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8th November 2021


I have been a patient for many years and always found this to be a good practice in the past. In the last couple of years this has changed and I no longer feel valued as a patient or that I can rely on them when I am unwell. I have been seriously unwell over the last 12 months, requiring numerous hospital admissions. Unfortunately I can’t get to see a gp face to face for follow up care and I have absolutely been given the wrong medical advice over the phone following an e consult. This was picked up by another hospital based doctor. I have every sympathy with gp”s and staff who are overworked but how is it that I can see a hospital doctor who is undoubtedly as much under pressure? Using telephone and econsult for everything is dangerous as you simply cannot diagnose every condition this way. I know every patient feels that their problem is urgent but some people are seriously ill and need to be seen. I do feel that there is perhaps a hidden agenda to push such people away from the surgery and towards A&E, walk in centres and ambulatory care. I have recently felt incredibly let down by this practice and unsafe in their care. To be honest if all you can offer is telephone appointments then I’m better off ringing 111.

Suggested improvements
Stop using e consult and telephone appointments for everything. Start seeing patients. Suggest the receptionists try and demonstrate empathy and stop treating everyone like they are a burden.

Experience
Involvement
Cleanliness
Staff
Appointment