Contacting GP

Deri

Have you "contacted your surgery" as advised

Well, it's a little Catch-22!!

Surgery says "Use Accurx to contact the surgery", Accurx says "You need an NHS login to register", NHS says "You must have a mobile phone to register, if you haven't got one then contact your surgery".

"There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole."

Wibbles

Deri said:

Have you "contacted your surgery" as advised

Well, it's a little Catch-22!!

Surgery says "Use Accurx to contact the surgery", Accurx says "You need an NHS login to register", NHS says "You must have a mobile phone to register, if you haven't got one then contact your surgery".

"There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza,
There's a hole in my bucket, dear Liza, a hole."

The whole world is now set up for people with mobile phones - my parents-in-law do not have a mobile (until recently, they still had a dial phone at home) - they also do not have the internet so are probably in an even worse position than you !

Your GP is legally unable to refuse you a way to communicate with them - "reasonable adjustments" coming in to it !!

The Equality Act 2010 says that service providers, including hospitals and GP surgeries, must take reasonable steps to remove barriers which stop disabled people from having access to the same healthcare services as everyone else.

So  - if you do not have a mobile for reasons of health/disability etc - then use this as a reason for requiring a method of communicating with the surgery - they MUST find another method - the ball is in THEIR court as to what that method is.

OverlyAnxious

Wibbles said:

The Equality Act 2010 says that service providers, including hospitals and GP surgeries, must take reasonable steps to remove barriers which stop disabled people from having access to the same healthcare services as everyone else.

So  - if you do not have a mobile for reasons of health/disability etc - then use this as a reason for requiring a method of communicating with the surgery - they MUST find another method - the ball is in THEIR court as to what that method is.

It's not that simple unfortunately.  They are allowed to decide which adjustments are 'reasonable' so there is no legal obligation that they 'must' find an alternative.  The word reasonable has been used specifically to allow for discretion on the side of the company.

Wibbles

OverlyAnxious said:

Wibbles said:

The Equality Act 2010 says that service providers, including hospitals and GP surgeries, must take reasonable steps to remove barriers which stop disabled people from having access to the same healthcare services as everyone else.

So  - if you do not have a mobile for reasons of health/disability etc - then use this as a reason for requiring a method of communicating with the surgery - they MUST find another method - the ball is in THEIR court as to what that method is.

It's not that simple unfortunately.  They are allowed to decide which adjustments are 'reasonable' so there is no legal obligation that they 'must' find an alternative.  The word reasonable has been used specifically to allow for discretion on the side of the company.

OK "should" ... but I see no reason why they "shouldn't"

2oldcodgers

Wibbles said:

I am still waiting for the results of my 5 day blood pressure test (in which I wore a heart monitor for 5 days and nights!!) 
It is extremely uncomfortable and difficult to shower.
I have not heard a thing from cardiology for 3 months since I returned the device to the hospital 
Not very good.. 

Doesn't surprise me in the least. My tests are for possible 'C' bowel/colon. It's going on for 2 months since they were done - heard nothing.

Bettahm

2oldcodgers said:

Wibbles said:

I am still waiting for the results of my 5 day blood pressure test (in which I wore a heart monitor for 5 days and nights!!) 
It is extremely uncomfortable and difficult to shower.
I have not heard a thing from cardiology for 3 months since I returned the device to the hospital 
Not very good.. 

Doesn't surprise me in the least. My tests are for possible 'C' bowel/colon. It's going on for 2 months since they were done - heard nothing.

That's disgusting 
Is this a situation where you could complain to the Patienr Liason Service

Wibbles

Sunak and all of his buddies will soon be out of a job
Sunak will have to survive on his estimated £730 million savings for a while! 
I am sure that he never uses NHS facilities 

OverlyAnxious

It's only £500 million now.  And most of that is his wife's.  She probably sends him to the NHS clinic.

PollyPick

I gave up trying to see our GP a long time ago until my son took ill - the receptionist thought she could sort my son's problem out without me seeing the GP until I 'barked' down the phone that SHE was not the GP  with the medical certificate on the wall - got an immediate appointment and good thing too but to get the treatment he needed would have taken months on the NHS so it was fortunate I had spent the few extra pennies I had on private med. insurance for him because it got him into hospital and the treatment that prevented the possibility of internal bleeding - he is fine now but I dread to think the damage a mere 'receptionist' could have caused had I not 'barked' at all. 

Bettahm

PollyPick said:

I gave up trying to see our GP a long time ago until my son took ill - the receptionist thought she could sort my son's problem out without me seeing the GP until I 'barked' down the phone that SHE was not the GP  with the medical certificate on the wall - got an immediate appointment and good thing too but to get the treatment he needed would have taken months on the NHS so it was fortunate I had spent the few extra pennies I had on private med. insurance for him because it got him into hospital and the treatment that prevented the possibility of internal bleeding - he is fine now but I dread to think the damage a mere 'receptionist' could have caused had I not 'barked' at all. 

Its frightening
Our lives in their hands.
I'm learning its receptionists up and down the country that are like this.
Thought mine were the only rottweilers 

Jimm_Alumni

I understand the pressures they are under but I too, as I've said elsewhere, have had issues of receptionists attempting to triage/diagnose me before giving me an appointment. 

When I worked for a bank if I gave financial advice to someone without training/qualification I would be fired immediately and taken to court. I find it odd that someone who works for a GP can try to give medical advice/make a medical decision without training and it just seems commonplace.

Now, I don't think they should be taken to court. But I do think they should be trained to not triage people and try to deny people appointments.

Bettahm

Jimm_Scope said:

I understand the pressures they are under but I too, as I've said elsewhere, have had issues of receptionists attempting to triage/diagnose me before giving me an appointment. 

When I worked for a bank if I gave financial advice to someone without training/qualification I would be fired immediately and taken to court. I find it odd that someone who works for a GP can try to give medical advice/make a medical decision without training and it just seems commonplace.

Now, I don't think they should be taken to court. But I do think they should be trained to not triage people and try to deny people appointments.

I guess the gps have told them to do it to keep the heat off them.
My gp practice has made mistakes with my stuff like referring me to the wrong hospital dept also sending a urine sample off to test for infection when it should have been tested for blood.
Yes they are under pressure. I live rural but the very small town the practice is in has had, so I'm told, thousands of new builds and more going up.
So drs are under pressure and mistakes and delays, possibly life threatening, are going to happen.

Wibbles

Albus_Scope said:

Keeping everything crossed for you @wibbles! I'm sure it'll all be fine, just be very careful getting that sample please.  

I will be
And as for it being C 
I certainly hope not 
It is not a lump as such that you can feel from the outside 
More a swelling that I can feel when on the loo
But it is on the right side of my abdomen 

Wibbles

Wibbles said:

I am still waiting for the results of my 5 day blood pressure test (in which I wore a heart monitor for 5 days and nights!!) 
It is extremely uncomfortable and difficult to shower.
I have not heard a thing from cardiology for 3 months since I returned the device to the hospital 
Not very good.. 

If the hospital has written to me over the last week then I haven't received it
The post in my area is not very reliable
We tend to get one delivery a week 

Wibbles

OverlyAnxious said:

Wibbles said:

The Equality Act 2010 says that service providers, including hospitals and GP surgeries, must take reasonable steps to remove barriers which stop disabled people from having access to the same healthcare services as everyone else.

So  - if you do not have a mobile for reasons of health/disability etc - then use this as a reason for requiring a method of communicating with the surgery - they MUST find another method - the ball is in THEIR court as to what that method is.

It's not that simple unfortunately.  They are allowed to decide which adjustments are 'reasonable' so there is no legal obligation that they 'must' find an alternative.  The word reasonable has been used specifically to allow for discretion on the side of the company.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/reasonable-adjustments/#:~:text=These could be things like,their GP surgery or hospital says differently 
I love this sort of challenge 

Wibbles

OverlyAnxious said:

Wibbles said:

The Equality Act 2010 says that service providers, including hospitals and GP surgeries, must take reasonable steps to remove barriers which stop disabled people from having access to the same healthcare services as everyone else.

So  - if you do not have a mobile for reasons of health/disability etc - then use this as a reason for requiring a method of communicating with the surgery - they MUST find another method - the ball is in THEIR court as to what that method is.

It's not that simple unfortunately.  They are allowed to decide which adjustments are 'reasonable' so there is no legal obligation that they 'must' find an alternative.  The word reasonable has been used specifically to allow for discretion on the side of the company.

https://www.england.nhs.uk/learning-disabilities/improving-health/reasonable-adjustments/#:~:text=These could be things like,their GP surgery or hospital

WelshBlue

It's horrible to see the trouble people have.  

I must say, my surgery is fantastic.  The receptionists will bend over backwards to get you an appointment or to set up a query with a doctor.  Always a ringback the same day.  For me or any of my family.  My daughters GP doesn't even charge her for an annual report needed due to her MS and role as a Paramedic/ DVLA

Plus the little things.  My chemist couldn't get one of my tablets, popped to the surgery ... "hang on a minute" and she came out of the surgery pharmacy with a box of tablets.

An advanced paramedic nicknamed Dr. Death has always been brilliant to me too, although many avoid him.

I sincerely hope those waiting on results have positive outcomes ... reminds me I need to ring for my colonoscopy biopsy results

bizzarebird

Bettahm said:

Jimm_Scope said:

I really appreciate everyone voicing their experiences here. I certainly have had my fair share of GP issues, mostly my last GP. My most recent one is actually alright after that experience. 

The previous GP would allow the receptionists to "triage" people over the phone. If you didn't sound ill enough or if it was mental health you were told to call another day when things were "less busy". Of course it was always busy. They were the only GP in the entire small town. A new build town where little thought had gone into the services needed for such a settlement. They were even building several hundred new homes before I was leaving with no plan for an additional GP service, I fear for the people who still live there if no new GP is built before those homes are moved into. They could hardly handle the current population.

Even outside of getting an appointment it was difficult to contact them. I had to request multiple times to have vulnerability to Covid flagged on my profile to allow me to get the vaccine. It took me 4 months, 2 months after I had my hospital team sent them a letter essentially ordering them to flag me so I could get the vaccine.

Also, regarding the GP wages @Wibbles. They are indeed paid well compared to the average salary (you'd hope so given the training they have to go through and responsibilities), but a big issue is comparing it to doctors salaries elsewhere. They can earn much more in the USA, Canada or Australia, so many move there. I can't really blame them for that.

Maybe its time the government looked into gp practices and how they are run.

Yes! During covid my GP practice closed down for 2 months because they were opening 1day to do vaccines. So the answer machine said “we are closed until further notice, don’t phone, don’t come to the practice. If you are seriously unwell go to a&e” now we all have variations of really unwell that don’t warrant an a&e visit but need attention. I do not know how my GP got away with completely closing primary care for 20k patients it manages. The government totally need a public enquiry. 

I have been refused medication my consultant said I needed to be prescribed regularly. My GP refused to refer me to dermatologist as they “don’t use that service” despite ENT consultant saying I needed it urgently and regular appointments to prevent ear infections. But these all go on the budget so they refuse. 

My Gp have weekly meeting to discuss referrals. All referrals have to be discussed on a Monday lunchtime even a breast lump found by Gp on a Thursday morning I did not get the call with an appointment until after it had been discussed in that meeeting. 

It’s money money money must have 30 doctors never see same dr twice and they withhold treatment. 

Worse bit.. no other GP in my area (I can’t walk and don’t drive) so totally having to put up with the underhand twisting of the rules by my practice. 

Bettahm

bizzarebird said:

Bettahm said:

Jimm_Scope said:

I really appreciate everyone voicing their experiences here. I certainly have had my fair share of GP issues, mostly my last GP. My most recent one is actually alright after that experience. 

The previous GP would allow the receptionists to "triage" people over the phone. If you didn't sound ill enough or if it was mental health you were told to call another day when things were "less busy". Of course it was always busy. They were the only GP in the entire small town. A new build town where little thought had gone into the services needed for such a settlement. They were even building several hundred new homes before I was leaving with no plan for an additional GP service, I fear for the people who still live there if no new GP is built before those homes are moved into. They could hardly handle the current population.

Even outside of getting an appointment it was difficult to contact them. I had to request multiple times to have vulnerability to Covid flagged on my profile to allow me to get the vaccine. It took me 4 months, 2 months after I had my hospital team sent them a letter essentially ordering them to flag me so I could get the vaccine.

Also, regarding the GP wages @Wibbles. They are indeed paid well compared to the average salary (you'd hope so given the training they have to go through and responsibilities), but a big issue is comparing it to doctors salaries elsewhere. They can earn much more in the USA, Canada or Australia, so many move there. I can't really blame them for that.

Maybe its time the government looked into gp practices and how they are run.

Yes! During covid my GP practice closed down for 2 months because they were opening 1day to do vaccines. So the answer machine said “we are closed until further notice, don’t phone, don’t come to the practice. If you are seriously unwell go to a&e” now we all have variations of really unwell that don’t warrant an a&e visit but need attention. I do not know how my GP got away with completely closing primary care for 20k patients it manages. The government totally need a public enquiry. 

I have been refused medication my consultant said I needed to be prescribed regularly. My GP refused to refer me to dermatologist as they “don’t use that service” despite ENT consultant saying I needed it urgently and regular appointments to prevent ear infections. But these all go on the budget so they refuse. 

My Gp have weekly meeting to discuss referrals. All referrals have to be discussed on a Monday lunchtime even a breast lump found by Gp on a Thursday morning I did not get the call with an appointment until after it had been discussed in that meeeting. 

It’s money money money must have 30 doctors never see same dr twice and they withhold treatment. 

Worse bit.. no other GP in my area (I can’t walk and don’t drive) so totally having to put up with the underhand twisting of the rules by my practice. 

Totally appalling
Yes I think a government enquiry into how these practices are run is well overdue.
Like most things these days it seems to be all about the money.
Our lives, and our mental health, in their hands!

2oldcodgers

Bettahm said:

I guess the gps have told them to do it to keep the heat off them.
My gp practice has made mistakes with my stuff like referring me to the wrong hospital dept also sending a urine sample off to test for infection when it should have been tested for blood.
Yes they are under pressure. I live rural but the very small town the practice is in has had, so I'm told, thousands of new builds and more going up.
So drs are under pressure and mistakes and delays, possibly life threatening, are going to happen.

We too have that problem. It was a village up until 2000 when the government handed over a disused WW2 airfield to developers thus increasing the population by over 12,000 plus all of the children. Still have the same GP as was before all of this happened.