GP surgery no longer offering phone consultations

[lancslad58]

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

[Arrivalist]

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Mine still offers both.

[Riley Blue]

Arrivalist said:

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Mine still offers both.

Mine still does too, it's far more convenient. Also less risky as O/H is immunosuppressed so doesn't have to sit in a bug-ridden surgery.

[JQ]

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Without employing more staff I’m not sure how moving from phone consultations to f2f would result in appointments in a reasonable timeframe. I’d have thought phone appointments are a far more efficient system and going back to all f2f would result in longer waits or less available appointments. Ours still offer both, which seems to be the perfect solution.

As above, if I have something that can be dealt with over the phone I have absolutely no desire to sit in a waiting room of sick people.

[Arrivalist]

JQ said:

Without employing more staff I’m not sure how moving from phone consultations to f2f would result in appointments in a reasonable timeframe. I’d have thought phone appointments are a far more efficient system and going back to all f2f would result in longer waits or less available appointments. Ours still offer both, which seems to be the perfect solution.

As above, if I have something that can be dealt with over the phone I have absolutely no desire to sit in a waiting room of sick people.

Most definitely. It’s actually a pain going for a 1 to 1 for some things (medication review for example).

[Mr Pointy]

JQ said:

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Without employing more staff I’m not sure how moving from phone consultations to f2f would result in appointments in a reasonable timeframe. I’d have thought phone appointments are a far more efficient system and going back to all f2f would result in longer waits or less available appointments. Ours still offer both, which seems to be the perfect solution.

As above, if I have something that can be dealt with over the phone I have absolutely no desire to sit in a waiting room of sick people.

Why would a 10 minute phone consultation take up less time than a 10 minute F2F consultation? In fact it could take more as the doctor usually reviews the details you have uploaded before the call which they don't do for a F2F.

[JQ]

Mr Pointy said:

JQ said:

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Without employing more staff I’m not sure how moving from phone consultations to f2f would result in appointments in a reasonable timeframe. I’d have thought phone appointments are a far more efficient system and going back to all f2f would result in longer waits or less available appointments. Ours still offer both, which seems to be the perfect solution.

As above, if I have something that can be dealt with over the phone I have absolutely no desire to sit in a waiting room of sick people.

Why would a 10 minute phone consultation take up less time than a 10 minute F2F consultation? In fact it could take more as the doctor usually reviews the details you have uploaded before the call which they don't do for a F2F.

My personal experience of the difference between an online meetings and an in-person meetings is that the online meetings are almost always quicker and more succinct. It's just human nature that in person meetings involve more irrelevant chit chat and small talk.

Certainly my own experiences of my own GP bear this out. I'm on good terms with my GP and have been with him 25 years. I don't see him very often but when I do, the first 5/10 minutes are spent catching up and only after that do we get to the important stuff. I suspect I'm not the only one as he's a lovely guy and we have similar interests. I'd say the telephone consultations take on average half the time.

[lancslad58]

Quick update.

I rang the surgery just to see if they still do phone consultations, the receptionist wasn’t sure and would need to check with the practice manager, it might be a fault with the portal.

She then asked me if I wanted to book an appointment as there is one vailable tomorrow and three on Friday.

Moral of the story don’t use the NHS portal!

[Mr Pointy]

JQ said:

Mr Pointy said:

JQ said:

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Without employing more staff I’m not sure how moving from phone consultations to f2f would result in appointments in a reasonable timeframe. I’d have thought phone appointments are a far more efficient system and going back to all f2f would result in longer waits or less available appointments. Ours still offer both, which seems to be the perfect solution.

As above, if I have something that can be dealt with over the phone I have absolutely no desire to sit in a waiting room of sick people.

Why would a 10 minute phone consultation take up less time than a 10 minute F2F consultation? In fact it could take more as the doctor usually reviews the details you have uploaded before the call which they don't do for a F2F.

My personal experience of the difference between an online meetings and an in-person meetings is that the online meetings are almost always quicker and more succinct. It's just human nature that in person meetings involve more irrelevant chit chat and small talk.

Certainly my own experiences of my own GP bear this out. I'm on good terms with my GP and have been with him 25 years. I don't see him very often but when I do, the first 5/10 minutes are spent catching up and only after that do we get to the important stuff. I suspect I'm not the only one as he's a lovely guy and we have similar interests. I'd say the telephone consultations take on average half the time.

I'm not sure your experience is a typical one though. I've never spent ten minutes just chatting with any GP I've seen.

[JQ]

Mr Pointy said:

JQ said:

Mr Pointy said:

JQ said:

lancslad58 said:

Logged into my local surgery using the NHS portal and the option for a phone consultation is n longer available.

Has anyone else noticed this, is it possible that we’re finally getting back to f2f appointments in a reasonable time frame.

Without employing more staff I’m not sure how moving from phone consultations to f2f would result in appointments in a reasonable timeframe. I’d have thought phone appointments are a far more efficient system and going back to all f2f would result in longer waits or less available appointments. Ours still offer both, which seems to be the perfect solution.

As above, if I have something that can be dealt with over the phone I have absolutely no desire to sit in a waiting room of sick people.

Why would a 10 minute phone consultation take up less time than a 10 minute F2F consultation? In fact it could take more as the doctor usually reviews the details you have uploaded before the call which they don't do for a F2F.

My personal experience of the difference between an online meetings and an in-person meetings is that the online meetings are almost always quicker and more succinct. It's just human nature that in person meetings involve more irrelevant chit chat and small talk.

Certainly my own experiences of my own GP bear this out. I'm on good terms with my GP and have been with him 25 years. I don't see him very often but when I do, the first 5/10 minutes are spent catching up and only after that do we get to the important stuff. I suspect I'm not the only one as he's a lovely guy and we have similar interests. I'd say the telephone consultations take on average half the time.

I'm not sure your experience is a typical one though. I've never spent ten minutes just chatting with any GP I've seen.

Perhaps not, but the 20 meetings a week I've had for the last 35 years in my own work environment demonstrate (to me) that in person meetings take longer than online meetings.

[Somebody]

Our practice makes you fill out a e-Consult form in the first instance, with questions re ailments you have and what outcome you would like. The questions invariably repeat and I've learnt to copy the initial write up and paste into the subsequent questions.

They then send you an acknowledge text, setting out a time when a doctor will call you, which is usually a week after! The doctor then call and if deemed necessary they then arrange a F2F, usually the same day so you have to drop everything to attend. And when you turn up it's usually a Physician Associate who sees you rather than a doctor.

[hidetheelephants]

lancslad58 said:

Quick update.

I rang the surgery just to see if they still do phone consultations, the receptionist wasn’t sure and would need to check with the practice manager, it might be a fault with the portal.

She then asked me if I wanted to book an appointment as there is one vailable tomorrow and three on Friday.

Moral of the story don’t use the NHS portal!

st NHS IT, what a surprise.