What happened to the Anima system

[Ming the Merciless]

the bloke on the door of working men's club

Tried to offer me a free prostate check. I gave him the finger.

 

[vickster]

We too have had a number of apps used by the surgery, sadly the current one doesn’t allow booking of appointment, you clearly have to be triaged by the receptionist. In my experience some are better and nicer than others.

The NHS app is great for reviewing test results.

The duty Dr does all the triaging at our practice from App requests, nothing to do with the receptionists (so are you actually sure that's what is happneing - however, when you call/drop in then clearly the receptionist does have some influence)

 

[YMFB]

The duty Dr does all the triaging at our practice from App requests, nothing to do with the receptionists (so are you actually sure that's what is happneing - however, when you call/drop in then clearly the receptionist does have some influence)

There is no opportunity to get an appointment at our surgery without dealing with a receptionist, either f2f or on the phone.

 

[presta]

Being triàges by someone with no clinical training and no lawful entitlement to be privy to any aspect of your medical situation is slightly concerning.

At our place you can phone or go to reception, but either way, it's not the receptionist who's doing the triage, they're just reading the same questions from the same triage software that you could have used for yourself at home.

It's one of systems our surgery's used.

They started out with Systmonline, then we had Systmonline and Anima together, then we got Doctorlink (in addition to the other two). Now they've ditched two of them and we use a combination of Systmonline and Accurx.

There's another system for booking hospitals and clinics as well, but I don't think the GP uses that.

It appears I'm out of date, they've ditched Accurx and are now using Dr. iQ instead, although the original Systmonline software was still working when I ordered my meds last week.

 

[Drago]

either f2f...

That's easy to handle.

Them. "And what's the problem?"

Me. "Are you clinically trained?"

Them. "No."

Me. "Then if it's all the same to you I'll explain it to someone who is, if you'd just be so kind as to make me an appointment to see them."

I was unfailingly polite, no point being rude for the sake of it, and I could see they were itching to argue but for some reason felt disinclined to do so with the 6'4" 20 stone chap stood in front of them.

I take this tack as last time they tried to fob off Mrs D using their non existent clinical training to triage her need for an appointment or otherwise she ended up in Hospital that same evening and was told a few more hours and it could have been curtains.

So they don't ask me stupid questions any more, and you know what? Im in and out in half the time, and they're free to move on to their next task in half the time, everyone wins. That being the case, I wonder why they waste their time with such questions?

 

[YMFB]

That's easy to handle.

Them. "And what's the problem?"

Me. "Are you clinically trained?"

Them. "No."

Me. "Then if it's all the same to you I'll explain it to someone who is, if you'd just be so kind as to make me an appointment to see them."

I was unfailingly polite, no point being rude for the sake of it, and I could see they were itching to argue but for some reason felt disinclined to do so with the 6'4" 20 stone chap stood in front of them.

I take this tack as last time they tried to fob off Mrs D using their non existent clinical training to triage her need for an appointment or otherwise she ended up in Hospital that same evening and was told a few more hours and it could have been curtains.

So they don't ask me stupid questions any more, and you know what? Im in and out in half the time, and they're free to move on to their next task in half the time, everyone wins. That being the case, I wonder why they waste their time with such questions?

If my need for a doctor was embarrassing or difficult I’d be telling them Im not prepared to discuss my situation with anyone other than my gp. As a diabetic I’m probably tagged as “special” or “needy” I care not but I can usually see the nurse or gp relatively quickly.

My disappointment is that we are not able to make appointments on line and have to try to phone, which is frustrating at best.

 

[vickster]

There is no opportunity to get an appointment at our surgery without dealing with a receptionist, either f2f or on the phone.

You said there’s an app, Anima requests ar my surgery get triaged by a doctor, then you either get a same day or access to book a future appt. How does your surgery’s app work?

 

[YMFB]

You said there’s an app, Anima requests ar my surgery get triaged by a doctor, then you either get a same day or access to book a future appt. How does your surgery’s app work?

The app no longer allows you to book an appointment with the nurse or GP.

 

[vickster]

The app no longer allows you to book an appointment with the nurse or GP.

So what does it do? I can't book one directly without going through the triage form. Cannot book through reception except in exceptional circumstances and only at the surgery (ie old and unable to use the tech)

 

[YMFB]

So what does it do? I can't book one directly without going through the triage form. Cannot book through reception except in exceptional circumstances and only at the surgery (ie old and unable to use the tech)

I dont know anymor, once I could no longer use it for making appointments I deleted it.

 

[presta]

So what does it do? I can't book one directly without going through the triage form. Cannot book through reception except in exceptional circumstances and only at the surgery (ie old and unable to use the tech)

Both the Anima and Accurx systems that I've used won't let you request an appointment until you've answered the triage questions. When the online triage was first introduced there was a note on the surgery website say that you can still request appointments by phone or at reception, but you will still be asked exactly the same questions as online.

The old Systmonline software let you pick a specific time slot and book it, no questions asked, but that hasn't been used since before the pandemic.

 

[stephec]

Our GP uses something called Patient Access.

I've just gone on out of interest and the first available face to face appointment is on 02/07/25,or if I want a telephone appointment I can have one on 25/06/25.

They must be really good if they're that popular.

 

[vickster]

Both the Anima and Accurx systems that I've used won't let you request an appointment until you've answered the triage questions. When the online triage was first introduced there was a note on the surgery website say that you can still request appointments by phone or at reception, but you will still be asked exactly the same questions as online.

The old Systmonline software let you pick a specific time slot and book it, no questions asked, but that hasn't been used since before the pandemic.

Indeed. Never could make appointments through Anima, that was Patient Access pre pandemic. Can still use that for repeat prescriptions or to look at medical records or to access private services like blood tests. Plus medical info

 

[presta]

Indeed. Never could make appointments through Anima, that was Patient Access pre pandemic. Can still use that for repeat prescriptions or to look at medical records or to access private services like blood tests. Plus medical info

Records and prescriptions are what they're still using the Systmonline for, Anima and Accurx were/are for appointments, presumably because Systmonline can't do triage. I don't know why they can't just pick one system for everything, and then stick with it.