According to widely published reports in national newspapers, 75% of the patients who turned up at A & E do so without even trying to see their GPs or ringing 111 that should be the first contact before visiting A & E. Their reasons for neglecting GPs were their past experiences whereby they tried and tried again to make an appointment without success.
This is what we hear from our friends, although our personal experience is different from the norm. That is mainly due to dedication of our GP and the excellent team she has behind her, led by her Practice Manager. Most GPs, especially those who do not have telephone consultation, ask their patients to ring early in the morning.
It is not uncommon for some to ring twenty times or more before they could get through. By this time all available appointments are fully booked and patients are asked to ring next day, rather than giving them appointments in advance, even if they are willing to wait a week or so. It is difficult to understand reasons behind such refusals, except to stress to NHS that all their patients are seen within 48 hours, a white lie to put it mildly! I hope when CQC inspect surgeries, they will go deep into appointment system, make sure no one has to ring more than few times, can leave a message and GPs obliged to ring back within 24 hours! CQC team should also interview patients, especially elderly, chronically sick and mothers with babies, toddlers.
Some patients were unaware of “Walk In” Clinics while others feel they are far few and as they do not provide scans and blood tests, they will prefer A & E, even with their long waiting time. If NHS wants to stop patients inundating A & E, then NHS should recruit more, young GPs, willing and able to work full time as partners rather than as locums with limited commitment, a norm in many surgeries!
Kumudini Valambia
By email
