GP Appointments

Definitely, Jax.

Early birthday 🎁 silverlining!!

To finish the story, shortly after I wrote the above I had a call from the surgery with a face to face appointment this afternoon. I was shocked and delighted. It all went well at the surgery until I had to try 4 chemists before I could get the prescription dispensed, but all is now well in SL Land.

I managed to get through on e consult today and made sure not to over egg my problem because the firm directs you to A and E, and got a message saying I woukd be called by 6.30 pm tomorrow which happens to be m, Birthday and was hoping to go out, but a few minutes later another message arrived saying I woukd be getting a call before 6.30 today.

Not holding my breath - but looks like I have been upgraded.

Am generally not satisfied with our surgery since covid but knowing how expensive some countries are, I really appreciate and value the nhs.

Write to MP

I don't doubt thd NHS is improving; like some others I have the evidence of my own surgery, but it is obviously still patchy.

This may be down to those running that surgery as the money and systems do seem to now be available. I can be triaged by message and replied to by a relevant message, phone or appointment. Seen for checkups - regular blood tests, etc - by a dedicated member of staff and I no longer have to remember to ask for a prescription. They now get sent to the chemist automatically, the chemist lets me know they have it, again automatically, and then let me know when they are ready to collect.

People are the NHS's greatest expenditure so using technology can only help us to use people (and money) where they are most needed. The expectation that any goverment could turn around the running down of decades is not rational but I do sympathise with those who still have to cope with the legacy left by previous government's.

Thanks Aveline.

Congratulations SparklyGranma! Make the most of it.

I think I've read about house searches focused around specific hospitals on GN. But that seems a bit odd if you don't even know what illness you might get?

I have wondered for years, that if like people move according to schools, would the same thing happen with Gp practices.

I had assumed it would. But I dont read that it often does.
Even on this site.

fancythat

Did you move there deliberately?

That's an interesting point.
Does moving to a new area help in that fresh eyes look at your medical illnesses, try new medications, tests etc?
Do you choose to move to an area/house specifically for the gp practice?

I rang the surgery at 8 am, just now, and have been given a phone appointment!

I’d better sit down…

melp1

My husband had been trying to get an appointment for weeks for claudication (pains in his legs due to blocked arteries)that has got so bad he is now using crutches and has to sit every few yards,when we walk our dog. Been told to keep walking but really struggles. Rang surgery several times, used ring back but they only ring twice which even if I have the phone in my pocket doesn't give you enough time to answer. I went to the reception and got him an appt but it was in 4 weeks time.
Last week I had a nurses appointment for bloods, I explained my husbands situation and hey presto she got him an appointment within the next 2 days. He is now waiting for a hospital referral to a vascular consultant, fingers crossed they can help him.

Has he already been officially diagnosed? If so, what was he told to do?

I once saw a vascular consultant about pain in my lower legs and I was told to do what your husband is already doing - walk as much as possible. I had a Doppler test, but was told my condition wasn't serious enough for a stent.

If he's been previously diagnosed, whoever was treating him shouldn't have discharged him until the issue was solved.

It's very concerning that there is so much difference between practices. Initially, there were some problems while my practice (and patients) got used to the econsult system, but now it works really well.

Did you move there deliberately?

Took me a move of over 100 miles to get a brilliant GP practice. My old GP surgery which I had been with since 1981 went down hill in 2005 when the last of the original GPs retired.
Was never sent to see a cardiologist even though I had problems with my heart missing beats not put on medication except BP tablet. Neurologist couldn't be bothered as he didn't know what was wrong with me .

My new surgery sent me to see a cardiologist who just asked if I had a echocardiogram I said no so had one as there was a problem had a bubble echocardiogram and I had been born with a hole in the side of my heart. MRI confirmed place and size. Safer to leave alone as I don't have chest pain . Have PAF and on heart medication.

My neurologist had my whole genome genetically tested and found out I was born with rare hereditary neurological condition. First patient at one of the top neurological hospitals to have it. On medication which has helped me .

By having both diagnosis on BHF forum which has helped. But on Facebook group with my condition and my whole life makes sense. I was 62 and 63 when I had my diagnosis's.
I am 67 now .

My GP practice has online consultation,phone appointments and face to face . In house pharmacist and phlebotomy nurse. Plus we have walk in health centres for out of hours. At one of hospitals there is GP walk in ECG and x-ray departments. Plus specialist hospitals.

Dread to think what my life would have been like if I hadn't moved.

growstuff I'd be very happy if we had the e consult system and envy those who do have it, our GP closed all online communication other than ordering medication at the start of COVID and have steadfastly refused to reinstate it since. If you go to their website it gives you a list of ailments but when you click on them it takes you to very expensive private healthcare options, it's basically an advertising site for the private sector.

My husband had been trying to get an appointment for weeks for claudication (pains in his legs due to blocked arteries)that has got so bad he is now using crutches and has to sit every few yards,when we walk our dog. Been told to keep walking but really struggles. Rang surgery several times, used ring back but they only ring twice which even if I have the phone in my pocket doesn't give you enough time to answer. I went to the reception and got him an appt but it was in 4 weeks time.
Last week I had a nurses appointment for bloods, I explained my husbands situation and hey presto she got him an appointment within the next 2 days. He is now waiting for a hospital referral to a vascular consultant, fingers crossed they can help him.

My health centre introduced e-consult, it worked very well from a patient pov, given how many voiced their disappointment when it was discontinued.

Jane112 I have, at times, been my GP practice's fiercest critic, but I agree with RinseandRepeat that the eConsult system only system works well - much better than the 8am telephone scramble or the queues of mainly retired people waiting for the doors to open every morning.

Since the system was introduced, I have been seen for suspected skin cancer the same day I contacted the surgery and was immediately referred for treatment, which I received within days. I've been seen twice within days for a painful hip and I've had a number of routine tests and reviews.

I usually prepare my message in advance, so that it's polite but direct. I state what I want eg. an appointment with a doctor, a review with a nurse, a query about test results or whatever. The initial contact has always been the same day.

Patients have been told that if they can't access the online system, they can ring up or go into the surgery. They will be helped to fill in a form and triaged just like everybody else. If it's urgent, they will be seen urgently.

Incidentally, for those who think waiting rooms are always empty, I popped into the surgery this morning for something. I had been reading this thread and counted the number of people there - there were 14.

Thanks for all the replies and advice, I was lucky enough to be able to eventually speak to my consultant and he has arranged follow up tests but this was only possible because we have BUPA, if we didn't I would be really stuck and obviously you can't use BUPA too often or the premiums increase. We are constantly told that if we think something is wrong we should get in touch with the GP and to be fair the GPs are usually very good if you can get through but the initial gateway is now firmly shut to far too many people, how would anyone working or taking kids to school be able to phone at 8.30? My 78 y.o.neighbour developed a bad infection after surgery, she phoned and the receptionist told her there were no appointments and they were not allowed to pass messages to the doctors, she was eventually advised to wait until the Out Of Hours service took over in the evening, when the doctor eventually phoned back it was her own GP! She got antibiotics which helped but she had to endure stress and pain for a couple of days before getting help, she could well have developed sepsis or other complications. My daughter worked in supported living for those with dementia, she told me she spent many hours on the phone trying to get help for the clients, GPs always refused to visit and instead provided antibiotics without any medical consultation, if that didn't work the staff were told to call an ambulance. It's interesting that today the Assisted Dying Bill is being voted on and many voices are being raised that those who wish to choose this route could be exploited but meanwhile people who desperately want to live are being ignored by GPs and left to cope as best they can, it seems to me that if people die as a result of poor healthcare the government shrugs its shoulders but if someone chooses to end their life they must be stopped at all costs.

I cannot speak for NI but I live in a small town in North Shropshire which has one surgery covering two towns.

Last year, the surgery moved totally to EConsult. This was met with considerable patient opposition but the surgery has stuck to its guns.

The new system works remarkably well. Patients can provide as much information as the want and the surgery will medically triage the form and decide how best to respond. I submitted an EConsult form a month ago and got a text response 10 minutes later offering me dates/times for a face-to-face appointment. I met with a clinician the following day.

Sheian57

I would turn up at the practice and wait to be seen if it was results you need to be treated for. Don't assume the barrier (receptionist) is competent to make a decision. They are not clinically trained, if at all!

This doesn’t sound like an admin problem though. It sounds as though the GPs have changed their summer system.

Not fair to blame the admin for that. Often times those poor people are just doing what the doctors have said and then they get screamed at and put down by the general public as being idiots.

What's a GP appointment again? Oh yes, where you phone and have to tell the receptionist all your business and then you are channelled to the most appropriate health professional! I waited nearly 3 weeks for a routine GP appointment, luckily managed to get a face- to- face, but they seem most reluctant to give you those. I get an asthma review over the phone, but to be fair I have been told any problems do phone. However, I do feel this will be all very well, until a receptionist makes a wrong call about someone's health.

I suggest contacting your local councillor and/or MP. As you said, you are effectively without a GP till September!