Here we go again. Got a cough, just like this time last year. Despairing of the GPs who don't want to see you at the surgery unless you can come the same day. This means I have to go sick or take a day off from my job, and then hope they will see you. It goes like this, you wait ages trying to get through. Then the receptionist (classroom assistant) wants to know all about it, trying to involve the pharmacist if she can. Then she agrees to get the doctor to ring you (you never know when they are going to ring that day) and I have a job where phone calls are difficult. Then you have a very difficult 5 minutes trying to explain your symptoms over the phone. I simply want to book at doctors' appointment like we used to do in the old days. Oh and they're advertising for new patients, is there any financial incentive? Is this common? I think I need to find a new GP I can fit into my working life or I'll be sick at home. Am I being unreasonable? Like to know others' thoughts on this......
GP problems: Here we go again. Got a... - Lung Conditions C...
GP problems
Unbelievable.,I would change surgery..asap. In the meantime go to a walk-in clinic to get checked,
Take care x
I agree it is very difficult when working to try and get an appointment or conversation with the doctor. Does your surgery have an on-line booking service? I found this a good way of getting an appointment and ordering medication too. If they do it might help all the annoying phone calls trying to get through. Good luck
I thought that this style of GP practice had gone now. I believed it was brought in so that the GP surgeries could boast that they see patients on the day you phone in and there is no waiting time. Which is useless for many patients with the chronic conditions that we have. Luckily our GPs have never gone down that route. If you have an emergency you will be seen on the day, otherwise you can book online to see the doctor you want. Which in my case is essential as my conditions are rare and complex and I need the continuity of seeing the two GPs who are up to scratch with my problems. So a while back I was able to book a double appointment to see my GP twelve days after I come back from the Royal Brompton next week.
No wonder your practice is advertising for patients. It is an appalling system.
Will it be easy to change?
All the best
K
My surgery now uses a similar system, called ' askmygp' .
It's the security aspect that worries me too.
I have being trying to find out how it works
You could have just booked an appointment, unlikely to get one that day because you are not the only patient. Last time I wanted a phone call, explained the problem to the receptionist so the doctor would know what he was dealing with. A doctor rang back when his appointments had finished. This is all perfectly fine and seems similar to you. He actually asked me to come in (at 7pm), had a poke around, said I probably had a chest infection which was fixed with anti biotics. It's a matter of the patient's attitude I think
I think there are still some GP practices where you cannot book in advance. You can only see a doctor on that day. Which of course means you have to see whoever is available and they willl not be familiar with your case. As I said before it was introduced so that GPs could claim patients would always be seen on the day they phoned.
Yes Katinka, when I rang my practice, I heard a recorded message about the new system.....I could then contact them online or wait for the phone to be answered and go through the triage system as my friend did.
I could ask for a named health professional or ' anyone' to ring me back.
Hi inamoment, they have introduced a new system in my practice....you get a recorded message at the beginning....you don't speak to a receptionist directly.
Every surgery is different..
You are lucky it seems..obviously parlylane needs support or an alternative..
Hello Parkylanestreet, seeing a doctor is governed by many things main one being how many you have in your surgery. Urgent calls are often seen the same day. Walkin clinics are for those with none urgent who are possibly working and call back appointments are usually given to assess the problem. If you are ill you do have the right to leave work and attend an appointment at Surgery, but you have to return to work after. The pharmacy can advice on things like coughs. Appointments can normally be given within 48 hrs if your flexible on time and GP that you will see. If a chronic illness flare you can see the practice nurse which may be quicker, she can refer if she thinks you need a doctor urgently. Having been through the system for a long time these are the options I know of but if you are really fed up with waiting then maybe a new practice might be the solution or a word with the existing practice manager about your appointment difficulties. If I want a routine appointment with a specific doctor on a certain day it takes around a month, and there are lots of doctors in our surgery, but also lots of patients. Hope this info helps and you reach a decision on what to do before your cough worsens. Best Wishes.
Thanks Katie but if you live in London it would be impossible to see your GP and return to work afterwards - it takes an hour for the average 7 mile commute. Very difficult to take calls at work. We live in an age where people are ceasing to matter unless they're wealthy. Thanks anyway and keep well.
understand what you are saying, I live in a city too but not as big as London and I often feel the wealthy who can pay get priority and we seem to be moving towards an americanised type system although in an emergency I get very good care at GPs, its the long term chronic illness care that does not hit the mark , plus minor things that need reassurance. A cough should be investigated as the adverts say, so once again take care and good luck.
The business of the receptionist asking your symptoms has been brought in nationwide ‘so that if you can’t see your own doctor on the day they can give you an appointment with the person best suited to your needs’ I am on our PPG and told them that I for one would regard it as an intrusion and like you, would just like to make an appointment. Unfortunately I thought that many would just end up not seeing a doctor.
The answer to that was ‘ it is purely voluntary to give details. You can say ‘ no thankyou, and no phone call from GP thankyou, please make me an appointment with my GP’
Hmm I think that you have proved my original point!
I do have sympathy with the receptionists because I know that many are not happy to be asked to do this.
I agree with the online appointment booking solution. Also, even if there are no appointments by telephone available they have to keep some available online.
Failing all of that there is always the complaints procedure.
The doctors are simply refusing to give you an appointment unless they call you back first, hence all the trouble. I am caught between my employer and my health. The receptionist is being used as a buffer between you and the doctor. They know this. The GPs were handed a superb contract by the Blair government and Mrs. May has been unable to amend it. Yet for the sake of the country we must confront them. After all we all have paid in. There is no doubt there is widespread discontent with GPs right now. I am having to shop around for one that understands the health service is for patients first. I personally think the NHS is being run down preparing it for some sort of privatisation. This must be confronted too. Thanks for your thoughts
I don't see any problem with telling the receptionist why you need to see a doctor. Imagine ringing a plumber and not telling the call taker what was wrong!
I think you will find this is becoming the normal thing now and most GPS in the UK will follow we have it in our town x
Personally speaking I feel there is a great deal of difference between ringing a plumber about a leaky tap or burst pipe and speaking about a personal medical problem to a receptionist at the doctors. I don't want a receptionist deciding or advising me on what I need to do or see, and this has happened on occasions for both my husband and myself. I feel it is intrusive and I find myself getting aggravated and defensive which doesn't help in a situation where you are trying to get help, and this not the kind of person I am which ultimately upsets me. Twice lately my husband has come off the phone to say he's got an appointment to see a GP, only to find it's the nurse when he got there. Twice he's been prescribed by her and twice he's had to go back and see a GP! How can that be beneficial to either the practice or the patient, financially or healthwise?
Also my nextdoor neighbour is one of the receptionists at our surgery and I don't particularly want her knowing my personal business and not everyone is as trustworthy as you would like to think.
I know when I was working I had to do all this as well and it was such a pain. My employers insisted I have an early or late one as possible to avoid missing too much work. I don't know how I would have got on if I had to have a call back first as working in a call centre I was not allowed to have my own phone out or to answer it. This was only allowed in break time.
Ridiculous.
My surgery currently has a 'ring at 8.30 and hope you can get through'. I did and got through 15 minutes later which I thought was great, only to be told no appointments available but there was one at another of their surgeries an hours long bus ride away! I popped in to see them and was offered a couple at 7.30 am or in 2 weeks. I gave up and still haven't gone.
This is happening all too often now and has for a very long time now, this is nothing new!. I buy a lot of my medication on line now and recognise I am lucky to be able to do so because I got to the point where I couldn't cope with all the hassle entailed to even get a prescription. It isn't right but it's easier! Thank goodness I am stable but dread the day this isn't so and have to fight my way to see a GP or even see a practice nurse that actually knows what they are talking about.
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