~New procedure at Charlbury Medical Centre...

Tue 23 Sep 2008, 20:18

(Off-topic postings moved)

Sun 14 Sep 2008, 11:44

they were asked before to talk on here but know one did.

Sat 13 Sep 2008, 10:09

Perhaps someone involved with the surgery could comment if it shares in any of the call charges?

I'd be surprised if it doesn't.

Sat 13 Sep 2008, 07:24

I would agree with what you say ,but if you read jon carpenters posting he has a point to the effect that the surgery do not seem to be benefiting from this idea to a good enough extent .So by the system not working properly all the time the only people benefiting are the company and that is profiteering by anyones standards.

Fri 12 Sep 2008, 10:37

I'm the first to deplore ripoff sharks who profiteer from preying on the users of essential services (I know, public transport is a different thread), but given how tightly managed NHS budgets are these days, who can say how essential that income is to the service?

I'm willing to put up with quite a bit of inconvenience if it maintains a good essential service.

Thu 11 Sep 2008, 15:10

I fully support the nhs and readily agree that its something we should all treasure .The point i am making is that we should not be ripped off by some firm that wants to make money by charging us extra money for making what should be a local call at local rate .I have nothing but praise for charlbury doctors ,but i think the management have got this side of things wrong.

Thu 11 Sep 2008, 12:14

Sorry for the emitocon, that's the moderator's, not my, idea of a joke.

Thu 11 Sep 2008, 12:12

I telephoned the practice last Monday at 8.30 am and was answered within 5 minutes. I asked for an urgent bu not emergency appointment with my doctor which the receptionist gave me for 10.40 am the same day. I was seen promptly by my doctor and given a prescription as well as queried about my overall health.

Maybe I'm just lucky, but I've never had a problem with the Charlbury Medical Centre and I think all NHS facilities should be supported.

You have no idea how lucky you are to have a state supported universal health system. It's not perfect, bu believe me, you'll miss it when it's gone.

Wed 10 Sep 2008, 10:38

I thought up until today ,what is all the fuss about but by goodness has that all changed .I was kept waiting on the phone for twenty minutes being told that i was 6 in the queue for attention .Then to cap it all i was then put back to the options of 1 for this and so on .On selecting 2 for appointments i was put through straight away to be told when i asked the receptionist why it had taken so much time to get through that they had been unable to answer any calls form people due to a problem with the system.How long Wesley do we have to put up with this situation where we are having a go at the receptionists when it is clearly not their fault that we are spending so much money for what appears to be a lousy service .COME ON WESLEY AND HELP TO KEEP THE BLOOD PRESSURE STABLE IN CHARLBURY OR DO YOU GET PAID MORE FOR PRESCRIBING TABLETS THAT WE NEED WHEN WE CANNOT GET AN APPOINTMENT.

Wed 3 Sep 2008, 13:35

emisnugforums.chocolategrape.co.uk/forum/messageview.cfm?catid=19&threadid=13803&highlight_key=y&keyword1=surgery%20line

This was a discussion a year or so ago between several medical practices. Some found that Surgery Line didn't, or wouldn't, work for them, and they say why. It is clear that the company's approach is to offer surgeries money in return for a contract. And the money comes from patients' call charges.

Fri 29 Aug 2008, 08:32

In my experience, Christine, if you want a same-day appointment, you phone or call in as soon after 8am as possible, though they aren't always very busy. (Remember large numbers of Charlbury people use a Chipping Norton surgery in preference.) If you want a next-day morning appointment, you have to phone in the previous afternoon and/or first thing next morning. If you want an evening appointment, you can book them in advance: in fact you have to, as I've found they're usually all taken for a week or two ahead.

Of course all this information should be on their website. But they don't have one. They don't even have a page on this website. So you have to phone and ask, and they make money out of your call!

Mon 25 Aug 2008, 19:59

To make matters worse, 0844 numbers don't qualify for Friends & Family Reductions via BT ...

I've found the discussion of the new booking procedures at the Charlbury Medical Centre interesting & disturbing. But as nobody has really explained quite what the new rules are, it's also confusing. I take it that it is still possible to call into the surgery in person & book an appointment for later that day or a subsequent day. Or is that not allowed? And does the 01608 number not work at all any more?

Fri 22 Aug 2008, 11:43

It's called Surgery Line and we pay a flat 5p a minute. That includes the time you spend listening to the announcement and choosing your option. Part of the 5p goes to the surgery and part to the firm that runs Surgery Line. Maybe between 60p and 80p of Dave's call charge went to the doctors.

I've put more details of the Surgery Line scheme in particular, and 0844 numbers in general, on my blog at www.evenlodebooks.co.uk

Thu 21 Aug 2008, 23:50

Oh, dear, Dave! That's what we get for the surgery changing to a non-geographical number ... for what reason, I still haven't figured out. You should complain to them. I have. Of course, you'll get a reply about how it isn't supposed to cost anyone more than the standard BT call (but who, in this day in age, is silly enough to still pay full price on local calls when any number of tariffs reduce that to, sometimes, nothing at all!!). Between you and me (err... and everyone else who reads this forum!), I've made similar comments to Which?, and may be appearing in that magazine on this subject in the near future. I just wish they would offer the choice of the 0844 and the old 810210, because apparently, the NGN just forwards to the old number anyway, so it isn't like it doesn't exist anymore and could be rigged to allow both kinds of calls. So I understand, anyway. Kat

Thu 21 Aug 2008, 12:48

There's the cost of the call though! Two days ago we called at 07:59 and waited online for 55 minutes before we got through. £2.41 call to an 0844 number is what has just appeared on my bt online bill.

Tue 19 Aug 2008, 22:51

Well there is one solution to end all this and that is only go to the doctors when you really need to then it would free up a lot of the doctors time for really sick patients.

Tue 19 Aug 2008, 21:37

I know it isn't the surgery's fault (I think they were marked down on their inspection a few years ago because they *hadn't* adopted this system), but it's awful when I need a doctor but want to leave at home any children who are currently well. In the old system, I could arrange an appointment for the next day, and then could sort out my child-care. Now, I usually have to drag all the kids in, since I can't organise an appointment more than a couple of hours in advance, and you know what that means, don't you? More appointments follow after that, because the children who were well have now caught something while waiting in the surgery!

Thu 23 Jun 2005, 15:43

I love NHS direct! They have actually cut down the ammount of times I've needed to go to a Dr. Using it as a 'cheat' is exactly what I thought would happen under the new rules, so I hope the surgery is prepared for it!
Kate x

Thu 23 Jun 2005, 12:05

There is a way around having to wait days if you (or your family member) are really poorly. I found this out by accident when I had a really bad stomach, but wasn't sure whether it was a bug or something more serious. I phoned NHS direct and left my details, then a nurse specialist phoned me back. They go through everything and then make a recommendation as to what you should do. In my case, I was told I needed to see a doctor within 4 hours, so I phoned the Charlbury medical centre and was told there were no appointments for a few days, but when I said that I had been told by NHS direct that I should be seen, they made an appointment available straight way. I know it seems like a bit of a cheat, but if you really are sick, then what else can you do?

Fri 17 Jun 2005, 21:58

Thank you Samantha!! That was exactly what I was thinking!! And everyone else I've spoken to about it!
Diana who posted above is the only person I've heard say they think it's a good idea.
Kate x

Thu 16 Jun 2005, 09:29

I agree with Kate. The old system was great - you could either turn up in the morning and be guaranteed a slot, or book ahead by phone or in person for an afternoon appointment. I really can't see how this new system can be better. The big fear is that if you don't get through on the phone between 8 and 8.30 then you won't get an appointment. And isn't this the same system that caused so much controversy during the recent election campaign, when Blair was stumped on 'Question Time' when a woman told him that it was almost impossible to get an appointment because of it? Given all the comment and criticism at the time, I'm amazed that the Charlbury surgery has decided to adopt it.

Wed 15 Jun 2005, 21:08

How can there be a higher chance of seeing the Dr on the day you need it other than the current system of turning up and knowing that you wont leave until you've seen your choice of GP??? There is no way to guarentee it other than that! Phoning in means the receptionist can say "Sorry, Dr Such and such's list is full, if you want her, call tomorrow" or "Currently the list to see Dr so and so is empty, I'll slot you in there to keep the slots even...."
And as I said, if someone arrives at 9am for a ten mn slot and is out in 30 seconds becuase all they needed was to be told they had an earache, then what happens to the other 7mns??? If the next patient along isn't there, then the Dr is left with no one to call into the consultation room and twiddles their thumbs.The same thing will happen if a patient calls in, makes an appt and doesn't turn up. The Dr will then have notihng to do except wait for the next one to arrive. Under the old system they just called the next name on the list. Hardly best use of time.
If people don't want to wait and like calling in there are already afternoon surgeries for that purpose.
And what will be arranged mututally for people with no phone?? An agreement that they can book their next illness in advance when they are passing the surgery?? "I feel a touch of gout arriving on Tuesday week, put me down for 9:30" hmmmmm.
I have had a 3wk old baby, vomitting and fretful all morning from 5am, and no telephone. I can tell you, going at 8:30 am, and being first on the list was alot more preferable to walking up there and then being told that the phones had been ringing off the hook since 8am (remember, the phones open at 8, the surgery door at 8:30) and I'd missed all the early slots,and then being told to take my sick infant home and then come back later or maybe even tomorrow!!
Kate x

Wed 15 Jun 2005, 12:22

I actually think the new rules are a good idea. I'd rather phone for an appointment and know approximately when I will be seen, than just 'pop up' and wait and see how many other people had that same idea (which could be a lot, especially in times of flu...).

The system should allow for better planning (for Dr and patient!), which should indeed decrease the problems Kate mentions: higher chance of seeing your 'own' Dr; higher chance of being seen on the day if you really need it (!); more effective use of the Dr's time; and, most importantly, not having to sit a long time in a waiting room full of other sick people feeling awful, risking getting infected with other people's even nastier bugs (while you actually should have been in bed recovering!).

As for the point about people who don't have a phone, I'm sure this could be discussed with the practice and a specific solution could be found for those affected.

Wed 15 Jun 2005, 11:10

So we now have to phone the Drs just to pop up and find out if we have tonsilitis or a plain old sore throat??
A few Questions for them...

What do people without phones do?? I was once a struggling single Mum who only dreamed of being able to afford BTs prices... are they and the elderly expected to walk to the nearest phone box in the rain, only to be told they then have to go home and walk back to the Drs an hour later??

Will the Drs pay our phone bill for us wasting money like this?

What criteria will be used for the "few appt available after 3pm the previous day, for people with "work" commitments... do you have to be a lawyer,teacher, brain surgeon?? does this mean that the unemployed can wait a few days to see a doc and workers shouldn't have to?

What happens when all the slots for that morning are taken and you call back the next day only to find all the slots are taken......(who if they are really ill can guarentee that they will be awake and in front of their phone by 8am??)

What happens to the wasted time if someone takes less than 10mns for their appt, and the next person in the appt list hasn't yet arrived?

And when you are dealing with an imensly personal health issue and have been dealing with only one Dr at the practice, will you still be able to guarentee that you get that Dr under the new booking system? What if your Drs slots are full and you have to keep getting to the phone at 8am sharp for days on end trying to see them?

As you can see, I'm not a huge fan of the new system and I think it will send people scuttling to Witney minor injures and JR casualty as then they know they'll get seen, and we all know that hospitals are NOT the place to go when you just feel a little poorly.....