I recently missed a telephone medication review because I was on the train for work at the time and didn’t realise the signal was poor (I can’t take the day off work for such calls, as I have no more sick leave) - until I saw a missed call. I tried calling back but couldn’t get through, and had no text reminder of the appt. I explained all this the next day to reception, but despite this still received a letter threatening that I would be struck off the list if I missed a future appt. There is no way I can guarantee this, as I have been having the worst headaches of my life in the past 4 weeks, and know I will need further surgery following my neurosurgery. As a result, I now face not having a gp when I most need one. Their policy is well documented to block access for more complex patients (I know as this is my research area), so it is hard not to think this is a deliberate attempt to offload more expensive patients onto other surgeries — in the past a practice GP has complained to me that tests neurosurgery asked them to do came out of their budget. I am already incredibly stressed about these sudden headaches that leave me lying on the floor vomiting, and now I have to content with trying to find new primary care. I feel very unsafe as the hospital assumes I am under the care of a GP. In reality, when I can get through to the surgery, I have to fight to make them understand that I can’t wait four weeks for an appointment about a problem that leaves me unable to function.
"Blocking access to care for sicker patients"
About: The Jubilee Practice The Jubilee Practice Lowdham NG14 7BG
Posted via nhs.uk
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