Getting a GP appointment during COVID - anyone managed it?
Discussion
I came down with really severe foot pain at the weekend - called 111 and they told me to take Ibuprofen and call my GP on Tuesday.
Quite a while ago, my practice went down the route of “call at 8.00 for an appointment, but leave it until 8.01 and there will be nothing available”.
Now they are fully closed because of COVID, but I was referred to another one a couple of miles away who reluctantly offered me an appointment in three weeks time! No other options.
Is it worth trying to register with a different practice, or is this where they all are at the moment?
Quite a while ago, my practice went down the route of “call at 8.00 for an appointment, but leave it until 8.01 and there will be nothing available”.
Now they are fully closed because of COVID, but I was referred to another one a couple of miles away who reluctantly offered me an appointment in three weeks time! No other options.
Is it worth trying to register with a different practice, or is this where they all are at the moment?
I phone up and the receptionist decides if Im worthy of the GPs time. If I am they schedule a call back time from the GP. Usually that day.
Get a call back from the GP. Discuss on the phone whats wrong. Almost always sorted over the phone and prescription issued straight to the pharmacy for pick up or as the GP wanted me to get an MRI the hospital got in touch with me directly with an appointment.
If its something that the GP needs to see you are scheduled an appointment and you have to ring the door bell to get into the surgery.
Get a call back from the GP. Discuss on the phone whats wrong. Almost always sorted over the phone and prescription issued straight to the pharmacy for pick up or as the GP wanted me to get an MRI the hospital got in touch with me directly with an appointment.
If its something that the GP needs to see you are scheduled an appointment and you have to ring the door bell to get into the surgery.
sherman said:
I phone up and the receptionist decides if Im worthy of the GPs time. If I am they schedule a call back time from the GP. Usually that day.
Get a call back from the GP. Discuss on the phone whats wrong. Almost always sorted over the phone and prescription issued straight to the pharmacy for pick up or as the GP wanted me to get an MRI the hospital got in touch with me directly with an appointment.
If its something that the GP needs to see you are scheduled an appointment and you have to ring the door bell to get into the surgery.
I obviously wasn’t worthy in this case.Get a call back from the GP. Discuss on the phone whats wrong. Almost always sorted over the phone and prescription issued straight to the pharmacy for pick up or as the GP wanted me to get an MRI the hospital got in touch with me directly with an appointment.
If its something that the GP needs to see you are scheduled an appointment and you have to ring the door bell to get into the surgery.
They were kind enough to refer me for an ultrasound scan in 6-7 weeks, but I’d have to go to the surgery to pick up a form to fill in and POST to the hospital!
I mentioned that I can’t walk or drive due to the condition, but that didn’t seem to illicit much understanding.
I suppose my only option is to call back tomorrow and kick up a fuss, unless it miraculously just clears up.
As above, ask for a telephone appointment, that should be same day. The reception will have a protocol set by the doctor saying what to do with each problem, reception aren’t being nosy or acting as gatekeepers, they are triaging as the doctors have told them, and will get a b
king if they go against that.
However, sudden onset of pain and 111 saying ring the GP Tuesday I think you should have been offered something sooner, ring again in the morning and ask for a phone call would be my advice.
I rang my GP in the summer, had an infected skin tag thing, rang up, GP rang back about half an hour later, I sent him a photo and he sent some antibiotics to the pharmacy. All easy and sorted within an hour.
king if they go against that. However, sudden onset of pain and 111 saying ring the GP Tuesday I think you should have been offered something sooner, ring again in the morning and ask for a phone call would be my advice.
I rang my GP in the summer, had an infected skin tag thing, rang up, GP rang back about half an hour later, I sent him a photo and he sent some antibiotics to the pharmacy. All easy and sorted within an hour.
carlove said:
As above, ask for a telephone appointment, that should be same day. The reception will have a protocol set by the doctor saying what to do with each problem, reception aren’t being nosy or acting as gatekeepers, they are triaging as the doctors have told them, and will get a bking if they go against that.
However, sudden onset of pain and 111 saying ring the GP Tuesday I think you should have been offered something sooner, ring again in the morning and ask for a phone call would be my advice.
I rang my GP in the summer, had an infected skin tag thing, rang up, GP rang back about half an hour later, I sent him a photo and he sent some antibiotics to the pharmacy. All easy and sorted within an hour.
Thanks. I think I just need to be a bit more persistent. The receptionists I’ve spoken to so far certainly aren’t being nosey, quite the opposite - totally disinterested would be a better description.king if they go against that. However, sudden onset of pain and 111 saying ring the GP Tuesday I think you should have been offered something sooner, ring again in the morning and ask for a phone call would be my advice.
I rang my GP in the summer, had an infected skin tag thing, rang up, GP rang back about half an hour later, I sent him a photo and he sent some antibiotics to the pharmacy. All easy and sorted within an hour.
I have found getting access to medical stuff has been easier through COVID than before. I am a T1 diabetic though.....
I have had numerous appointments and had three new medicines prescribed after about 20 years of no change! I also have an unrelated issue with my hand (tendons) got a GP appointment in the surgery within three days and referred to hospital within six weeks. Doesn't seem too bad.....but I suspect it is different in different areas.....
I have had numerous appointments and had three new medicines prescribed after about 20 years of no change! I also have an unrelated issue with my hand (tendons) got a GP appointment in the surgery within three days and referred to hospital within six weeks. Doesn't seem too bad.....but I suspect it is different in different areas.....
kingston12 said:
Thanks. I think I just need to be a bit more persistent. The receptionists I’ve spoken to so far certainly aren’t being nosey, quite the opposite - totally disinterested would be a better description.
Sounds like your surgery is a bit crap. Receptionists kind of have to seem nosy, to do their job properly. I have to agree, be more persistent, it's unreasonable to make you wait three weeks in pain, in which time the pain may have passed naturally. Receptionists at my surgery triage all patients' calls, following a pathway just like they do when you phone the out of hours 111 service. It works well as far as I can tell though we often use the surgeries phone app or web site to make appointments, re-order medication or check test results.
We've never had any video appointments but phone appointments have been OK for our needs.
We've never had any video appointments but phone appointments have been OK for our needs.
Living out in the rural sticks has advantages. I phoned my GP in the village a few months ago, told the receptionist I had tennis elbow, asked for an injection and said I was available any afternoon. The GP phoned back within the hour, we had a quick chat and the next afternoon the deed was done. No idea if that's a standard timescale for things happening as I think that's the first time I've contacted the practice in years.
It's a nightmare at the moment.
Our 1 year old picked up a cold 2 weeks ago, passed it to us so we all had it. We got over it in a week but he's developed a productive cough and is weasing.
GP not interested as "it might be Covid", it isn't, I'm tested twice a week and we all had Covid in Jan, this was much worse than the none event that was Covid.
Drop in centre not interested as they're now only treating minor injuries such as sprains, OH half eventually breaks down crying and they suggest A & E.
I hate them for hiding behind Covid doing very little, I'll clap when their face is between my hands.
Our 1 year old picked up a cold 2 weeks ago, passed it to us so we all had it. We got over it in a week but he's developed a productive cough and is weasing.
GP not interested as "it might be Covid", it isn't, I'm tested twice a week and we all had Covid in Jan, this was much worse than the none event that was Covid.
Drop in centre not interested as they're now only treating minor injuries such as sprains, OH half eventually breaks down crying and they suggest A & E.
I hate them for hiding behind Covid doing very little, I'll clap when their face is between my hands.
My surgery was call at 8am as well. Since covid you can now make an appointment online where you go through a series of triage questions detailing the problem etc. Got a call back a couple of days later which resulted in requiring a f2f which I had a week later. Was happy with it, as it’s been niggling me for a year - so didn’t need an instant appt but really did need to see them.
So overall I was happy with the approach they took
So overall I was happy with the approach they took
renmure said:
Living out in the rural sticks has advantages. I phoned my GP in the village a few months ago, told the receptionist I had tennis elbow, asked for an injection and said I was available any afternoon. The GP phoned back within the hour, we had a quick chat and the next afternoon the deed was done. No idea if that's a standard timescale for things happening as I think that's the first time I've contacted the practice in years.
We live in the sticks and ours can be like that - in fact my wife called the other day, doctor called back and spoke to her for 20mins then decided he should see her that afternoon at the surgery he was holding in the next village. Another time you'll call and they'll basically just shrug.ChocolateFrog said:
It's a nightmare at the moment.
Our 1 year old picked up a cold 2 weeks ago, passed it to us so we all had it. We got over it in a week but he's developed a productive cough and is weasing.
I thought there was some protocol where they had to see young kids? Based on family and neighbour experiences, if you call 111 for advice about small child breathing difficulties they send an ambulance.Our 1 year old picked up a cold 2 weeks ago, passed it to us so we all had it. We got over it in a week but he's developed a productive cough and is weasing.
Psycho Warren said:
I wonder if post covid many GP's will keep things this way avoiding the return to face to face where they can?
We had the receptionist deciding if you were worthy before covid so I expect so. Getting a repeat prescription over the practice website is easy and gets delivered directly to the pharmacy so that will stay too.
GP practices might actually run closer to schedule after all this is over as the time wasters will be caught by the receptionist or a prescription will be issued without them having to come in to see the doc.
Well, I'm pleased it isn't just the north west of County Durham to have problems with appointments.
It's almost two years to the day, Friday before the May bank holiday. A 'bimbo' on her mobile phone ran into the back of my van at a junction.
I was in severe discomfort for the whole weekend.
First thing Tuesday morning, phoned our local surgery, and confronted with a physical barrier - the receptionist!
Explained the dilemma, requested an urgent appointment with the GP.
NO!
Got the call from the GP who essentially went through the motions, 'keep taking ibuprofen', and it'll be alright!
Their records would show I never go to the doctors, haven't been since my well man clinic when I was 60.
Total shower of s......e!
Fast forward a year and I couldn't bring myself to stand at the front door clapping.
I'm having other problems now but just grin and bare it!
I'm 65, never had a days unemployment benefit, sickness pay. Paid my NI for 47 yrs. Totally pissed off with them!
It's almost two years to the day, Friday before the May bank holiday. A 'bimbo' on her mobile phone ran into the back of my van at a junction.
I was in severe discomfort for the whole weekend.
First thing Tuesday morning, phoned our local surgery, and confronted with a physical barrier - the receptionist!
Explained the dilemma, requested an urgent appointment with the GP.
NO!
Got the call from the GP who essentially went through the motions, 'keep taking ibuprofen', and it'll be alright!
Their records would show I never go to the doctors, haven't been since my well man clinic when I was 60.
Total shower of s......e!
Fast forward a year and I couldn't bring myself to stand at the front door clapping.
I'm having other problems now but just grin and bare it!
I'm 65, never had a days unemployment benefit, sickness pay. Paid my NI for 47 yrs. Totally pissed off with them!
Psycho Warren said:
I wonder if post covid many GP's will keep things this way avoiding the return to face to face where they can?
I hope so. For those of us that are happy using online there's absolutely no need to go to the surgery (unless necessary). It frees up the surgery for those who prefer to see a GP in person. Maybe one day we will be able to consult with any GP in the country, rather than have to be a member of a specific GP's list.Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff