Am I expecting too much of my GP surgery?

No, you are certainly not expecting too much. Clearly, your circumstances dictate that continuity is key and seeing different Dr's who then have to spend time 'catching up on your case notes' doesn't help at all.

In your situation I would be writing to the practice manager, explain your concerns and request that you are seen by the GP that you have seen previously. If that 'explanation' reaps no results then complain and keep on complaining until you are heard.

Sadly, times have changed Luckygirl and the whole shebang can be Kafkaesque. Obviously some folk fare better with their surgeries. To be honest after a certain age I’m sure I read that a ‘designated GP for the elderly’ (us) is the best option but putting that in place as many doctors now work part time is nigh on impossible. I really like my GP but she only works Tuesday - Thursday so I try to fit in as best as. Maybe find out what days your favourite GP works and see if continuity can be promised? Good luck. x

Luckygirl I can see why you are beyond exasperated, it is very similar here I have been in the surgery many times since Covid but have only once seen a 'proper' GP I almost feel I have become friends with the Paramedic and the nurse.
A Clinical Pharmacist deals with tablet problems, so many fingers in the pie.
I do hope you get somewhere soon and wish you all the best

It all sounds shambolic, Luckygirl. We are much more fortunate with our GP surgery. One thing stands out for me from your post:

When I suggest that it would be helpful if I could see one GP rather than a different one every time, the receptionist is puzzled.

That’s surely just common sense. Our surgery website actually states that if we’ve already seen one of the doctors about an issue, we should ask for the same one for any follow up.

Whilst appreciating the horror of all the above, my surgery has recently introduced a new way of communicating, online.
I can book an appointment from those available, with a specific GP.
Or I can outline my symptoms. I used this recently. I was contacted again by email, saying I needed a face to face appointment. Before I had even arranged it, I had a phone call from the surgery offering me one the next day! Unbelievable. I didn’t even know such possibilities existed.

Is it worth checking if your place offers anything similar?

Disgraceful, telling you “what you are allowed to say” .
An appointment with your gp should be between you and your gp.

I was told to book a double appointment if I had more than one issue. I wanted to see a particular GP and told them I'd rather wait 2 weeks than see the "wrong" person. Anyway I did that -after thus annoyance admittedly - and was 40 mins with my GP.

I discuss medication with the clinical pharmacist who frankly knows a lot more - (and spends time with me).

No you are not. Primary care needs radical reform and let's hope this government can bring in the common sense measures like this that would save a lot of money.

I would send your post in an e-mail to Wes Streeting and also your local primary care trust.

We have to fight for common-sense in the NHS- don't settle for being fobbed off by this craziness.

I think the surgery manager is a good place to start.
One Friday afternoon I was given antibiotics by a private dentist. When i got home I panicked about them. The dentist was closed but nobody in the surgery would tell me if I was safe to take them alongside drugs I'd been given by the surgery.

The receptionist said they weren't responsible for the drugs prescribed elsewhere. I said "fair enough - but I will be taking the drugs from my dentist so if nobody will tell me if I'm safe I will stop taking your drugs in case they cause problems with my antibiotics... 🙄

Again they wouldn't discuss it so I spoke to the practice manager about the dilemma. She spoke to a doctor who simply called me back and said yes, everything's fine!

Speak to the practice manager!
Good luck.

No, you’re not asking too much!

Our surgery is very large and very close but still a bit of a lottery, with both the GPs and receptionists.

I’ve had both exceptional and dire service/experiences on differing occasions.

All I can say is don’t give up and good luck

Luckygirl3, I don’t think you’re asking too much. I have a retired GP in the family and my blood boils when I think of the hours he worked, day and night. I wouldn’t want anyone to have to do that now, but when you have to wait 5 weeks for a non-urgent appointment, it gets beyond a joke.

No you are not expecting too much. There should be continuity of care, with the same GP, unless in an emergency when that GP is away, on holiday, or a course, etc.

I am so sorry you are facing this and sending best wishes and hugs.

The state of the NHS is the major reason why, despite facing financial difficulties due to the very weak Pound- we could not face returning to UK, as we both have health issues- complext ones for OH.

I can't make a double appointment - I've tried and they are weeks and weeks away and with a random doctor who knows nothing about me. In the meantime I am not taking a drug should be taking (because they won't reinstate it without seeing me the doc) and not taking another without proper advice as the side effects are too awful, having no idea whether this is detrimental to my heart.

Of course you are not asking too much. I agree with others ,please contact the practice manager preferably in writing ( keep a copy of the letter for yourself) explain to him / her exactly what your situation is making it very clear why
you are so worried. I wish you well and good luck .

As advised Lucky contact the Practice Manager today by email or some way that provides an audit trail.
I would find the name of the senior member of staff and copy them in, if email is impossible, print it off and hand deliver, mark them private and personal.
For immediate action your pharmacist can advise on the intolerable drug, they might have sway at the surgery too.

I have exactly these sorts of problems with my gp.

Weeks spent weaning onto a new medication, only to find it's not been prescribed by my gp.

Eye drops prescribed by the hospital took a year to sort out, after I ended up with ulcers behind my eyes due to not being able to get the meds prescribed from my gp.

One medication was over a year with me being told the gp had not heard and knew nothing about.

Irlt them turned out that the media is prescribed by a completely separate place, by a clinic which deals just with that medication and monitors side effects.

No, you are not expecting too much. I hope your care improves.

The eye consultant wrote a very firm letter to my gp, telling him to STOP removing eye drops from my prescription

Just the same at my surgery. Doctors work part time and the practitioners who carry the main work load are practice nurses, advanced practitioners, physician (so called) associates and trainees or registrars, if you are lucky. Oh and the occasional locum!

Medical practices are private businesses and doctors can employ who they want. Physician Associates for example are cheaper than doctors. It will get worse now with the national insurance increase.

I usually complete an econsult if I need to see a doctor. Once the problem is there in black & white as it were, they are bound to take action. Phoning is a waste of time.

Luckygirl3 I would definitely speak to the practice manager.
I think they will want it resolved if you aren't taking medication.

No reply or response from the practice manager at my GPS.

It makes me glad I don’t need to move. A non-urgent appointment for my doctor is that afternoon - after a telephone conversation. Urgent is straight away.

I unfortunately think the surgery is having trouble getting a new doctor so things may change. The local hospital is a different story ☹️

Luckygirl your GP surgery lacks common sense top of the list. At mine it is the receptionist who triages, she is not allowed to make an appointment if I am standing in front of her. The GP rings and she/he decides whether one needs a face to face appointment.

I have not seen a GP since before Covid. I stupidly thought at 81 I could see my GP annually for bloods etc but no. I am not surprised Casualty depts are overflowing. My surgery is normally empty except for the queue to see the only working receptionist. I do not like to discuss my personal problems for all to hear.

Basically I got the message some years back of regarding it as highly unlikely I'd get a normal doctor ever again (ie like the full-time/same one every time/that genuinely cared about their patients that I used to have back along) and the whole "work from home/try not to actually see anyone if you can help it" thing that came in so widely in Lockdown in a variety of jobs.

Yep....got the message.....now if only I could have the costs refunded to me of doing darn nearly everything privately. I'd also be rather glad of not having to spend so much time reading (online and otherwise) to learn everything I can about the type of health issues I have - ie trying to learn to "be my own doctor".

Can't say I hold out any great hopes for any possible "review" of the NHS they may (or may not) do. I know all too well that the Government has a list of deliberate tactics as long as my arm as to how to fob people off - lose their papers, have a review, treat you as if you are stupid (even if you have the evidence to prove otherwise about yourself). Look at the way they're still treating those poor post office staff that got wrongly accused of stealing all those years back.....look at how long they've made WASPI women wait to have their case re state pension resolved (ie I well know the government almost certainly made a deliberate decision to drag that one out as long as they possibly could - in order to have as many of the women concerned made to wait so long that they'd die before things were resolved).

Accordingly, I have no faith whatsoever in the coming NHS Review - and I'd lay odds they'll be instructed to start with to "Make this last as long as you can - and it's got to be dragged out for at least 5 years".