Dear LPG.

Not so long ago I made an online appointment to see my GP.  The form asks for details of why you need to see the doctor and I included that I had an issue regarding my blood pressure.

I don’t visit often and made the appointment well in advance, and having read the article you posted on 20^th November 2017 (►►►), when I arrived and the doctor began our appointment by asking me what I wanted to see him about, I was quite surprised and answered that I had written the issue in the notes when I made the appointment.  He told me that the doctors rarely have time to read those details. 

I live with my mother so when I applied to register online for booking GP appointments and repeat prescriptions, I asked if I had to register separately for her.  I was told that I could book appointments for my mum using my login details as long as I mentioned that the booking was for her in the booking notes section of the online form.

I have to say that I have helped a few of my mum’s friends with the registration process, and what you can do online appears to differ quite a bit from GP to GP, however, my GP encourages us to leave a message online while I know that others can’t. 

The other day we booked a Saturday morning appointment for her because it is easier to park nearer to the surgery resulting in less of a walk for my mum’s bad leg.  When we arrived she went off to reception while I parked the car. 

When I caught up with her she was at the front of the reception queue being told that no appointment was booked even though I printed the booking confirmation when I made the appointment online and my mother had the printed copy of it with her.  Yet I had to point out to them that they needed to check the notes before they could see that the appointment was for her. Had I not been there she would have been turned away in spite of my note which included her full name and date of birth, so I need to ask what the point of typing anything in the details box is?

I understand that they are busy, but I think that if our GP surgeries ask for notes in their online forms, I have a right to expect them to read what I have written.   I think I am right in thinking that doing this would not only save both their staff and clients valuable time. 

 I have pointed this out to them and look forward to finding out what happens the next time I need to use the service and suggest that if any readers have had a similar experience, they do the same.  I think that nearly every GP Surgery has a patient user group or ‘suggestion box’ type scheme where their clients can share similar concerns and if your GP’s online system has one; they can be included as an online message?

RM Lee

LPG found some related information…

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