GPs not answering phones or seeing patients

Ravendale

Im just wondering how many people are able to call their GP and make appointments or see their doctors?

I understand with covid there needs to be precautions taken, but our GP now has a plethora of choices on their answering machine, but none of them to speak to receptionist or doctor, the only way to speak to the receptionist is if you call to book a covid vaccine when i asked if I could see the doctor regarding a serious issue, I was told ring 999. So it seems that the gravy train of payments for covid vaccines precedes the health of all patients in the practice who either have the vaccine or dont want it.

We did ring 999 in the end and the issue is now referred for urgent biopsy, but im so very annoyed, this whole thing is going to leave awful scars on the hearts and minds of people, completely aside from covid.

iamwhoiam

We have been able to see our GP all through the pandemic . We need an appointment and it’s usually within a few days . We see her face to face or we ask the receptionist for a repeat prescription to be e mailed to the pharmacy .

ednwireland

my gp is the same havent been able to get through just a nowdoc number for emergencies, must ring the other practice and hopefully move. i have avery non serious (i think !) issue just want some reassurance about after a serious hospitalisation a few years ago. just seems some go practices are taking the p**s imo.

kirk.

A lot of people I know just head straight to a+e

Weeks to get a GP appointment and they don't deal with emergencies either

I've had no problem seeing my GP. I haven't needed to call them though because they have an online booking system which is actually very handy.

Grab All Association

My GP retired after 30+ something years. A foreign doctor took over who was useless. With the help of the HSE I found an Irish doctor locally. Most people presume this only applies to GMS patients, I’m private, it just takes persuasion of the poor service/treatment you’re receiving and reporting it to your local primary care manager who will help you.

Even the courts have warned of dangerous fake doctors operating in this country.

https://m.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/dangerous-doctors-being-hired-by-hse-judge-warns-37505034.html

Dempo1

Honestly it's been a problem at my GP surgery, I won't be critical however as it's understandable and I've had excellent care previous to the pandemic . In essence the surgery has not been answering the phone for over a year. This said, they have a hatch/window were reception is and patients can speak to the team, request an appointment, request prescriptions etc. My own excellent GP also advised dropping a note if anything urgent, I've a long term Thyroid issue, she calls later in the day.

Where I've found problems is secondary care, I see a consultant every 3 month's, Bloods done in advance at GP"s, that all stopped as did appointments, all done by telephone and I have to drive 30km and back to get bloods done at consultants hospital. Follow ups them become a challenge, as normally GP updated, calls me etc but time lags, extra effort to get bloods etc complicates things. The Cyber attack then added further chaos.

Things hace improved, a little waiting list now for GP appointments but each time there's a covid case surge, things slow down.

I've just had to plan a little more in advance but yes it's been a challenge.