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This Is How You Do G P Care ...
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Just in case anyone is still labouring under the misapprehension that Ireland is a clod-hopping, potato-eating, poor relation of the UK ...
I have just had a call from our local GP practice - inviting us both for our Covid booster jabs on Tuesday evening - they will be working late every night until all the over 60s are jabbed.
The crucial thing is that this is not unusual - it's just the way things work here. Can anyone in the UK imagine getting that call at 17:55 on a Sunday teatime - from a practice manager working unpaid overtime because "it needs to be done".
GP practice here is *not* a money-making enterprise hiding behind incomprehensible (and usually engaged) phone systems - where, even if you overcome the phone challenge, you then meet receptionists trained in customer care by Attila the Hun.
It's run by real people who know your first names and genuinely want to make the system work for you.
All through Covid times, we've always got through to a real person - never waiting more than a few minutes - and always been offered our choice of phone or F2F appointment on the same day as we called - just once it was the day after (but I had said it wasn't urgent).
Secondary Care here can be (as in the UK) a bit of a lottery in terms of waiting times and the quality of the service at the Hospitals - but Primary Care is just brilliant.
Sláinte
I have just had a call from our local GP practice - inviting us both for our Covid booster jabs on Tuesday evening - they will be working late every night until all the over 60s are jabbed.
The crucial thing is that this is not unusual - it's just the way things work here. Can anyone in the UK imagine getting that call at 17:55 on a Sunday teatime - from a practice manager working unpaid overtime because "it needs to be done".
GP practice here is *not* a money-making enterprise hiding behind incomprehensible (and usually engaged) phone systems - where, even if you overcome the phone challenge, you then meet receptionists trained in customer care by Attila the Hun.
It's run by real people who know your first names and genuinely want to make the system work for you.
All through Covid times, we've always got through to a real person - never waiting more than a few minutes - and always been offered our choice of phone or F2F appointment on the same day as we called - just once it was the day after (but I had said it wasn't urgent).
Secondary Care here can be (as in the UK) a bit of a lottery in terms of waiting times and the quality of the service at the Hospitals - but Primary Care is just brilliant.
Sláinte
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.My wife was in Ukraine, where she awoke with a bad pain in the middle of the night. She was able not only to get a consultation and a prescription, but to collect it from a chemist in the small hours.
I have now been waiting nearly a year for a wisdom tooth extraction, in which time my tooth above the gum has virtually disintegrated. I don't, in many ways, really mind, as it is not causing me any problems (yet) and there are others with more serious conditions who deserve priority.
It does make you think though ...
I have now been waiting nearly a year for a wisdom tooth extraction, in which time my tooth above the gum has virtually disintegrated. I don't, in many ways, really mind, as it is not causing me any problems (yet) and there are others with more serious conditions who deserve priority.
It does make you think though ...
I have always had excellent care from my GP surgery. The same doctors, nurses and admins have been there for years. I am always pleasant to them and they have always been very helpful.
Maybe I am lucky.
I was advised on Friday that I am getting my covid booster and flu jag tomorrow. I hope that I survive the experience.
Maybe I am lucky.
I was advised on Friday that I am getting my covid booster and flu jag tomorrow. I hope that I survive the experience.
What you've described it what we get at our rural practice. Ring up at 9 am get to see someone the same day. Thing is we have two doctors for around 2000 or so people, not quite the same as an inner-city practice -so don't compare apples and pears - I'll bet its the same in the big cities in NI as in the UK. You live in the sticks -you get better service on some things and have to put up with bad service on other things ( public transport perhaps)
Even better, Sharon is the way it's done. To make sure the village and surrounding area got vaccinated quickly and nothing was wasted our GP brought in two more doctors to speed things up.
To save time he had his children escort us, once we had the vaccine, to the pub across the road. There we were offered tea or coffee under the supervision of two nurses until we were allowed to leave with no adverse reactions.
This time will be even better! The bar will be open so Guinness will be available. Bliss.... ;-)
To save time he had his children escort us, once we had the vaccine, to the pub across the road. There we were offered tea or coffee under the supervision of two nurses until we were allowed to leave with no adverse reactions.
This time will be even better! The bar will be open so Guinness will be available. Bliss.... ;-)