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.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

Its getting worse in this area.
Situation for me is.......I have a problem that has reoccurred. I know the medication I need and it cant be bought over the counter
I phoned the surgery this morning to ask the Doc for a prescription.......that should not be a problem as the Doc is fully aware of the problem and the medication i need.
No chance !!!!! I cant even get a phone conversation and the earliest I can get a slot to even talk on the phone is SATURDAY PM.
That's a crazy situation.
There is a surgery much nearer and the website tells me they are taking new patients but google tells me that many existing patients are unhappy with the waiting time.

I get this from my clients at AgeUK a lot - you are not alone!


My doctor has an "online consultation" thing that you can use
you used to be able to do it via the NHS App - via Patches

but this is no longer there
instead - at least around here - every GP surgery has moved over to BlinX-Paco

Now - if you use that system you can type in stuff about new condition or existing ones

and it asks questions - and you type in answers

If you think and phrase your text properly you can tell them why you need x
or need an appointment
in detail
and then ask for whatever you need - whether you need an appointment or a prescription

the important bit - is that every entry HAS to be seen by a doctor that day and acted on in a suitable way


which is a way of explaining it in detail and making sure it is looked at by an actual doctor

and not just the receptionist - good thought they may be

 

[Exlaser2]

Not a problem in my area.

 

[Speicher]

The last time I needed to see a doctor, I sent an email at about 8am, and was given an appointment that day for 9.45am. They triage the emails.

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

The last time I needed to see a doctor, I sent an email at about 8am, and was given an appointment that day for 9.45am. They triage the emails.

My GP were very slow about e-mails (not contacted them for several years), typically min. 3 days. And even if you say to reply by e-mail as it's nothing confidential they don't and normally print and post a letter. Occasionally they might telephone (which means medic has typed a response and sent it to reception who then telephone or turn it into a letter to print and post.

 

[classic33]

Nigh on impossible, even when they're the one's requesting the appointment. Urgent medication review, at their request and supposed to be every year, is four weeks after it was requested.

I'm now trying to work out how they can do blood tests over the phone.

 

[presta]

You don't want to contradict a Consultant

When I complained about being given contradictory instructions, a consultant told me to only listen to consultants. Fine, but the consultants contradict each other as well.

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

That's a bit passe, our surgery's worked their way through several systems since they abandoned Anima.

 

[fossyant]

The only thing that works really well is the prescriptions. Order via NHS App, Pharmacy 4 you delivers promptly. I don't use my local pharmacy as most times things weren't ever in when they said, and I was at work 5 days a week - just don't worry now. Another thing that worked well, telephone conversation with consultant, 'oh, my medication only lasts 23 days, sometimes less' (liquid) - consultant emailed GP, and an extra dose was prescribed - mean's I'm not having to 'skip' days, and have a spare to take 'away' with me. Never got anywhere with the GP.