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GP appointments post-Covid

Posted By parkerb02

"GP appointments post-Covid"

About: General practices in Lanarkshire

(as a service user),

There appears to have been a permanent move to phone appointments only. I don't have a problem with that per se, quite happy not to have to travel to surgery. However, my issue is the level of uncertainty that is introduced, given I work full time and cannot be permanently available to take a call.

I don't understand why we cannot be allocated say a 1 hour or 2 hour call back slot. This move to random phone calls is a major setback in quality of service and detrimental to patient care. Why can we not receive a timed appointment any more? I am ill, probably needing antibiotics and I have to call back again tomorrow to book another slot. Very poor. 

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Responses

Response from Karen Jamieson, Patient Safety Co-Ordinator, Quality Improvement Team, NHS Lanarkshire about a year and a half ago
Karen Jamieson
Patient Safety Co-Ordinator, Quality Improvement Team,
NHS Lanarkshire

Submitted on 18/10/2022 at 17:38
Published on Care Opinion at 17:38

Dear parkerb02

Thank you for sharing your story on Care Opinion.

I am sorry to hear your experience in regards to the availability of appointments we always want to make things better for patients. GP’s are independent contractors and are responsible for responding to any concerns a person may have about the service, but they are not registered to respond directly to feedback through Care Opinion.

Can I please invite you to contact the Practice Manager if you would like a direct response about the service or you can also contact Primary Care Patient Affairs, I have included their contact details.

PatientAffairs.Primarycare@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk Tel no. 01698 752800 Option 2

Kind regards

Karen

  • {{helpful}} {{helpful == 1 ? "person thinks" : "people think"}} this response is helpful

Update posted by parkerb02 (a service user)

Thanks. This is not unique to my surgery. I believe it is a general situation as facilitated by the British Medical Association (BMA).

There is also a relationship between NHS and GPs and there is nothing preventing NHS from sharing their thoughts from a patient outcome perspective. Also, NHS has a regional structure in place and rules which make it exceptionally hard to switch practices. I feel your response is not acceptable.

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