What are the different type of consultation available in UK today?
In my GP practice, telephone the surgery after 0830 for an appointment face to face to a telephone call back appointment.
Members, "Do you use any other access method for consultation?"
Booking appontments at my Practice it's similar to yours Bala, it's a book-on-the-day system from 8.30am til 9am for an appointment the same day. The trouble with that is getting through & you can be ages waiting in a queue or need to ring back & then there's the possibility all appointment slots have been filled. If you are genuinely unable to use the telephone at this time you can let them know and they'll note it on the system and allow you to book an appointment in advance. Urgent calls will always be seen on the same day but not necessarily by your usual GP
If you are registered for online access there are appointments available for booking online. They also offer telephone appointments with GP's & Nurses if you think that this may be better than going to the Practice.
Regular appointment slots can be booked in advance, such as drug monitoring bloods or as I did when I was trying to get my pain relief to the rights level & was having monthly appointments.
Hope this helps.
Thanks.
If new technology methods are available (web access to surgery, one to one email and one to one video consultation) and the old method face to face or telephone consultation which one would you go for?
I strongly feel we can access and use new technology for consultation.
I've used telephone consultations in the past but nothing would beat face to face for me I'm afraid, if an examination is necessary to diagnose particularly. I've not used video consultation personally but my Consultant used to in Spain where it's the norm, going back 3 years or so. They're years ahead of the NHS as far as using technology is concerned.
I can book non urgent appointments via phone or on line . urgent appointments can be booked on the day though they do sometimes try to persuade me to have a telephone consultation instead. Incidentally recently we have been able to order most repeat prescriptions on line as well which is helpful. I would like to be able to email the surgery maybe soon.
I agree Mary, I've found online prescription ordering much better, we had a few of the normal blips but they now been sorted. Nobody could explain why but for some reason my etoricoxib wasn't on my repeat & it had to be signed off by my GP but now it is I've not had any other issues. We have ours sent directly to our chemist & as a rule to collect the next day, or have it delivered if we prefer. We also have the option if we prefer of calling our chemist to arrange for repeats to be issued but it's so easy to do it online we've not chosen to do that.
Thank you.
Booking appointment on line, can you see the appointment diary on line to book? Very good system. This process can help a lot of people.
As long as you access it first thing you stand a chance as only the same days are available. I've not used it myself so not tested it out.
My GP practice also does the 8.30 a.m. thing and is always engaged. You have to keep dialling until you get someone and then like others have said the appointments have gone. You can book in advance but very often it's at least a couple of weeks off. However, I am very lucky in that the GP I use not all the practice allows me to email him, which is great. I can just ask a simple question at anytime, plus he even replies evenings and weekends and on one occasion whilst he was on holiday. It means that he can do it at a time that is best for him. At the moment I am housebound due to other things going on and he is happy to visit me at home. He came last week and is coming back next week without me even asking. Plus, if I go into the surgery he will book my next appointment for me so I don't have to deal with the receptionist. I'm sure this doesn't happen very often in the UK. What I do think is that it's about time the whole of the NHS used email instead of posting letters when people have access to the internet. Think how much money that would save on postage! Recently I got a hospital appointment and not only that I got 3 identical letters all posted separately, is it any wonder the NHS is short of money!
Appointments in advance are in personal, by telephone, or book on line (I prefer the latter as I can see when all the appointments free are, and choose the best for me)
Urgent same day - ring and either you are put in with the duty doctor or if they are all gone, the specialist nurse rings me at home, she usually wants me to see the doctor rather than her, so she slots me in urgently.
they are waiting for an increase in the availability of the computer system to provide email, but repeat prescriptions can be ordered on line. I would like to be able to email both the GP and the rheumatologist with my queries, rather than be unsure about what to do. I don't like telephone consultations much, I feel that the doctor cannot see how I look and will tend to underestimate how bad I feel when I'm, as usual, putting on a brave "sensible" voice. only if I dissolve into tears will the person on the end of the line know how awful I feel.
Yes I use email with my GP but am aware this is unusual because of patient confidentiality. It is very useful as can be hard to get appointments but they will call back to a message - usually after surgery in the evenings.
Thank you.
Private consultation 
Gp on line access to medical tests
Access to the Countryside
Intrigued by the access correspondents have to doctors.
Telephone consultation 
