usual although you have a same day phone appointment for them to determine if you need to be seen or not. Wait in the car park to be called in. It’s actually better than before.

@PurpleyBlue

jenkel they have to be so careful with the reception as otherwise people will get too close to the receptionist as they explain they've got a cough and a temperature and can they have an appointment please? They are on the actual front line trying to stop covid getting into the surgery.

Perhaps I should adopt the same attitude when teaching my reception class.

I've had a physio appointment over the phone. I mean, really???

My surgery has never done walk in and wait. You book well in advance or you call in the morning and ask for an emergency appointment. It's been like that my entire life. I think some surgeries just prefer to operate that way.

Also I actually dont like the phone triage service, the surgery only said that it would a morning or afternoon call and they would only allow the phone to ring 3 times before hanging up. I had to plan to be able to do paperwork for half a day and the stress on knowing they would only let the phone ring 3 times.

@Ostara212 here’s a simple explanation of econsult. Unfortunately my practice doesn’t offer it

Try again

If your gp is shit (and a 7 week wait for an appointment is shit) then complain to them and to your CCG and your local Healthwatch. The CCG are the NHS organisation who commission the GPs and keep a watching brief on them. To find your CCG check here www.nhs.uk/service-search/other-services/Clinical-Commissioning-Group/LocationSearch/1

Rasputin so you give a written account of your issue? Okay, thanks.

[quote RaRaRasputinLoveMachine]@Ostara212 here’s a simple explanation of econsult. Unfortunately my practice doesn’t offer it[/quote]
Do you realise that there are many, many people who cannot use these eeonsults for all sorts of reasons and that they would be excluded from accessing a GP if all consultations became econsults like you're suggesting?

Ours is exactly the same. Used to be the best surgery in the area now its awful. Cant get an appt, cant get through on the phone, can't physically see a doctor.

It's 20 years since our GP surgery did "walk in and wait"; it's all been "by appointment". And the receptionisys have been behind a tall glass screen the whole time, for their health protection and ours.

I have asthma clinic appointments at the hospital. Had 3 appointments in the last 12 months.
And all have been phone calls. Prior to this I attended in clinic and had to do breathing tests.

So pointless at home

It is shit.

But if you want to complain, complain to your MP that there are hardly any new GPs coming through.

There is no investment in GP training. The waits are only going to get longer as GPs retire and no replacements around.

Sounds shot. Not much o can suggest except possibly changing surgeries... they might not all be the same. As for having to yell through a mask & screen your personal details, I would write it down on a piece of paper and give it to them. They can use hand sanitiser after touching it or you could hold it up to the glass. Pain in the arse but I wouldn't want to be yelling personal info. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Mine won't let you go in to drop a prescription request off
It took me 1.5hrs on the phone to get to number 1 in the queue, then it cut me off. Twice
I went down and banged on the door in the end as I was going to run out of medication
Basically I'm just trying to stay well as there is no hope of an appointment, by the time you get through they're all gone

I have to wait till tomm and hope I can get on the day app, got through today, all gone by 8.40, madness.
Other wait till next Wednesday.physio took 4 months to get back to mr, no use

Last time I potentially needed to see a doctor I just posted a urine sample through the door with a note. Got a text the next day telling me my prescription was ready to collect at superdrug.

(I do work in pathology at the local hospital though so kind of knew what I needed).

@Chelsea567

I've had a physio appointment over the phone. I mean, really???

I had one of those too. The physio was lovely but when she tried to schedule a second phone call I declined as I told her it was utterly pointless. I had more success with watching YouTube videos.

My surgery is also shocking. I have swollen lymph nodes under my arms - they won't see me as it's not an emergency.

@ichundich nonsense. The phone and walk in is still available for people who can’t use online. They’ll find it easier to access, because most people will prefer online.

Apparently my surgery is letting you sit inside now, but asking you to wait outside if you can.