Wondering what other GP practices are doing.

Some GP surgeries are obviously doing better than others. Ours in the north of England is doing a brilliant job, embracing new technologies and employing a range of strategies to keep everyone safe. When I had an exacerbation of an existing problem recently (non-urgent), I had a telephone consultation with my chosen GP within 4 hours of messaging the surgery. Other family members have received a similar quality of service.

Should have said earlier, especially after reading others, we are lucky. South Hampshire.

My GP practice phoned me to tell me that my annual meds review was overdue and when would it be convenient for the GP to call me to discuss it? A time and date was arranged and I got his call almost to the minute of the appointment. The call wasn't rushed at all and I felt confident that all was well. I haven't tried to arrange a face to face GP appointment though so I don't know what that would entail.

I was taken ill suddenly one Thursday morning in June and I’m never ill .
Call to receptionist by my husband in the morning.
Call back from GP 2 hours later .
Face to face appointment in the afternoon and hospital referral.
Call from hospital at 0930 following day with appointment made with specialist for Monday morning and told to ring 999 over weekend if symptoms return
Saw specialist in the morning and returned at 1830 same day for MRI .
Medication prescribed by specialist collected from hospital pharmacy .
Blood test face to face at home surgery next week as follow up .
Couldn’t ask for better service .

And there’s no way it would be the same day!

I know exactly what you are saying Katek . We can’t even phone our surgery these days we have to go through the “Ask my GP” website and tell the computer ( in a limited amount of characters ) the problem . It is then read by a receptionist who seems to decide if you should have an email or a phone appointment were it’s a doctor . Face to face appointments have all but disappeared . It’s disgusting .

At our GP surgery in Welwyn, Herts, call are made to reception twice daily, at 8am and 12 md. The receptionist takes details and when I called about a month ago, the Dr called back after about 2 hrs when we had a positive, unrushed conversation. Very few face to face appointments are given. As previous poster said, it's much easier to get through than pre Covid 19.
This looks like the future GP services we're going to get.

I should have said I live in Glasgow.

When you call my surgery to make an appointment a doctor calls you back. In six months the family has requested 3 appointments. Return calls from a doctor (not necessarily our own doctor) took an average of 30 mins.
In one consultation the doctor requested a urine sample. OH took it down immediately and the doctor called home with the result before OH arrived back. On arrival he called the doctor and his call was returned within 5 mins.
We are extremely satisfied with the service provided.

Phoned reception then received video call with doctor same day and face to face (mask to mask...) with doctor next day.
I must be very lucky !

I had diabetic bloods done today in a caravan/tent contraption. I was asked if i required a flu jab later and my name is on the list. Apparently, it will be a drive through at our local fire station!

I'm wondering what all the doctors are doing as we have about 8 I think. The nurse calls back if you request an appointment and a diagnosis is done via video call. I suppose if necessary a doctor would be available but we are certainly being discouraged from calling them.

Where I live (SE) the area has had so much housing added that pre Covid getting an appointment was dreadful. In the last 25 years we have gone from 6 GP practices to 2 in March and now to just one. The doors are locked and you can take days, yes not hours but days to get put through on the phone and then 4 weeks for an appointment. Horrendous!

I'm not anti NHS I worked for them for 20 years but planners need shooting

there may be more discussion on these topics under the Health forum heading.

Telephone appointment only, in 2:5 weeks with unknown GP

Phone appointments only...had my b12 injection in the car park..arm out of car window..and it was 9 weeks overdue...

At ours, you phone them from your car, they come to collect you as you go through the door you use the hand sanitizer, put on your own mask and then you are escorted to the Nurses room, you are then escorted out again.

As for seeing a Doctor, Nope, only phone calls so far.

DH received a letter 3 weeks ago to go and have a Shingles jab, he has to call at 8.30 am to get an appointment, by the time he has managed to get through , all of the appointments for that day have gone, you can’t book in advance, so every morning for about 20 minutes he is on the phone, so far no luck!

Phone appointments only and Practice Nurse doing blood test etc, as far as I can make out that is it.

After speaking to receptionist last week, GP rang back and I saw her within the hour. ECG done by nurse while I was there, all fine and good, very impressed.

The waiting room seating has been reduced and receptionists are now behind perspex screens.
Telephone appointments only with the doctor. The nurse is still seeing people, my husband had his B12 a couple of weeks ago..
One advantage, it's much quicker to get through on the phone.

It might be worth sending a letter/email to the practice manager.