NHS App and GP websites - your experiences

[Drago]

Im of an age where while computers dont frighten me I never did them at scool, so I get by but im not an expert. As such I find the online apps difficult and annoying.

I live close to rhe doctors anyway so I wander down and book over the counter and watch the frustrated receptionist type it all into the same app. I then annoy them further by asking why theyre making me speak my details out loud in front of a waiting room of patients and not protecting my data.

Bring back the phone, butnwith a separate line for junkies desperate for their script at 8am.

 

[dicko]

We use NHS Swiftqueue to book blood tests and our GPs web page to order prescriptions. Both work extremely well and never a problem

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Several years ago I used the NHS App as it was useful for historic test results) and checking test results and appointment history.

But a year or so ago GP changed their computer system and now NHS App doesn't provide the same info (a lot less). That said I haven't really had occasion to use it for tbe last couple of years (no more than routine vaccination, no prescription). I may have already uninstalled it or if not probably will when I get round to it.

Was useful to double check I'd written down the eg vaccination appointment time correctly (I'm paranoid about not missing appointments). But new system no longer shows appointments, neither historic nor pending.

I always found it a very clunky app. Poor design or more just grown over time rather than any User Interface design,

Thanks - that is very useful

does seem like GPs are going their own way

which we need to know if we are supposed to be encouraging people to use the thing!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

It is all a bit disjointed the NHS patient experience.

We have the NHS App or the Airmid app plus a website.

The website I can request appointments, including same day urgent ones.
The NHS app alerts me about appointments, allows me to cancel them, and see test results
The Airmid app allows me to do the same things as NHS app and also allows me to add my own observations such as weight and blood pressure and vaccinations.

When I had an over 40s health check up last year. It was a mix of text messages, websites, and apps to book the initial check, blood tests, and follow up. The Swiftqueue above was used for the blood test booking. I must have seen at least 3 texts with links to complete the process. In theory the NHS app allows me to book blood test appointments but this route was not chosen for some reason.

I had some travel vaccinations in Dec / beginning of the year. Some were private as NHS no longer does them. Did it through local pharmacy who sent details to my GP. I also added details via Airmid App. I know the GP can see what I put in Airmid App. But the vaccinations are still not showing in the NHS app.

I too have had a career in IT, and am highly literate in this area. It could be so much better and easier an experience.

Luckily I still have my full health and don’t require any regular tablets or medications yet. My interactions are few and far between.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Im of an age where while computers dont frighten me I never did them at scool, so I get by but im not an expert. As such I find the online apps difficult and annoying.

I live close to rhe doctors anyway so I wander down and book over the counter and watch the frustrated receptionist type it all into the same app. I then annoy them further by asking why theyre making me speak my details out loud in front of a waiting room of patients and not protecting my data.

Being back the phone, butnwith a separate line for junkies desperate for their script at 8am.

That is wwhat most of our client want to do (minus the bits about protecting data to be annoying!!!)

but that are no longer able to get there easily
and ringing some places is just a recipe to wait on the phone for an hour

 

[Drago]

I mention GDPR to make a point about the potential unlawfulness of their arrangements. Being annoying is merely a pleasant bonus.

Instead of a phone we cant get through on we now have an app that is difficult to use and only offers appointments weeks in the future. For example, im being investigated for diabetes - the first appointment for a blood test was 3 weeks after my hypo, by which time I was feeling fine and the blood test told them nothing useful. They now have to expend more time on appointments and testing, when a timely appointment in the first place would have likely resolved the issue conclusively. The new system is wasteful of NHS time, resources and cash.

Pushing stuff further into the future is wasting yet more appointments and valuable resources and thus compounding matters, and is not helping them to "manage" anything. The apps are simply adding an additional layer of bureaucracy for no gain in the area of service delivery.

 

[cyberknight]

NHS app is terrible for booking appointments as the only options are smear ot blood test

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

OK - an update

Been talking to by "boss" at AgeUK and she has been talking to another "digital Champion" (I wish they would change that name!!!)
He is on some sort of board at a local GP and has other contacts in the area

Apparently the new Binx (or Blinx or whatever) is a "triage" system and is designed to work though the websites - normally the GPs website

but the NHS app is still central and that is the key focus

which does not a lot of sense to me
There used to be a way of doing the "triage" thingy on the NHS App though, in my case, Patches. Otehr surgeries used a different thing but that all did the same job
AND worked through the NHS App

Apparently the contract for Patches has finished (whatever that means)
and a lot of local surgeries has moved to Binx
which does not work through the NHS App

So patients are expected to use the NHS App for test result, prescriptions and general advise

but go through the GP website for otehr things


Now - I reckon this means more confusing things for older people and other people who get confused easily

I will be putting a letter to my MP together and ask him to point out the problems to the Department of Health

 

[Drago]

"digital Champion"

Sounds like a dog food made from severed fingers.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Sounds like a dog food made from severed fingers.

That is better that my image of it as a "young happening! sort of person in clothes I would not be seen dead in and with an attitude of superiority

I think they have "young people" at their central places who deal with things like "job" titles and doa lto of the advertising of services

The local person pushing the computer/phone/tablet help service was publicising it through Instagram and Tok Tik!!!

I muttered a bit - quite loudly - and they agreed to start handing out leaflets for GP surgeries and pharmacies and community centres
They had not thought of that!!

 

[Ming the Merciless]

been talking to another "digital Champion"

Think my doctor won that award one year for their prostate exam technique.

 

[biggs682]

Anima is what my doctor uses and I find it hard work

 

[Drago]

Anima is what my doctor uses and I find it hard work

Aye, ours uses Enema for appointments.

 

[presta]

Is it just me, or does anyone else remember a time about 20 odd years ago when they were developing a new all-singing all-dancing IT system for the NHS that would combine everything all into one? It got abandoned when it went the way of most other public projects, and turned into a bottomless money pit.

Anyone interested in the state of NHS IT systems could do worse than follow Dr Gordon Caldwell on Twitter. Until he retired recently he was a consultant at Oban (A&E IIRC), and the dangerous state of NHS IT systems were one of his pet subjects. His advice was to get a copy of all your records, and put them onto Dropbox, because if you live in England, and get taken into a Scottish A&E, they have no way to access your records.


View: https://x.com/doctorcaldwell/status/1855518766576046403

Think my doctor won that award one year for their prostate exam technique.

Dr DRE?
I've met plenty of them.

Anima is what my doctor uses and I find it hard work

That's the one mine used in addition to Systmonline before they used Accurx and Systmonline, which was before they switched to Evergreen and Systmonline. It all makes you wonder what's right but wrong about Systmonline.

 

[Webbo2]

The trust I worked for took up an IT system that other trusts told them not to touch with a barge pole however they were offered various financial sweeteners to use it and guess what.