Anyone Else Manage To See Their Doctor??

[Smowball]

Our surgery is still refusing to see all patients, and it is telephone consultations only! I have been short of breath since yesterday and even tho I live opposite my surgery and I just want the doctor or nurse to give me a 5 min check over they refuse. If in doubt of anything they say go to A & E, no matter what it is. Is everyone’s surgery still like this?? Or has anyone been able to see their doctor yet?

[catswhiskas]

My husband has had to make a telephone appt for tomorrow, the doctor will then decide if he can have an appt to see him, dreadful system, you would think they would be getting back to normal, I feel sorry for the seriously ill people out there.

[Smowball]

Had receptionist call me back who now reckons the do for has decided to not see me and, in the receptionists own words “if you feel that rough call an ambulance!”. Well I don’t need a blooming ambulance!

[MartinMillar]

Why can’t you give the reading to the nurse/receptionist why do you need to see the gp?

[Sqad]

NJ.....I have little to add, I completely concur @12.35.

[diddlydo]

The surgery in our sizeable village started this ridiculous telephone triage long before covid reared its ugly head. At the start of the pandemic they shut the surgery doors completely except for the collection of prescriptions. I haven't needed a GP but my husband has. He has been seen in person once at a surgery 5 miles away. When his pulse went dangerously low he rang the surgery and was told to ring the cardiology dept at the hospital where a heart monitor had been fitted (20+ miles away) or go to A&E (10 miles away) Meanwhile he has had a pacemaker fitted as an urgent case. Draw your own conclusions.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Are you sure they just have'nt black listed you Smowball? lol!

[Sqad]

diddlydo.....my conclusions are that your husband received standard treatment which cannot be reasonably criticised.

[Sqad]

APG.....LOL....that also crossed my mind.

[Smowball]

No lol. Feeling slightly better - doctor said I can take my inhaler up to 10 times within any 4 hour period.

[barry1010]

What inhaler(s) do you use, Smow? Too much Ventolin and you'll get the shakes

[andres]

You have to go through twenty questions before you can see a doctor at our Health Centre. Only five minutes ago I had a call to say that my appt. with the Heart Nurse has been cancelled because she has been in contact with someone who has Covid. Its back to a telephone review.

[NeedToKnowPlease]

I called up for a doctors appointment and they said to me a doctor will phone me back and talk to me. I spoke to the doctor after a quick chat the doctor wanted to see me.

I do think if after a phone consultation, if the doctor wanted to see you he would.

[jennyjoan]

I had a lot of emails to-ing and fro-ing with the practice manager over medication in Feb/Mar I was maybe getting 2 weeks of these emails - eventually I insisted on a doctor's appointment and was successful. I got sorted out.

Last week I had an actual appointment with nurse for blood tests and high blood pressure. They contacted me for that one. so I await results of that.

[jennyjoan]

the day of appointment with nurse. I had to buzz and then shutters slowly and eerily went up. Empty reception, two receptionists on - usually there are about 5 or 6. Followed the nurse down a long corridor (all quiet on western front). Saw a doctor staring at her computer quite vaguely looking, it looked like she was playing a wee house with her mouse. Gets into surgery with nurse and got the business done. Nurse asked for urine specimen but I had showered and p so I knew the bladder was empty. She gave me a bottle and I have to leave it in some time.

[New Judge]

//I do think if after a phone consultation, if the doctor wanted to see you he would.//

But what about if you (i.e. the customer) want to see a doctor (i.e. the handsomely-paid service provider)?

What is it that's so special about GPs? You can see a dentist (who spends quite some time with his or her face above your open mouth); you can see a doctor at a hospital (where GPs are encouraging their customers to go and who will have the same "close contact" as your GP might). Just what is it with GPs and why are they allowed to simply ignore the instructions given by the Secretary of State for Health (who is answerable to the taxpayers who pay GP's salaries)?

[Smowball]

Hope you feel better jj.
Barry - yes it is ventolin when needed and clenil modulite every morning and evening.