Has anyone experience problems with their surgery’s system. Can only arrange request through system. Can only submit at 8.00 am in the morning and it’s usually closed at 8.20 stating they are at full capacity due to staff sickness.
My main problem is that the Doctor never reads your problem properly. A typical response was I needed stronger painkillers because paracetamol wasn’t working.I was told to take paracetamol 4 times times a day! Th same happens when a hospital or consultant writes to them, n ever read or told neverv received letter
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Taichid
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Yes. The local GP system is not fit for purpose. Last Monday I had to use the online system to report painful swelling in my foot 4 weeks post hip replacement surgery . I was aware that I was probably in the window for DVT/clot post surgery . There was no reply online just “waiting for surgery response” and on Wednesday I phoned to explain . They fumbled around , after finding my submission the receptionist said it was being dealt with urgently 🤣 and that she would call me be back in a minute. A call didn’t come , I checked online and found that they Brad referred me to a walk in clinic in another village, not my GP surgery. We couldn’t find the clinic , there was no sign post for the building and we got directions from another healthcare centre up the road , they said they are always getting people coming to the wrong facility as the walk in clinic doesn’t have a sign . I saw a “technician “ who wasn’t able to take any bloods etc only vitals like blood pressure . It was a waste of time. They just referred me to A&E. I could’ve gone straight there if the online system worked . I should’ve called 111 I suppose. A&E was heaving , no doubt with people that couldn’t be dealt with locally. I was eventually triaged , blood tests and an xray and sat in the corridor of doom for hours . Saw a Doc at 17:00 who said bloods and xray were ok, to go home and wait for a call to get an ultrasound as a belt & braces to check for clot in upper leg. Got a call Thursday morning to see if I could attend scan on Saturday 🤦🏼 I said no , I could be dead by then , it’s meant to be urgent 🤣… oh ok , can you come in on Friday .. no , don’t bother.. oh ok , can you come in today at 12:30.. yes. I didn’t realise there was a bartering system. 🤣🤣. Another day in hospital , scan took minutes then back to A& E to get results.. heaving again , eventually was given a ticket with an appointment time of 16:00 to see a doctor for results . 3 hours wait , luckily my daughter , who lives nearer the hospital, was at home so we took a sandwich and waited there. Saw a doc at 16:45 and scan results clear , blood tests normal . I still have a very swollen and painful foot. “It’s probably things just settling down “
The local system is pitiful, they didn’t even have updated records to show that I had surgery or the medication added . They hadn’t triaged my submission re swelling, not sure how long it would have taken if I hadn’t phoned .
My hubby always starts his form with "I am living with heart failure and need an urgent appointment " before going on to say what the latest problem is. So far it has worked well and he gets a same day appointment. Good luck.
Yes, your post certainly chimes with me. I'm dissatisfied with the poor service I get from my so called health centre, but there's not much I can do about it. I think more will get into financial difficulties shortly too, so that won't help. Not optimistic about local doctors' surgeries I'm sorry to say 😔
The media regularly reports stories of patients having problems with GP appointments, and some surgeries are taking non-contract-breaking action, such as limiting the number of patients each clinician sees per day. My practice is very good, but these past two years I have spoken to a succession of GPs. I've become used to summarising my situation as concisely as possible. Happily the lead GP recently composed a long referral letter about my medical history, results and medicines which should make it easier for her colleagues to help.
On Thursday I'm seeing an NHS cardiologist and am about to email the department my own summary, rather than spend 10 to 15 minutes answering questions.
EDIT: with reference to DWizza's comment: "they didn’t even have updated records to show that I had surgery or the medication added". The email I've just sent had as attachments my own summary and a letter from my heart surgeon of a year ago summing up my heart status. (My local hospital can't access his records.) Naively perhaps, I also asked if they could access via my GP patient record the comprehensive summary she prepared last week. In the past, Cardiology has been good enough in handling my messages - once I'd unearthed its email address.)
The cascade system clearly doesn't work. If you have an ailment it is roughly as follows;
Ask friends and family as it might be a common problem.
Ask pharmacist
Ask GP
Ask at drop in centre
Ask at local "cottage" hospital
Go to A and E as none of the three medical entry points (GP, Drop in centre, Cottage hospital, worked.
Problems that didn't get scooped up and dealt with much earlier in the cascade but didn't, therefore result in the nuclear option of A an E.
We then get to your specific concern and that is medical people at all levels seem totally surprised to see a named sick person in front of them and haven't bothered to read your notes and rarely listen to your explanation in detail.
My surgery uses a system called Anima which is available 8-4pm. Depending on what you say is the problem, it takes you through a series of relevant questions and you can upload a photo if relevant (unless in an "intimate area" 😮 ). You then get a call back, (or you can request an email,) the speed of response depends on how urgent it is. I have always had a prompt response if it is fairly urgent and the local facebook suggests that others are happy with the service.
If you can't access this, you can phone up and the receptionists will happily do it for you.
I find it easier to write a letter to the doctor, that way you can check and be sure that everything you want to ask is there, keep it to one side of A4 and don't waffle, just facts, put your name NHS number and date of birth at the top and leave it with the reception at the surgery, the doctor will read the letter and if they want you to make an appointment they'll get back in touch, works for me anyway.
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