GP surgery

I find Ask My GP so much better than having to phone, you seem to get a response same day, then some sort of appointment offered, maybe not immediate, but thankfully we haven’t had anything serious, touch wood.

Glad to see you are doing ok BlueBelle, must have been very worrying for you.

Our surgery is pretty awful. 8 am scramble, you see who you see, if there's anything left by the time you get through. The GPs come and go, have no idea who my husband is, despite his chronic illness, multiple hospital admissions. Nurse telephone appointments can be booked online, 1 - 3 week wait.

I did an e-consult with my surgery about an ongoing ear problem and now a nose problem. Received a text asking me to make an appointment. I rang late afternoon and didn't have to wait to long. Reception had no idea what I was talking about. I explained and said I think I need antibiotics as I think infection in ear again which has spread to inside my nose. She said I need face to face but can't fit you in till Monday. That is quick I suppose but when you need antibiotics it isn't!!! I have a constant discharge from o e ear and a pai full swelling inside my nose which is leaking pus and blood. It is very very painful too. I have a cold as well and can't blow my nose properly as touching my nose is excruciating. Not very happy at the moment 😔🤧🤒

You have to play the system as it is now.

You really need to phone if you want see a Doctor once the practice opens.. DH did that the other week, phoned on the dot of 8am, seen by 9.45 result!

I put in a online referral, for a skin problem it was not urgent but needed sorting. Within 2 hrs I got a message to ask if I could send a photo, I did got a reply I was told I had a telephone interview in 7 day, OK.
Phone call came, Doctor said he needed to really see it for himself (obviously? bonkers sending a photo but...?) on chatting to him, he asked any chance could I pop in Now! Or later that afternoon? Yep now.. I jumped in the car, seen straight away all sorted in less than 30 mins from the original phone call.

Tbh it's all a ridiculous but it worked for me this time but I can't see how this system would work for some elderly folk.
If I had been asked to come and see the Practice Nurse or one of the Paramedic they all employ now, I would have taken that as its a gateway in, they get the Doctor on site in for issues they can't sort.

My practice has a terrible reputation they are a big group, on this occasion we both gave it the thumbs up.

Thank you so much calendergirl it all came out of the blue (to me anyway) and thank God for a diligent GP (not even my own) who said I m not sure, so I want someone more qualified in this area to examine you
I sent her a thank you card I think doctors and more importantly receptionists can get very little thanks , a few weeks ago I thanked the receptionist for being so kind and helpful
Her reply was
“I could cry we rarely get anyone say anything nice to us I m going now to tell all the other receptionists”

My surgery has definitely improved since the pandemic. I've rung the surgery four times in the past month asking for an appointment. On each occasion I've got through at eight o'clock then 10 minutes on hold and seen a GP the same day.

Prescriptions ordred on line by Patient Access .The next day the Pharmacy messages me to say items readyfor collection.
I'm hoping the sevice stays the same.

Our GP surgery is pretty good with call backs and quick prescription renewals but messed up badly over a breast screening referral causing unnecessary delay. Too many locums perhaps and lacking a senior partner.

Haven’t been able to ‘bag ‘an appointment in two years.. are doctors elsewhere still seeing folk …every time I walk past the surgery 4/5 times per week….the ‘waiting room ‘ is empty. Go in on the off-chance and they say “sorry, no appointments” I’m actually wondering what our 9 docs are being paid for. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sadly I hsve hsve just moved surgeries after 50 years . They were excellent till Covid then never really reopened properly , all doctors part time and most are new . I did manage to get to see my doctor about my mental health and he stood the other side of the room. When I asked why he said he didn’t want to catch anything so was doing it with all his patients !!! He is now leaving as I am .

I do not understand waiting 7 weeks to see a Doctor, unless you want a particular person. You can always see a Dr. very quickly at our Practice.

What is ‘ Ask My GP’ Calendargirl?

I agree with everything you have said, our GP practice is very good, we are in Staffordshire

Do any of you have access to an online doctor? My annual travel insurance includes an app for access by phone or video link to a gp at any time wherever I am - either at home or travelling. I know that it’s not the same as a face to face gp appointment but I appreciate being able to speak to someone if I need to. I think Simply Health do the same and many workplaces offer it as part of an HR package.

I have no axe to grind as I am not in UK at present.I am interested in the great variation among the replies. Some of you find it almost impossible to contact the surgery or to see a doctor. As there seems to be quite a few grans who have children who are GPs could these gransbask their children the reasons for the current situation. It seems to have changed dramatically since COVID and there has to be a reason.
I did hear many older GPs retired because of a tax decision made by the govt. Then in recent years more women are training to be GPs ( a good thing) However, women have children and GPs in my surgery often worked part time so the chance of having a doctor you saw more than once was no longer possible. Doctors can earn high salaries and so working part time is an attractive option. Has anyone any knowledge of why things have changed so much?

Just checked local surgery and face to face appt available on 9 May so a couple of weeks better than the last time I checked and this appt would be with a 'real' doctor and not one of the trainees who are often there. Fingers crossed local surgery might be improving although pre Covid I would have thought this was abominable.

My surgery are pretty good, I get through in a couple of minutes usually. I do have to wait until 18th May to see my GP but she is popular and it was the only appointment she had free in either April or May! I did say it wasn't urgent, plus I needed a double appointment which didn't help. If its urgent then same day appointments are available. I am also heading into the menopause, the night sweats are a bit of a giveaway, but not bothering with the blood test - as I understand it, not wildly accurate plus I am needlephobic.

travelsafar That is unacceptable - I put an econsult in about an infection, the nurse practitioner rang me back the same day to discuss it and issued an immediate prescription for antibiotics for me.

It's a 55 week wait for physio in my area

Anniel not sure where you live but you may have missed our illegal Brexit which sent a lot of doctors back to Europe same with dentists add on to that Covid and lock downs and more ill people and a different necessary way to use surgeries pharmacies etc and you can see where it’s all coming from

Things are deteriorating here in France as well. I have been trying to make a post scan follow up appointment only to be told the hospital can't make appointments as they are short staffed. I have finally got an appointment in another town.
Our GP and surgery are fine and see patients quickly but in other rural areas there are no GPs available.

My Gp surgery is wonderful.. I can get through within a few minutes on the phone and can always get an appointment, either for the next couple of days or maybe a week as I prefer a GP who is part-time. The receptionists are always so pleasant and what a difference that makes..

You can contact our practice via their "Patches" online system asking for assistance, be it medical or administrative. I did this when I had a medical worry and had an appointment next day, on a Saturday.
It is shocking that some practices are so limited - though I do wonder if patients might not be aware of digital methods of contact which are already on offer?

knspol

Just checked local surgery and face to face appt available on 9 May so a couple of weeks better than the last time I checked and this appt would be with a 'real' doctor and not one of the trainees who are often there. Fingers crossed local surgery might be improving although pre Covid I would have thought this was abominable.

Are they trainees or actually locums who are fully trained but not on the permanent staff? It was actually a locum who picked up that my husband had heart failure after two permanent and supposedly fully-qualified GP's had misdiagnosed his symptoms.
The last GP I saw myself was a locum but thoroughly competent and just as good as a "normal" GP.

Saggi

What is ‘ Ask My GP’ Calendargirl?

It’s an online consultation tool that some GP surgeries are part of.

If you have an ailment, instead of phoning, you go online, briefly explain your problem, and they usually ask how you want it resolved, face to face, telephone, message.

They then come back with an appointment with a doctor, nurse, whoever, maybe not for a while, depending on how serious it is. You can ask to see a certain person or anyone free. I think a certain number of various appointments are earmarked for this system. It helps if you are not fussy about who you see.

It’s available between 8am- 1pm at our practice, you nearly always get a response quickly, the same day.

Far better than telephoning and being in a queue.

Anniel

I have no axe to grind as I am not in UK at present.I am interested in the great variation among the replies. Some of you find it almost impossible to contact the surgery or to see a doctor. As there seems to be quite a few grans who have children who are GPs could these gransbask their children the reasons for the current situation. It seems to have changed dramatically since COVID and there has to be a reason.
I did hear many older GPs retired because of a tax decision made by the govt. Then in recent years more women are training to be GPs ( a good thing) However, women have children and GPs in my surgery often worked part time so the chance of having a doctor you saw more than once was no longer possible. Doctors can earn high salaries and so working part time is an attractive option. Has anyone any knowledge of why things have changed so much?

Part-time GPs are very common in the UK and have been for many years. However I am told that although they are part-time so have limited appointments, the time taken to do all the paperwork and administration actually means that they effectively work full-time hours.