finding a decent gp/shrink

[pumpa]

i dont think the second one exists actually!
both my gps who have been family gps for years have just left and i dont get on with any of the new ones-you only get 5 mins with them and my notes are so huge its not worth it.
how can i find out if the doctors in another surgery are any good or not? all my family are staying at this one and i dont know anyone at these other surgeries to ask.
i find it extremely difficult to get on with doctors for various reasons and i dont want to keep changing surgeries just to find a 'nice' one!
they should have a doctors review website!!!
any ideas?:confused:

[lynzpower]

If you are looking for a therapist you could do much worse than having a look at the british assoiciation of counsellors.

[pumpa]

no im not looking for a therapist- a gp primarily.

[Savvy_Sue]

You could ask for recommendations? Although it can be quite personal: some people get on with one GP, while others can't stand them!

But I think you'll usually find appointments are quite short. If you wanted a longer first appointment, you could phone the surgery and ask if that would be possible. I used to have double appointments with my GP at one point.

[LondonDiva]

Appointments have to be kept to time because patients complain when the surgery over runs & the GPs have visits etc to fit in.

I'd ask your PCT for a list of local practices that have an open list and ask your frined/neighbours for recomendations from the list. You may want to see if you can register at a practice with lots of drs so that you can stay in one place, but see another GP if neccessary.

If you are still finding that you have masses to get through, take Sue's advice and see if you can book a double appointment or see if your concerns may be more relevant to discuss with a nurse rather then a GP.