Re: GPs should return to offering face-to-face appointments without prior triage, says NHS
Dear Editor this is not happening. Several times as my parents carer, I have tried to make appointments with their doctors and every time I am told it will be a phone call, then the doctor will decide if they want to see you or not. This is surely wasting two appointments and is double the doctor's time: firstly to speak to you on the phone and then have a face to face meeting.
This afternoon I went to my doctors' surgery and asked for an appointment with either of two different doctors and again was told this will have to be an E consultation or a phone call first. The first phone call appointment I can have is in 2 weeks. So what ever medical problem I have I can not see a doctor and have to wait 2 weeks to speak to a doctor by phone. If I had a serious problem, what am I supposed to do?
How is this the right way to treat patients, especially the elderly? My parents are 84 and 85 years old. They need to see a doctor when they need to. How can a doctor examine you or look at you over the phone? They cannot.
When I politely asked the receptionist why I could not have a face to face appointment when they NHS says you should be able to, she snapped back at me “you will have to ask the doctor." How can I? I can’t see or speak to anyone for 2 weeks.
Rapid Response:
Re: GPs should return to offering face-to-face appointments without prior triage, says NHS
Dear Editor this is not happening. Several times as my parents carer, I have tried to make appointments with their doctors and every time I am told it will be a phone call, then the doctor will decide if they want to see you or not. This is surely wasting two appointments and is double the doctor's time: firstly to speak to you on the phone and then have a face to face meeting.
This afternoon I went to my doctors' surgery and asked for an appointment with either of two different doctors and again was told this will have to be an E consultation or a phone call first. The first phone call appointment I can have is in 2 weeks. So what ever medical problem I have I can not see a doctor and have to wait 2 weeks to speak to a doctor by phone. If I had a serious problem, what am I supposed to do?
How is this the right way to treat patients, especially the elderly? My parents are 84 and 85 years old. They need to see a doctor when they need to. How can a doctor examine you or look at you over the phone? They cannot.
When I politely asked the receptionist why I could not have a face to face appointment when they NHS says you should be able to, she snapped back at me “you will have to ask the doctor." How can I? I can’t see or speak to anyone for 2 weeks.
Competing interests: No competing interests