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Original poster

Still no face to face GP appointments, why??

86 replies

Emma2021 · 13/08/2021 09:28

It is still very rare to get a face to face appt with our GP's. I've spoke to a friend who live in another London area and same for them.

Why is this? GP's appear to be around at the surgery, people are having parieties, going to football matches, eating and drinking in pubs and clubs and next door is having a pre-wedding party for about 150 people in a small tent tomorrow (i wont be going to it as it will be high risk Covid) so why are gP's still avoiding face to face appointments?

I've asked our surgery manager and she cites, "Covid." Pathetic or what?

OP posts:
Bunnyfuller · 16/08/2021 22:17

Eventually being barely able to walk I gave up and went private, being told there was nothing wrong with my unexamined knees and hips.

Nothing apart from the massive RA flare that would’ve carried on being undiagnosed. Now I’m on methotrexate but can’t get an appointment for the mandatory 2weekly blood tests.

If 8 patients,or even 15 patients a day is normal, it explains why in socially deprived areas you can’t get an appointment. Be interesting to hear what counties people are in. I live in Northants, but GP in Cambs due to ongoing work on the RA, started before we moved. Rest of the family Northants since Mar. Cannot get through on phone until late in the day, when they then tell you to try again at 8am the next day ….when you can’t get through

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 16/08/2021 22:30

My two year old has a bite on his leg. There is a red ring around it that was growing in size. It got to the size of a 50p today which is sizeable on a two year old’s leg.
I phoned my Gp and was told to take him to the pharmacy. “What if it’s infected and needs antibiotics?” I asked. “They’ll sort it or send you to A&E”

Becca19962014 · 16/08/2021 22:40

@Bunnyfuller I'm in mid Wales, most of our surgeries in the county are extremely small - one or two GPs and a nurse. No minor injuries units and no option for private.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken That's why the queue for my pharmacy can, literally, now be hours long. Pharmacists here cannot prescribe; so you queue are told to phone GP, and whilst before people were generally ok (there's always the odd one who kicks off) now they're routinely phoning the police due to abuse.

AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken · 16/08/2021 22:44

[quote Becca19962014]@Bunnyfuller I'm in mid Wales, most of our surgeries in the county are extremely small - one or two GPs and a nurse. No minor injuries units and no option for private.

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken That's why the queue for my pharmacy can, literally, now be hours long. Pharmacists here cannot prescribe; so you queue are told to phone GP, and whilst before people were generally ok (there's always the odd one who kicks off) now they're routinely phoning the police due to abuse.[/quote]
And I’m sure the same issue is being seen in A&E when the pharmacist can’t prescribe antibiotics and has to send them off to someone who can (and will) treat them.
Luckily, his red circle is getting smaller so we’ve not had to add to the stress of pharmacy or A&E

Artdecolover · 16/08/2021 22:49

@Becca19962014

Just to add I don't begrudge staff holidays BUT when they're claiming they can't see anyone who doesn't drive themselves to the surgery e.g. Need taxi/relatives to give a lift because it's the risk is too dangerous, then it's a problem. As is the gong to the pub "to relax".

They're very clearly not bothered about covid so should just say that instead of lying.

My family member is dying of womb cancer after being told it was just uti for months. No examination, no samples, no bloods. Nothing, just the practice nurse. She was bleeding daily for months. When she was seen she was rushed into surgery and very anaemic. The response to the complaint? She didn't explain properly.

I'm sure there are good GPs, but the fact is there are some GPs AND practices that are just taking the piss.

That is the response I'm expecting from my surgery after complaining about my ms treatment.

I know she should have been seen f2f and had a urine dip...confirmed by 2 nurses I know.

But they'll just make excuses.

Luckily mum was treated for sepsis and is now home.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 16/08/2021 22:50

Ours is really good. Excellent triage phone system. Then face to face if you need it. Three times recently I’ve needed face to face with my little boy abs they have seen me same day.

They also have a very effective e consult service.

Becca19962014 · 16/08/2021 23:08

@AllTheUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken I'm glad it's getting better!

Original poster
Emma2021 · 20/08/2021 15:50

Update. I spoke with the surgery manager today and asked when the heck will they routinely start to see their patients again and he said he did not know. I asked the fool if the bird in our back garden knew and he put the phone down on me.

On the whole, in my judgement many of them are taking the p.

OP posts:
Original poster
Emma2021 · 20/08/2021 15:51

@Whatelsecouldibecalled
I'm please for you and as I said, some are taking the p but not all.

OP posts:
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 20/08/2021 16:00

@Norugratsatall

I've had several F2F appointments since March.
Lucky you - I just keep having to go to hospital walk in
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 20/08/2021 16:02

@TheGenealogist

22 minutes on hold before getting to speak to a receptionist. Who has offered me a phone appointment.

For the 1st September.

Three weeks away.

I hear you
Darkchocolateandcoffee · 20/08/2021 16:02

I agree. I can't get in to see mine and it's a disgrace. I have to pay to see a private GP now.

I used to be a staunch defender of NHS GPs but ours have behaved so disgracefully in the past 18 months I have emailed them to complain.

OttilieStonelady · 20/08/2021 16:04

Most GPs do want to stay in hiding. Quite a few of them are committing suicide, or attempting to. It's awful. Not enough staff. Not enough hours in the day.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 20/08/2021 16:04

@Orf1abc

For those gleefully posting that they're receiving care as normal, are you not concerned about all the people that are not?
Quite clearly not (or they’re gaslighting)
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 20/08/2021 16:09

@Emma2021

Update. I spoke with the surgery manager today and asked when the heck will they routinely start to see their patients again and he said he did not know. I asked the fool if the bird in our back garden knew and he put the phone down on me.

On the whole, in my judgement many of them are taking the p.

My practice manager didn’t know either. Video consults aren’t an option either - well, you have to be triaged over the phone for the doctor to assess if a video consult is clinically necessary
Squills · 20/08/2021 16:26

There's obviously a vast difference in what surgeries have offered. I'm in the south east and the service our surgery has provided has been extremely poor.

When phoning our surgery you get a recording which lasts 4 minutes telling you, during this difficult time, how many people they've seen, how many phone calls they've had, ask you to go on online for this that and the other. When you finally get put in the phone queue there's usually 60+ people waiting. All the appointments have gone by approx 8.45. The have an e consult form system which is useless as on the two occasions I've used it the doctors hadn't bothered to read it.

They'll do anything to stop you getting face to face appointments and send you to A&E for the most ridiculous reasons where there's no social distancing but won't allow more than one patient in each (large) waiting room area at the surgery.

Sadly we're stuck with this poor service as it's impossible to transfer to another surgery.

middleager · 20/08/2021 16:30

Our GP resigned so I joined the neighbouring surgery online, only to then find out they've closed permanently due to Covid and moved from about a quarter of a mile away to another practice three miles. I don't know how the elderly who don't drive could get there easily if ill.

Squills · 20/08/2021 16:42

I have been able to see my optician, my dentist and hygienist and my hairdresser all of whom have found ways to work safely within inches of my face. Yet the doctors at our local surgery haven't made arrangements to ensure safe working, despite having months and months to sort something out. The practice building is large as are the individual consulting rooms... how difficult can it be?

HereticFanjo · 20/08/2021 16:45

I was on hold for 40 minutes trying to get an appointment a few weeks ago. It's shit.

Becca19962014 · 20/08/2021 22:42

My GP told me March 2020 it's never going to go back to what it was. And it hasn't.

Social media where I live is lit up tonight with the news of cases having risen by 150% in a week and our hospital (think very small) full and not coping. Meanwhile, at 12:30 practice staff trooped into the pub for their weekly lunch. My GP was in pharmacy which was rammed with people, with staff arguing about what to do, she wasn't bothered just got makeup, paid and left. The practice manager the other day was in shop, no mask, chatting to customers.

Yet the practice doors are locked. Nurses in full PPE, danger tape showing where to stand outside and refusal to see anyone in a taxi or hasn't driven themselves (impossible to walk due to location) and must wait in car to be rung to say approach the door. You must not use the toilet, or eat or drink inside or use santister not provided by them.

There's only two options. Covid only exists in GP surgeries (because they've all the same rules in this county) or they're taking the piss.

Vulnerable people are losing care packages and benefits; it really infuriates me.

privateandnhsgp · 21/08/2021 00:07

"There's only two options"

Or option 3: The risk from going into a shop or pharmacy or having lunch in a bubble of people that you work with isn't the same as consulting with sick people face to face, both in terms of catching it or passing it on to someone vulnerable.

Your post is hilarious because you preface it by explaining that cases are up in your local area and the hospital is struggling.

Of course they're correct to operate cautiously given that.

Facepalm.

Becca19962014 · 21/08/2021 01:00

They're taking the piss.

If they were that bothered, they wouldn't be in the pub, or going shopping or standing pharmacy for 50+ minutes (average queue here, again no distancing) with no masks and no distancing putting up childish stroppy videos about irresponsible members of the public whilst doing the very "dangerous" things they're complaining the public are doing

People are suffering and it's disgusting to delibrately refuse someone entry for not being able to drive themselves, given the severity of your condition in order to be seen. There's no clinics. I've diabetes, no clinic since February 2020. I've other conditions too that require clinics, all still suspended as emergencies only.

Becca19962014 · 21/08/2021 01:01

*severity necessary of a condition in order to be seen.

Medical emergencies should NOT be driving cars!

privateandnhsgp · 21/08/2021 06:32

"There's no clinics" but the nurses are in full PPE?

I think your story is beginning to unravel.

SpindleWhorl · 21/08/2021 07:05

It's a big story in The Telegraph this morning.

Exclusive: GPs still ignoring orders to allow patients face-to-face appointments

Access to practices remains unchanged despite health officials ordering all surgeries to abandon a system of total triage

So patients aren't lying about not being able to be seen at some practices. And obviously some practices are operating extremely well owing to the considerable efforts of GPs, nurses and other staff, often at significant personal cost.

It's the disparity between practices that's concerning.