Just a rant about GP surgery - sorry

Well done, I hope all has gone well.

I was due to have a dressing changed this morning by the practice nurse but was phoned to say she was off sick so clinic cancelled. This is the FIFTH time this has happened in the last two months.

We are a group practice with two other surgeries in villages only accessible by car from here and I don’t drive but am constantly given appointments at these despite my constantly telling them I cannot get there. It cannot be difficult to,put a flag on my notes.

Glad you had an appropriate response from the practice manager, the previous response was dreadful.

I had an operation in May , had to have a dressing check/ change 2 weeks later and it was arranged no problem at my surgery. When I told the nurse about another problem I thought was connected she went and spoke to a GP for advice. I went in to see him 10 minutes later. I can’t fault my present surgery , the previous one before I moved house was as bad as yours.

Thank you for returning, hopefully an appointment very soon.

Hi all, I did email the Practice manager on 13.08.26, once I eventually found her contact details. I had an email this morning stating
'Thank you for writing in to me and bringing this to my attention. I am so sorry that this was the advice that you were provided with as I would never expect a patient to wait longer than needed for wound dressings or to just attend our walk in service as that is not the appropriate place for regular dressings.

I have passed this to the lead of the nursing team who has confirmed that they will contact you today and inform you off the appointment dates and times for the next 7 days, starting from the 19th.'

So I am now just waiting for a phone call from the surgery.

Thank you for all your input.

Do you have Accurx as this is triaged by a team? Depending on
a receptionist to understand the situation is likely to be misunderstood. She was sounding particularly unhelpful.

Econsult sounds great - but unfortunately it is not available in all practices.

The NHS is dreadful at the moment. I phoned district nurses two weeks ago tomorrow to come and see my husband. After a week they had not returned my call as promised so I rang again on Monday and was promised a call yesterday. Still nothing even though they have both my home and mobile phone numbers. I despair. All I got the first time was “we are very busy”. I said that I was not being rude but did they realise I am very busy too caring for two very unwell people. It works both ways.

Let us know what happens ( if you’d like to that is)

Thank you all for your patience and advice.

I will email the practice manager and take it from there. Getting to the hospital is a pain as I can't drive at the moment so I have to arrange a lift and it is over an hour away. But if I have to I will get there somehow.

Thanks again.

Jaxjacky

I would email the practice manager and ask for this to be confirmed in writing so I could let the hospital know. 🙂

I like this suggestion very much. Iron fist in velvet glove.

Yes. Good idea.

I would email the practice manager and ask for this to be confirmed in writing so I could let the hospital know. 🙂

The other thing is use Econsult and sign up for the Patients Know Best app. I use Econsult if ever I need an appointment and I get seen usually the same day. It totally cuts out the receptionists!

I would get back onto the hospital and explain the situation. Most nurses at GP practices are adept at dealing with wounds and hospital dressings. Our surgery does it all the time.

The more I read on gransnet about other surgeries I realise how very lucky I am to be at mine.

And you’re not ranting

avitorl

I think I would go to the walk in clinic and contact the hospital if they can't deal with you properly at the clinic or contact the hospital before the 19th and explain the situation to them and see what they suggest. Perhaps it might also be worth putting your situation in writing to your GP surgery to request that you are seen by a suitable medic at their surgery.

Sounds like really good advice.

I would ring my integrated care board or local health watch The surgery’s behaviour is completely unacceptable and they should be held to account for it. Part of managing the surgery is building in space for situations like yours. It’s your money that pays them, it’s their job to treat you.

Sound advice aviator. MrsMatt,
deep breaths indeed ! Good luck.

That does not feel very helpful. Maybe contact the clinic and see what they say - they may say a nurse could take a look at it and that would be fine.

I once asked my surgery if (whilst I was there anyway for a blood test) they could take off the dressing on my surgical wound from pacemaker insertion, as it was the date for this to happen and I felt more confident to have this done by a nurse rather than here on my own.

They said no! - - apparently they can only do this for dressings that they put on in the first place. They did relent when I got there as the nurse taking the blood thought the rule was ridiculous.

I think I would go to the walk in clinic and contact the hospital if they can't deal with you properly at the clinic or contact the hospital before the 19th and explain the situation to them and see what they suggest. Perhaps it might also be worth putting your situation in writing to your GP surgery to request that you are seen by a suitable medic at their surgery.