Doctors appointments at Forest Hill Group Practice

[Lemmy]

I tried to book a consultation appointment over the phone the other day and was told that they were only accepting emergency cases for face-to-face appointments. I was directed towards booking an e-consult appointment, even though the issue I wanted to discuss with the doctor required an in-person examination.

I have tried to steer clear of the doctors over the last few years because I know they have been so overloaded with covid cases. I wondered if anyone with connections there knows what the current status is. Are they dealing with a backlog?

Whenever I contact them I feel pushed away. It seems so difficult to access basic health care. I can accept that others have more urgent needs than me, but at the same time health care should be preventative, not just for emergencies.

What I'm trying to work out is whether this is part of a general malaise in an underfunded health service, or if it's specific to FHGP. And whether it's likely to change in the foreseeable future.

[Jenijenjen]

I?m with FHRGP and have used the econsult service a few times. A couple of times it has necessitated a physical exam and I was contacted quite quickly to arrange for a face to face appointment. So I would recommend you start with econsult and if they think an examination is required they will call you in. It?s just a different way of doing things but I have to say I find it a lot less stressful than the pre Covid system.

I?ve also used econsult a couple of times for minor matters which were niggling me but wouldn?t dream of making an appointment for and have received a helpful and reassuring response.

[George Orwell]

Both I and someone else I know have recently each had a telephone appointment arranged for no less than 4 weeks waiting time.

[jazzer]

I'm sorry to hear of yet another FHRGP patient having such a difficult time trying to get the surgery to book an appointment to see them.

They had absolutely no involvement with Covid vaccinations themselves, but rather directing everyone to either the Tessa Jowell Centre, the Lister Centre or anywhere else so they do not get involved. Although the practice had suitable facilities to offer these vaccinations.

How this practice is able to function and remain financially viable is beyond me. I always thought the purpose of such a practice was to see those of its patients who were ill or suspected ill with a condition and needed help, support and guidance. Clearly this is not happening.

However they are extremely hot, if not demanding on calling patients in for "annual health checks", insisting a double appointment is needed when in fact it is not. What could have been done efficiently in 10mins by a Health Care Assistant was stretched out into a wasteful 20mins. I left wandering what I had gained from having been seen and honestly, I got no benefit from it whatsoever.

This practice is graded as "Good" by CQC, if anyone knows how theyare able to maintain that rating, please spill the beans.

[Lemmy]

Good to hear other people's perspectives. Jenijenjen what did you find stressful about the pre-covid system?

My own perspective is that online consultations are good for minor issues or advice but should not become the default mode of interaction outside of emergencies, or a hoop you have to jump through in order to see a doctor. Health centres should be community hubs where you feel welcome and ideally have a long-term relationship with the same doctor.

jazzer, I was contacted by the NHS recently about getting a general check up, which apparently is recommended at my age. I mentioned that when trying to arrange an appointment and was told 'we didn't send you any letter!' No awareness of it even though it appears to be NHS policy and designed to catch problems ahead of time. No joined up communications.

It would be interesting to hear if other local practices are running similar policies to FHGP with regards to appointments.

[Jenijenjen]

?Jenijenjen what did you find stressful about the pre-covid system??

1. Waiting for about half an hour before I got to speak to anyone (not to mention the ghastly Muzak!)

2. Being told the first available appointment is not for 3 or 4 weeks. Using econsult, the couple of occasions I?ve needed an appointment, one was for the next day and the other was within a week. Neither could be called an emergency.

When an econsult is submitted, you are given a date and time when you will have heard back from the doctor, usually a couple of days and in my experience that timeframe has been adhered to.

[Moovart]

I agree with Jenijenjen.

I was reluctant to use the econsult service initially but, having used it, found that my issue was triaged and responded to by an appropriate person in an appropriate timescale...the next day for one issue and two weeks for a completely non urgent issue.

There is the facility within the econsult to specify a particular staff member if you need to see the same person or request someone with a particular specialist interest.

So I am now a convert to the econsult system.

The only thing is that the time slot for a call is wide so you need to keep your phone near you for a half day.

[alice]

If you can use the econsult - it does work very well and leave the phone lines for those without internet.

[Igor]

Ditto. If anything it had got better since e consult. They were particularly good when I had to go off to A and E a few months ago. Of course it has its problems, I expect most surgeries do. And issues over its friendliness have been discussed in earlier threads in the forum.

[GrahamP]

I visited the surgery last week having been asked to collect routine blood test forms. One usual test was not included which I queried. Despite standing in front of the receptionist I was told to go away and do an e-consult.

On that afternoon the place was almost like the Mary Celeste.

[Gaynor Hill]

Yes terrible trying to see a doctor I was told I can't get emergency appointment did E thing it told me needed to see doctor rang back the guy said No I kept on being polite but he said go to A&E I said No it's not fair on them got to see doctor a few days later only one person in there was told needed Kings as emergency terrible service

My husband a few months ago couldn't get a appointment told only one doctor on duty they are working from home obviously, said he would see the nurse she sent him straight to kings got a clot on his lungs he could have died kings said

Know one wants to go to A&E just because doctors not doing there job even Kings have said they are fed up with them

I'm fed up with them saying how busy they are hospitals so much busier

It seems to be the Man receptionist who will not let you see a doctor

[jazzer]

really sorry to hear about yet a further incident at this practice. Perhaps report it to the CQC Care Quality Commission, and as what was the clinical commissioning group (CCG) no longer appears to exist.

[alice]

Maybe I have misread your post Gaynor but it seems like on both occasions you were told it was emergency and to go to A&E and it proved to be an emergency. I don?t really understand what the problem was with the advice given and I hope both of you are better now.

[Zak]

FHRGP wrote to us a few years ago and told us that since they were altering their catchment area we were now outside and so after 35 years on their books we were given four weeks to find another GP. We were somewhat peeved by the sudden decision and lack of notice, although we felt that it had been going downhill for sometime.

Well, we found another GP and on reflection having to leave FHRGP was the best thing that could have happened!

[Mariamadeit]

I also much prefer the econsult system, when I have needed, things have happened quickly.

[Gaynor Hill]

alice Wrote:

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

> Maybe I have misread your post Gaynor but it seems

> like on both occasions you were told it was

> emergency and to go to A&E and it proved to be an

> emergency. I don?t really understand what the

> problem was with the advice given and I hope both

> of you are better now.

[Gaynor Hill]

alice Wrote:

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

> Maybe I have misread your post Gaynor but it seems

> like on both occasions you were told it was

> emergency and to go to A&E and it proved to be an

> emergency. I don?t really understand what the

> problem was with the advice given and I hope both

> of you are better now.

Hi Alice

Didn't think it was an emergency hubby does get short of breath and spoke with doctor a couple of weeks ago had antibiotics just thought he needed more never in a million years would have thought of a clot on lung as he takes aspirin ever day lots of times he has visited surgery to see nurse or doctor for breathing so you can understand hesitate to go to kings

Mine is an on going thing so just thought. Needed to up medication

Unless you really need accident and emergency which is what it supposed to be for just wouldn't go the Man on reception is just always saying go to kings

Really don't mind being able to speak to a doctor which it always was again doing E consultation for no urgent things

But a receptionist say to me even when the E consultation said you need to speak to a doctor is just wrong and funny after I insisted I need to speak to one I had telephone appointment,

Hope this explains things better

[alice]

Thanks Gaynor I do understand now, I too was sent to A&E after a telephone consultation I?m glad I went, it wasn?t a heart attack but I needed an ECG to prove that and a GP can?t do it.

[alice]

Unintentional duplicate

[gabys1st]

Canr be as bad as DMC in Bellenden Rd.

[beejay]

/i have been a patient at the FHGP for over 40 years and at last week ordered my rx via day lewis chemist, i have been put on a new painkiller and have to stay on them and went into surgery to let them know i only had enough until saturday, the surgery pharmacist called me today and i explained i had not had one of my other tablets for 2 days and was not to go without this tablet, surgery pharmacist said call 111 after 6.30 and they would sent a script for this tablet to local chemist for me to collect, I found the surgery very uncooperative and feel she is worthy of a jobsworth hat, there are in my opinion some well 3 lovely receptionists and the Doctors wonderful but this woman the worse member of staff i have ever encountered, tell you she will call back and does not, has anybody else encountered this with her?

[Waseley]

Please look at the reports tonight on the news. We simply don't have enough GPs and coupled with delays due to Covid the system is at breaking point. Is it fair to single out one practice? Yes I understand it is far from perfect

And if it is one specific member of staff please complain to the surgery, if that doesn't work, NHS England, the Health Service Ombudsman and your MP