So many problems with GP practice ....

I have just come out of hospital after being admitted as an emergency due to misdiagnosis over five months by a GP.
Without going into too much detail I now have to wear a sensor as my pancreas is in a mess due to wrong treatment.
The sensor failed about half an hour ago.I called the GP as I was told it was very important to be told by the receptionist to call dispensary which I did.Their phone line closed at 4.Phoned the surgery and was told to try ringing tomorrow.Explained I was only allowed home with this monitoring.She put me through to the dispensary and a lovely girl is doing her utmost to sort it.I suppose if it gets to 6 and I don’t hear anything it will be 111.
I pray not a return to hospital.
Feel so exhausted and not sure what to do.

Can you phone 111? They may have the facility to prescribe and deliver medical supplies urgently.

Well ... the head pharmacist I spoke to this morning has done the job! The meds I need have just arrived at my door in the village volunteer run!

I think she knew that her assistant's behaviour had been out of order and wanted to set things right, so good for her.

Mind you they have given me 28 instead of 5 so I now have too many ... but I can see why this might be.

If only this simple solution could have been achieved without all the unnecessary aggro.

butterandjam

Luckygirl3

I had thought of that but the only problem is that this is a small practice in a small village about 7 miles (or 16 miles on a safe route) away and I am loathe to become "that" patient as I fear it might make the service even worse. It is not a big impersonal city practice.

With your first problem, as soon as it was handed to the correct person (pharmacy manager) it was resolved right away.

Had you ASKED to speak to pharmacy manager in the first place, your problem would have been solved right away.

Now you've been advised to take your other complaint about to THE RIGHT PERSON (practice manager) .

Just do it. This would be far easier and faster than changing practices.

What an unkind response, butterandjam. I know you can, and have been, abrupt to previous posters but there is no need to be so unpleasant to a worried and poorly person.
Not only did you ‘shout’ at her (frequently using capital letters) but you then ‘ordered’ her to ‘just do it’!
I suggest you try to understand what people are going through instead of jumping in with hurtful comments, which I am sure you thought were helpful! In my opinion, they were anything but!

Thank you Allira.The GP just called.He has ordered what I need but it won’t be available until tomorrow.Any problems I am to call 111 or 999🤦🏼‍♀️Trying to stay calm as stress won’t help.

Luckygirl I am so pleased you have your medication but so sorry for what you have been through.

Our GP practice is hopeless too and has been since the start of Covid when they discovered the joys of not actually seeing patients. You can’t get an appointment under 4 weeks yet the waiting room is empty. You can’t speak to a GP, only a nurse or a paramedic. In a recent survey our practice came near the bottom for patient satisfaction.
Nearby village surgeries are all excellent yet here, in an affluent and beautiful little town, they say they can’t get enough doctors.

Susan56

Thank you Allira.The GP just called.He has ordered what I need but it won’t be available until tomorrow.Any problems I am to call 111 or 999🤦🏼‍♀️Trying to stay calm as stress won’t help.

Luckygirl I am so pleased you have your medication but so sorry for what you have been through.

The thing is, people who aren't well aren't on top form (that is probably an understatement) and trying to negotiate what is a path full of unnecessary obstacles is the last thing they need. Not everyone has someone to help them through this, either.

That’s exactly it Allira.I am exhausted after the emergency situation I found myself in and trying to access help seems like a mountain to climb.Thank you for your understanding.

It’s shocking so many of us are really struggling to have a named consultant or GP managing our care.
I have had permanent atrial fibrillation for ten years. I have a slightly enlarged heart. . I was reviewed six then annually. My cardiologist was heading for retirement. At my last appointment he discharged me as doing well, to be re referred by my GP if necessary.
I also have mild copra, was on annual reviews at the respiratory clinic. Last year, doing well so discharged to be GP referred if needed
I have several auto immune condition, invkuding RA. The greatest cause of death in RA patients is heart conditions.

All these things combine. I felt much stafer on annual reviews and I’m in no doubt taking me and hundreds of others off is saving money in the short term. If I was a bupa patient I’d be asking to be reviewed. As things stand, routine appointment even at my good practice is 3-6 week waitl. Ref to specialist months
I can’t be bothered

To add short term savings in one department aren’t always cost effective

I moaned to the prescriptions clerk at our surgery after I had nearly died when I couldn't get an appointment. She said "Well for Heaven's sake email the Senior Partner" I composed a very detailed email and sent it off, and 20 minutes later Senior Partner was on the phone. He had the sense to start his call with "How are you now?" which gained him some Brownie points and we had a long conversation, and I've had no problems since.

Iam64

To add short term savings in one department aren’t always cost effective

Not having "joined up" healthcare must be more inefficient, surely? How much does the 111 service cost? Would that money be better used improving the GP service with more GPs and ancillary services, providing full access, including 24 hour/7 day a week cover?

I’m relieved for you lucky and concerned for you susan. Please use 111 if for no other reason that to have your situation on record. Health care is so stressful for so many people.

Thinking of you Susan56 hoping your medical problem has been resolved now.

As others have said, you should email the practice manager, fully explain your concerns and predicament and ask her to get this sorted out for you. There clearly is no continuity in your care and you are right to be concerned.

I have experienced similar difficulties recently and can relate to all of the above. In the end I wrote what I considered to be a very polite letter to the practice manager and received a short, curt reply saying the practice could not engage in postal communications. So that was that!

I'm managing my condition with an 'I'll show you that I don't need you' mindset.

Thank you cornergran and Aldom.I survived the night so hopefully the sensor will be delivered this morning.
Sallyforth I think I will be managing my own condition going forward like you.

You have my every sympathy .
I ordered my medication yesterday and wonder if I'll receive it in time -usually I don't.
It's an upsetting round of phone calls and sometimes a visit to get them .
I've had my "posh " accent made fun of .
I complained and my prescription was done though the receptionist was not reprimanded.
Then my blood forms weren't done . After the usual rudeness -
as I stood at the counter a huge row erupted between the receptionists over someone
being two minutes late for work .
I can't recall when the surgery was reassuring and pleasant to the patients .
On one occasion they "lost " my notes meaning there was no record of me at the surgery .
One of my friends has a serious illness ,but nothing ,
but praise for her surgery so finally I shall see if they will accept me as a patient.

I wish you luck in changing surgeries and hope that you get better .

Sallyforth

I have experienced similar difficulties recently and can relate to all of the above. In the end I wrote what I considered to be a very polite letter to the practice manager and received a short, curt reply saying the practice could not engage in postal communications. So that was that!

I'm managing my condition with an 'I'll show you that I don't need you' mindset.

Crikey 'could not engage in postal communications' is a sinister development. Can they get away with that?

Susan56

Thank you cornergran and Aldom.I survived the night so hopefully the sensor will be delivered this morning.
Sallyforth I think I will be managing my own condition going forward like you.

I am so sorry you are having these mountains to climb to achieve something so simple. You do not need this. Being ill is burden enough. I hope this all gets resolved today.

Thank you Luckygirl

I agree. How was Luckygirl3 supposed to know she should have asked for the pharmacist in the first place? We’re not all specialists in the mysterious workings of surgeries (and I was a medical secretary for many years!). Why didn’t the receptionist refer her to the pharmacist straight away?
My DD has been constantly plagued with similar problems at our surgery - they refer her to the pharmacy who then say it’s the surgery’s responsibility, and so on ... There’s a pattern of going round in circles every time, until someone decides they are able to fix it on a one-off basis. Putting a hospital prescription in the mix is a nightmare!

I agree that was quite a flippant response! How many people who have new prescriptions contact the pharmacy manager? The surgeries get the letters confirming new prescriptions to be added and the pharmacy staff should be ensuring these are added to the patients prescription. Can you imagine everyone requesting a call with the pharmacist whenever a new prescription is required! Very frustrating at GPs surgeries st the moment and people who give unhelpful responses don’t help

Luckygirl you have my sympathy for what it's worth. So many problems nowadays with GP surgeries mine included. I think the advice to write to the practice manager is the best as you can sit and do that calmly once you've recovered from the recent ordeal. That way your comments can be measured and hopefully no repercussions. Take care.

butterandjam

Luckygirl3

I had thought of that but the only problem is that this is a small practice in a small village about 7 miles (or 16 miles on a safe route) away and I am loathe to become "that" patient as I fear it might make the service even worse. It is not a big impersonal city practice.

With your first problem, as soon as it was handed to the correct person (pharmacy manager) it was resolved right away.

Had you ASKED to speak to pharmacy manager in the first place, your problem would have been solved right away.

Now you've been advised to take your other complaint about to THE RIGHT PERSON (practice manager) .

Just do it. This would be far easier and faster than changing practices.

Comments like this when someone is distressed and wanting to share is the reason I read messages in Gransnet but don’t contribute in anyway for fear of unkind responses. I was shocked to read this response