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[Misc] Any recent GP surgery experiences
- Thread starter Dick Swiveller
- Start date
maresfield seagull
Well-known member
- May 23, 2006
- 2,246
E consult is definitely the way
Requested a phone appointment after a minor hospital appointment at 1330 Friday afternoon hoping for a response on Monday Doctor on the phone following up by 1700 same day
As long as you don’t mind speaking to them over the phone and not always the same one each time
Some of them out there are pretty darn good in my experience
They have your notes on the screen in front of them So a quick read up gets the up to speed more often than not
Requested a phone appointment after a minor hospital appointment at 1330 Friday afternoon hoping for a response on Monday Doctor on the phone following up by 1700 same day
As long as you don’t mind speaking to them over the phone and not always the same one each time
Some of them out there are pretty darn good in my experience
They have your notes on the screen in front of them So a quick read up gets the up to speed more often than not
Dick Swiveller
Well-known member
- Sep 9, 2011
- 9,159
- Thread starter
- #43
Now talking to my doctor about changing medication through a text message to a receptionist at the surgery - after a 5 day wait from the last time I had to do the same. Yet I got a next day appointment for my cat at the vet and tablets the same time. (Yes - I know it is a stretch but it does make you think.)
called mine last Thu, got a call back @ 18:15 yesterday . . .5 min chat, now I need to call to book an appointment to get a form for a blood test, can't just rock up any more.
It's all gone to shit double quick. 2 years ago it was as slick as you like. (Adur)
Some and some for me.
Good and bad, but cba to go into detail.
As an aside, my wife, as requested, sent an email to her 91 year old mother’s surgery on Monday. Received an automated response yesterday, but no contact since. She rang the surgery about an hour ago to chase up and heard a recorded message saying the surgery closed early on Wednesdays!
A farce.
Good and bad, but cba to go into detail.
As an aside, my wife, as requested, sent an email to her 91 year old mother’s surgery on Monday. Received an automated response yesterday, but no contact since. She rang the surgery about an hour ago to chase up and heard a recorded message saying the surgery closed early on Wednesdays!
A farce.
Had to have a few blood tests recently. In all cases, either it was booked in during a face-to-face (in a follow on from a telephone appt) or form was done off the back of the phone appt and left at the reception desk for me to pick up at my convenience. In all cases I ended up getting the bloods taken at the GP surgery, so the forms were a complete formality anyway.
B-right-on
Living the dream
Daughter had a problem post baby birth and had a phone consultation with her Shoreham Dr a few weeks ago and went to see her 2 weeks ago. Dr prescribed something and said if it doesn't clear up in a week call me back.
A week later called back and receptionist booked for another phone consultation for 5 WEEKS time despite saying that she'd been in to see the Dr and she said to see her in a week etc.. Receptionist wouldn't let her book another appt to see the Dr until she'd had another phone consultation.
She's decided to go private and pay £200 for a 45 mins private Dr consultation in Hove.
On Statutory Maternity Pay that's over 1 weeks wages but can't wait 5 weeks for a phone interview to then have another appt a few days later.
A week later called back and receptionist booked for another phone consultation for 5 WEEKS time despite saying that she'd been in to see the Dr and she said to see her in a week etc.. Receptionist wouldn't let her book another appt to see the Dr until she'd had another phone consultation.
She's decided to go private and pay £200 for a 45 mins private Dr consultation in Hove.
On Statutory Maternity Pay that's over 1 weeks wages but can't wait 5 weeks for a phone interview to then have another appt a few days later.
Agreed - not had to see a doctor in years but had some suspect moles pop up recently that have grown quite quickly and wanted check. Used EConsult, got a call back that day and a appointment for a week later. So far so good
Norman Potting
Well-known member
Daughter called doctors for an appointment yesterday. Initially it was an online one but they rang back to ask if she could attend the surgery for an appointment at 0950 this morning.
Is it PotG?
Thrifty non-licker
It seems to vary from place to place.
On a more general basis, a recently retired GP chum thinks most of them are taking the p1ss.
On a more general basis, a recently retired GP chum thinks most of them are taking the p1ss.
I think queuing on phone is very good and wish more companies would use them. At least you know where you are.
Its not all bad. Rang on Monday morning. Told Receptionist in pain and want to see a Doctor. Doctor rang back in 1 hour and had appointment following morning. First Class
Its not all bad. Rang on Monday morning. Told Receptionist in pain and want to see a Doctor. Doctor rang back in 1 hour and had appointment following morning. First Class
Nitram
Well-known member
- Jul 16, 2013
- 2,178
Stress of calling when open at 8.30. On hold listening to a long winded ramble, then rings and after a while cuts off at surgery end. Repeats process three times. Eventually get through and patiently wait to be cut off again or get to end of queue. Gestapo interrogation by a receptionist and am deemed an audience with a Doctor by phone sometime later in the day.
Stress most of the day hoping not to miss call.
Late in afternoon get a text asking for more details. Send details and get a call from a doctor.
Still at least I was able to speak to someone eventually unlike trying to renew my resident parking permit with Brighton council. Another organisation that seems not to want to heat its buildings.
Stress most of the day hoping not to miss call.
Late in afternoon get a text asking for more details. Send details and get a call from a doctor.
Still at least I was able to speak to someone eventually unlike trying to renew my resident parking permit with Brighton council. Another organisation that seems not to want to heat its buildings.
lawros left foot
Glory hunting since 1969
I had a lump on my gum, it looked very similar to a previous cancer I had on my tonsil. I phoned the GP, he phoned back 20 minutes later, and I had a face to face appointment within the hour. He then got me an appointment with a maxio- facial consultant at StRichards, 2 days later.
It all turned out to be a false alarm, but, I have to have 3 teeth out.
A good result.
It all turned out to be a false alarm, but, I have to have 3 teeth out.
A good result.
Wardy's twin
Well-known member
- Oct 21, 2014
- 8,444
I phoned surgery at 8:30 when line opened, I was number 30 in the queue. Hung on for 30 mins or more to be told I would be phoned back but no time given. Was called back late morning and after phone discussion with GP I was told to physically come in that afternoon. GP did various checks which have resulted in an xray, visit to cardiology and two CT scans which were all promptly processed as all have happened over last 4 weeks. Each visit had a wait of less than an hour , that certainly would not have been the case pre-covid based on my experience with my wife where an appointment scheduled for 14:00 would be 16:00 at earliest. (which had a lot of appointments).
When I phoned back to get some results it took me 30 mins of hanging on again to be told I would be called sometime during the day.
So my recent (its ongoing) experience is that the GP call handling process is poor and their in ability to schedule the time of the call back is baffling - its just an appointment. The GP was great as was her ability to organise follow ups much faster than i expected so that's all positive except the young girl doing my canula said she has to work 6 days a week (12 hour shifts) because they are so short staffed.
When I phoned back to get some results it took me 30 mins of hanging on again to be told I would be called sometime during the day.
So my recent (its ongoing) experience is that the GP call handling process is poor and their in ability to schedule the time of the call back is baffling - its just an appointment. The GP was great as was her ability to organise follow ups much faster than i expected so that's all positive except the young girl doing my canula said she has to work 6 days a week (12 hour shifts) because they are so short staffed.
I've had very good experiences, once you get an appointment.
Over the last 2 years I've had:-
1) persistent worsening knee pain - I was referred to a joint assessment nurse who examined and tested to confirm not arthritis but ligament damage and course of exercises made it better, eventually. Very glad I didn't a replacement knee.
2) had stomach pains and vomiting at night x3 at random times. Phone consultation with GP who prescribed a months course for excess acid. Worked well.
3) referred to NHS by dentist as impacted wisdom tooth infected. Quickly offered choice of hospital (chose Haywards Heath) and had face to face appointment, specialist scan at East Grinstead and follow up appointment next week. Been told will need surgery and could be a long wait.
So very happy with service, but it can take an hour on the phone to get an appointment. Online appointments have been increasingly difficult to get, as my GP practice has merged with others in Lewes, but the joint nurse was at another surgery to my "old one' so benefits from the merger there already.
Over the last 2 years I've had:-
1) persistent worsening knee pain - I was referred to a joint assessment nurse who examined and tested to confirm not arthritis but ligament damage and course of exercises made it better, eventually. Very glad I didn't a replacement knee.
2) had stomach pains and vomiting at night x3 at random times. Phone consultation with GP who prescribed a months course for excess acid. Worked well.
3) referred to NHS by dentist as impacted wisdom tooth infected. Quickly offered choice of hospital (chose Haywards Heath) and had face to face appointment, specialist scan at East Grinstead and follow up appointment next week. Been told will need surgery and could be a long wait.
So very happy with service, but it can take an hour on the phone to get an appointment. Online appointments have been increasingly difficult to get, as my GP practice has merged with others in Lewes, but the joint nurse was at another surgery to my "old one' so benefits from the merger there already.
Sirnormangall
Well-known member
- Sep 21, 2017
- 2,969
My experience is similar to many of you: it’s difficult getting an appointment with a doctor but when you do, the service is excellent.