I had a consultation today with Dr Natalia. Although there was a lengthy wait to see her it was, by far, the most comprehensive, thorough and reassuring consultation I have had with an NHS GP for many years. If only all GPs were as good as this…..the system wouldn’t be anywhere near as broken as it is. Thank you so much Dr Natalia.
my appointment with my preferred Dr had been put in with another Dr and not told about it said DR could not give a steroid injection as not allowed to so appointment was a waste of time even though my preferred DR was there but refused to do it very bad practice for a practice partner and poor management.
I want to be able to email for prescriptions but they make you ring up. I won't go to them for influenza and covid jabs as I can go elsewhere which I can get to faster and don't have to wait as long.
I would of not have ended up in hospital if I was given the right meds
1
Submitted by Collected by a Healthwatch Norfolk member of staff22nd April 2024
I had a procedure done in January this year and in the February I saw a young nurse who worked out there was something wrong with me.
She told me to take in a sample the next day, I then spoke to the doctor who just told me to carry on taking the medication the hospital had prescribed, I told him I really didn't feel right, I was dizzy and could tell I was having sensory problems. Was still bad a week later and spoke to the Doctor who just said I thought you would be better, he did not offer any other medication. The next day I was found by friends in a very confused out of it state. They phoned the surgery and there was nobody there medically trained that could speak to them so they were told to phone 111. They managed to get through to my GP who told them to send a paramedic and I ended up at the N&N. When I was discharged the Dr phoned and asked for a sample, I took it in but they sent it off without any information and it got lost.
I feel like if the doctor had got it right or if he had checked in on me I would not of ended up in hospital or needing the NEAT care when I was discharge and a whole lot of money could of been saved.
I have almost given up trying to get an appointment for anything any more, which is dangerous as I have an ongoing long term condition.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff19th April 2024
I was having symptoms for months which would have flare-ups but the condition was unknown. I took an article in to the GP which talked about an illness that matched all of my symptoms but he dismissed it, he wouldn't even look at it! I have no confidence in the surgery so I went private and they realised it was my medication causing problems so they changed it and things are improving now. The paramedics, nurses and healthcare assistants are really good. The previous practice manager used to publish in the village magazine and it would be good to see this continue.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff19th April 2024
It doesn't seem that there's permanent GPs at the practice. There's no continuity of care anymore. I had a persistent cough and then a rash which was later diagnosed as shingles. I called and couldn't see a doctor so I called 111 who arranged for a doctor's phone appointment. By 5.30pm I hadn't had a call so my wife went in to the surgery where the receptionist was extremely helpful. It transpired that the duty doctor had changed the 111 message from 'must call today' to 'must call within three days' which is why I wasn't contacted.
1 star for admin, 5 stars for medical and pharmaceutical
3
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff19th April 2024
I needed GP confirmation of my health condition for my travel insurance, this took eight weeks to get which was three weeks after the deadline date. They called me while I was away which I didn't answer as I didn't have roaming calls. On my return I asked about the calls at reception and they denied the practice had rang me but I showed them the call log on my phone. The receptionist questioned why I wasn't taking elements of my medication (read from notes on my record), I'd received conflicting advice about this from a doctor. I then saw a brand new GP who was thorough and gave me the answer to what I should be taking. I'd give the surgery one star for the admin side but five stars for the medical and pharmaceutical team.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff19th April 2024
My husband can't be here today as he's too ill but we wanted to let you know what's happened. In 2021 he was suffering with severe breathlessness and over three months he was given four lots of antibiotics which didn't help at all. I eventually took him to hospital where they diagnosed a heart condition and fitted him with a pacemaker. In January this year his breathlessness was very bad again, and again he was given antibiotics and steroids which weren't the right thing for him. He ended up having a CT scan at the NNUH where they found that his breathlessness wasn't anything to do with his lungs, it was because his heart is enlarged to one and a half times the size it should be. The hospital asked the GP to make an urgent referral to cardiology. This was not done. I asked last week for a copy of the referral letter which was then produced on that day, not accurate and not marked 'urgent'. I have made a complaint to the practice, the CQC and the Parliamentary Ombudsman. I can't understand the CQC haven't visited the practice since 2016 even though myself and many others have made complaints to them. It feels like it's going to take a death before anything is done.
I've been number one in the phone queue and still number one almost two hours later. Nobody is going to hold on that long to cancel an appointment if they need to.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff19th April 2024
I had a phone appointment where the call tone went off twice and then they hung up! Is this what they count in their figures as people missing their appointments? I dread the thought of relying on this lot to refer me for anything serious. I feel that the partners don't give a toss.
When I registered in 2020 I asked for a new patient check and was told they don't do them. They're mandatory and should be done. It's important to me as I've previously had serious unknown conditions picked up through these checks. Other new patients could be missing out on having things picked up by not having these. They also don't do electronic prescriptions which means you can't get anything sent to you if you fall ill in a different part of the country.
Submitted by Collected by Healthwatch Norfolk staff19th April 2024
A few weeks ago I phoned and was third in the queue, 40 minutes later I was still third! It's an impossibility to see a doctor so you don't even ask. I asked to see a nurse, none was available so I was put on a waiting list to see a healthcare assistant. I was in agony. I was called that evening and given an appointment for the next day, a Saturday, in East Harling. I saw a nurse practitioner who wanted to give me antibiotics but couldn't prescribe, there was no GP there so the paramedic did.
The nurses, paramedics and healthcare assistants are all fantastic and hold the place together. The weakest point is the doctors as they're not doing their part. There's no continuity of care, the locums are good but they're different every time. The GPs seem like they don't want to work. They are quick to do hospital referrals though.