Does it feel impossible to speak to your GP right now? You’re not alone – but a few simple tricks might make a difference
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The clinic WOMAN’S GP DR PHILIPPA KAYE ON HER TOPIC OF THE WEEK
Many of you have been contacting us at Woman magazine to say that you’re still unable to see your GP. I know it’s difficult – there simply aren’t enough doctors to keep up with demand. And struggling to get an appointment can increase levels of stress and anxiety when you’re already unwell.
Each surgery will have a different method of booking appointments – or even multiple ways – which can include queuing up at the door or phoning. Most surgeries will also offer a form of electronic consultation, sometimes called ‘e-consults’ or PATCHS. These involve filling in a form detailing the issue and then waiting for a doctor to call you back on the phone. E-consults may also be used to direct you to general advice about a condition, or to the administrative team – such as if you need a copy of your blood results or a sick certificate.
An e-consult can give you the opportunity to upload a photo, for example of a rash, so it can be useful to have these ready. Be sure that the image is clear and not blurred. But, as a rule, never send photos of intimate areas such as genitals, anus or breasts, even if the rash is in the area. Instead, write this on the form and the doctor is likely to call you to come in.
You may be asked to have telephone triage. This is when a doctor calls you to discuss the issue and then decides whether the problem can be dealt with over the phone or if you need a face-to-face appointment.
Alternatively, after viewing your e-consult, your doctor may decide to text you. So be sure that your contact details, including email address and phone number, are up to date at the surgery.
If you are offered a telephone call, your GP is unlikely to be able to give you an exact time, so keep your phone on you with the ringer turned up loud. It sounds obvious, but I have left messages many, many times for people who then said they left their phone in another room.
If you’re phoning your surgery not to request an appointment but to get some test results, avoid it first thing in the morning when the lines will be busy. Your surgery may have a dedicated time, or phone line, for results.
And remember, you don’t always need to see a GP. Practice nurses may run clinics for diabetes or other chronic disease monitoring, minor illnesses, wound dressing and more. Your practice may also have other staff, such as a physiotherapist o
