Doctors Surgery

Savvy_Sue

Abbafan1972 wrote: »

They won't accept repeat prescription requests over the phone, you have to put it in writing or fill the other half of your prescription and tick the box for the item(s) you want and put it in the little box on the reception desk.

I don't know of any surgery who lets you do it over the phone, and I wonder if that's because the risks of getting it wrong are so much greater - either them mis-hearing or mis-writing or in the busyness just not passing the request on at all?

elisebutt65

Just this week I've had my first appointment at my new surgery. And it was BLOOMING FANTASTIC!!!!

Old surgery used to be 2, one in my town and one in the neighbouring town, then they merged and had a brand new purpose built health centre equidistant from both, which meant I had to get a bus or walk for about half an hour. They have a system whereby they had an emergency walk in only on a Monday and Friday from 9-10.30. If I needed it then I had to be there at 8.15 to beat all the over 60-s who used to congregate there between 8-8.30. This was ok when they were based in town as I'd pop in and they'd give me a time to come back at say 10.30, so I could then do some shopping or go for breakfast, or even pop home for a bit. Being out of town meant I was stuck there for hours!!!

If I rang up for an appointment, I'd be luck to get one for weeks unless I over-exaggerated and said it was an emergency. No EMIS there or anything! This was the same GP practise that diagnosed me as needing yoga for my chest/back pains and finally a new GP to the practise diagnosed my gallstones after 2 years of agony:eek: Also said I had adult onset acne for various lumps and cysts on my 'undercarriage'

I logged on to the new surgery website and registered online and within a week I could sign onto EMIS and make an appointment which I did on Monday for Tuesday evening. I get there and put my details into the touch screen and get seem within minutes of being seen, despite me being 30 minutes early.GP diagnosed me as having Hidradenitis within minutes and I leave with my script for antibiotics. He actually listened to me and had a good look without gazing blankly at his pc screen for minutes like my old ones used to.

Now moving the kids over as well. So good to find a GP that I don't have to take a morning off work to see.:D

BobQ

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I don't know of any surgery who lets you do it over the phone, and I wonder if that's because the risks of getting it wrong are so much greater - either them mis-hearing or mis-writing or in the busyness just not passing the request on at all?

My practice used to have this same rule about not renewing over the phone. I was pleasantly surprised recently that they now allow not only phone renewals but also internet renewals. So there is hope....:)

Torry_Quine

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I don't know of any surgery who lets you do it over the phone, and I wonder if that's because the risks of getting it wrong are so much greater - either them mis-hearing or mis-writing or in the busyness just not passing the request on at all?

My practice has a dedicated phone line for leaving a message for repeat prescriptions. I thought that was common place.

Savvy_Sue

BobQ wrote: »

My practice used to have this same rule about not renewing over the phone. I was pleasantly surprised recently that they now allow not only phone renewals but also internet renewals. So there is hope....:)

I suppose internet renewals are less likely to go awry, at least they shouldn't be misheard!

Mind you DH has started getting his via Boots, and they don't seem to be able to get what he wants right AT ALL!

SingleSue

We used to be able to do phone renewals for our prescriptions but that has stopped and so now, we have to actually go into the surgery and fill out a form and then come back at least 72 hours later to pick it up (although they were amazing when youngest realised he had made a boo boo with his medication last month and was on the verge of running out - they managed to speak to a doctor and get a new prescription sorted within 2 hours)

But, our appointment system is pretty good. You can ring up at surgery opening time (8am) to get in that day or book in advance or ring during the day and see what they have and their latest thing (which I think is brilliant), they have a 24 hour appointment line where I have rung at say 2 in the morning and managed to get one for 8am the same day.

The 24 hour appointment line has certainly solved the old 8am rush to get an appointment, so much easier to get an appointment for when you want it now.

Bangton

Appointment times at my doctors are fine. Generally get in quite easily...the doctors on the other hand are awful. One is so rude and bad mannered I'm actually scared of him!

50Twuncle

grass_is_greener wrote: »

......join your surgeries patient participation group which gives feedback to the surgery and works in combination with them to try and change.

My wife made an official complaint about her experience to the surgery manager - but nothing was done
She also complained on NHS choices website - again - no effect !!
Hence, she gave up and is considering changing her GP Practice

j.e.j.

21Twinkle it sounds like it might be worth her changing, if she'd be happier where you are.

grass is greener thanks for the view from 'the other side' as it were! It does seem crazy that surgeries aren't allowed to close their books. What on earth do busy city-centre practices do, - take on half the city??
I do not understand 'did not arrives' either, though I suppose to be fair the patient might have tried phoning and not been able to get through! At the dentist if you don't show up you risk getting charged.
I must say though, there's still no excuse for the attitude of some (not all) of the staff you encounter. I always say bottom line is the staff choose to be there, the patient doesn't.

dizziblonde

The one thing ours is doing that's causing a load of annoyance at present is that they had an automated touch-screen check-in system going, where you checked in on the computer system, and it flashed up when the doctor was ready for you... meant they didn't need to man the reception desk as heavily.

The system's borked and has been for a good couple of months, but they haven't moved the reception staff from the office out the back into the front desk - so you've got the same one staff member trying to book appointments by phone, hand out prescriptions, deal with enquiries AND deal with patients checking in and call the next appointments through to the doctors (although loads of them just come and get patients out of the waiting room themselves)... poor lass on the desk is going increasingly grey-haired with the whole thing!