Appointments to see GP

Not often I have time to post on GC although I do scan through now and again but I am so annoyed at the new 'improved' set up to get an appointment to see a GP and wondered if this is the way most surgeries work now.

Until very recently a telephone call to receptionist, when you could get through, and she would tell you if there was a slot available for you. If there wasn't then you had to try again the next morning and if it took ages to get through then you might have to try again.

Now they have a new system. When you get through you tell the receptionist the reason you want an appointment, plus she will ask what symptoms you have and this information is passed to the doctor when you are added to the list for a 'telephone consultation' - if there is a slot available!!! If there isn't then you have to try again tomorrow. The GP will ring you within 2 hours and then he will decide if you need to come in to see him.

I cannot see how this is an improvement. For one thing -why should I discuss my symptoms with the receptionist - this is not what I call confidentiality and I can't see how it saves time.

How is it at other surgeries???

 

This is the same with my gp. However if you dont wish to discuss it with receptionist your within your rights to tell them youd prefer to discuss directly with the gp who will triage you and schedule an appropriate appointment

 

there are a few doctors in my surgery and it it fairly easy to get an appointment after a couple of hours if you remember to call at the right time. The bad thing is if your conversation becomes over five minutes they start getting agitated...

 

Where I go, you need to make an appointment to be ill at least two weeks in advance.
They do have quick ones that you can book by ringing at 8.30am or after 2pm.
(They are, 5 min ones, dont even sit down).

Strange how the phone always seems be off the hook at those times, as you always get an engaged signal.
I went to the surgery at 8.30am the other day to make an appointment and the surgery was deserted, and no phone ringing.

I'd flatly refuse to discuss the reason I want an appointment with the doctor, with the receptionist, its a matter of principle.

 

Our Doc tells us to book an appointment in 2 weeks to see him again. Reception tell me I can't book that far in advance & I should phone the day before. I do that & they say he's on holiday. Then spend ages on the phone trying to get a repeat prescription as none of the other Doctors want to repeat the scrit

 

Ours is phone before 0900 and if any appointment available it is given, in the past I have not been very succesfull, so now I just ask to speak to the TRIAGE nurse,, who makes a decission and calls me in at xx time for an appointment with her/him, whilst there if needed she brings the doctor in on it

Once I went in person for surgery opening (beat the phone queue)
The receptionist slid the glass panel open dead on 08:30
Yes
I would like an appointment please OK we have
RING RING RING RING
Hello surgery here how can I help mmnnslshhh OK Can you come in for 10:00 click

Now what is it you wanted and appointment
RING RING RING RING
Hello surgery how can I help nshhsjljjsh OK Can you come in for 11:15 OK click

Sorry about that an appointment is it mm
I am sorry there are non left today, If you call in the morning before 09:00

I was there for my High Blood Pressure, I wanted it reduced NOT Increased Grrr

Jack McH

 

Oops, I misread that this morning & thought you were annoyed at the new GC setup

That'll teach me to read posts before i've woken up properley.

 

I once sent an e mail to the practice manager regarding appointments, especially bearing in mind, if you work, you cant just spent the whole morning off work just to get a blood pressure check.
I think I'm now hated, but I'm sure it comes up every time I make an appointment as they dont try to fob me off with stupid mid morning times any more, I tend to get evening ones, but the GP hates them.

I also put a few words in the direction of the local Lloyds Pharmacy that appear to be only able to serve one customer at a time.
Things are better there now, but they are extremely slow, and need someone to give them a rocket, where it hurts, now and then.
#
A queue of five or six and one assistant appears to be making tea out the back???

 

My GP's surgery is good. You can usually get in the same day, because I joined the one that has the contract for the 'walk in' service. Most people don't think to actually join the walk in, so it tends not to be busy.

I have in the past experienced all the things people have already mentioned. One time, at a previous doctors, I had something mundane like a persistent headache or something (can't remember the details). I'd encountered the nosey receptionist before and was sick of it, so this time when she asked me what was wrong, I first replied loud enough for everyone to hear, something like 'are you sure you wish to know?', when she said she did, I told her loudly that some bizarre mutation had happened on my male tackle and would she like to see for herself. I've never seen anyone go quite so red with embarrassment. I didn't get my tackle out, but I endeavoured to let her believe I would if she was interested. Several patients (waiting patiently ) had a little chuckle.

 

I moved 2 years ago and I can honestly say, my new surgery is run efficiently and effectively: I am so delighted!!

I'm not an advocate of having to explain my medical details/issues with receptionists either, but, having said that, a few points to ponder ... who do you think reads your notes and files them?
Who do you think opens the GP mail with those test results contained therein?
Who do you think transcribes the GP's dictaphone consultation notes?
Who do you think the GP dictates medical letters to?
Who do you think knows more about you than you originally thought?

My surgery operates on the "fastest finger phone in" too, but, if you turn up at the door early enough, you are most likely to be seen *before* they have taken the first phone call

The only "issue" I had with my previous surgery was, my GP would never stick to the consultation time *if* she deemed it necessary to take longer. The result would be you may not be seen until (sometimes) an hour *after* your slot. But, that didn't irritate me too, too much because it meant that should I, or my family, require that extra time ... it would be available.

 

I don't think its so much about the receptionist knowing your business, its more that everybody in the waiting room can hear at least half of the conversation (her half if its a phone call, or the whole lot if you there in person). Whereas the doctor is discrete enough, through professional responsibility, to not discuss a word of it outside the consultation room.

If the GP gets caught gossiping about people's ailments, he/she could be struck off, never working as a doctor again as long as they live. If the receptionist gets caught gossiping, the worst she can expect to happen is that she gets sacked from that particular surgery.

 

I phoned for an appointment last year and got one within 30 mins.
When I saw the Doctor I expressed my surprise at being seen so promptly.
Her reply was " We haven't seen you for 15 years, so thought it must be urgent"
Unfortunately OH has to go through the "ring at 8.30 and hope" scenario.

 

Yep! realise that Clueless.
Having worked 25 years as receptionist at Social Services I dealt with many confidential matters and very often child abuse issues the details of which stay with me to this day, but I would never dream of disussing peoples details on the phone in front of waiting clients, nor yet would talk to OH or family about my work. So yes I knew a lot about some people but even now my lips are sealed.

And although I know the staff can read my notes etc I still do not wish to discuss with the receptionist my reason for wanting to see the gp.