Doctors Appointments

[Future17]

I considered adding this to the Coronavirus thread, but I know that's quite fast-moving and I'm hoping a few people with relevant experience might see this and respond (so didn't want it missed).

Does anyone have any recent experience of trying to get a doctor's appointment for something non-Covid? My wife has literally been trying for over three weeks now with no success. Initially, she was phoning in the morning and it would just ring out after a message saying they were experiencing high call volumes and staff shortages. There was an option to "press 1" if the call was urgent, but she did not consider it was and didn't want to "jump the queue".

Eventually, she sent an e-mail to the surgery and they called her back, but said they couldn't book appointments that way and she'd have to keep trying each morning by phone. They told her just to "press 1" even if she didn't consider it was urgent as she'd been trying for so long. She's now tried that for the past three mornings and, despite getting through to someone, has been told all the appointments have been taken each day. She's told this after being "triaged" by the person answering the phone (by which I mean that person has asked her what she needs to see the doctor about). I think it's fair to say that the need for the appointment wouldn't necessarily be described as "urgent", but it is relatively serious.

The surgery has a very poor reputation generally in the local area, in that I've only ever heard bad stories about it and my one interaction with them was textbook incompetence (theirs, not mine :greengrin). I just wondered whether this apparent lack of appointments is another example of their poor service, or whether it is something more common in the current circumstances we're living in.

Any input greatly appreciated!

[Berwickhibby]

The last Drs appoint I had was around 3 months ago and it was a telephone call appointment, then a prescription sent directly to local chemist.

[Future17]

The last Drs appoint I had was around 3 months ago and it was a telephone call appointment, then a prescription sent directly to local chemist.

I thought that's what they might do at least as a starting point - following up with a face-to-face appointment if necessary (which I think it will be). As it stands, she hasn't even been offered that.

[Jones28]

I considered adding this to the Coronavirus thread, but I know that's quite fast-moving and I'm hoping a few people with relevant experience might see this and respond (so didn't want it missed).

Does anyone have any recent experience of trying to get a doctor's appointment for something non-Covid? My wife has literally been trying for over three weeks now with no success. Initially, she was phoning in the morning and it would just ring out after a message saying they were experiencing high call volumes and staff shortages. There was an option to "press 1" if the call was urgent, but she did not consider it was and didn't want to "jump the queue".

Eventually, she sent an e-mail to the surgery and they called her back, but said they couldn't book appointments that way and she'd have to keep trying each morning by phone. They told her just to "press 1" even if she didn't consider it was urgent as she'd been trying for so long. She's now tried that for the past three mornings and, despite getting through to someone, has been told all the appointments have been taken each day. She's told this after being "triaged" by the person answering the phone (by which I mean that person has asked her what she needs to see the doctor about). I think it's fair to say that the need for the appointment wouldn't necessarily be described as "urgent", but it is relatively serious.

The surgery has a very poor reputation generally in the local area, in that I've only ever heard bad stories about it and my one interaction with them was textbook incompetence (theirs, not mine :greengrin). I just wondered whether this apparent lack of appointments is another example of their poor service, or whether it is something more common in the current circumstances we're living in.

Any input greatly appreciated!

I don't have any experience recently but my wife tried to book appointments at our local surgery pre-lockdown and was offered slots 3/4 weeks away. If I was in your shoes I'd take the "option 1" route, it sounds like that's the only way she'll get an anywhere. You can bet that others are taking that option without the consideration for others your wife has shown.

[Killiehibbie]

It seems to be impossible to get an appointment to see a GP. My Mum gas been trying for weeks.

[Jay]

Seems to be a bit of a lottery. Ours have been outstanding throughout. I've had a few phone calls over the last few months and go in monthly for bloods. We phone anytime and are 'seen' within a couple of days.

[stokesmessiah]

I called my local GP yesterday, got straight through to a GP who spent 5/10 minutes on the phone with me and had me booked in by 8:30 this morning. Can’t fault the service at all in my area, hope you get something sorted soon.

[Bostonhibby]

Extremely difficult, pre Coronavirus there was a pretty obstructive barrier of non medical people to get past to get to an actual GP.

Now if you get through it's a phone call back whatever the problem or your requirement.

They do say working practices and environments will never be the same.

I can see us heading towards a utopia for the GP fundholders where the actual partners never have any reason to turn up at all!

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

[DH1875]

My doctors iOS open and has been throughout. Had to go a couple of times now, No problems. You phone them in the morning and speak to reception. They take some details of what's wrong and pass that info to doctor who will then phone you back at some point that day. Doctor phones back and 5/10 minutes consultation and they will either send prescription to chemist for you to get stuff their or arrange for you to go in. If you need to go in the surgery is all cordend off with barriers in place. There's a nurse at a table who takes your temp and asks covid related questions. Once you pass this your allowed into seatting area to wait on doctor. Seatting area used to sit about 20 people and now just 2 seats, one either side of the room. Doctor comes to get you and she is covered from head to toe in ppe. Looks like something out a movie lol.

Dentists on the other hand, shambles. Can't get anything and had toothache for about a month.

[JeMeSouviens]

This probably won't help your immediate query, but for the future it's worth checking if your gp is registered for online services:

https://www.patient-services.co.uk/web/ps/register

Takes all the pain out of getting non-urgent appointments.

[Keith_M]

This is a current bug bear of mine.

I have two non Covid problems that aren't major in the grand scheme of things but are making my life a misery.


I've been having a problem with my ear for quite a while now and so far have only been able to get a telephone appointment with my doctor. I can describe the problem till I'm blue in the face but that's not a replacement for somebody actually taking a look at it. It alternates between a slight tingling in my ear and, at it's worst, swelling and pain on one side of my face and neck.

The Doctor's advice? A prescription for Ear Wax remover... which apparently has a danger of solidifying in the ear if over-used and actually making it worse (which I'm convinced has now happened)

The second problem, and much worse, is the incredible pain I now have in my left hip and lower back. I had a scan in January that found possible evidence of rheumatoid arthritis, but they needed to follow that up with a second scan, as it wasn't clear. Some days the pain is so bad that I can hardly walk to the shops.

I tried to tell them at the time that I'd actually damaged my leg and hip when I was young and could they investigate if that could be the cause (or at least a contributing factor) in some way. That's the reason for the follow up scan. But the only contact I now have is... a telephone appointment with my doctor. He says the Hospital is not going to be taking non-serious cases (being in agony is apparently not serious) for quite some time and prescribes me Voltarol... which I apply every day and doesn't seem to help at all.



Oh well, at least I'm not in danger of catching Covid

:rolleyes:




p.s. Yes, I am a bit grumpy today ;-)

[Smartie]

We’re with Leith Mount surgery who have been superb - my partner is just off the phone to our GP.

Nothing major - all to do with a constipated toddler who is having pain passing anything - but we’ve not had any issues, at any point.

Obviously we didn’t bother them much at the height of the pandemic but we’ve been delighted with the service we have received. It’s a great practice actually, we’ve never had any problems at all, they’ve served us really well.

[Smartie]

My doctors iOS open and has been throughout. Had to go a couple of times now, No problems. You phone them in the morning and speak to reception. They take some details of what's wrong and pass that info to doctor who will then phone you back at some point that day. Doctor phones back and 5/10 minutes consultation and they will either send prescription to chemist for you to get stuff their or arrange for you to go in. If you need to go in the surgery is all cordend off with barriers in place. There's a nurse at a table who takes your temp and asks covid related questions. Once you pass this your allowed into seatting area to wait on doctor. Seatting area used to sit about 20 people and now just 2 seats, one either side of the room. Doctor comes to get you and she is covered from head to toe in ppe. Looks like something out a movie lol.

Dentists on the other hand, shambles. Can't get anything and had toothache for about a month.

Re dentists - dentists are able to take on new patients again. There’s huge variation across the profession, some still closed, some open and treating everything.

If you’re not happy with the service you are receiving vote with your feet and go elsewhere. There is absolutely no valid reason any more (if ever there was) that a dental practice should be leaving their patients in pain.

[overdrive]

I’ve not tried the doctor since lockdown but I suspect it will be a shambles as it was a shambles pre-lockdown. You pretty much had to be at death’s door to get an appointment.

I’m overdue my regular cholesterol check but I’ll try and lose some of the lockdown weight before pushing it as you just get absolute cheek if you have put on any weight since the last check (“grotesque” is the word one doctor used to describe me to my face).

[pollution]

This deterioration in dentist and doctor services will come back to bite us in the future.

A filling came out after just 2 months of being put in by my dentist. Yes, just two months.

This was just after lock down and despite phoning they still cannot replace it. Not allowed to, don't have the right masks etc etc

I don't know who to believe any more.

[Billy Whizz]

This deterioration in dentist and doctor services will come back to bite us in the future.

A filling came out after just 2 months of being put in by my dentist. Yes, just two months.

This was just after lock down and despite phoning they still cannot replace it. Not allowed to, don't have the right masks etc etc

I don't know who to believe any more.

I have a dental plan, which as part of, I get 2 hygienists appts per year
They are still taking the money, but obviously not getting the services

[Smartie]

This deterioration in dentist and doctor services will come back to bite us in the future.

A filling came out after just 2 months of being put in by my dentist. Yes, just two months.

This was just after lock down and despite phoning they still cannot replace it. Not allowed to, don't have the right masks etc etc

I don't know who to believe any more.

I couldn't agree more with the first line.

It isn't easy for the dentists and doctors right now though.

The coronavirus has made it necessary for a certain level of PPE to be used - it costs more money than before, and can be trickier to get hold of. After certain dental procedures, the surgery has to be left empty for an hour - "fallow time" as it is known, unless you have fairly elaborate equipment to ventilate the room, exchange the air and get going again soon.

NHS dentistry has been underfunded for decades and relies on quick appointments, cramming loads of patients into the day and business wise work on very small profit margins - and simply isn't viable in the current climate. It's easy to label the clinicians as "greedy" but should how much should people be expected to pay to work? NHS dentists have been being given 80% of their NHS incomes to do f all - a move designed to keep them in business but one that does little for patients. There have been central "hubs" set up to deal with patients in pain, so dentists who are not set up to carry out procedures themselves for whatever reason can send their patients elsewhere to get the emergency treatment they need - but this doesn't always happen, again for various reasons.

Some dentists are finding solutions, taking financial hits and simply making it happen. Some are happy to take the cash, see their patients suffer and eventually will face the consequences of that.

There have been issues with mask procurement - the NHS have revived a load of stock that have been stockpiled for previous pandemics etc and these were allocated to practices. Some of those have been found to have had REALLY old expiry dates etc though and some folk have been hesitant to use them. Practice owners are between a rock and a hard place really - the equipment may not be suitable for use and they have an obligation as an employer to provide a safe environment - they also might go out of business if they provide unviable treatment for long enough - and if they stay closed but remain in business their patients suffer, patients who they have a moral and ethical obligation to help.

I think the government had hoped we would have virus levels at a lower level by now - because the Royal College of Guidelines have stated that when we drop to "alert level 2" then the need for enhanced PPE, fallow time etc is no more, and we can get on again like normal. We're not there yet though, and it appears to be just about as far away as ever.

Similar regulations etc will be in place for doctors I would expect, which is why we see issues there.

Unfortunately different practices have different demographics, profiles and make-ups, meaning that there are different incentives for different places to try to find solutions. It is inexcusable but sadly that is where we are.

If I go on much longer I'll give away what I do for a living, and I'll end up saying what I REALLY think.

[Billy Whizz]

My mum went for her check up last week, had to pay £10 for PPE equipment before she got in, also took her temperature in the car park

[silverhibee]

I thought that's what they might do at least as a starting point - following up with a face-to-face appointment if necessary (which I think it will be). As it stands, she hasn't even been offered that.

I had to see a doctor a couple of weeks a go, phoned the surgery and I was told to phone back in afternoon which I did and was asked why I would need to see a doctor, explained the situation and was called back by a doctor a short time later, spoke to him and I was asked to go to the surgery to see doctor that day.

[Jay]

I have a dental plan, which as part of, I get 2 hygienists appts per year
They are still taking the money, but obviously not getting the services


I've not needed any dental treatment for 25 years and see my dentist every 6 months. Of course I had horrific toothache during lockdown :rolleyes: I had to wait until they were allowed to do very limited work and got my tooth taken out but there was no charge. My son had to have a wisdom tooth out a few weeks ago and was the same.

[Jones28]

My mum went for her check up last week, had to pay £10 for PPE equipment before she got in, also took her temperature in the car park

What a ****ing joke, £10? Sounds like profiteering.

[stu in nottingham]

Just around the time that lockdown began I was due an annual review of repeat medication from the GP before I could make my two-monthly request. The review was cancelled and one month's medication given which has continued for six months, having to negotiate a request every month that I have a review due when making a prescription request though no GPs were seeing anyone.

At first they would pass the prescription out of the surgery window! After this it was directed to a pharmacy for collection. Finally, after six months, I am having a review, blood test etc., not with a GP even now but with a nurse at the surgery. It's pretty hopeless actually. I guess the message is 'don't get ill'.

[Hibrandenburg]

I have been hearing from friends for a while now, that trying to get medical attention from a Dr in Musselburgh is almost impossible and when you finally do manage to get an appointment then it's weeks away. I thought they were exaggerating but reading this thread would seem to confirm their claims.

I can't get my head around how as a nation people put up with that, it's absolutely baffling.

[Berwickhibby]

I have been hearing from friends for a while now, that trying to get medical attention from a Dr in Musselburgh is almost impossible and when you finally do manage to get an appointment then it's weeks away. I thought they were exaggerating but reading this thread would seem to confirm their claims.

I can't get my head around how as a nation people put up with that, it's absolutely baffling.

Yeah! what's the Health Minister and those in charge doing

[oconnors_strip]

I work in a doctors surgery in Edinburgh and I agree with and understand some points made on here.

Each surgery works differently and if owned by the doctors they can set their own rules and protocols. At my work we have been doing telephone or video consultations since the middle of March and only seeing very urgent patients who need a physical examination or an urgent blood test/injection, wound care etc. When you phone the appointments number, us reception team ask for a very brief description of why you need to speak to the doctor so they can triage their appointments/messages so everyone gets the care they need and in the appropriate time scale. If it’s urgent you will speak to a doctor that day otherwise it’s normally about 2-3 days for a telephone appointment. In normal times it was a 2 week wait for an appointment.

For the first few months of lockdown we were quiet as patients were stuck indoors and ignoring their health or not realising we were open!! but as measures started to ease we have been run off our feet!

Regarding prescriptions, we send all of them to a pharmacy of the patients choice as our front doors are still on lockdown. And because of the doors being locked our call volume is even higher than before, from 8:00am til 6:00pm our main phone does not stop and even more so now with flu jab enquires.

If people are not happy with their surgery, get in contact with the health board who will contact the surgery directly.

[CmoantheHibs]

I called up about 3 weeks ago. I’d previously tried but it just rang out. Anyway they booked me for a phone appointment a few days afterwards and on speaking with the doctor he arranged for me to come in early the next week. Had to call a number when I arrived and was told to remain outside and the doctor would come out and collect me from a side entrance. They were using a different part of the health centre than normal and the side door took you more or less directly to the rooms. All seemed fairly efficient and meant nobody was traipsing through the place other than for a very short distance which presumably means a lot less contact and cleaning. Thought it was very efficient.

[Hibrandenburg]

Yeah! what's the Health Minister and those in charge doing

Maybe they should think about raising national insurance contributions?

[Callum_62]

Got an appointment for my wee one same day

Sent from my VOG-L29 using Tapatalk

[Berwickhibby]

Maybe they should think about raising national insurance contributions?

I would be all for that providing the extra revenue actually went into the Health Service and not syphoned of elsewhere

[Hibrandenburg]

I would be all for that providing the extra revenue actually went into the Health Service and not syphoned of elsewhere

Would the Scottish government be allowed to do that?

[Berwickhibby]

Would the Scottish government be allowed to do that?

Honestly I do not know...Scottish Government can increase taxation on income but do not know about National Insurance

[JeMeSouviens]

Would the Scottish government be allowed to do that?

No. NI is reserved.

[Hibrandenburg]

No. NI is reserved.

I knew that before I posed the question :wink:

[marinello59]

Maybe they should think about raising national insurance contributions?


I knew that before I posed the question :wink:

Obviously. :greengrin
I'm not so sure the best way to improve the performance of private contractors is to throw more money at them though. Our health minister should be finding out exactly why some GP's are not providing the service we expect, even during a pandemic, and taking steps to make sure they up their game.

[Hibrandenburg]

Obviously. :greengrin
I'm not so sure the best way to improve the performance of private contractors is to throw more money at them though. Our health minister should be finding out exactly why some GP's are not providing the service we expect, even during a pandemic, and taking steps to make sure they up their game.

You underestimate my snidyness :greengrin

The poster I was replying to was criticising the health minister and going from previous posts I'm guessing he's a unionist (apologies if I got that wrong) and meant the Scottish health minister. I then suggested that raising NI contributions which he basically agreed with so I asked if the Scottish health minister was capable of raising extra funding via NI contributions. Simples.

I don't buy into the money won't help story, it's blatantly obvious (at least for me sat in a country with an excellent healthcare service that is well funded) that the NHS is acutely underfunded.

[Smartie]

You underestimate my snidyness :greengrin

The poster I was replying to was criticising the health minister and going from previous posts I'm guessing he's a unionist (apologies if I got that wrong) and meant the Scottish health minister. I then suggested that raising NI contributions which he basically agreed with so I asked if the Scottish health minister was capable of raising extra funding via NI contributions. Simples.

I don't buy into the money won't help story, it's blatantly obvious (at least for me sat in a country with an excellent healthcare service that is well funded) that the NHS is acutely underfunded.

The NHS is pitifully underfunded, but you have to be very careful when throwing any amount of money at it that the money doesn't just go into people's pockets to provide the same service, whether they are clinicians, politicians' pals or whoever.

[Keith_M]

You underestimate my snidyness :greengrin

The poster I was replying to was criticising the health minister and going from previous posts I'm guessing he's a unionist (apologies if I got that wrong) and meant the Scottish health minister. I then suggested that raising NI contributions which he basically agreed with so I asked if the Scottish health minister was capable of raising extra funding via NI contributions. Simples.

I don't buy into the money won't help story, it's blatantly obvious (at least for me sat in a country with an excellent healthcare service that is well funded) that the NHS is acutely underfunded.



You're a total wind-up merchant.

Did they teach you that in the Army as well?

:tee hee:

[Hibrandenburg]

You're a total wind-up merchant.

Did they teach you that in the Army as well?

:tee hee:

I've got my instructor's badge. :greengrin

[JeMeSouviens]

I knew that before I posed the question :wink:

I thought as much! Just thought I'd save BerwickHibby a google. :wink:

[marinello59]

You underestimate my snidyness :greengrin

The poster I was replying to was criticising the health minister and going from previous posts I'm guessing he's a unionist (apologies if I got that wrong) and meant the Scottish health minister. I then suggested that raising NI contributions which he basically agreed with so I asked if the Scottish health minister was capable of raising extra funding via NI contributions. Simples.

I don't buy into the money won't help story, it's blatantly obvious (at least for me sat in a country with an excellent healthcare service that is well funded) that the NHS is acutely underfunded.

Let me assure you I would never do you the disservice of understimating your snideyness.:greengrin
I stick by my point though, automatically throwing more public money at a poorly performing private contractor when others are doing much better doesn't look wise to me.

[Sir David Gray]

I've had two experiences of trying to get medical treatment since lockdown. The first time I was asked to email photos of my issue which was fine as it got diagnosed and it got resolved.

The second time was less than satisfactory. Initially phoned NHS 24 and spoke to three people on the phone, explained my symptoms and I was diagnosed on the basis of my phone call. I was told to come and collect a prescription from my local hospital.

Four days later and still no better, I phoned my GP surgery, unable to book a face to face appointment via the receptionist, I was told I had to explain to her what my symptoms were and a GP would call me back.

The GP did call back, I explained my symptoms, the fact I had already phoned NHS 24 and the medication they had prescribed had not worked. Again no face to face appointment was made and a different prescription was written for me.

Thankfully this one did work but four days of discomfort and worry could have been avoided if I had been physically examined following my first call to NHS 24.

Really not happy at all as it seemed every effort was made to avoid seeing me in person and I was left wondering what it would have taken for me to get seen.

[Berwickhibby]

You underestimate my snidyness :greengrin

The poster I was replying to was criticising the health minister and going from previous posts I'm guessing he's a unionist (apologies if I got that wrong) and meant the Scottish health minister. I then suggested that raising NI contributions which he basically agreed with so I asked if the Scottish health minister was capable of raising extra funding via NI contributions. Simples.

I don't buy into the money won't help story, it's blatantly obvious (at least for me sat in a country with an excellent healthcare service that is well funded) that the NHS is acutely underfunded.

I don't underestimate your snideyness...I think being a snide sums you up perfectly. Yes I am a Unionist and I will criticise the Health minister in the country in which I live and contribute into if I feel like it's appropriate.

[Hibrandenburg]

I don't underestimate your snideyness...I think being a snide sums you up perfectly. Yes I am a Unionist and I will criticise the Health minister in the country in which I live and contribute into if I feel like it's appropriate.

You criticized the health minister but agreed raising funds through an increase in NI contributions would be beneficial. But that's something outwith his power. It's pretty hypocritical to criticize someone for something but support a system that denies them the ability to raise funds to improve things. I think being a hypocrite sums you up quite nicely.

[Berwickhibby]

You criticized the health minister but agreed raising funds through an increase in NI contributions would be beneficial. But that's something outwith his power. It's pretty hypocritical to criticize someone for something but support a system that denies them the ability to raise funds to improve things. I think being a hypocrite sums you up quite nicely.

You really like to change things to suit your narrative ...I asked what's the Health Minister doing to help people get appointments or assist at GP surgeries. Yes I am criticising Her, and her department. You asked would paying more NI contributions help? I said yes and happily pay more if it went directly into the Health system. You asked, even though you knew the answer, can she raise NI contributions? I replied, I did not know. So now I am a hypocrite...I very good

[Keith_M]

Anyhoo....


Just found out that my appointment that I booked for tomorrow... where I was supposed to see the doctor in person... is now an online call 'sometime after 9'.

Another chance to discuss my symptoms and trying to convince him, once again, that ear wax oil won't help the fact that I have a really sore throat, the left side of my face is swollen and I've gone partially deaf in my left ear.

I suppose it's a change from my Doctor in Munich, Frau Dr med Marischal, that used to put everything down to the unavoidable side-effects of getting older.




p.s. HB and BH: Could you two get a room please, you're obviously on the brink of a passionate love-affair

:wink:

[Hibrandenburg]

You really like to change things to suit your narrative ...I asked what's the Health Minister doing to help people get appointments or assist at GP surgeries. Yes I am criticising Her, and her department. You asked would paying more NI contributions help? I said yes and happily pay more if it went directly into the Health system. You asked, even though you knew the answer, can she raise NI contributions? I replied, I did not know. So now I am a hypocrite...I very good

Good, makes a nice change to agree to agree.

[Future17]

Thanks for all the replies folks. My wife finally got a phone appointment on Friday...I say appointment but basically they just say the doctor will phone "at some point during the day". She spoke to the doctor who told her she would need a blood test...and told her to phone back to book an appointment for that. Another 20 mins on hold and it's finally booked.


I have been hearing from friends for a while now, that trying to get medical attention from a Dr in Musselburgh is almost impossible and when you finally do manage to get an appointment then it's weeks away. I thought they were exaggerating but reading this thread would seem to confirm their claims.

I can't get my head around how as a nation people put up with that, it's absolutely baffling.

The practice in question is in Musselburgh...and it's made the news!

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/theyre-putting-lives-risk-petition-18959779?fbclid=IwAR2OIpt-z4DujrUKHXD6HHl3AQElwRMqpdX-tKp3CF2htyE6dcQzOPOgabE

[Billy Whizz]

Thanks for all the replies folks. My wife finally got a phone appointment on Friday...I say appointment but basically they just say the doctor will phone "at some point during the day". She spoke to the doctor who told her she would need a blood test...and told her to phone back to book an appointment for that. Another 20 mins on hold and it's finally booked.



The practice in question is in Musselburgh...and it's made the news!

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/theyre-putting-lives-risk-petition-18959779?fbclid=IwAR2OIpt-z4DujrUKHXD6HHl3AQElwRMqpdX-tKp3CF2htyE6dcQzOPOgabE

That’s quite ridiculous, there’s no way they should be getting away with this sort of service

[goosano]

There are a number of reasons why doctors try and limit face to face appointments in the surgery. First of all, if they see a patient then the GP has to put on protective equipment and then the room has to be cleaned. Capacity for seeing patients is therefore much reduced. And should a Covid positive patient come into the surgery then the whole place will be closed down for a deep clean with all the ensuing chaos. So to keep the practice functioning GP's try hard to limit face to face appointments to those that are strictly necessary.

Variation in access times to speak to or see a GP is due to many factors. In part it is down to how well organised or efficient is a practice and their doctors. More importantly around 20% of GP posts are unfilled at the moment and those practices that are short of doctors are getting hammered. Riverside practice that was mentioned above had many GP's retiring and then was taken over by the health board with a string of locums and complete lack of continuity. 75% of new GP's are women and almost none want to work full time, in fact this is a trend amongst all new GP's because of the attritional nature of the job and the view of the younger generation that the job is less of a vocation. So full time training posts are converting to part time jobs. Younger GP's prefer the freedom of locum work but this leads to less continuity, less knowledge of patients, more follow up and less appointment availability. Practices that have doctors in training have the advantage of extra appointments as these doctors under supervision see patients. Deprived areas have more demand and usually less resources and are less popular places for GP's to work so it is often harder to get appointments in these places where need is greatest.

[Colr]

I considered adding this to the Coronavirus thread, but I know that's quite fast-moving and I'm hoping a few people with relevant experience might see this and respond (so didn't want it missed).

Does anyone have any recent experience of trying to get a doctor's appointment for something non-Covid? My wife has literally been trying for over three weeks now with no success. Initially, she was phoning in the morning and it would just ring out after a message saying they were experiencing high call volumes and staff shortages. There was an option to "press 1" if the call was urgent, but she did not consider it was and didn't want to "jump the queue".

Eventually, she sent an e-mail to the surgery and they called her back, but said they couldn't book appointments that way and she'd have to keep trying each morning by phone. They told her just to "press 1" even if she didn't consider it was urgent as she'd been trying for so long. She's now tried that for the past three mornings and, despite getting through to someone, has been told all the appointments have been taken each day. She's told this after being "triaged" by the person answering the phone (by which I mean that person has asked her what she needs to see the doctor about). I think it's fair to say that the need for the appointment wouldn't necessarily be described as "urgent", but it is relatively serious.

The surgery has a very poor reputation generally in the local area, in that I've only ever heard bad stories about it and my one interaction with them was textbook incompetence (theirs, not mine :greengrin). I just wondered whether this apparent lack of appointments is another example of their poor service, or whether it is something more common in the current circumstances we're living in.

Any input greatly appreciated!

Used an online system to get dtp booster for my son. They called back in 30minutes and made the appointment. Much better than usual.

[heretoday]

It's a postcode lottery. Unfortunately, no one in my postcode will be winning any prizes!
The surgery's phone is constantly engaged with no ringback option available.

[Berwickhibby]

It's a postcode lottery. Unfortunately, no one in my postcode will be winning any prizes!
The surgery's phone is constantly engaged with no ringback option available.

I would say the Health Minister and her Department should be instructing GPs and surgeries to provide a better service and an equal access service but apparently you cannot criticise her.

[stu in nottingham]

Went to the health centre yesterday for usual tests for my annual medication review. Blood, blood pressure and urine tests. Had to queue outside until five minutes before the appointment. Taken by a practice nurse. Seemingly little or no GP inolvement will feature. The pharmacy at the centre will contact me regarding any medication change.

So this is the way it's going to be? I feel it will const the NHS more ultimately in undetected or more developed health problems.

Just scandalous really.

[Beefster]

Let me assure you I would never do you the disservice of understimating your snideyness.:greengrin
I stick by my point though, automatically throwing more public money at a poorly performing private contractor when others are doing much better doesn't look wise to me.

You’re right, of course, but the generic counter to pointing out that anything devolved that is under-performing is to claim ‘if only they had full powers to do x and y’. It’s a free pass. That argument didn’t apply to the Labour Scottish Government though, IIRC.

Obviously, any successes are purely down to the Scottish Government’s excellent capabilities.

[Smartie]

You’re right, of course, but the generic counter to pointing out that anything devolved that is under-performing is to claim ‘if only they had full powers to do x and y’. It’s a free pass. That argument didn’t apply to the Labour Scottish Government though, IIRC.

Obviously, any successes are purely down to the Scottish Government’s excellent capabilities.

I think people need to realise that successes and failures aren’t purely down to government actions, as much as they always like to claim credit for successes.

There will be any number of reasons why the GP service is how it is right now over and above what wee Nicola may or may not be doing.

[goosano]

Went to the health centre yesterday for usual tests for my annual medication review. Blood, blood pressure and urine tests. Had to queue outside until five minutes before the appointment. Taken by a practice nurse. Seemingly little or no GP inolvement will feature. The pharmacy at the centre will contact me regarding any medication change.

So this is the way it's going to be? I feel it will const the NHS more ultimately in undetected or more developed health problems.

Just scandalous really.

Why do you feel is it scandalous?

[Beefster]

I think people need to realise that successes and failures aren’t purely down to government actions, as much as they always like to claim credit for successes.

There will be any number of reasons why the GP service is how it is right now over and above what wee Nicola may or may not be doing.

I agree in general but when a government-provided service is failing across the board for a lengthy period of time and the Minister responsible either refuses or is incapable of improving it then they need to take responsibility.

That’s not unique to SNP administrations btw.

[stu in nottingham]

Why do you feel is it scandalous?

Because it is by most people's accounts as well as my own experience extremely difficult to actually see a GP. I'm not of the belief the service is at any time going to go back to what it previously was This can only mean problems for the future. It is not an appropriate service for the public's needs and it is not what we contribute for.

[Jay]

Because it is by most people's accounts as well as my own experience extremely difficult to actually see a GP. I'm not of the belief the service is at any time going to go back to what it previously was This can only mean problems for the future. It is not an appropriate service for the public's needs and it is not what we contribute for.

Nurses are highly trained these days, lots of them specialise in the way doctors do. Often your better seeing a nurse for all your tests etc . The doc will looks over the results . We need to keep the medical staff healthy so I'm happy seeing as few as possible and the nurse would be the best person to do your bloods etc. Pharmacists train for years too, it was my pharmacist who picked up on some meds I shouldn't be taking

I think we are facing a new way surgeries are run but maybe that's not a bad thing. Pressing reset and new thinking isnt a bad thing. I know I'm a bit biased because I've had excellent service from my surgery, not so much the pharmacy but the GPs , Nurses and reception staff have been brilliant

[stu in nottingham]

Nurses are highly trained these days, lots of them specialise in the way doctors do. Often your better seeing a nurse for all your tests etc . The doc will looks over the results . We need to keep the medical staff healthy so I'm happy seeing as few as possible and the nurse would be the best person to do your bloods etc. Pharmacists train for years too, it was my pharmacist who picked up on some meds I shouldn't be taking

I think we are facing a new way surgeries are run but maybe that's not a bad thing. Pressing reset and new thinking isnt a bad thing. I know I'm a bit biased because I've had excellent service from my surgery, not so much the pharmacy but the GPs , Nurses and reception staff have been brilliant

Fair comments and an interesting perspective. I didn’t personally feel the nurse that II saw in this occasion could adequately answer the pertinent questions I was asking. I accept that this is only my experience though, others may have experienced different.

I think your points are reasonable but I don’t think a restart system should employ barely ever being able to see a GP face to face in the future. I fear this is what lies ahead. Some services, including the one I provide can make the switch more effectively to telephone and online. I don’t feel it’s adequate for a GP service though.

[Smartie]

Fair comments and an interesting perspective. I didn’t personally feel the nurse that II saw in this occasion could adequately answer the pertinent questions I was asking. I accept that this is only my experience though, others may have experienced different.

I think your points are reasonable but I don’t think a restart system should employ barely ever being able to see a GP face to face in the future. I fear this is what lies ahead. Some services, including the one I provide can make the switch more effectively to telephone and online. I don’t feel it’s adequate for a GP service though.

Over on the coronavirus thread there are justifiable criticisms of policy when it comes to the care home scandal and now universities and students going back, when many think it would have been quite easy to forecast the trouble that has resulted.

What is a fully functioning GP surgery? Waiting rooms full of ill people. Clinicians who have multiple intimate contacts with people all day every day. The clinicians in medical practices won't necessarily routinely use the level of PPE that, say, a dentist would, because when there isn't a respiratory virus pandemic on, you can carry out safe practice without it. A consultation with a doctor about depression for example doesn't need masks or gloves, so medical practices won't routinely be set up for the sort of situation we face right now, albeit they will be able to adapt.

It's really inconvenient, I get that. It's also possibly dangerous, as there is a certainty that other, important matters will not be being reported or adequately treated.

This pandemic is a nightmare and it is making everything difficult. It's easy to say x, y or z isn't good enough. It's much harder to suggest an alternative that is good enough, that doesn't introduce large covid risks, that fit within budgets that are set, and can realistically be carried out within a structure that hasn't been set up with current restrictions in mind.


What is interesting is that data will be being generated all the time - so in the fullness of time we'll be able to analyse what might have been treated better remotely, what can't be treated remotely etc and a future service can be tailored with this in mind. Sometimes change for the better is created out of times like this. Sometimes we simply realise we need to get back to doing what we did before asap.

[Jay]

Fair comments and an interesting perspective. I didn’t personally feel the nurse that II saw in this occasion could adequately answer the pertinent questions I was asking. I accept that this is only my experience though, others may have experienced different.

I think your points are reasonable but I don’t think a restart system should employ barely ever being able to see a GP face to face in the future. I fear this is what lies ahead. Some services, including the one I provide can make the switch more effectively to telephone and online. I don’t feel it’s adequate for a GP service though.

I agree that many doctors pick up on things during face to face consultations . Nurse specialists will too though. I think online and telephone are a good option for a lot of things but sometimes you need seen. Last year I wanted a telephone appt but the doc wanted to see me, I was livid! Moaned all the way there, was sent straight to hosp and kept in - docs do defo need to see you for sure but not in all cases.

[stu in nottingham]

Over on the coronavirus thread there are justifiable criticisms of policy when it comes to the care home scandal and now universities and students going back, when many think it would have been quite easy to forecast the trouble that has resulted.

What is a fully functioning GP surgery? Waiting rooms full of ill people. Clinicians who have multiple intimate contacts with people all day every day. The clinicians in medical practices won't necessarily routinely use the level of PPE that, say, a dentist would, because when there isn't a respiratory virus pandemic on, you can carry out safe practice without it. A consultation with a doctor about depression for example doesn't need masks or gloves, so medical practices won't routinely be set up for the sort of situation we face right now, albeit they will be able to adapt.

It's really inconvenient, I get that. It's also possibly dangerous, as there is a certainty that other, important matters will not be being reported or adequately treated.

Thanks for the comments.

My point is not how the NHS is working around the pandemic currently, it's accepted that such a situation cannot necessarily be foreseen and planned for. In fact I think the health service has adapted relatively well this pst few months. The health centres were beleagured previously due to (arguably) inadequate funding, so I'm happy with the prospect of change too, in essence.

Neither does it have anything to do with inconvenience, it has a lot to do with being possibly dangerous though. Not sure about the waiting rooms full of ill people either. I've seldom seen one full of well people :greengrin and one might ponder the question should those ill people therefore be at home. The answer is yes and no.

I have many, many people referred to me with depression, anxiety and indeed myriad mental health issues and am, ironically, a proponent of telephone and video work, having carried it out for a few years now Ihae een given talks on the subject. As you can see I am not against this way of working where appropriate. I can bring a long list of pros (and a few cons) of this way of working. None of them as far as I am aware include danger to the client/patient.


This pandemic is a nightmare and it is making everything difficult. It's easy to say x, y or z isn't good enough. It's much harder to suggest an alternative that is good enough, that doesn't introduce large covid risks, that fit within budgets that are set, and can realistically be carried out within a structure that hasn't been set up with current restrictions in mind.

Indeed it is and yes, exactly so, this is not just about criticising in a time of pandemic though, shooting the proferbial fish in a barrel. I think it's a necessity to identify practices that may see incorrect diagnoses, worsening illnesses and fatalities though. I have a concern that the present, temporary system will be taken forward, hopefully after the virus, not for quality of service reasons that we are discussing here but as a way to administer care for less money. There are instances of this happening already, in psychotherapy for example.[/QUOTE]

What is interesting is that data will be being generated all the time - so in the fullness of time we'll be able to analyse what might have been treated better remotely, what can't be treated remotely etc and a future service can be tailored with this in mind. Sometimes change for the better is created out of times like this. Sometimes we simply realise we need to get back to doing what we did before asap.[/QUOTE]

We can only hope. I would feel more comfortable if politicians weren't part of the loop, as they are in education etc. I hope that lives aren't lost carrying out the 'research'.

[Hibrandenburg]

You’re right, of course, but the generic counter to pointing out that anything devolved that is under-performing is to claim ‘if only they had full powers to do x and y’. It’s a free pass. That argument didn’t apply to the Labour Scottish Government though, IIRC.

It did apply to them, it's just Labour in Scotland haven't realised it yet.

[Smartie]

Indeed it is and yes, exactly so, this is not just about criticising in a time of pandemic though, shooting the proferbial fish in a barrel. I think it's a necessity to identify practices that may see incorrect diagnoses, worsening illnesses and fatalities though. I have a concern that the present, temporary system will be taken forward, hopefully after the virus, not for quality of service reasons that we are discussing here but as a way to administer care for less money. There are instances of this happening already, in psychotherapy for example.

Those are concerns that I share - that an inferior system is adopted as someone, somewhere realises that a few quid could be saved. The highest possible quality of treatment should always be the priority. I don't necessarily want to defend the current system - I've spent much of this year listening to clinicians of various different types complain about the standard of service that they are being forced to provide by the restrictions. Sometimes I think it might actually help the public if they understood that very often the people they feel are imposing a poor service on them actually agree with the concerns and are doing all they can to help improve it.





We can only hope. I would feel more comfortable if politicians weren't part of the loop, as they are in education etc. I hope that lives aren't lost carrying out the 'research'.

Well, as long as we have an NHS then overbearing politicians wanting to make political capital is one of the downsides we have to accept along with that. Public opinion would generally still much favour that over having the treatment compromised by an insurance company trying to money out of the care so it's not something that's ever going to go away.

And re the "research" - I think it is inevitable that lives will be lost, possibly in the tens of thousands. This is "research" that would never, ever receive ethical approval in the first place if it were planned, so whilst a system is being implemented that is very likely to be inferior, the best of a bad situation might be to retrospectively analyse exactly how every aspect of medicine was affected, so that the best future care can be provided, at the best possible price to the taxpayer.