GPs (general practitioners)

We have a good practice here but it is increasingly difficult to get appointments unless urgent, virtually impossible to see same gp for some degree of continuity, and I have noticed that they are far less likely to refer for tests, scans etc. possibly because of the cost implications. Constantly running on locums as gps seem to be mainly part time. Sadly we were fooled if we believed "the NHS is safe in our hands". The deterioration in medical services must be apparent to Government so they are obviously hoping for a rapid demise of NHS paving the way for private companies to take over completely.be fully privatised. Why can't they be honest about this?

We are very satisfied with our local medical centre.

I got a steroid injection 18 months ago for 'possible bursitits' on the left hip. I wasn't convinced that it actually was bursitis but the injection did help - I guess it would help with any inflammation in that area.
I still have symptoms though not as bad in the same area, also in many other areas but at the time that was the worst spot.

I have a general diagnosis from GP of oseoarthritis/fibromyalgia but no real confirmation of anything and certainly no suggestion of pursuing the condition to find out.

On one occasion in a separate and acute medication situation I was started immediately on steroids 50mg daily. They were a miracle for that particular situation and as a side effect most of my pains improved dramatically.

However, it then took me 2 years to very very slowly wean off the steroids. The side effects of the drug were many and I wouldn't like to be on them again even though I was practically pain free.

Newquay please have your dh ask for a referral.
Even if you have to go into the appointment with him ...... yes, I know, the men aren't very keen on being accompanied!!

Unless going privately the referrals can have a very long waiting time.
I've been told that to see my Gastrologist will be approx 2 years.

I think it very much depends on where you live. DD moved from Wales to N Yorkshire a year ago and has found the treatment there for an ongoing condition (under active thyroid) is far better. I have the experience of two GP surgeries in Wales about 8 miles apart and one was great and listened to you and the doc made you the next app on the computer herself - the other practice had great receptionists but dreadful doctors who treated you as if you had no brains!

I phoned our surgery yesterday to make a non-urgent appointment and have been to see the GP today.

As long as you're not too fussy who you see, you don't usually have to wait long at all for an appointment, and I was lucky in that the GP I got today is one I would have chosen anyway.

I left with a prescription, an appointment to see a nurse next week for blood tests, and a walk-in appointment for a chest x-ray at the nearest small hospital (huge bonus!). I'd had the x-ray within 30 mins of leaving GP surgery.
On this occasion, I've definitely no complaints whatsoever, unless you count the week's wait to have the blood tests done, but that's been the case for years now at our surgery so it's what I was expecting.

I phoned our surgery yesterday to make a non-urgent appointment and have been to see the GP today.

As long as you're not too fussy who you see, you don't usually have to wait long at all for an appointment, and I was lucky in that the GP I got today is one I would have chosen anyway.

I left with a prescription, an appointment to see a nurse next week for blood tests, and a walk-in appointment for a chest x-ray at the nearest small hospital (huge bonus!). I'd had the x-ray within 30 mins of leaving GP surgery.
On this occasion, I've definitely no complaints whatsoever, unless you count the week's wait to have the blood tests done, but that's been the case for years now at our surgery so it's what I was expecting.

I like our surgery, but it is sometimes difficult to get to see the doctor you would prefer to see - especially one female in particular, appointments for whom appear to be becoming as rare as hens teeth! So continuity goes out of the window. You can usually get an appointment within two or three days. They do listen to you, and are pretty on the ball at referring you for ongoing investigations to the hospital if they think it's necessary. The practice nurses are good too. I miss the first GP we had when we came back to live in England in the early eighties. He had been my mother's doctor, and was very intuitive and old school. He didn't have an appointment system and his surgery was not very modern and a bit shambolic but if he'd been practicing out of an old wardrobe in the Isle of Skye a whole lot of people including me would have followed him there. They told him he had to bring his practice up to date, but he couldn't stand the thought of being dragged kicking and screaming into the twentieth century so he retired from general practice but carried on part time in specialist haematology.

Our surgery is excellent. I book my appointment on line in advance of when I need it - I have a managed condition. If you have an urgent need there are appointments available every day. The nursing staff are excellent and the admin staff are very helpful.

I'm on the Patient Participation Group at our local surgery (with a patient list of over 17,000 and counting) and at a recent meeting we were given copies of this document because of feedback from patients re wanting to see the same doctor every time.

It's long but if you read the first 3 pages and the "Key principles" at the end you will see that the GPs themselves prefer providing continuity of care:

www.rcgp.org.uk/policy/rcgp-policy-areas/~/media/Files/Policy/A-Z-policy/RCGP-Continuity-of-care-in-modern-day-general-practice-2016.ashx

Interesting paper, need to read it properly though. We're relatively new to our surgery. a practice of 8 doctors, and when registering were told that non urgent appointments are at least a three week wait if we wish to have continuity of care, in practice it seems to be four weeks is the norm. On the positive side urgent appointments are always available on the day - but of course no choice of practitioner. They are doing their best, the receptionists are unfailingly polite and has helpful as they are able to be, nurse appointments are very quick. Their catchment is a mix of young families and people over 60 One factor is that none of the partners or salaried GP's are full time, my preferred doctor only works two days each week, the wait for her is often six weeks for a routine, non urgent appointment. I don't have an answer other than more GP's - but of course that's a whole minefield of complexity.

I have definitely thought of sending him with a note I must say! I think, as Lazigirl says, that cost comes into it when referring. You would think surely it will save money in the long run if something is definitely diagnosed from the off? Will wait to see what happens tomorrow. . .

You are entitled to be see within 18 weeks - 2 years is beyond the pale!

We currently have a 6 GP surgery and are very happy with the service it provides. Sometimes appointments involve a bit of a wait but if we have ever needed something quicker the staff have done their best to help. I will be sorry to leave them when we move in a few weeks time. The new surgery will be at the end of our garden (but access not over the garden fence of course) and it being a village practice they operate a go-and-sit-and-wait system for the doctor. Time will tell...

The surgery I go to has a walk in system. If I was ill tonight I could just turn up tomorrow, between 8 and and 10 and I would be seen. If you get there before 9 you can see the doctor of your choice, after that you go on the one with the shortest list. Same system in the evening for those who have been ill during the day. Oh, and I hate to rub it in but we have 5 doctors and they are all brilliant

Newquay I do think you have to be assertive when requesting further tests or opinions these days. I hope your DH gets his hip prob diagnosed and treated without further delay. My DH had hip X-ray for groin pain and has moderately severe arthritis but holding off op at moment. I know that funding is a consideration, in this area anyway. To qualify for hip/knee replacement Gransnetters may know this, you have to be assessed using the "Oxford Scoring System". This is supposed to be an objective assessment of pain, debility etc. but in this area they have moved the goalposts and changed the score so that symptoms have to be worse before surgery considered.

Yes thanks Lazigirl I agree. DH doesn't have groin pain which I understand is classic THR pain. But as SIL says "what is it then?" . I think we're all a bit too long suffering. I just hope and pray the doc he sees tomorrow will be proactive and get on with it! Will let you know. . . .

Thankfully our practice is excellent. Rang first thing Monday for appointment for very depressed DS, and was given an appointment for the afternoon. I have sent an email saying how much I appreciate this. One of my jobs in the past was as a GP receptionist, was never allowed to give medical advice, and we always had some appointments blocked out to use on the day, and we were always told to keep patients coming back to the same Dr for continuity of care.

Our practice is good, but it used to be much better. It`s a 4 doctor practice, with several nurses, but 2 years ago, the 2 senior doctors decided to retire at the same time, and it was about 9 months before they were replaced, despite the posts being advertised, therefore it became really difficult to get an appointment. Things started to get better, but we can`t make appointments in advance, we have to ring at 8.30 am to get an appointment for that day, very rarely with the doctor of choice, and it usually takes till just after 9am to get through. Now things are going to get worse again, 1 doctor is leaving to join his brother in his practice, another now only comes in twice a week, and another once a week. The trouble is, the doctor who is leaving is my favourite!

I live in rural Suffolk, very pleased with our GP services, booking times have got a bit longer lately but as I have serious health problems can always get an appointment, sometimes same day. I have a rare condition, GP accepts I know more than him about it and gives me any refferal I request, eg. physio. Much better service than in East Hertfordshire where I used to live.
The NHS is a wonderful service, it saved my life, we should treasure it.

Our practice like many has advance appointments and ones you can book on the day. It is very difficult to choose a particular doctor. I was a bit reluctant to see a 'trainee' but my DD, who is a GP, says they are often more thorough and have all the latest ideas! The way things are going we will have no new doctors coming through at all. What a terrible way for the NHS to end.

Our practice supports phone consultations which you can get on the same day with the duty GP. Unless I need to see the doctor face to face, I have found this really useful. Does anyone else do this?

What can I say about my practice urmmmm rubbish my dr told me there was nothing wrong with me turns out I had Lupus and because she left it too long some of the damage is irreversible .

I have come to the conclusion that I have to be responsible for my own health as it were, and not wait for the surgery to remind me about flu jabs, medical check ups etc as they used to do. I also from experience won't take the first answer of nothing wrong if I think there is something wrong. I do know my own body and how it feels, I rarely ( touch wood) bother the doctor - say once every 3 years maximum so can't be accused of nuisance.

Oh forgot to say that since my doctor went part time she has cheered up considerably and DH who unfortunately sees her more often doesn't go quivering any more, but comes home happy that she has listened and dealt with any issues he feels he has.