Forest Hill Road Surgery - again.

[nxjen]

I didn?t try booking an appointment online but I did phone up just after 10 am for a non urgent appointment about three weeks ago. Very surprised, and very happy, to be offered one a week later.

[Metallic]

It went down the drain when George Adam left. The worst experiences me and my family have ever had at a surgery and we were fortunate to come geographically under a brilliant alternative - Brockwell Park Surgery. (Overlapping catchments) The most amazing doctors, attitude and NO GLASS between you and the very nice reception they have.

[SEA1987]

Can anyone recommend a doctor's in East Dulwich to register with apart from the Forest Hill clinic? I'm having an issue just making a non emergency appointment and would love a new clinic. Would love to hear your recommendations

[elloriac]

I'm very happy with the Gardens surgery. Excellent online booking service, choice of appointments. Reception staff vary from efficient to friendly, but I never get the feeling that I am unwelcome that I felt at the Forest Hill practice.

[savvygirl]

I managed to get an online appointment today for a date in March. It was a second attempt as the original slot that was available had gone in the time it took me to check my calendar! You have to be quick. Advise anyone booking to have their calendar beside them - mine is a paper one hanging up in the kitchen so necessitated a trip!! I'm definitely a bit of a dinosaur who needs to up her game! I think I'll check this appointment with the receptionist as I'm so amazed to have got it that I feel it may just be a mistake!

[malumbu]

A friend's daughter is running a half marathon raising money for the Brain Tumour Charity in remembrance of Dr McColl. A private matter so not for discussion here but please PM me if you want the Just Giving link and you'd like to donate.

[binkylilyput]

I need to get a non urgent GP appointment regarding chronic, unresolved back pain...... who at this surgery should I see and who should I avoid?!

I realise this makes me sound more than a bit entitled but I have chronic back pain and after 2 years of paying to see various practitioners privately to try to resolve the issue, I need a GP who will take me seriously and make appropriate referrals for further investigation and treatment.

The last GP I saw here (unrelated issue) I did not find helpful at all and was quite upset by her manner.

Recommendations or avoids?

[George Orwell]

"Recommendations or avoids?"

I'm tempted to say don't get ill or move house. I certainly wouldn't waste my time trying to go this surgery.

Years ago (about 20!) when I too was suffering years of chronic back pain with no apparent cure I chanced on the British School of Osteopathy and was examined by a student under supervision. They quickly diagnosed a degenerative arthritic condition and I was advised I take the X-rays and their diagnosis to a GP as the gatekeeper to a Rheumatology consultant appointment. Since then the NHS hospital consultants have done a decent job of keeping things more or less OK. Regrettably the GPs don't really know much about the condition.

[binkylilyput]

Thanks George O.

Unfortunately I spent 6 months seeing a student at the BSO (and had a few different supervisors join) but it really didn't get me anywhere.

I have paid privately to see a range of professionals (chiro, osteo, acupuncture, massage) in order to resolve the issue for myself and avoid NHS waiting times and patchy service.

Me going to see a GP is because I've run out of solutions and can't afford to keep shelling out for expensive treatment.

[Penguin68]

The problem with back pain is that it can be caused by mechanical problems with the spine, by problems associated with muscles, by problems associated with discs slipping and trapping nerves (different from mechanical problems where manipulation or exercise may be a remedy) or referred pain from some other condition - when I had a back pain problem (broadly) some years ago I was sent for a chest X-ray in case I had a lung tumour pressing against the spine (I didn't). So back pain can be very difficult to diagnose as it may have multiple causes, and be difficult to address.

Some causes will respond to e.g manipulation and exercise regimes, others very definitely won't. Most specialists are specialists in their particular problem area. At times it may just be a matter of ruling things out, rather than quick identification.

There are often no quick or sure fixes for chronic back pain, and little pain relief medication which is helpful and can be used long-term. Don't want to sound depressing, but don't hope either for miracles or believe that a 'good' doctor can sort it. Some of the diagnostic tools (full MRI for instance) don't come cheap, and NHS practices will aim to avoid over-use. And some remedies (like CT guided spinal injections of steroids) aren't normally available on the NHS. And some remedies (e.g. spinal surgery) have pretty serious possible side effects, like paralysis.

The NHS tends to look for palliatives for chronic back-pain where they can (acute may be different, and opioids can address this, which aren't useful for chronic conditions).

[sian]

Has anyone been able to get an appointment online here. The facility seems to have been removed from patient online. The appointments on offer are mainly at the Lister where the drs are very nice but they can?t review medication etc. The medication service has been terrible and I?m endlessly going between the surgery and pharmacy to sort out very routine repeat prescriptions. This practice used to be so much better.

[vic.ham]

hello, I went to the surgery yesterday as I couldn't order a repeat prescription online. The receptionist told me that there have been problems and that I will have to go back and show proof of identity again before my account can be reset,and commented that its not just me but many other patients too.

[dbboy]

you mean "computer says no" and they are incapable of resolving the error, really???? And then asking you to provide proof of identity, it just beggars belief. Actually it doesn't.

The problem is that the surgery and the so called pharmacy across the road are at constant logger heads. It would help patients if the pharmacy and practice could be grown up enough to resolve their issues. I have heard of many instances where the practice or pharmacy blame each other. Ultimately the patients get caught in the crossfire.

Put FHRGP back into Special Measures and if it does not improve, dismiss the current Partners and appoint new Partners who have the capability of running a practice PROFESSIONALLY, which this lot obviously are incapable of doing so.

[kiera]

You don't have to use the pharmacy across the road. I've seen people queuing up outside that one, still waiting to go in after the time it should have reopened after lunch. There are other pharmacies.

[nxjen]

The pharmacy will also sometimes ask you to complete a questionnaire when collecting prescriptions. What they don?t make clear is that this is part of a Medication Usage Review for which they receive a fee from the NHS.

[Penguin68]

you mean "computer says no" and they are incapable of resolving the error, really???? And then asking you to provide proof of identity, it just beggars belief. Actually it doesn't.

There are 2 sets of problems here, neither entirely of the practices making - firstly that the IT solutions that the practice has 'bought into' (pretty well with their arm up their backs, but they could never have afforded to develop their own) are flaky - and interlinking their own systems into them is difficult - hence difficulties about e.g. appointment making on-line - NHS computerisation has a tragic history, frankly - and secondly that no one is sure how data protection should actually work - hence proof of identity stuff in case anyone inadvertently hands over personal data. Combine that with a slightly jobsworth attitude (almost certainly because individuals feel, or are, disempowered to buck the system) and you have a recipe for bureaucratic nightmares.

[dbboy]

It is frankly sad that a practice that covers an area covering both parts of East Dulwich and Honor Oak/Forest Hill fails so spectacularly to provide a coherent service to it's patients. It is a business with a licence to practice from the NHS. I appreciate that they are reliant on the NHS computer system, but nothing would stop them reverting to an alternative system until such time the NHS system becomes more "stable".

Redirecting patients to the Lister Center in Peckham is nothing less than madness, not only is it financial suicide for the practice, for patients it's an inconvenience. I can understand why people present themselves at A&E rather than deal with an utterly hopeless practice. I hear tales of other practices and they run nothing like FHRGP. Why can they not learn and improve, rather continuing to diving head first into a downward spiral.

CQC need to put the practice back into special measures until such time they can demonstrate that they not only meet the minimum standard but exceed these measure's.

Furthermore the practice needs to sort out its issues with the pharmacy across the road so patients cease being stuck in the middle. I refuse to use the pharmacy and prefer alternatives that actually care about and look after their customers.

[savvygirl]

Is Dr Tom Boswell still there? I found him very professional and efficient. Same goes for Dr Liz Main. Two very good doctors. I hope they stay.

[dbboy]

Was told a GP wanted to review my meds, tried making an appointment only to be told "you have to call at 10am", and which I did a little later. By 10.45, no appointments available, you need to call back at 10am or come to the surgery at 10am.

HOW long is this farce going to be allowed to continue for. How are you supposed to see a GP if no appointments are available, I actually do not need an appointment today, next week would have been fine. Computer says NO. And if you don't have a meds review your next prescription will not be acted upon.

[singalto]

dbboy I now book meds reviews with Lesley, the practice pharmacist. He is extremely pleasant and very knowledgeable.

[dbboy]

I have no issues with the pharmacist, my issues relate to the totally inept reception and call centre staff and ultimately the management who can't manage their way out of a paper bag.

The surgery continues to fail to meet basic expectations and if they are unable to provide a service, the management should either hand over the reigns to people who do care about the quality of the service being provided, or else the surgery should be placed back into special measures until such time they can consistency prove they are competent to provide an adequate service to its patients.

[Sue]

Dbboy, it's very easy to change GP practices.

[OutOfFocus]

How long does it take to change, and is there an interim period when you might have trouble getting care.

[dbboy]

When did I mention I wanted to leave, what I would like to see is the practice provide sufficient appointments for its patients which it frankly is unable to achieve and deliver.

[slarti b]

I am waiting for a telephone appointment to discuss some test results. I have twice been told to ring back "next week" because they have run out of slots. I have also given up once because phone took too long to answer.

If I cant get something next week this may be the final straw and I will move after 30 years.