GOING TO THE DOCTORS

I've had two telephone appointments [for the same thing]
Not a success at all
Nothing was explained properly to me, they seem to assume a knowledge that I don't have. Everything was done in a hurry

I prefer phone consultations - seems to be focused and works for me.

Urmstongran- its not always the patients fault- theres a sign in our g.p's surgery says about missed appts- but on occasions in the past when ive needed to cancel i HAVE tried to ring & let them know- but can you get through?? Can you hell as like!! They should have a different line for just cancellations only.

At least if we now have a 'one-to-one' phone consultation we won't get the annoying habit of the doc taking a call while I'm sat there when its MY 5 minutes.

Good morning all. I had a phone appointment last week. I filled in the form on Wednesday morning. Got an email saying I would have a phone call on Thursday, but they couldn't give me a time. It was with a doctor I hadn't seen before. I waited by the phone literally all day and got the call at 5.30! My problem is an itchy back. Obviously I can't see it, but DH says there is no rash or redness. I suffer from severe health anxiety and am going through an attack for the past few weeks. I could have done with the reassurance of having a professional actually looking at my back. I had Googled my symptoms (yes, I know I shouldn't!) Avoiding anything to do with the Big C. The doctor agreed that what I found was a possibility. But I did miss feeling that everything possible had been done and feel really anxious that something important had been missed. My anxiety levels are sky high!

Yes, the receptionist wants to know the health issue/problem which can be a bit personal as my husband after he had a pacemaker fitted in March then developed problems and had to had a catheter fitted as got urine retention and know its on the computer system but its been a bit embarrassing for him, plus I was in agony a few weeks ago and left it until the Monday to phone the surgery who when the doctor rang me back said to come and see her and she first thought it was my appendix but i knew it was my hernia that had popped out so ended up in A+E and now on a waiting list to have the job done. But my husband did have some back pain and they did a video call to his mobile and I had to hold the mobile to the area in question which could have been a kidney infection but it was muscle stain and he was prescribed painkillers, whereas my old press button Nokia phone doesnt have this video facility. Oh well. Life I guess right now.

I like the telephone appointments and have even done video calls with two Doctors. Hubby's bedridden and has dementia so quite often I have to ring for advice or to change medication etc. Imagine how difficult it would be getting him anywhere, the last time a new Doctor wanted to see him on the phone so we just set it up and she could ask him questions. It's a safe way too without having to go into the surgery.

What do all these abbreviations mean please? ABIU, DH ???

This morning I have had to take photos of DH's face for a consult by phone tomorrow. So I have used e-mail as I am not really adept with filming on a mobile phone. I find it does add to the stress if you are speaking for another person ( DH has speech difficulties after a stroke ).
So I understand the need for phone consultations but would hate to lose face to face consultations altogether.

Had a phone appointment with GP who then wanted me to go to surgery. I told him details of car, he came out to car park which due to reduction in patients was basically empty and then escorted me in. He was in full PPE. Think it will be the new system. Do hope the proposed A&E system cones on stream. May reduce all those who turn up with problems about two weeks old or that just needs a bit common sense to sort out. The system has been abused for far too long.

Leolady73. If you scroll down this page (or up to the top) you will see a line where you can click to be directed to
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At first it is highly irritating but you will soon be used to it.

I found the telephone call with my mother's doctor's - brilliant as he had such a reassuring voice. As my motheris a 100 - I knew it would be her age but I was wonderful to be reassured
Her pain medication will be increased.

I had a telephone consultation with my usual GP. I made notes of the issues I wanted to raise with him and didn't get side-tracked as I often did in face-to-face consultations. I would like a face-to-face consultation with one of his partners who is an expert on dermatology. It's difficult to raise a skin issue without contact.

Not so good if you are at work! Our GP has done this for over 10 years now and you didn’t know what time they would ring. I worked as a classroom assistant at secondary level so impossible to take a call from mobile phone, much less have a conversation! Not possible to find a quiet spot out of the room either.
System better now as they have an appointment system so you can choose doctor and time usually on same day! Brilliant.

It strikes me that most of us who post on here are competent and articulate and not unduly shy or anxious, and so are generally ok about phone /video calls with GPS. But as just one or two people have commented on this thread, it may be a wrong assumption that this is the case for the whole population . Many people do not have the words or experience to describe their symptoms, worries and how they are feeling and need to be able to relax so that the GP can slow the pace, observe body language, make sympathetic eye contact, pass the tissues etc..... Phone and video contact tends to be brisk and efficient, which is totally appropriate, time saving etc for run of the mill appointments with articulate patients but may exclude the understanding and exchange of information which is vital foe good diagnosis in more complex cases. It is recognised that many people are becoming lonelier and more marginalised and I think this will be a contributing factor.

We can’t even speak directly to the surgery, so I don’t know if they are actually seeing anyone. We have to email a central nhs unit, saying which practice we belong to, what the problem is, and if we need to speak to a specific doctor.
I emailed to ask if my long overdue cortisone injection into my knee could be done, and was brusquely informed that they are not doing them because of Covid. “Keep on limping” in other words.
My friend received a letter to say that her annual heart check-up was due. She had to phone the hospital to make a blood test appointment, and fill in a form for eight days with her blood pressure details. Oh, and she would have to buy her own blood pressure machine, because they are not lending them out, due to Covid! Once they had the results, her consultation would be done over the phone by the practice nurse
Someone else I know has died from cancer, seemingly mainly due to delays in treatment, due to Covid.
How many more are being adversely affected because doctors are not seeing their patients?

To be honest, I prefer the current system which has been operating at our GPs surgery for a while.

Getting an appointment used to be a nightmare. You had to ring at 8.30am but you were in a long queue even if you could get through. Or you could go in person, but people turned up earlier and earlier and the queue was enormous. Either way, the appointments were usually gone when you managed to speak to a receptionist.

Now you write out your problem and say whether you want a response by email, phone or face to face - except you don't get the latter during Covid, unless it's vital. I prefer a chat on the phone in my own house rather than sitting for ages in a waiting room, just to say something I could have said on the phone. Obviously, if you have something which has to be felt, like a lump, then it's different.

I don't worry about privacy. The surgery staff have access to all your records anyway if they are interested, but I am sure they are not. As for one's nearest and dearest, I often have to go with DH to appointments because he doesn't tell them half of the relevant stuff or ask any questions. When he has a phone consultation, I can prompt him in the background.

I had a hospital phone consultation recently and it was brilliant. 10 minutes discussion and then done, instead of spending ages trekking to hospital and sitting around.

I have just come back from A&E as I fell off my bike nearly 3 weeks ok, I was only sitting on it trying out my new saddle. Anyway I tried to speak to a Dr but rang up on 2 different days only to be told nothing available. So I googled my injuries and did as it said. The pain still hasn't gone away and my breathing is difficult so I tried the Dr again, no joy, so I just took myself off to A&E. where they asked me if I had spoken with my Dr, said no because I couldn't get an appointment so here I auto see you. Broken rib was the verdict. In future any such medical needs I shall turn up at A&E I am sure someone will see you, can't see how ringing 111 will work. Just another government useless idea.

I can see that it works well in some cases in well run GP practices, however in cases where some GPS are reluctant ( I have worked with some) to see patients then I can see some people slipping through the net, particularly the elderly and those with mental illness. I think the changes have made it a lot more difficult for the most vulnerable in our society to access health care

I think all the new systems are good I've tried them all. I can book a telephone consult on line for a time on the day. If the doc thinks you should be seen he will tell you to come in. I have used 111 over a weekend and had a doctor ring me and send a perscription to my local pharmacy. I have had paramedics come by ambulance and take me -or not to hospital. It is sometimes hilarious as I am severely deaf and the phone is a struggle ' but needs must!

It's a new system for us here and new things are always unfamiliar aren't they? I don't like the idea as a principle but it has worked well so far for both of us. Photos of a 'thing' on my back were responded to the same day with calm reassurance, it would have been no different face to face. Mr C had a telephone assessment with a GP based in the next town as she was the first available to call, on being assured we could travel he was invited him to attend the next morning for bloods and an examination. If the system continues like this confidence will build and I'll be OK about support via the phone. Anything new takes time for me and yes, I do know we may be lucky with the organisation of our group practice which is huge.

Our surgery uses Ask My GP, an email service that also allows photos, files and videos to be sent. There’s an option to direct your enquiry to a named person - one of the doctors, nurses etc. I’ve used it several times and had a reply within an hour. I think it’s brilliant! Best thing since sliced bread, even. The last problem that got sorted was my BP which was on the high side and my legs were going into balloon mode. All sorted by one of the Nurse Practitioners, all I had to do was send pics of my legs taken first thing in the morning When they were almost skinny and pics of them taken a couple of hours later when they’d ballooned, along with BP readings (I’ve a monitor purchased from Lloyds Chemists). The result was new, additional BP tablets and a follow up appointment for a blood test at the surgery.

I think the triage and phone consultations can work well for many consultations and am sure most surgeries have made good use of this system during the pandemic. So much so that many GPs such as ours, intend to continue with this way of working.

However, I have some reservations about it. Some less articulate, very elderly and vulnerable people, such as those with mental health conditions, may be deterred from seeking timely help and advice.

I am also concerned that some potentially serious conditions may be missed by triage, and wonder if this system will be properly evaluated, or simply readily adopted as a money saver?

I'm sure some/most GPs will be conscientious about offering face to face consultations if they are indicated but I will tell you what happened to my mother several years ago. Look away now if you're of a nervous disposition...

She and my dad lived approximately eight miles from their doctors' surgery. She had diverticular disease and had flare ups from time to time. She had the symptoms of an infection and was quite ill, so my dad phoned the surgery. They diagnosed diverticulitis (inflammation i.e. likely infection) over the phone and prescribed antibiotics. These didn't work and she was in some pain. My dad phoned again. They prescribed a different antibiotic. This also didn't work. No GP had seen her. When her abdomen became distended my dad called 999 and an ambulance took her to hospital. Emergency surgery revealed a ruptured bowel and peritonitis. She came through the surgery (five hours and she was lucky) but she came home with a colostomy bag because of the extensive damage to her bowel. She had been too ill to go to the surgery and the GPs reckoned a couple of telephone consultations was enough.

I think my parents should have sued and if GPs want to avoid negligence claims, they may well find they have to do more work rather than less by following up telephone/video consultations with face to face appointments where one face to face appointment would have been sufficient.

Lizzypopbottle
Exactly the same thing with my grandma. Only it was us who took her to A&E.
I too have diverticula disease and that situation often springs to mind when I have flare up ?