Anyone experiencing even greater issues securing a GP appointment with Tessa Jowell GP practice?

[Forest Hill Climber]

On 17/07/2024 at 13:58, Sue said:

You don't have to put up with it!

There are other local GP surgeries!

It's very easy to change, just register with another one!

 

 

Is there one you could recommend?

[Sue]

5 hours ago, Forest Hill Climber said:

Is there one you could recommend?

It depends if you are in their catchment area, but I and others have often recommended The Gardens on here.

[trinidad]

I received a response from the ICB, they dont seem to have any teeth at all. The health ombudsman is next, but maybe the mp might be better. Does anyone know who is the MP for Peckham and camberwell? 

[OutOfFocus]

No one 

1 hour ago, trinidad said:

Does anyone know who is the MP for Peckham and camberwell

The names have changed !

Go to

https://members.parliament.uk/members/commons. and type your postcode .

 

Edited October 8, 2024 by OutOfFocus
Correct url (hopefully)

[Azalea]

I’ve had three separate experiences in less than 24 hours with Tessa Jowell GP Surgery, on the phone. Three different people. Only one was halfway decent. I then received a notification of a satisfaction survey from them via the NHS App.   I’m going to give it a swerve.  

[KalamityKel]

2 minutes ago, Azalea said:

I’ve had three separate experiences in less than 24 hours with Tessa Jowell GP Surgery, on the phone. Three different people. Only one was halfway decent. I then received a notification of a satisfaction survey from them via the NHS App.   I’m going to give it a swerve.  

What kind of experiences?  Was this you calling them or they calling you?

[Azalea]

1 hour ago, KalamityKel said:

What kind of experiences?  Was this you calling them or they calling you?

Both.   I also had reason to call them last week after I received a text from them which required action.  Nothing happened. So had to call again earlier in the week to prod them.   Then,  in the last 24 hours, 3 more telephone calls.  It’s bizarre that they are asking for customer feedback as they won’t do anything about it. The request for feedback came from Omnes Healthcare.

1 hour ago, KalamityKel said:

What kind of experiences?  Was this you calling them or they calling you?

 

Edited October 11, 2024 by Azalea
Addition

[trinidad]

I think my next step is my MP or the Health Ombudsman. 

[trinidad]

Thought I would share, a member of staff shared with me, there MyGP platform, which you are redirected, each time you call, is now open until 4pm daily. 

No mention of this information on their website, and the surgery says it closes from 12:30pm - 4pm on the third Thursday of each month, for their monthly staff training. It means the phone lines and surgery itself it closed. No mention of online services.

Has anyone ever attended the Patient Participation Group? I have looked online, there are minutes for the 2022, and none for last year or this year? is the PPG runing?

CQC rated their service as "requires improvement" 

Tessa Jowell GP Surgery - Care Quality Commission

Tessa Jowell GP Surgery

A few people have suggested The Garden Surgery, The Gardens, London, SE22 9QU

The Garden Surgery last report from the CQC is rated as good in all areas 

 The Gardens Surgery - Care Quality Commission

The Gardens Surgery

Sadly I am just out of The Gardens Surgery Catchment area 😞

interesting read though!!

 

[trinidad]

I completed a askmygp on 21st October and 23rd October. Despite two further telephone calls to chase these requests up, I have not received a response until 30th October. I did say on both occasions, I was available anytime when asked, but despite this, staff from the GP practice still called me and offered me an appointment. The earliest appointment offered is a further week of 5th November 2024. It has taken 15 days (this includes the weekends) to have an appointment with a GP. I see they are continuing to offer great service.  

[Azalea]

I was recently told by this surgery that you must allow up to 10 days to be given a telephone appointment.  10 days!  It used to be 3 days, then it went to 5 days.  Now they’ve increased it.

[Sue]

3 hours ago, Azalea said:

I was recently told by this surgery that you must allow up to 10 days to be given a telephone appointment.  10 days!  It used to be 3 days, then it went to 5 days.  Now they’ve increased it.

Do they not triage in some way at the outset to assess the potential seriousness?

I'm with The Gardens, and if ever there was something clearly needing immediate  assessment I would get a phone appointment that day and then a face to face appointment if the GP thought it was urgent and  necessary.

I might be wrong, but it's my understanding that they keep some slots free for this each day, though I don't know what happens if they aren't used, or if they are "extra" slots.

If it's not anything serious, I don't have a problem with waiting for a phone appointment, or for a face to face appointment if it's obviously something which needs to be physically looked at by the GP.

And there's always 111 (?911?) if you can't wait, and googling or a pharmacist can't  help, or A&E/999 if necessary.

I know it's frustrating, but sadly the days when you just turned up at a surgery and would be seen that day, albeit  after a long wait in a crowded waiting room,  are long gone.

ETA: That doesn't mean that I don't agree that there seems to be something very wrong at TJ.

Edited January 17 by Sue

[Castleton]

On 20/05/2024 at 12:42, Froglander said:

Did you eventually get an appt?  I phoned this morning and got the message about not being able to book by phone. I pressed the button re prescriptions and was told that if you can’t use the app someone will help you with a booking.  Was given a tel appt with a pharmacist but am not confident.   I do not think they can refuse to help you by phone, no matter what the message says.

Recently I completed a pre-diabetes awareness course. Run by an outside agency at huge cost I expect, but I digress.

After the course we are all expected to arrange our own blood tests.  When I requested from TJ I was initially treated with suspicion, i.e where did you get the pre-d course from! I explained it was from TJ and they refused to book on the phone, told me to use ASK MY GP link. 

I explained this wasn't working for me, but no appointment was arranged.

Eventually got ASK MY GP working, and requested bloods. About 8 days later I received a text link to book one. It took me every day of checking for 5 days before any appointments were available and then the earliest was a month away. Fine. Late Feb booked

Got a phone call from the surgery yesterday, responding to the ASK MY GP request! Sorry? I'm confused, it's booked! (effectively after saying they won't book over the phone, this was literally what was happening)

I then get a missed call from them, return the call and they say they have no idea why I was called. 

Literally 5 minutes later someone calls again, my original booking can't ne honoured because it's too late in the day. Bear in mind this was FROM THEIR DROP DOWN MENU.

I'm then expected to go online and book again! Beggars belief

 

[Sue]

On 05/02/2025 at 21:32, Castleton said:

Recently I completed a pre-diabetes awareness course. Run by an outside agency at huge cost I expect, but I digress.

After the course we are all expected to arrange our own blood tests.  When I requested from TJ I was initially treated with suspicion, i.e where did you get the pre-d course from! I explained it was from TJ and they refused to book on the phone, told me to use ASK MY GP link. 

I explained this wasn't working for me, but no appointment was arranged.

Eventually got ASK MY GP working, and requested bloods. About 8 days later I received a text link to book one. It took me every day of checking for 5 days before any appointments were available and then the earliest was a month away. Fine. Late Feb booked

Got a phone call from the surgery yesterday, responding to the ASK MY GP request! Sorry? I'm confused, it's booked! (effectively after saying they won't book over the phone, this was literally what was happening)

I then get a missed call from them, return the call and they say they have no idea why I was called. 

Literally 5 minutes later someone calls again, my original booking can't ne honoured because it's too late in the day. Bear in mind this was FROM THEIR DROP DOWN MENU.

I'm then expected to go online and book again! Beggars belief

 

But it beggars belief also why you don't just  go somewhere else!

Why are you putting up with it? TJ isn't the only surgery in East Dulwich!

You don't have to tell TJ you are leaving!

You just register with another GP in the appropriate catchment area, and they do everything else!

Edited 12 hours ago by Sue

[KalamityKel]

9 hours ago, Sue said:

But it beggars belief also why you don't just  go somewhere else!

Why are you putting up with it? TJ isn't the only surgery in East Dulwich!

You don't have to tell TJ you are leaving!

You just register with another GP in the appropriate catchment area, and they do everything else!

An incredibly naive response which continues to completely miss the point.  WHY should you have to go anywhere else?  TJ should be up to standards just like everywhere else.

Sure, leave somewhere that does offer good services, once you can get in, to join yet another shoddy surgery to be sent back to TJ for an appointment.

Good thinking!

[Jenijenjen]

52 minutes ago, KalamityKel said:

Sure, leave somewhere that does offer good services, once you can get in, to join yet another shoddy surgery to be sent back to TJ for an appointment.

Just to say my practice has sent me to TJ for a few appointments, including Saturday and Sunday at short notice, with both nurse and doctor. The service is completely separate to the GP practice based at TJ and is run by the Extended Primary Care Service, I believe on behalf of several GP practices in the area. 

"The Enhanced Access Service provides patients in south Southwark with additional GP and nurse appointments. This means that there is primary care available seven days a week. On any given day, these appointments help a GP practice to manage their capacity and provide care for their patients even if their own appointments are fully booked. We offer enhanced access arrangements within south Southwark."

https://www.ihlsouthwark.co.uk/enhanced-access-service

 

[Castleton]

12 hours ago, Sue said:

But it beggars belief also why you don't just  go somewhere else!

Why are you putting up with it? TJ isn't the only surgery in East Dulwich!

You don't have to tell TJ you are leaving!

You just register with another GP in the appropriate catchment area, and they do everything else!

But I've already left a poor GP surgery for this one! How much shopping around do you think I have time for! A newly built facility should not be performing this badly, and I don't see why the emphasis should be on the patient to find the 'magic bullet' of an efficient practice quite honestly