GP Surgery laissez faire attitude

[lilley22]

Hi Everyone

I wondered if anyone else has had a run in with their GPs during the virus?

I have R.A. and was asked to go in for my 3month blood test. Because I’d been officially instructed to shield I was not keen. Anyway, I agreed to go along. I was anxious so I wore my mask and disposable gloves, took my antibacterial...not paranoid or anything! Got there - no instructions in entrance (it’s a small surgery but a busy one, normally). I go in and a bloke is sitting right next to the door and reception/book in. You couldn’t avoid him. He didn’t move. He was waiting to pick a patient up. Why wasn’t he asked to wait in the car park? Or a notice in Entrance to that effect? It’s a small practice. No antibacterial anywhere. Receptionist opens glass partition, no face masks whilst she’s talking in your face. Apparently I’ve got wrong day. She sends me home. Practice nurse phoned me later. I explained and apologised. She said receptionist should have fitted me in there and then, whilst I was there. But the receptionist told me the nurse wasn’t there that day, so she’d lied. That’s your medical receptionist for you (not all!). II was booked in two weeks later. Same as before - no instructions and couldn’t see any antibacterial. No face masks. A man was stood smack in the entrance doorway. You had to squeeze past him. Just stood there. Receptionist could see him but said nothing . I squeezed past with my back to him. Had to stand waiting for appt for almost 10 minutes. Eventually I’m in. The nurse seemed terrified and was shaking which didn’t instil me with confidence. The man is still stood in entrance. Another chap is sitting grinning at folk from a chair right next to entrance. Social distancing passed this lot by. I shouted at standing bloke to ‘get out of the way’. Which he did. Poor, though, isn’t it? From a GP surgery that surely should want to be right on the ball with this virus. So slack...

I’d had my NHS/Govt letter from my rheumatoid dept instructing me on shielding at end of March. I got my priority passes at two supermarkets.

However, 3 weeks ago, my GP surgery, at another location, who don’t know me , have never met me, upon receiving the Register Letter request (apparently 2 months late, this is), sent me a rather coarse, ungrammatical letter, unsigned, informing me I was not a critically vulnerable patient and therefore should simply socially distance. I phoned my R.A. nurse who was adamant it was wrong because they’d discussed my case (R.A. dept had been contacted by nhs/govt.) and my age was the ‘final box tick’. Quite right. I phoned the surgery, got a dreadful, shouty ‘nurse’ who dismissed me as ‘definitely not critically etc. etc...I know that! But I was in the ‘second wave’ of patients considered vulnerable. Her response was extraordinary if I’m honest. She refused to listen. The reason I’ve done nothing about a complaint is because, as I still have my official nhs letter etc., I don’t want to rock boats, as it were. Leave it as it is, for now. It rather upset me.

We / I stand out every Thursday night clapping for the NHS. At GP end, in my case (and there have been many other instances) sometimes it sticks in the craw! I clap for everyone out there keeping the wheels moving, as we all do. But NHS if you’re listening, can you tell GP surgeries to shape up? Or is it just me?

Sorry for length. I just find it disappointing that a GP surgery should be so ‘so what’ about this serious situation. When I attended appt. I was anxious enough but expected to be put at ease by strict distancing and protection by staff. I’m quite sure they are also very anxious so - all the more reason to make sure staff and patients are safe whilst at the practice. I sure hope I don’t have to go again.