Ravenswood Medical Practice

The way the system works is quick considering you are up to 50th in the queue. Family members at other surgeries tell me how long they wait on the telephone when lower down the queue, so they must have a good amount of staff on realising the demand. I also always get a call back the same day and have been seen when appropriate. I cannot fault it really

I have found that I have had any issues resolved by various people at the practice. As long as the person can resolve the issue I have no problem seeing or speaking to them. Scheduled blood tests have been fine and on time, as is todays.

There is just a sense that you are being pushed back more now. Have to see or talk to others when you really do need a GP, who is who I have eventually spoken to, but knew I needed that a few appointment calls ago. Just drawn out and that is a concern to me

I do understand the pressure on services is immense at moment and this is reflected in how I now feel it takes longer to see someone. My worry is if my current issue gets worse but something is missed or delayed to long that something manageable becomes incurable.

I have found for my mum that the care has been good, even through the pandemic, we were able to access what we needed to for her. We do not use language line as she likes me to support her and I do this at all appointments. The service knows this upfront.

Trying to 'see' a GP - near impossible. I do not understand or agree with how it is operating.

HWS team member asked patient if they were seen by another professional, if their issue was resolved, and the patient confirmed it was.
(Patient was informed about the new roles aiding GP's to oversee more people, and when you see a 'non-GP' if they need to get the GP in, they will, it means the practice can have more people seen 'on the day').

The patient still stated that they were not happy about this.

I do not agree with all these telephone appointments especially when some things need assessing face to face. My assessment - they wanted to do it over the phone. I do not see what they gain doing that as I usually blow into something, oxygen measured. I do not have anything at home to help measure that. I told them to give my appointment to someone else.

In December 2021 I called up and was very chesty, coughing up horrible stuff. I asked to see a GP and was called back by a Nurse practitioner. When I told them what I was experiencing and asked what do they think it is, they said 'I do not know, I am not a GP!' After a discussion I was able to have a GP see me at home as I was quite debilitated by it. I was given a prescription and told to go and get a PCR which I booked. The GP also told me that the prescription had been put through and I can get it anytime from then. As feeling rough I left it to coincide with going for my PCR the next day. I went to the pharmacy and nothing was there (it is next door to the surgery). They said if I pop next door and make the request, they should be able put it through. I spoke to reception on the outside buzzer asking about this and they said very abruptly 'that's not how it works, you need to ring in.' I was on a buzzer, what actually is the difference?! I had to go home, ring in and the GP redid the 'script' and I had to go back out again and get it again! This was a ridiculous situation and as I was very unwell, it was really taxing. I am also very worried as there are plenty of NHS messages saying 'if you have had a persistent cough' (it is now 3 months worth). I hope today I receive a referral for a scan.

Had a GP appointment, who called in a Nurse Practitioner and she was able to see that I would need a further appointment. I got a text by the time I got home for another appointment which I am in for today. My only 'annoyance' is the initial message you get when calling in. It is just so long and some of it seems unnecessary. I was 40th in the queue, yet was spoken to within 10 minutes. Really good system and the staff are all lovely.

When I need to see a GP, I always see the same one for my ongoing treatment. When I call in the morning though waiting in the queue, it's no more than 10-15 mins. I have ongoing correspondence with the surgery as bad asthma. Always good at seeing me if needed and some assessments are by telephone where they ask me many questions and give me the option to see someone if something is not clear on the call