Forum Topic

What genius decided to muck around with the NHS app?

It’s impossible to navigate. I only want to book an appointment ffs! 😡

Georgina Flint ● 229d17 Comments

Or even better have that info on outer packaging of medications, changesneed to be made.

Janice Evans ● 228d

Well is 61 classed as elderly, not sure.

Janice Evans ● 228d

Yes, my partner is not elderly, maybe if told to go to the pharmacy itcould help to google which medications are incompatible with either yourcondition or other meds you are taking, then you are able to give moreinformation to the pharmacists, it is not their fault they have done wondersduring lock down and since I only have praise for them.

Janice Evans ● 228d

Maybe it's time to have receptionists with more medical experience,just a thought.

Janice Evans ● 228d

As we become a part of a greater aging population we have more longstanding problems.  Some contraindications are well known and some not.  Some are more of a problem than others.  Engaging the help of those with more knowledge helps but also unless we report suspected and especially bad side effects to the doctor and use one of the forms - I think they are yellow? -  to report them then the dots may not be  joined in recognising them.  Some drugs will work better for each of us than others and we are all different!

Philippa Bond ● 228d

Philippa, maybe I never explained, it was the pharmacy that recommended the treatment, think if he had seen a doctor it may not have happened butagree doctor's may not know the bad effects of all medicines for hiscondition.  Receptionists would have no idea which patients need morehelp with medicines.

Janice Evans ● 228d

Thank you Adrian, he has a condition that causes problems with what he can or cannot take, I thought it was the wrong one when he got home and said read that very carefully and sure enough it was, then pharmacy said we do not accept returned medicine but they did when he explain the problem.

Janice Evans ● 228d

There are an awful lot of drugs and I don't believe that doctors have necessarily read/know which ones should be avoided by people with particular ailments either - so if you know - question and speak up.  Many patients will be pretty desperate for treatment for something by the time they actually go to the doctors' surgery.  The warnings and contraindications are written on the notes inside the sealed box.  The pharmacist may know more and it can be worthwhile getting to know and maintaining a good relationship with your local one.You may anyway find that it is impossible to see a qualified doctor at a doctors'surgery nowadays and the time allocated per person is short.  They seem to employ more alternatives.Receptionists have been given the job of gatekeepers and are tasked with trying to triage patients because there is such a huge shortage of GPs.  Some practices no longer have any!

Philippa Bond ● 228d

Janice, I was told by the receptionist that if you have an ongoing condition you can make an appointment by phone/visit but not if it is something new.I hope that helps.

Adrian Irving ● 228d

They say go to the pharmacy or buy (whatever it is you need) over thecounter, which my partner did and when he read the info was unable to take it, people with an ongoing illness should be able to see a doctor.

Janice Evans ● 228d

The thing is - these front line receptionists are so damn rude  and seem to just want to get rid of patients rather than help them. They need to learn what the S in NHS stands for!!

Steve Taylor ● 229d

Is this really true ?

Helen Bamberger ● 229d

And what about the people who don’t do on line - disgusting and troubling

Helen Bamberger ● 229d

And there are moans about productivity!

Philippa Bond ● 229d

I couldn't agree more Georgina. A couple of weeks ago I called into my local surgery to make an appointment for someone too unwell to make their own.Face to face the receptionist point blank refused to make an appointment saying I had to go online.When I did I got so far only to be asked for various passwords etc. that I had no way of knowing.Exasperated, I went back to the surgery to ask.Eventually, after polite insistence, they were printed off for all my family. Yesterday I received a text telling me what the new passcodes are! Bit blooming late! You're right Georgina even with these codes, it's a horrendous nightmare.

Adrian Irving ● 229d

Much cheaper to let Josephine public do it along with issuing a generic apology and lessons have been learnt yada yada

Mark Frost ● 229d

Why isn't there ANY or ENOUGH old grey whistle testing of technology before it is rolled out???  It is so very frustrating!!!

Philippa Bond ● 229d