Dulwich Medical Centre CQC report out: "Requires Improvement"

[bawdy-nan]

The CQC investigation report came out last week and concludes that in all areas but "care" the practice "requires improvement". The main problem highlighted over and over in the report is the difficulty in obtaining an appointment...

http://www.cqc.org.uk/location/1-565650623#accordion-1

Though still not displaying its rating on the website as required by the CQC despite the penalty for not doing so being a fine. Wonder if they've got the posters up in the surgery ....?

[Sue]

Thank you bawdy-nan.

[Sue]

I was pretty gobsmacked this morning when I phoned DMC for an appointment (for something not urgent) expecting to wait weeks, and got one for Monday morning.

Credit where credit's due, I think that's pretty damn good.

And I just got a text reminder, as well!

[bawdy-nan]

That's good to hear.

[Monkey]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I was pretty gobsmacked this morning when I phoned

> DMC for an appointment (for something not urgent)

> expecting to wait weeks, and got one for Monday

> morning.

>

> Credit where credit's due, I think that's pretty

> damn good.

>

> And I just got a text reminder, as well!

Amazing. And it's only taken a CQC investigation and a three-year campaign on the forum.

[Sue]

I don't really care what it's taken if it continues like that.

[richard tudor]

Don't hold your breath

[Sue]

Yeh, let's be positive, eh?

[Sue]

To continue in a positive vein ....

I was seen almost on time. I had several things to ask about, because I was so sure I'd have to wait weeks for an appointment I had put off making one.

I came out with two separate referrals to specialists elsewhere, a second appointment at DMC early next week to look at another thing in more detail because there wasn't enough time for it all in a single appointment, and the suggestion I have an overdue flu jab which I'd forgotten all about.

A nurse came in and did the flu jab there and then.

Well impressed. Apart from feeling I am finally disintegrating :)

The appointment for next week was made while I was with the GP.

[Mick Mac]

Sue Wrote:

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> I don't really care what it's taken if it

> continues like that.

Well you should care Sue - its been an absolute shambles of a service for years and they have taken the people for a ride to fill their own pockets with public money.

[lorraineliyanage]

I think you got lucky with that appointment. My partner called this morning and got an appointment for the 23rd of March.

[sedm]

It took me over three months to get an appointment with the nurse after they cancelled twice on the day of the appointment, when I had already booked time off work. Really hope they have improved... I've always had good care from the GPs, it just seems way too busy.

[Sue]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Sue Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > I don't really care what it's taken if it

> > continues like that.

>

>

> Well you should care Sue - its been an absolute

> shambles of a service for years and they have

> taken the people for a ride to fill their own

> pockets with public money.

I "should" care?

I think - particularly given poor reports on here of several other local surgeries - that we should be grateful for an improvement rather than complaining about the past.

There are issues nationwide with getting GP appointments, and I don't think it can be helping the morale of anybody at DMC to have constant griping on here even when they appear to be making efforts to improve.

Maybe I was lucky.

If you aren't, you can always change surgeries, though I'd be worried that anywhere else might be just as bad if not worse.

[Sue]

lorraineliyanage Wrote:

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> I think you got lucky with that appointment. My

> partner called this morning and got an appointment

> for the 23rd of March.

In that case I got lucky with two appointments.

My one yesterday was only made last week, and the one I have for next Tuesday was made yesterday.

Possibly there's some age filter, and I got early appointments because I'm so ancient :)

[James Barber]

Whichever practice you use if you experience poor service complain.

With regards to DMC I made a formal complaint about it citing several pieces of casework residents agreed I could do this about and other copied me complaints they made. Such practices are in receipt of a lot of public money and it shouldn't take long to right such obvious wrongs.

Fab Sue you got an appointment but it seems a ridiculous way to manage a publicly funded service.

GP's are almost universally private businesses. Ironic so many are against further privatisation but never ask for this private part the NHS to be made properly public again. The school model might be better where GP's are employees and the school have governors or trustees volunteering to guide and steer them as public bodies.

Certainly in Dulwich the current model appears very broken.

[muffins78]

I've just seen this and now it might make sense, I rang up Monday for an Appointment and I was shocked to get one next week with a choice of times!! It's great, but how it should be.

[Sue]

I'm sure many people are now getting quick appointments at DMC.

However human nature being what it is, people tend to complain about bad things, but don't tend to praise good things.

So if there has been a general improvement it may not be reflected in posts on here, especially as most patients probably don't post on the forum or even know about it.

[James Barber]

Good to hear people getting bookings in reasonable timescales.

It shows what we could have always had if the owners weren't maximising profits at the expense of very ppor patient experience.

Please people report any problems with this that would imply this was a temporary if welcome blip of good service.

[Mick Mac]

James Barber Wrote:

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> It shows what we could have always had if the

> owners weren't maximising profits at the expense

> of very ppor patient experience.

Exactly.

[Sue]

Mick Mac Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> James Barber Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

>

> > It shows what we could have always had if the

> > owners weren't maximising profits at the

> expense

> > of very ppor patient experience.

>

> Exactly.

Well, that's what comes with privatisation. What do you expect?

Wait till the Tories privatise the rest of the NHS.

[BrandNewGuy]

But the situation is complicated by the fact, as James said, that nearly all GP surgeries have always been private businesses. So most were only ever 'contracted' to the NHS.

[Earl Aelfheah]

Meanwhile Dr Gupta has been taking home around 2 million a year http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2063458/Family-doctors-firm-raking-1-8m-YEAR--patients-say-surgery-appalling.html and enjoying junkets with the prime minister http://www.businessgreen.com/digital_assets/6344/February_2013_trade_mission_delegates_booklet.pdf .

[Sue]

BrandNewGuy Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> But the situation is complicated by the fact, as

> James said, that nearly all GP surgeries have

> always been private businesses. So most were only

> ever 'contracted' to the NHS.

Clearly I need to read things more thoroughly :))

[Wiggle]

Out of interest - and if it's a very obvious question, apologies - does anyone know if practices receive funding based on patient numbers and are there audits completed to verify they aren't fudging the numbers? I only ask as I left DMC two years ago as a patient - due to the exceptionally poor admin / ever changing way of securing an appointment / never getting an appointment - and receive regular letters saying I am due a test and check up for a condition I have. I have repeatedly told them I left ages ago but the letters continue. The last one was a couple of weeks ago and I said I would raise a formal complaint if I received another. If I had the time and energy I would also be asking why they have retained my details when they have no need to - surely in contravention of some data protection legislation?

[Nigello]

This morning was bad. I'm still trying to get through on the phone but get an engaged tone. I used to be put on hold. Has their system changed?

Once I do get through I'll be asking how to complain properly because 50+ redials over an hour is very poor.