How Do You Change Gp's?

[Barsel]

So fed up of not being able to get through to my GP's surgery because of the new answering system , I'm seriously thinking of changing to a different practice.
How do I do that, and is there a 'body' where you can complain to apart from the practice manager at your surgery?

[naomi24]

You contact the surgery you want to move to and if they agree to take you, they will do the rest. I don't know about complaints procedures.

[Barsel]

Naomi, would I be able to ask what sort of answering system they have before asking if they will take me on?
The doctors and receptionists are great, but I hang up when they don't answer after an hour .
Phoned today and was 24 in the queue which I know would go way over an hour.
Very frustrating.

[Barsel]

Another question.
I know which practice i would want to change to, but it's a large group practice with a lot of doctors.
How would I know which of those doctors had a special interest in my main problem?

[naomi24]

No one can say really, Barsel. All you can do is put any questions you have to the surgery you want to join. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful.

[roopower]

We are also having problems at our doctors at present. Someone told me if I'm not satisfied with the reply to a letter to the practice manager, the next step is the General Medical Council. Can you Google? If so, Google GMC and their page comes up.

[Barsel]

Naomi and roo, thanks for your answers.
Will google that roo and see what i can find.
I'm also going to write a letter to my GP and tell him why I'm thinking of leaving in the hope he may say they will be going back to the old system of being able to book online.

[jno]

barsel, you can always try googling the surgery website, or the names of individual doctors: they often advertise their special interests.

[jennyjoan]

I think generally Barsel if you go to another practice - you do indeed first of all ask if they will take you on. If yes you will be given a form to fill in and that's it. What happens your "old" doctor transfers your medical records to the "new doctor".

I also think because of the Covid you may have to take any doctor but you can always ask. Also make sure the "new" doctor surgery has a system you like.

[naomi24]

//I think generally Barsel if you go to another practice - you do indeed first of all ask if they will take you on.//

There's no risk in applying. You don't need to tell your current surgery you're transferring. If the new one takes you they will organise transfer of medical history, etc.

[naomi24]

Our surgery allocates patients to specific doctors, but they can see any doctor they wish to. They don't have to see their own.

[pat2604]

If you choose a surgery with many doctors (which is what we have here):they will probably accept you and allocate you to a doctor who has the fewest patients. That won't be because they are not good. More than likely a new doctor there. Once you are accepted and know the ropes you can choose doctors within the practice to change too. Our large practice has been excellent throughout the Covid situation. I have had many phone appointments, appointments at the surgery, blood tests and a home visit just last week. Also had all our jabs there. Hope this helps. Mind you our medical practice is the only one in our town and the surrounding villages, so we have no choice. But we are very, very lucky!

[pat2604]

And their doors were never closed during normal surgery hours.

[bednobs]

if you are not happy with a complaint response from the practice manager, you can complain to the CCG using the NHS complaints procedure.
at our surgery, you get allocated to whatever GPs name is down for the allocations on the day they register you, you dont get to chose which GP is "your" gp
If you write to the GP themselves, the PM will just see it anyway, or it'll get opened by the sec and passed to the PM.
you dont need to ask them about their answering protocols - they will be evident when you ring up to ask if they can take you on i guess.
personally, i dont think youll find any surgery is much different, and at least you know with this one how far you are dawn the queue, which imo is better than ring ring ad infinitum or no clue if you are next or 100th

[jennyjoan]

That's right Naomi - I omitted that

//There's no risk in applying. You don't need to tell your current surgery you're transferring. If the new one takes you they will organise transfer of medical history, etc.//

I have transferred about 3 or 4 times over the years - and your old surgery doesn't have to be notified.

[THECORBYLOON]

BEDNOBS, I think Boris has enough on his plate without dealing with patients' complaints and queries...

[pat2604]

Same here Naomi. And the receptionists don't make any appointments. The doctors and clinicians make there own. Just just fill in an online form which goes to the appropriate doc, nurse, etc or you can ring and a receptionist fills in the form for you. It works well. You get a reply back on the same day. No long waits. If it's urgent then you get a same day appointment.

[pat2604]

I Now have a brilliant doctor. I changed from the one allocated when my long term doctor retired.

[Barsel]

I have 2 brilliant doctors and when one of them retires, one of the nurses has recommended one of the other doctors and the receptionist are lovely.
The place itself is modern and clean.
The only problem I have is this answering service.
Every time I've phoned today, I have been 20+ in the queue.
I phoned again half an hour ago and was No 14 so decided to hold on.
After half an hour I am now No7.
Working on this basis, it will probably be another half hour before I am No1 in the queue and I'm hanging up if I don't get through then, as an hour of waiting is more than long enough.
Last week I was No1 for 20 mins.

[Barsel]

Have just tried again and was only No 8 in the queue and got through after about half an hour. Yah!

[margarettom]

Does your surgery not have an online facility Barsel? I make all my appointments online and order all my prescriptions online, which I pick up from Boots.