What is it like getting a Doctors appointment for you ?

[nogoodnamesleft]

Because of the old NHS GP contract quite a few medical practices are leaving the NHS and going private.

I've not used them myself but when caring for my parents (24/7 living with them) I did on several occasions call the then Babylon Health telephone GP system (then £50 a call). Main reason was only way to get an appointment with their GP was to be queuing outside the practice at 08:00 for maybe an hour and as I was getting no help caring for parents (one with dementia) and I couldn't easily leave the house (given their risk of falls the way one parent behaved when I was not there to help the other parent ...).

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Fifty pounds a call?

FIFTY?? 😮🤯😮

Here, they'd just tell you to call NHS24 or go to the hospital.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Fifty pounds a call?

FIFTY?? 😮🤯😮

Here, they'd just tell you to call NHS24 or go to the hospital.

In those days Babylon Health went far beyond NHS111 (of these days). You'd get to speak to a qualified GP. You could get answers to more technical questions

eg a consultant decided my Mum needed an iron infustion (iron injected through drip over several hours). Trouble was he didn't have her latest blood test which showed her blood iron levels had recovered and now normal ... except I as an unqualified amateur carer can't tell a consultant what he should do. So 23:00 I end-up calling Babylon health to check if what would be a massive overdose of unnecessary iron would harm her (and if I should cancel the infusion the following day).

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

In those days Babylon Health went far beyond NHS111 (of these days). You'd get to speak to a qualified GP. You could get answers to more technical questions

eg a consultant decided my Mum needed an iron infustion (iron injected through drip over several hours). Trouble was he didn't have her latest blood test which showed her blood iron levels had recovered and now normal ... except I as an unqualified amateur carer can't tell a consultant what he should do. So 23:00 I end-up calling Babylon health to check if what would be a massive overdose of unnecessary iron would harm her (and if I should cancel the infusion the following day).

Ah ok.

And what was the result anyway, if you don't mind me asking?

 

[presta]

I did on several occasions call the then Babylon Health telephone GP system (then £50 a call).

I had a year's subscription to Babylon, it was only about £70-80.

In those days Babylon Health went far beyond NHS111 (of these days). You'd get to speak to a qualified GP. You could get answers to more technical questions

I cancelled my subscription because the only answer I ever got out of them was "Go and ask your GP". When I told them the reason I'd taken out a subscription was for independent second opinions, she said "Well there's no point then, because we're all NHS GPs anyway".

 

[MontyVeda]

My experience has been good. The last two times I've needed an appointment i filled in the online thingy, got a call back within a few hours and an appointment the same day.

I guess it all depends on what they consider urgent.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

Ah ok.

And what was the result anyway, if you don't mind me asking?

In that case the Babylon Health GP said it wouldn't harm her and she'd just excrete it safely to return to normal blood levels.

You don't want to contradict a Consultant (certainly not the one my Mum was under).

Back when I was doing such caring I perpetually felt I was out of my depth but there was no help from eg Government sources. I suspect there are vast numbers of other family members tied to caring for family without help or support.

 

[Sharky]

Our GP, asks that you use "Anima" for all requests/appointments etc. usually you get a reply within 24hrs.

For repeat prescriptions, we use the NHS app and if the med is not on the list, there is an option to leave a message. Again resolves within a couple of days and at our pharmacy.

Occasionally, have called 111, to resolve issues and emergency requirements.