How do you find a better GP?

[Dougie22]

Hi,

I originally put this in another thread but didn't really gety any response, so I thought I'd pose it as a separate question to see if anyone has an experience to share.

How can I find out before moving that the doctor(s) in another surgery will support my intended regime of diet and exercise, self testing (I don't think anyone in Scotland will prescribe strips so I'm resigned to buying them myself), refusing statins, etc. Can I just ring a surgery that I'm not registered with and ask for an appointment with the T2 specialist? (I can hardly get an appointment with my own surgery!). Is there any way of finding out that a particular surgery works in a particular way? I'm pretty worried about jumping from the frying pan into the fire. Has anyone any experience of the mechanics of this?

I should point out that I live in Scotland which has a slightly different system and whose "SIGN" guidelines describe "best practice" policies, some of which I disagree with (Statins for all, for example).

On the key question of self testing, the biggest problem for me isn't the cost. It's the fact that the doctor is totally against it and so isn't interested in discussing any issues that come up. I'd welcome a doctor who said "I can't prescribe strips for you but I agree self testing is very useful and I'll be happy to discuss any issues that come up through testing".

Has anybody "shopped around" for a new GP surgery?

If so, how did you go about finding one that was better?

 

[donnellysdogs]

Hi

I have moved surgerys too many times!!-through actual house moves(LOL!!)-and the only way I have managed to get a GP that is good is to join a GP surgery that has lots of GP's to choose from...and I go through the list of them seeing each of them at diferent times until I have found one in the surgery that I like-and then I always make appointments for that GP....

However, In Scotland (haven't lived there yet!!), I am not sure whether you have multiple GP practices, and whether you can see anybody from that practice...I currently live in Wales-and in our village we have a different GP every day in our tiny surgery...so if I want to see the GP I like-I heither have to book up 6 weeks in advance OR go to the surgery at 8.00am in the morning and sit and wait for the reception person to come in and grab one of the emergency appointments. This has actually worked out well for my last 2 GP surgerys....the one before I got on so well with the GP who owned the practice that I could see him at 7.30am any morning if I was ill when he first went to work without an appointment, or if it was just my BG levels or test results I could email him and he would email me back... This surgery because one particular GP sees me now who I get on well with and the GP has gone through a lot with me-no other GP will deal with me regarding my fibromyalgia.

I guess I may have been lucky.....when I left my last surgery I gave GP some good bottles of wine and the nurse some flowers and the receptionists some chocloates to share. When my current GP has helped me out I have taken him some strawberries from my garden (he grazes on fruit inbetween patients)...and I will again give some good bottles of wine when we leave...hoping that he will write on my notes to the next GP to look after me....!!!!

You can of course look GP's up on the GMC website, but I don't think they give much info other than when they became a GP and I believe it is only surgeons etc that have their specialities listed....

May be worthwhile phoning up or speaking to the practice manager ahead of time and to ask directly who their diabetic GP is, and whether the surgery prescribes....with regards statins etc.it is actually the patients decision whether they take the medication suggested by the GP...GP's should listen to reasons such as side effects etc to patients...and if they are any good they should listen and report to MHRA. It may be worthwhile asking whether their GP's are proactive at reporting side effects to the MHRA or whether it is left to the patients...this could give an indication as to whether they listen or not.....you don't have to give your name to ask questions over the phone...just explain that you want to identify how the practice is run prior to joining it...

Good luck!!!!

 

[mehdave]

Swapping Gp's is easy in scotland however each surgery can make its own catchment area from what I was told. When I changed my next door neighbours gp for him as his carer we just went into the same one im at asked for a new user form and had an initial appointment and once they had his files it was done. With Gp's in my town in fife you can see anyone you ask for but most surgery's will have a gp who has a special interest diabetics.

 

[Dougie22]

Thanks for the responses.

I am in a group surgery just now, but all diabetic appointments are with the diabetic specialist doctor, and I'm pretty sure any of the other doctors would simply refer me back to her.

I'm sure swapping is easy once you know where you want to go. My question was more about how can you go about finding out whether another GP will be more on your wavelength? Otherwise its just a shot in the dark.

 

[donnellysdogs]

It is a shame that it is pretty much based upon chance when trying to move surgerys/gp's....unlike consultants and surgeons who may write articles etc and researchable on the internet..GP's aren't....

 

[mehdave]

Indeed dougie it will be a bit of a shot in the dark so it really down to luck. I suppose you could always phone the other surgery and ask if its possible to speak to a doctor as you are allowed to ask for a second opinion with another and as far as I know it doesn't need to be the same surgery you are at. I think it was in one of leaflets I read at my local surgery. That way you would get a chat about it without needing to swap but it would depend on that surgery's times and if the doctor would be willing.

Worth an inquiry maybe?

 

[bowell]

My cares seem to be very clued up on all the GPs in my area
The ones that help there clients the ones that don't do house calls ect
Who has a prescription delivery service , in fact all the GP gossip


Small local chemist are useful for information on GPs

Or just walk in and ask the Dragon on the front desk
Whats the doctor like then ? :mrgreen:

Do not tell News international 8)

NHS Find GP
http://www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/ServiceSearch.aspx?ServiceType=GP

 

[diabetes51]

When I moved GPs recently, I rang up the surgery and asked who was the GP that took responsibility for the support of diabetic clients. If I could not get a specific name, I crossed that one off. I do believe specialisation is essential in GPs when it comes to specific conditions. If I was given a name, I asked for an appointment to see them, to discuss whether we could work together as a team. That is your right, GPs are, after all, private practioners and need to attract customers! I also asked to see the DNS because I thought that was important too.

I met Drs and a DNS from 3 practices that way and then made my choice.

People with chronic conditions need to start standing up for themselves, when the GPs get extra money for their care. So you need to know they will support you for the money they make. One thing I learnt working with Drs all these years, they are not Gods, they go to the toilet just as we do :lol:

Liz