DMC

[Strawbs]

I can't stand DMc.. I moved to the gardens and think its great.. My OH is still at DMc and she is constantly irritated when dealing with them..

[Loz]

dontpanic Wrote:

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> If this is a concern do consider signing the 38 degrees petition:

>

> "The government?s plans to privatise and fragment our NHS are starting to take shape across England.

>

> In Southwark doctors are getting together to form a ?Clinical Commissioning Group? or ?CCG?. This

> body will make big decisions about what health services will be available to you and your

> family.

>

> Southwark CCG will be under pressure to do the Government?s dirty-work. But if enough local

> people sign the petition to Southwark CCG, we can persuade them to put us first - and protect our

> local NHS."

> Here's the link:

> [deleted]

Jeez, how low is this? People complaining about one medical centre being preyed on my the pitiful 38 Degrees sheep to try and fool people into supporting their rather dubious campaign.

Disgraceful behaviour.

[Burbage]

Fuschia Wrote:

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> The phrase 'walk in centre' hints at a speedy

> turnaround ..

There are no official NHS walk-in centres in Southwark. There's a minor-injuries clinic at Guy's, which may be offloaded to a separate site and run by a GP practice, but that's the extent of our provision.

Some large GP practices (e.g. the Hurley Group Practice at the Lister) offer to treat unregistered patients who need 'urgent or necessary' treatment as a way of monetizing their practice nurses, and this is called a 'GP walk-in centre'. But there are limits to what they can do, and it's understandable that they'll probably prioritise registered patients, which is why it might not be as speedy as a proper walk-in centre (i.e. one that is not run as a GP practice and has no registered patients), or even a trip to A&E. Whether you see GP walk-in centres as a useful addition to the available options or as a form of backdoor polyclinicking is entirely a matter of taste.

[Fuschia]

Burbage.. That's interesting. If it isn't an official NHL walk in centre, why are DMC so keen to suggest it as the alternative when they have no appointments available? As I say, the time I went there, I went back to DMC and kicked up a fuss until my daughter got seen, but I still feel cross they sent me on a wild goose chase with 3 small children in tow, one of whom was very unwell.

[lane lover]

Thats no way to Run DMC ...

[Clare11]

60 calls later this morning and my husband got through......

I actually think going to Kings and waiting would give a better service than DMC currently do. If they are oversubscribed, they should close their books. Plenty of medical centres in Sydney (where I'm from) do that regularly. At least then you're not signing up for substandard service.

[heber jumble queen]

Burbage isn't entirely correct.

All PCTs need to commission one 'GP led health centre' which needs to be open 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm, and it is the Lister Hurley Practice that runs that service in Southwark. The 'walk -in' service they offer should be completely separate to the services they offer as a GP practice - and they haven't just decided to do it to 'monetarize nurses' - not even sure what that means, they would have won the tender to run that service. As with all other services - if it's not good enough, then personally I would always make my complaints known.

There isn't a NHS walk-in centre in Southwark, and indeed there aren't in many London boroughs.

[nunhead_man]

Hi Peckhampoet

Is this the one you mean?

http://www.nhs.uk/Services/GP/Overview/DefaultView.aspx?id=38074

Peckhampoet Wrote:

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> Nunhead......which is where I live so maybe should

> have done it sooner but was in catchment area for

> DMC after moving here from Bellenden Rd 10 years

> ago. DMC has been swamped with mums and babies imo

> who have priority over we oldies.

[Cora]

I am no techie but is there a way to do an online petition for people to sign? It seems to me that all their patients are suffering but not many actually get round to writing official complaints and so the problem continues. If we sent the pct an online petition with a large number of signatures would this be more effective?

[Smiler]

You might well be able to get details of patient numbers etc with a freedom of information request?

[Burbage]

Smiler Wrote:

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> You might well be able to get details of patient

> numbers etc with a freedom of information request?

Would you need to?

Patient numbers are on the NHS Choices website (here's a link to GPs in SE22 - scroll down and click the 'patients' bar)

It won't tell you everything you might want to know, but it give useful clues as well as well as letting you compare numbers with, for example, one or more of the four different practices that seem to be run out of the Lister.

[poppet27]

Having just moved here, remind me not to register with this place!

[Clazza]

Hi, if any of you are in the catchment area for the Honor Oak Medical Centre move there. They are fantastic operate an online booking system so you don't have to call and can book out of hours, although when you do call it is easy to get through and get an appt from the friendly receptionists. All of the doctors and nurses are great. Best practice I have ever been with.

[kalibilly]

Hi

Since this Office manager joined DMC & she/they have changed their systems, things have gone from bad to worse. Too much time spent on bringing in stupid new systems & NO effort into patients. Power crazy Office manager! However, she will not come out & answer your enquires, you have to write to her.

They can't even manage a simple repeat prescription system. It's a joke !

DMC are paid by NHS for the number of patients on their books, not for the patients they actual treat. That's why DMC are still registering new patients. MONEY !

[jimbo1964]

DMC is an awful place. I went to Bart's last Tuesday and was told to get an appointment with a nurse for last Friday to change a dressing. Rang the DMC straight away and I was told no nurse appointments available until November! So I'm now in the situation where I have to go to the Peckham walk in centre instead of my own GP.

[barrybarry]

Has anyone here joined the Patient Group at DMC? I've been a member for several years (though must admit to only going a few times). They meet every month or so and the next meeting is Tuesday 6th November at 6.30pm. Last time I went there were only 2 patients and about 5 members of staff, including GPs. This might be a good place to get your voices heard. I have always had a reasonable experience at DMC - apart from it taking 20 mins to get through at 8am - but if you haven't this meeting might be a good time to let them know.

I have also just been sent an 'Annual GP Patient Survey' from DMC. I haven't had one before but if you are at DMC and haven't been sent one, it might be worth trying to pick one up. I've ticked all the 'reasonably satisfied' boxes but couldn't say I'd recommend the surgery because I've heard so many horror stories.

[Tom Micklewright]

I dont even bother calling anymore, just turn up atthe DMC at 7.30am (there will be a queue!) in the morning and you will be first to get served (they will serve you just before the phone lines open)

Thomas

[brain_opera]

They are a joke but I'm only in the area of the equally bad Melbourne Grove. I have a long term health condition and three times in a row they didn't do my prescription and twice I had to go up there and wait in the waiting room for someone to write it after days. I got quite unwell after one of those times. I am actually going to move to get some decent care.

[James Barber]

If you're unhappy with the service or lack of service you get from a GP practice then complain:

[email protected]

Commenting on this forum although to some degre therapeutic is unlikely to change very much.

You might also consider moving your customer to another GP practice. Taking money out of the pockets of any failing GP practice should make them take notice.

If you're really annoyed contact the local papers - email me for specific reporter names who cover our patch.

[NorthcrossJo]

It sounds as though I may be in the minority, but I've been delighted with my GP at DMC. I have a rare and complex medical condition, and my GP has worked extremely hard to liaise with my hospital specialists, learn more about the condition, and provide continuity through a very difficult couple of years.

I agree that it can be difficult to get appointments by calling the surgery at 8 am (it takes, on average, 20 minutes to get through) but I've always managed to get at least a same-day telephone appointment.

When I was discharged from King's after a month-long admission, with a large number of unusual prescription requirements (at least 15 new items), it did take several weeks to sort out a system for getting all those medications reliably (required quite a lot of cooperation between the surgery, pharmacy and district nurses), but the doctors and receptionists at DMC were always kind, accommodating and helpful. This was the same when I needed a form filled urgently.

Not every GP at the surgery seems to give good medical advice (my consultant advised me never to consult one in particular, after he gave me wrong - and dangerous - advice when I consulted him in an emergency) but I believe that they are generally good.

[klove]

Just looked at the patient numbers on the NHS choice website (as suggested by Burbage) and the figures speak for themselves:

DMC (Crystal Palace Road):12,131

306 Medical Centre: 2,834

The Lordship Lane surgery: 4,923

The Gardens surgery: 6,506

But in all fairness, it does have a lot more GPs.

[Sue]

klove Wrote:

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> Just looked at the patient numbers on the NHS

> choice website (as suggested by Burbage) and the

> figures speak for themselves:

>

> DMC (Crystal Palace Road):12,131

> 306 Medical Centre: 2,834

> The Lordship Lane surgery: 4,923

> The Gardens surgery: 6,506

>

> But in all fairness, it does have a lot more GPs.

xxxxxxx

So wouldn't it be fairer to state the number of patients per GP for each practice?

Otherwise, it's not clear quite what point you're trying to make, as actually the figures don't really "speak for themselves", do they?

[Penguin68]

'Have a lot more GPs' - if you are going to undertake a full loading study then you need to look (a) at FTE (full time equivalent) GPs - there are many part-timers retained by some practices and (b) you need to understand the mix of patients - elderly patients, families with young children, are far greater consumers of GP services than adults 20-45 for instance.

I am not sure whether (outwith an FoI enquiring) you are going to be able to get these figures.

[MrBen]

I moved to DMC from Melbourne Grove after they made it almost impossible to see a GP, handling most things via telephone appointments with nurses and putting in a margin maximising triage service that didnt put patients first.

At first (early last year) it was decent and way better but now I just cant be bothered with the bun fight each morning do if I ever need anything its a private walk in GP in the city, ?60 and you're in and out in 10 mins with whatever you need to get you through the night. Perfect.

[Sue]

MrBen Wrote:

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?60 and you're in and out in 10 mins

xxxxx

That'll be ?360 an hour then.

Thank God for the NHS :))