Today I had to ring GP for chest infection which has curtailed my activities for the past week and shows no sign of improving. We all know the score with trying to get through however our surgery recently introduced a ring back option instead of hanging on the phone so today I chose that option as even ringing on the dot of when lines opened I was something like 40 ish in the queue - which would mean at least an hour on the phone.
That was at 8.30a.m. I just got the call back at 10.50 - so considering huge demand on services - a win. Bad news - it wasn’t a GP but good news - an excellent Paramedic who read my rather extensive notes and then asked very pertinent questions - including would you like me to prescribe antibiotics over the phone or do you want to be seen? I chose the former after which I was reassured I could see someone immediately if I was concerned. I then got the check your O2 Sats drill, well versed in that, followed by ‘don’t hesitate to call again if any problems’.
Now 3 questions:-
Q 1. Given the current state of NHS services, huge demand on demoralised and overworked staff - would that be that be good enough for you?
My Answer:- YES! Paramedic was articulate and clear, read my notes, asked me questions. I felt I had been heard, reassured and given options. He checked out my level of competence at self assessment - which I admit could be a little iffy for some. In my defence - I am very body aware and I have a rudimentary knowledge of my conditions and drugs.
I didn’t think I needed to see a GP for a physical exam - I could hear my wheeze - and I certainly don’t need to see the same GP, although I get some people, especially older people are used to that service and want to continue and I get there may be good reasons for that.
Q2. One of the questions asked raised my ‘red alert’ flag which was:- ‘have you ever been asked to stop your medication when taking antibiotics?’ Specifically - do I take Statins? Of course the answer is NO to the stains but I do know that some antibiotics will affect the efficacy of some of the drugs used to treat AF. Do you know which?
Now given recent discussions on this forum on this subject - it’s worthwhile noting that many antibiotics react with other medications so something always to check. I was pleased though that this was on the surgery’s radar and they were asking the questions? Comments?
Q3. Our surgery has recently moved over to a new AI online system called ANIMA which the blurb says - Anima will ask you all the same questions that our Clinicians and Administrators would usually ask, meaning we will have all the information we need to help you and to assess to what the next steps for you might be.
Anima is available through the NHS app so I’m going to sign up but has anyone else already used this service? If so what did you think of it?
Would you be willing to try, given the option?
Pharmacy has the prescription so Hubby on his way to collect - my score for NHS service today - 9/10.
1 point deducted for the anticipatory stress in even thinking about needing to call the surgery but after today’s experience, if repeated, next time 10/10.
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CDreamer
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That is good to hear, CD. I don't think my practice has introduced a ring back service...yet. Hopefully it might as it sounds like a better system. I had a chest infection towards the end of last year and I did see a paramedic face-to-face at my surgery who was also very good and prescribed antibiotics though I don't recall her asking about what other medications I was on although she was aware I had heart issues (AF and HF and all my meds are on the system of course). We do seem to have just started video consultations in my area (NW) with hospital services but not with GP's as far as I know. I had a video consultation with a dietician which went much better than a telephone call a few months' previously with a different dietician and I also have another video consultation booked for March 12th for an assessment for the pain clinic which I have been trying to get referred to for the past 5 years' nearly.
Oh my goodness - 5year referral wait for pain clinic? You have my sympathies. It’s the very long wait for referrals to speciality clinics which is most frustrating.
That sounds good to me, we also have to hang on the phone for ages. Not so happy with NHS at the moment as have been waiting for procedure for unpassable kidney stones. I was referred last July and I am still on the waiting list. Have been bleeding the whole time due to the anticoagulant which I can’t stop due to the AF.
my surgery doesn’t yet have a ring back service but - like you - I have been hit by a nasty chest infection and - like you - was seen by an excellent paramedic- really thorough, asked lots of pertinent questions and prescribed antibiotics. He appeared to have read my notes, knew about my AF and made sure I was happy with the outcome. For this type of ‘illness’ I would be happy to speak to a paramedic who I felt was more thorough than some of the locum GP’s I have seen in the past. Hope the antibiotics do the trick for you CD. Liz
That's brilliant. I have to say our surgery is very good at the moment - it used to be better but I can't grumble. We can phone for an emergency appointment between 8am and 9am for an appointment later that morning and again between 2 and 3 for an appointment later that afternoon or evening. We can also ask for a call back with either, GP, practice nurse, or pharmacist - the nurse and pharmacist can then, if necessary, make an earlier appointment with the GP. Routine appointments can be made 3 weeks in advance. Other than the odd blips early in the week when it seems the world and his wife are asking for emergency appointments this is still working well. How I wish we in Wales had the NHS App though as it still seems to take ages to get test results which my friends who live in Oxford can usually get within 24 hours - usually the same day.
One thing I have noticed is that it is easier to get through using a mobile phone than a landline as the landline always seems to get the engaged tone whereas the mobile must get through quicker and rings through. We have often used both phones and the landline gives engaged but mobile - used at exactly the same time rings through.
Clarithromycin - which according to the NHS I shouldn’t take at all and reacts with a lot of meds but I trust the Myaware drug list more and had it before so although I have horrible side effects - diarrhea, headaches, giddiness & loss of appetite (no bad thing) at least it is effective.
That all sounds good (not counting the chest infection) but I would like to point out that this is not credit to the NHS! It is down to the practice to use Ringback, paramedics, nurses, an in-house pharmacist, an in-house physiotherapy service and *sensible receptionists*, as well as instituting a reasonable appointment regime. All of these my surgery has done for some time, although receptionists are a bit hit and miss. If anyone has a surgery that doesn’t use this system they should complain to the practice manager until things improve. Although GP practices are constrained by the Care Commissioners, if one can do it others should at least try harder.
The NHS pays the doctors and NICE, Care Commissioners and CQC regulate them, as I understand it. If you want to see how your surgery is rated you can look up the latest Care Quality Commission report.
I saw a paramedic a while back. I thought she was very thorough, more so than the GP, I would say and answered my questions. Would be happy to see her again. As regards drugs, I keep a list from the NICE website, on my phone, of all the drugs that react with my medication. If I’m prescribed any new drug, or even getting over the counter medicine, I’ll check for reactions before I take it. Often the Drs don’t check if they’re safe to take with your medication, when they prescribe you anything. Very useful to have, as my Sotalol has lots of drugs that it reacts with.
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