A quick 'thank you' to the good GPs

[Shiveringinthecountry]

Most of us have had bad experiences with the NHS, but when things work well it's just a great relief.

I've developed a urine infection over the last 4 days or so and it's started waking me up at night to pee. This is particularly irritating as the great benefit to me of having started HRT about 6 months ago is that I've been able to sleep, and I don't wake up desperate to go to the loo.

I almost didn't ring the GP, but thought I'd just try this morning. Receptionist sent me a brief questionnaire. Within 30 minutes a friendly GP had rung me back just to check he had the full picture. He then prescribed ABs and asked me to go in to drop off a urine sample, just to check they have the right AB. (I don't get urine infections often, I'm happy to say.)

He also said that ABs for urine infections are often given initially for only 3 days but he's found that is often not enough, and so he's prescribed a week's course. I've read about the three day merry-go-round in other threads here, and it was just great that he brought this up himself!

I feel very lucky with my GPs. I live in a rural place and they're always really good. That doesn't mean there isn't waiting for appointments these days, but if something needs to be considered quickly they do that. They're very good indeed at ringing back quickly on the day that something they consider to be urgent enough for a quick call is reported.

Thank you KL GPs :-)

I sent a positive feedback email to my GP surgery because I realise how lucky I am. I can get a same day appointment, the GPs are absolutely great, it all just works. They really appreciated the feedback and said they would circulate it to the team.

if you feel very keen, a nice email might be good for 2 reasons - 1) it's always nice to get some positive feedback, 2) it might help the practice to understand what they're doing that patient's find works well so they're not tempted to change/can spread the word to other practices.

Sadly this is not my experience.
Fewer GPs, big new housing estates nearby, no new GP surgeries.

A lack of follow up, abnormal blood test - difficulties making appointments- been offered one for three weeks. Very slow for repeat prescriptions, items missed off dispensing. It’s stressful and people unable to advocate for themselves are at serious risk.

You are lucky, I ended up in a&e for 17 hours with a bad infection because I couldn't get a gp appointment

This is why I want to move out to the countryside. Where I am now there are far too many people, the roads are falling apart, everything is expensive and services are oversubscribed and cannot cope. I hate it.

My phone call with my semi-regular GP went very well the other day and I was able to book a blood test within a week. Shout out also to a very helpful receptionist working out how to solve an admin cock-up, going well beyond the call of duty to work out who should do what about it, and the optician home service who ought to be running the country they are so efficient and effective.

Receptionist was in a hospital. 3 successes in one day!

I definitely feel I am lucky. They're not the only GP practice around here, and unfortunately I've never heard a good thing said about the other one.

I'll certainly write to thank them, and to tell them what they do that seems to me to be great. I don't know whether these questionnaires are just for urine infections but I hope not, as to me it seems like a very good idea. (I realise it wouldn't work for those who can't do texts, or don't like to use them, but I'm assuming they would just get the phone call anyway and need to spend a little longer providing the info to the GP.)