Will G P Surgeries Ever Return To Normal?

[naomi24]

Disillusionment with the recently adopted and utterly hopeless system is an understatement!

Is anyone aware of an organisation that is campaigning to get GP surgeries working as they were pre-Covid? I want to join!

[mushroom25]

round here you cannot ask for or book an appointment. the phone line opens at 8-30 and the technique is to repeatedly hit last number redial until you don't get an "engaged" tone. however if you don't get answered before 8-40, all that day's slots will be gone and the only recourse will be "try again tomorrow". if you get a slot for that day it will only be by phone, and it will be with the practice nurse, not a doctor. and they won't give you a time, it could be anytime at all that day.

[ToraToraTora]

What happens if you go in person first thing? does that put you ahead of the phone?

[ToraToraTora]

I have no experience of this at all. I assume that home visits are now out of the question? They always used to resist that at all costs even before the pandemic.

[mushroom25]

// What happens if you go in person first thing? //
no access to the surgery except by prior arrangement.

[ToraToraTora]

You can just walk in to mine, I went the other day to wait with a mate of mine. While I was waiting I noticed people going up to the receptionists, just wondered if they could make appointments like that.

[237SJ]

Round here you can't even phone for an appointment. You have to complete an online triage and the doctor decides whether you will have an appointment or not. If you phone up, the receptionist will complete an abbreviated online triage on your behalf but they won't make an appointment for you. Chances are the appointment will be over the telephone. When I have had an appointment it has been with the practice nurse. I counted 19 chairs in the waiting room and only 3 of them occupied and it has been like that every time I have been there. GPs have found a better way that works for them and they are going to stick to it.

[jennyjoan]

some weeks ago my cousin spoke to doctor on phone about a rash she had - he told her it was shingles without seeing her and left her antiviral tablets. She is still pretty bad

[Barsel]

I suppose I'm quite lucky with my GP's surgery.
Fill in an online triage form at 8 a.m. saying why you need a doctor.
Is there any particular one you would like to see, although that cannot be guaranteed?
Do you need to come into the surgery or do you require a home visit?
I've just read that my previous surgery is closing at the end of this month as a GP has retired and the is no one to replace him.
All their patients will be farmed out to other practices and that will make things even worse.

[Countrylover]

I have found 111 the best way now. Wait until gp surgery is closed!!, 22 doctor visits and one telephone consultation at night last week. Only of course if it's for serious problems. This is so wrong. All down to the Blair days when GP demands were given into.

[Countrylover]

Start a petition to government, Naomi. I'll gladly sign!

[Redhelen72]

I can honestly say I have never had an issue in getting to see a doctor

[237SJ]

A friend of mine was the nurse prescriber in a fairly rural GP practice. She said that there is a real problem trying to recruit rural GPs. A lot of GPs are retiring and are being replaced by GPs from abroad. Where I live we have about 8 GPs and they are all Indian (and they are good) The trouble is that when staff come from abroad they don't want to go and live in the back of beyond - they want to go to the cities where their communities are and where there are chances to further their careers.

[vulcan42]

I don't think they will return to pre-covid days, the doctors enjoy their newly found dictatorship too much. Our doctors used to emphasise prevention is better than cure and we had a check up every year. Now I've not seen or spoken to a doctor since 2019, on the last three occasions when phoning I couldn't get past the security guard, she was once the receptionist and I don't even know who my doctor is, as the last two newcomers have already left. My original doctor left when the Covid arrived, he's not called Jack but he's certainly doing alright.

[naomi24]

I’m seriously thinking of contacting one of the big national newspapers and asking them to take up the crusade, lottie. This needs ‘welly’ and plenty of it. It really is an utter disgrace.

[Countrylover]

2 doctor visits . Not 22!!

[Countrylover]

Good idea Naomi.

[237SJ]

I think GP practices are (sort of within the NHS) independent businesses with their own budget and way or working so I don't think the newpapers can do anything.

[vulcan42]

It's not looking good naomi, the last petition was rejected.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/618031

[Countrylover]

And Hi Red. Good to see you.

[TheWinner]

Nice to see Redhelen72.