Shout Out To The Nhs

[237SJ]

Apart from the vaccination programme which has been great - they are still performing where they need to perform. I think that in some ways, the telephone consultations with GPs have made the system more efficient. No more waiting ages for an appointment and if you do need one, then you will get one faster.

[Vagus]

Couldn’t agree more, I love telephone consultations, it’s just a shame it took a pandemic to make them the norm.

[Sqad]

Total agreement with vagus and 237.

[237SJ]

Went to see a private dermatologist this morning. I/she noticed something suspect. Phoned the GP when I got home at lunchtime. Within an hour he was on the phone. Within another hour the local hospital phoned with an appointment for monday which is also a bank holiday. I know there is still the 2 week rule within the NHS but even so, that was impressive.

[Buenchico]

I've never had a problem getting a same-day appointment with a GP, either before or since the start of Covid problems.

However I agree that things generally run smoothly with telephone appointments. For me though it's consultations with my hospital consultant that are so much easier. I no longer have to drive 12 miles to the hospital on busy roads, pay £2 to park, book in at the clinic, wait to see the consultant, speak to him for a few minutes and then drive 12 miles home ago. I simply wait for him to call me at home on the booked time and date. Easy peasy!

[MWG14]

Telephone consultations will never replace face to face ones in my opinion. We are in our 80s and between us we have several serious problems. Neither of us wish to be triaged by a receptionist on the end of a phone, if we can even get to the head of the queue.

[237SJ]

MWG14 - They won't replace face to face consultations but I think that in some situations they work. A friend if mine is a Nurse Practitoner and she triages people over the phone. If she thinks that she needs to see them, she brings them into the surgery.

[ummmm]

I love the telephone consultations. I find we get more discussed than face to face appointments.

[burlyshirley]

I think there's good and bad for both, personally I prefer face to face.

[pixie374]

Totally agree 237. I couldn't understand why they didn't use it years ago. They seemed to be obsessed with calling in happy, healthy people for meds reviews, while those with an actual problem, had no chance of seeing anyone. Such a waste of time.
It won't be suitable for everyone and every condition, every time, of course, but is definitely a useful addition. We have had some for clients, which also means they don't need to pay for extra calls and stress about going out, because we just take the phone calls from home.

[Vagus]

Our receptionists never triage us. We ring up, ask for a telephone consultation and are given the next available one, no questions asked.
We too both have fairly complex medical conditions but rarely actually need to see a doctor face to face to sort any problems out.

[anneasquith]

Telephone consultations should never be used in place of face to face consultations., unless the ailment is fairly trivial. I do wonder if in the future we will find it very difficult to actually’ see’ out medical staff?

[pixie374]

Anne, in theory it should be easier- when it's only those who need to.

[david small]

So much avoidable pain and misery. A torrent of abuse wouldn’t suffice to stem the bitterness. The good, the bad, and the dammed useless. Apart from that, yeh to the NHS.

[LadyCG]

Virtual clinics have been going for years, particularly Virtual Fracture Clinics.

[barry1010]

I am loving the many hospital appointments I have to attend. Used to take up at least 3 hours, once 7. Now in and out in 45 minutes. Fabulous

[Musictv2019]

My doctor is terrible she never checks on me and my family and I'm still waiting on word about my second covid vaccine and I haven't seen her in more than two years.

[naomi24]

I like phone consultations. Saves so much time.

[theshedman]

Telephone consultations would be good if we could get one without waiting over 2 weeks just to speak to a nurse then another wait to speak to a doctor. Our main problem is getting past the receptionist. Some of them are quite pleasant and helpful, others are like little hitlers.

[emmie]

i have a telephone consult with a doctor now every month, ever since christmas when i went downhill pretty fast. But i did want to speak to the same GP the other week and was told no, there were no telephone consults for three weeks or more, after much badgering on my part to the receptionist got a next day call back.

[davebro]

"My doctor is terrible she never checks on me and my family"

WHAT! You expect the doc to ring everyone on their list to see if they are OK? ROFL