Face To Face G P Appointments

[choux]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-58904557

Bring it on.

Since lockdown began I have been fighting for the right to see our GP. We continue to have to attend surgery for blood tests in an open-ended, drive-through marquis whilst remaining in the car. When we went for our 'flu jabs we were asked if we would contribute to the cost of the 2 marquis - the second one can accommodate up to 4 patients waiting to collect prescriptions from the on site pharmacy. We have had to queue outside through all weathers.

The waiting time on the telephone is getting ridiculous with about a 2 minute recorded message which cannot be circumvented, followed by a long wait (no matter what time of day we ring). The system offered to us is a call back within 48 hours, then (if we are lucky) we may get to have an appointment for a call back from the GP within about 10 days.

I really do wonder what all the GPs are doing. Enough is enough.

[theshedman]

We have the long recorded message but with ours if you press the hash key it cuts out all of it and goes to the, you are at number whatever in the queue.

[jno]

ymb, it was Hancock's idea in the first place.

///Matt Hancock yesterday called for an end to routine face to face appointments with doctors.

After the Mail revealed yesterday that patients saw their GP in person in only one in ten appointments, the Health Secretary hailed a new era of 'Zoom medicine' where Britons first consult doctors by video or phone.///

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8578507/Matt-Hancock-calls-end-routine-face-face-appointments.html

So, yeah, it would be nice if a health secretary were to undo the mess left by a previous health secretary.

[Vagus]

Our surgery has been doing telephone consultations way before the pandemic and I much prefer them.
If there’s a need for a face to face thats not a problem either.
It said in the news article that telephone appointments are more efficient and save time, and I agree.

[evadora]

My GP surgery are not even doing blood tests. They send you the form in the post and you have to ring the hospital to make an appointment to have the test.

[roopower]

Squad, you get it free if you are in one of the groups entitled to it free, if not you pay . Our pharmacy does the jabs too.

[Sqad]

O.K thanks roopower.

[choux]

Barry, it is not that easy when living out in the sticks. I did a post code search but what reviews came up on Google did not inspire me with confidence and some are outside of my health authority. OH can no longer drive so I just have to hope that my health allows me to drive to and from our appointments.
Ladybirder, we have serious health conditions ongoing. I just used the'flu jab as an example :)
Shedman, I don't know if it was you who posted that earlier on AB but I had seen it so tried it. To no avail I regret.

I understand how some ailments may be dealt with satisfactorily by telephone appointments but the health, care and welfare of patients is not a one-size-fits-all circumstance.

If telephone consultations are that good why do we have to wait up to 12 days to get one anyway?

[naomi24]

I much prefer telephone consultations. Unless there’s something a doctor needs to ‘see’ there’s no point in seeing him face to face. I’d rather sit at home waiting for a call from him than at the surgery. I’m lucky in that our receptionists don’t take long to answer the phone.

[vulcan42]

the problem with telephone consultations is the Doctor decides who s/he wants to see face to face. I have one friend who gets a F to F every time she phones and another who hasn't seen her doctor for eighteen months. I always understood that seeing the patient was an integral part of any consultation.

[choux]

Well said, Vulcan.

[ParsleyDumpling]

In our surgery there are the usual options, press 1 for appointments, 2 for test results etc. (I don't ring the number so obviously haven't heard the exact message). I had a patient ring up yesterday for an appointment, when we had sorted that out they asked to be put through to the option for test results. I laughed and said "good afternoon ******* (surgery name and my name) and preceded to give the patient their results as well. Our surgery have increased the number of F2F appointments, we have patients in for blood tests, flu jabs, B12 injections etc. Our sister surgery is the main hub for Covid jabs and also has a minor injury and walk-in clinic. I get very annoyed when I read of GP practices not offering the patient a proper service, there is absolutely no excuse now.

[Sqad]

Vulcan

///I always understood that seeing the patient was an integral part of any consultation./////
No,that has never been the case, the Dr has ALWAYS decided if a face to face consultation is required.

[-SharonA-]

I finally got a face 2 face with my gp only after reporting him to healthwatch.
What the flip they've been doing??? If the receptionist can work, then so can he!!

[douglas9401]

As the months and years drag by it's more and more evident that the clapped for have feet of clay.

Also a helluva union.

[mushroom25]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10082279/GP-consultations-held-phone-falsely-recorded-face-face.html