Anyone experiencing even greater issues securing a GP appointment with Tessa Jowell GP practice?

[ianr]

22 hours ago, Azalea said:

The same company who own TJGP Surgery also own one on Camberwell Green.  

which is https://www.parksidemedical.co.uk/.

Edited yesterday at 16:57 by ianr

[HeadNun]

2 hours ago, Sue said:

If you had something which was serious enough to go to A&E, you should have gone to A&E in the first place!

You would be highly unlikely to get a GP appointment on the day you phoned, in any case. 

I'm assuming that if you phone a surgery during  staff training it is still possible to speak to someone. But even if not, the automated message at my surgery says at the outset under what circumstances you should be going to A&E.

Hopefully the vast majority of people are sensible enough not to just turn up at A&E unnecessarily, and if not, hopefully they would be turned away at the triage stage in any case.

Would you prefer it if your surgery did not train its staff?

A&E isn't allowed to turn people away at the triage stage, even people with hiccups and ingrown toenails... the kinds of ailments a GP might be able to advise against seeking emergency care for. https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/12/aes-under-siege-from-hiccups-and-ingrowing-toenails/

[Sue]

42 minutes ago, HeadNun said:

A&E isn't allowed to turn people away at the triage stage, even people with hiccups and ingrown toenails... the kinds of ailments a GP might be able to advise against seeking emergency care for. https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/12/aes-under-siege-from-hiccups-and-ingrowing-toenails/

Thanks, I didn't know that. 

People are even more stupid than I thought then, if they are willing to wait hours in A&E for an ingrown toenail. I presume they don't get put at the front of the queue.

Why isn't the 111 service more widely advertised? That puts you in touch with a doctor, who will advise on the phone or visit, and if necessary  you will be advised to go to A&E or they will arrange an ambulance to take you.

[alice]

1 hour ago, HeadNun said:

A&E isn't allowed to turn people away at the triage stage, even people with hiccups and ingrown toenails... the kinds of ailments a GP might be able to advise against seeking emergency care for. https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/12/aes-under-siege-from-hiccups-and-ingrowing-toenails/

Well, they do turn them away from the A&E route at Kings and rightly so they employ GPs and if after triaging you’re determined to have a GP type problem you are sent to see one of the GPs on site or close to the site. 

[HeadNun]

1 hour ago, alice said:

Well, they do turn them away from the A&E route at Kings and rightly so they employ GPs and if after triaging you’re determined to have a GP type problem you are sent to see one of the GPs on site or close to the site. 

Exactly. But they are often out of hours GPs, who could be tending to more important issues. Those people are still clogging the system up 

[first mate]

In regard to sore throats and itchy skin, I wonder though if those were generally the only symptoms? You could be quite seriously ill and still present with a sore throat or itchy skin. The idea of multiple people rocking up to a&e with 'just' a sore throat or itchy skin may be slightly misleading.

[HeadNun]

True, First Mate. But I’ve worked in A&E and seen people turning up with heavy periods and headaches and even a sore arm. Then there’s the drunks and druggies who just want somewhere to kip. 
 

All my comments are beside the point, tho, the original one being that closing GP surgeries during a strike could make the situation in the ED even worse than it is at this time of year. And they can’t turn anyone away. 

[first mate]

I don't doubt it, but even then a headache could mean so many different things, from a tension headache to a brain tumour or stroke. A sore arm could be nothing more than a bad bruise or early indication of a serious neurological condition.

Perhaps I have this wrong but the presenting symptoms can only be properly analysed for significance after a final diagnosis and followup, surely? Maybe that was done and all were non-serious, in which case those figures would be genuinely shocking. 
 

I fine it hard to believe anyone could bear to be in a&e these days with nothing worse than a sore throat. As a walk-in they are likely to have to wait up to 12 hours to be seen. 
 

 

 

 

[HeadNun]

You’d be surprised… the waiting room is clogged up with people who present no acute symptoms and just want something to do / attention, a lot of it is mental health issues. And they will wait 8+ hours, because triage pushes them to the back of queue, but they all have to be seen. Because, if there’s a chance that one of them is presenting with something serious and they’re turned away… law suit. 

[alice]

Yes, they are seen but they are seen by a GP. 

[beansprout]

Is there not a minor unit people can go to? To take pressure off A & E ….Is there  one nearby?

Personally think people who  literally waste A and E time for stupid things like hiccups, bad bruise, etc should be charged…. Not emergency at all and a lot of pharmacists can help as well with advice on say migraine, minor sprains, bruising etc… 

 

[IlonaM]

Yes, Urgent Care - both at King's (through same entrance as A&E but different department) and Tessa Jowell on 1st floor. Phone NHS 111 and they'll direct you where to go, or completetriage form online (https://111.nhs.uk/)

[Sue]

10 hours ago, beansprout said:

Is there not a minor unit people can go to? To take pressure off A & E ….Is there  one nearby?

Personally think people who  literally waste A and E time for stupid things like hiccups, bad bruise, etc should be charged…. Not emergency at all and a lot of pharmacists can help as well with advice on say migraine, minor sprains, bruising etc… 

 

I believe there is a minor injuries department at Guys, though I may have misremembered. Not very convenient for SE22 now the 40 no longer goes near. You have to get 2 buses or a train.

Charging people (not sure if you mean financially or legally) would waste a lot more time, I would have thought?

And  a bad bruise could be serious, depending on the cause and possibly other symptoms.

[beansprout]

35 minutes ago, Sue said:

I believe there is a minor injuries department at Guys, though I may have misremembered. Not very convenient for SE22 now the 40 no longer goes near. You have to get 2 buses or a train.

Charging people (not sure if you mean financially or legally) would waste a lot more time, I would have thought?

And  a bad bruise could be serious, depending on the cause and possibly other symptoms.

Really? Yes you are probably right as I know from personal experience with Guys… as I claiming travel costs back, that no one told me I could claim! Left hand does not know what right hand is doing regarding admin.. 

If they charged people for wasting overstretched staff in A& E as in not urgent just might deter people from wasting precious time…. But then you need interpreters, to explain if language is a barrier and admin staff to administer.. 

Correct me if I am wrong but is there not a train from Denmark Hill or East Dulwich which goes to London Bridge? Would be faster than 2 buses I would have thought. 
 

Oh, forgot about Tessa Jowell but thought you needed GP referral in which case, that would be the place to go rather than a bigger hospital.

Know there is one in Beckenham and you can call and they will give you an idea as to wait time…..same I hope at TJ…assuming they answer phone..

If one really things about it…too many  people in London for example and to few hospitals…

 

 

[Sue]

1 hour ago, beansprout said:

Really? Yes you are probably right as I know from personal experience with Guys… as I claiming travel costs back, that no one told me I could claim! Left hand does not know what right hand is doing regarding admin.. 

If they charged people for wasting overstretched staff in A& E as in not urgent just might deter people from wasting precious time…. But then you need interpreters, to explain if language is a barrier and admin staff to administer.. 

Correct me if I am wrong but is there not a train from Denmark Hill or East Dulwich which goes to London Bridge? Would be faster than 2 buses I would have thought. 
 

Oh, forgot about Tessa Jowell but thought you needed GP referral in which case, that would be the place to go rather than a bigger hospital.

Know there is one in Beckenham and you can call and they will give you an idea as to wait time…..same I hope at TJ…assuming they answer phone..

If one really things about it…too many  people in London for example and to few hospitals…

 

 

Yes, I did mention the train, which I now get from East Dulwich to Guys instead of the 40.

Depends where in East Dulwich you are starting from which route is easiest!

I think it is probably lack of staff rather than lack of hospitals which is the problem?

[beansprout]

Could say that about Council as well…anything  Govt run..

We as tax payers that were and are now, just sit back and do nothing.

Country was once proud, now.. laughing stock worldwide..

Not industry that keeps us in UK alive.. tourism and dare I say it? 

The Royal Family…