Gp's

[emmie]

i was thinking of changing GP's, so checked on one practice, to find that they have one and a half GP's and one full time nurse, i am still perplexed over this, its not as though its a small area, pretty sure they would have a large patient base, was told by the man on the reception that for appointments its roughly a two week wait, unless you phone on the morning, so one doctor in essence with the service of another for half the week, and a full time nurse.

[woofgang]

I know emmie, it makes you wonder how these small practices manage.

[black_cat51]

in the nearest urban area to me, there are 54 gp surgeries for a largeish town. Most of those are 1 man band prwctices

[ummmm]

Just checked out my GP surgery...

We have...

7 Doctors
6 Nurses
1 Midwife
1 Health Visitor
4 Community nurses

I don't live in a very large area either and there are quite a few surgeries close by.

[emmie]

as you know i live in the capital, and the surgery i currently go to has a lot more staff, though many seem to be part time, or else they work at other surgeries, but it's got completely absurd, their phone system is useless and the appointment system has gone the way of the proverbial do do.

[emmie]

ummm you seem to have a deal more than we do, as to one man bands, why don't they combine with other GP's, surely that cut costs to their practice,

[ummmm]

You live in the capital? I didn't know that....lol :-)

Our surgery has a phone back system. Phone in the morning and a doctor will phone you back and decide how quickly you need seeing or if you need seeing at all. I've never actually been to our doctors so not sure how this well this works.

I live on the same street so if I can't get through by phone (for him) I just walk down there.

We can also arrange appointments with nurses/midwives via their website.

[emmie]

i thought you did, remember you told me that your daughter was moving here and i told you to tell her beware of the cyclists and traffic in general, sure that was you?

[ummmm]

I did know that, Emmie, I was joking :-)

My daughter has settled into London very well. Works long hours though.

[Mojo-Jo-Jo]

You have to phone our GP on the day in the morning for an urgent appointment,or you can pop in and make one.
The automated system is always a few days ahead, sometimes weeks.
My GP surgery rocks and I have seen at least four doctors, all of whom have been courteous and understanding.

[jno]

you can check user ratings here

https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4

[emmie]

had a shock to find the surgery has the highest amount of patients, and the rating is middle to poor

[tonyav]

emmie, don't know about London but in my neck of the woods we have what they call medical centres, usually a hand full of docs, nurses, midwife ect.

[emmie]

they have quite a few staff, but getting appointments isn't easy.
they have over 10 thousand patients on their books, and still taking more on

[tonyav]

10 thousand patients !, jaysus that's wayyy to many.

[emmie]

i don;t know how this works, because many of them only work part time, one just one day of the week, others two, at the most three, don't know whether they work at other surgeries the rest of the week, or at private practice -

[emmie]

that was a total shock, looked at jono link

[Old_Geezer]

Unsure what the question is.

I can not think the last time I booked an official appointment. When I'm ill I do not need to be told I have to stop being ill for a few weeks until a system that favours the doctor allows me to be ill, so I have no idea if two weeks is normal, but I suspect so. (Horrible system, in my day one turned up ill, waited ones turn, and saw the doctor). I always phone in and try to get a slot on the morning. Tends to work,

As for the size of your potential new surgery, well I'd suspect there is more than one surgery in the area, I know there are three near me. So it is possible you found the small one. What makes me wonder is what half of a GP turns up for surgery on their day in.

[tonyav]

Just looked my docs up, emmie, 2176 patients.

[emmie]

i was thinking of changing gp's, not so much a question i guess, however i am genuinely shocked at their patient base

[Old_Geezer]

Don't understand that chart either. NHS Choices users rating is only a single star for the one I use, but 82% recommend it ? How does that work then ?