Is anyone else's GP like this?
Discussion
My gp surgery closes for lunch for an hour. During that hour their website is closed so you can't book an appointment or raise a repeat prescription or any other kind of request to them.
Same thing if it is outside their working hours you can't raise any kind of request.
This afternoon the surgery is closed and again you can't raise any kind of request.
It's really odd.
They have disclaimers saying the service is not for anything urgent so it doesn't make sense.
Can anyone explain why this is??
Same thing if it is outside their working hours you can't raise any kind of request.
This afternoon the surgery is closed and again you can't raise any kind of request.
It's really odd.
They have disclaimers saying the service is not for anything urgent so it doesn't make sense.
Can anyone explain why this is??
My rural but quite modern practice does have a website but no services through it. If I need a repeat prescription I can phone anytime, press the required option and leave a voicemail with my order. Then I go 2 working days later to the pharmacy, it’s in the same building but separate business and collect it. Only once did it not function as required. As it’s a rolling prescription it no longer needs the GP sign off so that saves admin.
I get 2 months supply at a time and being Northern Ireland it’s no charge to me, thankfully.
I get 2 months supply at a time and being Northern Ireland it’s no charge to me, thankfully.
It's to stop people sending messages 7am Saturday morning saying they have chest pains and would like to speak to a doctor about it, rather than going to A&E.
It seems like all practices started doing this at roughly the same time so I assume someone died and GPs don't want to take any responsibility for delaying care for this kind of thing.
Sucks for the rest of us though. For non urgent things being able to send a message whenever was quite helpful.
It seems like all practices started doing this at roughly the same time so I assume someone died and GPs don't want to take any responsibility for delaying care for this kind of thing.
Sucks for the rest of us though. For non urgent things being able to send a message whenever was quite helpful.
I get all my prescription request through the NHS App....so I don't even speak or contact the surgery. Can be done anytime of day or night.
I very rarely need an appointment. If that is the case you have to call (and wait) at 8am. Although last time, I phoned 111 for advice and they actually prioritised me with the GP. I think as soon as I say I am T1D it seems to raise the urgency....... Although I obviously don't take the piss or rely on it.
With the kids we will generally go to the pharmacy then if we need more attention we call 111. Seems the most effective method.......
I very rarely need an appointment. If that is the case you have to call (and wait) at 8am. Although last time, I phoned 111 for advice and they actually prioritised me with the GP. I think as soon as I say I am T1D it seems to raise the urgency....... Although I obviously don't take the piss or rely on it.
With the kids we will generally go to the pharmacy then if we need more attention we call 111. Seems the most effective method.......
Sounds like you are loving in the future if you can book through a website at any time.
For appointments.we have to phone at 8am on the day. If you manage to get through at that time it is very easy to be number 50+ in the queue but I've found their lines actually unlock about 20 seconds early so my record is 2nd :-D
For results you have to phone between 1 and 2
For prescriptions you have to phone between 11 and 12
Anything outside of the posted times is a straight rejection until the next day.
No website, No app and if you want to move elsewhere you can't because all doctors in town are in the same building and have an agreement not to take each others patients.
For appointments.we have to phone at 8am on the day. If you manage to get through at that time it is very easy to be number 50+ in the queue but I've found their lines actually unlock about 20 seconds early so my record is 2nd :-D
For results you have to phone between 1 and 2
For prescriptions you have to phone between 11 and 12
Anything outside of the posted times is a straight rejection until the next day.
No website, No app and if you want to move elsewhere you can't because all doctors in town are in the same building and have an agreement not to take each others patients.
Mine is similar. Its a ballache. That being said I did a request today about 0810. Had a phone call at 0850 for an appointment at 1155 which I couldn't do. So got one for 1605.
Meds prescribed at 1610 and picked up from Boots at 1630.
We'll ignore that the receptionist was rude and huffing and puffing when I asked for another time.
Meds prescribed at 1610 and picked up from Boots at 1630.
We'll ignore that the receptionist was rude and huffing and puffing when I asked for another time.
Mr Pointy said:
Ours is even s
ttier: there's a limit to the number of enquiries they will accept per day (for patient safety!) & when that is reached you're told to fk off & try submitting your request the next day.
\ttier: there's a limit to the number of enquiries they will accept per day (for patient safety!) & when that is reached you're told to fk off & try submitting your request the next day.Same at our surgery, go in at 08:30 and if you are one of the first through the door you get one of the four available appointments that morning if not get told to come back at 13:30 and try again, so you have to get ready to queue at 13:00 to ensure you get one of the four available in the afternoon It seems all the other slots have been booked weeks in advance, if you try and book a non-urgent face to face you get told nothing available for 4-6 weeks.
John87 said:
Sounds like you are loving in the future if you can book through a website at any time.
Sadly that’s a feature of the past with me, Looking at my login details 2014/15 my local GP (Scotland) used an online service
I could request repeat prescriptions and amazingly doctors appointments where I picked which doctor I wanted then saw their availability like a restaurant table booking.
My GP had a satellite surgery they did once a week at a neighbouring small town & there was nearly always a space to be had there if you needed an appointment within a week.
Sadly all that is no more
The reality is, like it or not, the whole NHS is no longer fit for purpose.
Once we all stop saying things like 'I know doctors work really hard' and 'I know there's not enough money' and start saying things like 'it's just not working any longer and needs massive change' the better.
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
TLDR: Yes, GP's are pointless!
Once we all stop saying things like 'I know doctors work really hard' and 'I know there's not enough money' and start saying things like 'it's just not working any longer and needs massive change' the better.
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
TLDR: Yes, GP's are pointless!
If those scenarios are mirrored throughout NHS primary care that's the proof that the GP partnership setup isn't fit for purpose. My own GP practice is a division of a NHS foundation trust and it's light years ahead of those described e.g. it's had on-line access for years with four different apps or portals available for patients to access services.
As from October 1st, all GP practices should head in that direction:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-gp-appoi...
As from October 1st, all GP practices should head in that direction:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-gp-appoi...
dundarach said:
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
You are insane. When you get a moment you should have a look through the various diabetes sections on reddit. Filled with Americans who can't afford modern insulin or have to ration it out. Many get by (badly) on cheap mixed insulin we had in the early 90s. ITU visits for DKA are fairly common - how much do you think they cost?dundarach said:
The reality is, like it or not, the whole NHS is no longer fit for purpose.
Once we all stop saying things like 'I know doctors work really hard' and 'I know there's not enough money' and start saying things like 'it's just not working any longer and needs massive change' the better.
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
TLDR: Yes, GP's are pointless!
I agree it’s not fit for purpose but, if you can’t wait for it to be privatised you do realise there is nothing stopping you or your family paying to go private now and get the service you want?Once we all stop saying things like 'I know doctors work really hard' and 'I know there's not enough money' and start saying things like 'it's just not working any longer and needs massive change' the better.
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
TLDR: Yes, GP's are pointless!
My GP isn’t bad, use the NHS app for repeat prescriptions and booking blood tests etc.
GP bashing is depressing.
LosingGrip said:
Mine is similar. It’s a ballache. That being said I did a request today about 0810. Had a phone call at 0850 for an appointment at 1155 which I couldn't do. So got one for 1605.
Meds prescribed at 1610 and picked up from Boots at 1630.
I don’t see how that is a ballache at all. Seems pretty good service to me. Meds prescribed at 1610 and picked up from Boots at 1630.
Riley Blue said:
If those scenarios are mirrored throughout NHS primary care that's the proof that the GP partnership setup isn't fit for purpose. My own GP practice is a division of a NHS foundation trust and it's light years ahead of those described e.g. it's had on-line access for years with four different apps or portals available for patients to access services.
As from October 1st, all GP practices should head in that direction:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-gp-appoi...
My GP is pretty good now tbh. The online access made a massive difference. previously I couldn't get an appointment as it was phone to join the queue but by the time you finally got through everything had gone. Now the online booking has gone in i've had same day appointments for pretty much every issue for our family in the 2 years it's been going as they prioritise. The one time we didn't was because it was a minor thing and they got us in a few days later. As from October 1st, all GP practices should head in that direction:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/online-gp-appoi...
dundarach said:
The reality is, like it or not, the whole NHS is no longer fit for purpose.
Once we all stop saying things like 'I know doctors work really hard' and 'I know there's not enough money' and start saying things like 'it's just not working any longer and needs massive change' the better.
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
TLDR: Yes, GP's are pointless!
If you look after your health by doing regular exercise and stop eating highly processed carb crap that makes you feel tired all the time, depressed and all your muscles and joints ache, then you should have no reason to see them except for rare events when eg. you get an infection from a bite or wound and need ABs. I'm willing to bet that 75% pf the traffic GPs see every day is eiither mental health or solely a result of bad diet and not moving arse/using muscles enough. ie. lifestyle choices.Once we all stop saying things like 'I know doctors work really hard' and 'I know there's not enough money' and start saying things like 'it's just not working any longer and needs massive change' the better.
For me, I can't wait for total privatization of the NHS and this is from someone with a Type1 diabetic wife and a blind brother in law on dialysis! Yes it'll cost us, but at the moment, neither of them receive anything remotely close to service in the slightest.
TLDR: Yes, GP's are pointless!
GPs love handing out Sertraline and Citalopram like candy to anyone who looks and/or sounds a bit run down, and of course any bloke over 40 gets the default Atorvastatin, Ramipril and Ticagrelor whether they need them or not. For anything else the default answers are either "you need to go to A&E" or "it's all in your head" to get rid of you as they can't be arsed.
Our GP service is excellent.
Online booking of appointments and repeat prescriptions available 24x7 on PatientWeb. Generally a same or next day phone or in person appointment with chosen GP is available. My wife is a frequent flyer there due to a number of ongoing issues and is very happy.
Online booking of appointments and repeat prescriptions available 24x7 on PatientWeb. Generally a same or next day phone or in person appointment with chosen GP is available. My wife is a frequent flyer there due to a number of ongoing issues and is very happy.
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