Absolute majority of GPs have abysmal reviews. Is that normal?

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Same_Water7713@reddit

GPs get paid by how many people are registered, not how many people they help. So they oversubscribed for the money. Then no one can get appointments and have ever right to complain and give negative reviews. And the GPs absolutely deserve the ratings.

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Advanced_Option1115@reddit

for me the issue isn't that its hard to find an appointment, the problem is that GPs are very low in quality they look very scarce at their job can't give you any answers without making a google search they are clueless

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dr-broodles@reddit

Selection bias - the happy customers aren’t leaving reviews for the most part.

Also, the GPs job isn’t to please everyone - it’s to do the medically correct thing (which will sometimes upset patients).

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Particular_Act_6541@reddit

They usually just dismiss patients and medically neglect us.

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dr-broodles@reddit

If the system is broken, the staff will be too.

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DannyLiverpool2023@reddit

As a doctor, that last sentence is so refreshing to read. I’m glad some people understand that!

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Massive-Education-86@reddit

It is really true that many gps are slacking and that gives the industry a bad look! Just got to shop around or go to an emergency room. There is not enough being done to protect patients from both predatory physicians and or incompetent ones. The whole industry is corrupt because why would a gp not wanting a covid vaccine warrant being struck off more than when a patient gets sexually assaulted. Makes no sense, there is not much moral compass in the way the medical board works.

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OleaC@reddit

Newport Pagnell medical centre has always been good to me. Prompt, professionally efficient and friendly.

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gogginsbulldog1979@reddit

Mine's Brooklands and it's appalling.

You can no longer call up at 8am as all the appointments are gone. They now recommend you come into the office, so if you want an appointment, you have to queue IN PERSON from about 7.30am, then wait for your appointment. So, if you've got tonsillitis or some kind of illness, you'll have to get out your sick bed and queue in the cold. Good one.

Also, their phone system says to use their new app to book appointments, but when you go on the website, it says the app and site are no longer working.

Brooklands is a horrific GP and the reviews online reflect this.

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oo0st@reddit

I judge from my personal experience over the last 4 years in the UK: I have never had any GP which I’d rate higher than 2 out of 5 stars. So all those reviews look fair to me. This is the new reality I guess

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Known_Wear7301@reddit

Just remember, people generally only leave reviews when there's an issue so you only see the bad stuff.

I've just seen similar, I was lucky to show my dog at Crufts and several people in my breed are lodging complaints, yet where is my opportunity to say I had a great time.

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Z1dan@reddit

I’ve seen similar posts on this sub a lot before. Seems to be that east mk is a shit show right now for GPs (mine doesn’t even answer the phones anymore) but west mk seems half decent.

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redditkatiereddit@reddit

Probably overwhelmed by the thousands of new build houses around there

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nuttydogpoo@reddit

NHS is going down the pan and people aren’t happy.

Don’t worry though, when it all get sold off and privatised you’ll be able to get an appointment same day and better service, you just won’t be able to afford it.

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Joseph_HTMP@reddit

Hilarious optimism right there. You tried getting a private appt recently? Even without the entire country doing the same, in many places its a few month's wait.

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Trivm001@reddit

The infrastructure isn’t there yet. When the whole thing is privatised and there are tons of private GPs, I’m sure you won’t have too much of an issue.

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darybrain@reddit

Given there is a shortage of GPs both private and public and there has been for a long time this just isn't gong to happen. If full privatisation did happen it would only make the number of GPs decrease as specialities would pay more with less work.

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Trivm001@reddit

There’s a shortage of GPs in the public sector. There’s a relative shortage of GPs in the private sector because the cultural shift hasn’t happened yet, and most still probably want to work for the NHS before this whole catastrophe happened.

‘If full privatisation did happen…specialties would pay more with less work’ - this isn’t correct. No one is going to retrain from GP to a hospital specialty for slightly higher private fees. The only difference would be people not choosing to enter GP training down the line, which has no effect on current GP numbers.

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darybrain@reddit

I'm not talking about GPs retraining. GP numbers are currently low with no proper long term goal to correct that, senior GPs are retiring, not enough new GPs are starting to practice which I would expect to be even lower after any privatisation since specialities will offer more money with potentially less work for a better work-life balance and cash..Given any privatisation will take a long time doctors could see much of it coming and therefore could decide while they are still a junior if they would go into general practice or a speciality and I expect the better hours and money would persuade many not to become a GP.

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Joseph_HTMP@reddit

Sure, and we're going to afford them how? Private insurance?

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Trivm001@reddit

That’s a different question you’re asking, though. I’m saying that while it’s difficult to get a private appointment now, when nearly the entire profession is private, it’ll be much easier.

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DrShankax@reddit

It’ll be quicker because the people who can’t afford private healthcare will just live with debilitating conditions and die instead. Just as the Tories planned.

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PercySmith@reddit

I've never had issues with the Bradwell Common doctors. Far better than Hilltops who I was previously with.

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Samuel-rog1@reddit

I’m with Hilltops now and can’t fault them !

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Major-Peanut@reddit

I go to Bradwell common and have had loads of issues with receptionists and general organization. But the GPs themselves have been very good.

Their new online triage appointment seems good

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Excellent-Field-6164@reddit

hope u left a good review.

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Captain_Swing@reddit

I read a few reviews for the practice which I go to, where the staff have always been great, and none of them were about quality of care, it was all about how hard it was to get an appointment, which it is, but that's due to 14 years of systematic underfunding of the NHS, not the fault of GP's.

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noobzealot01@reddit

how can you shop for GPs? You are only allowed one very close to your house

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CodeDominator@reddit (OP)

It was just an expression. By "shopping" I meant opening NHS website, putting in my post code and seeing what's available.

I get 6 hits from "GPs covering your postcode" section and there is a further section "These GP surgeries are also nearby", so I assume it wouldn't be there if I categorically couldn't register with any of them.

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darybrain@reddit

If the vast majority have shit reviews then ignore the good reviews as you know they are probably fake.

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scarabx@reddit

Not sure you're really getting any helpful responses so I'll try and answer your question, though the conclusion is not that helpful.

Yes it's pretty normal, many (most?) areas have shocking ratings on public review sites like Google maps is showing you..it's partly because people tend to review doctors when something really really good happens or if anything vaguely frustrating happens, which isn't very balanced.

It's also worse because a lot of GP surgeries ARE failing people in various ways due to underfunding of tye NHS.

Official stats aren't great either, a little different but I was looking at the ratings for hospitals by the official body (can't remember the name) in Kent yesterday asy girlfriend is having a surgery....very scary. The majority are 'needs improvement' with notes on poor safety and care. Yikes.

And then ofcourse some GPs are bad/worse because of attitudes. Many of us have been completely dismissed by a doctor who ignores NICE guidelines or made to fight for months just to get an appointment for something that , again by guidelines, should be seen as urgent but the receptionist think is a waste of their time.

So how to tell the fifference between the actually good/ok and the bad? Try them.

But also you'll really struggle to move as you (I was told this from someone who should know, I can't 100% say it's true) have to leave a surgery before joining a new one and many are not taking on or have waitlist. So you could end up without a GP by trying to move.

The main thing that you can do is just be persistent when looking for help and do your own (careful) research so you know what you could be expecting so you can tell if the doctor is doing what the guidance tells them to.

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seedmodes@reddit

I asked for a mental health appointment for my GP (fishermead) in May 2022. The receptionist really embarrassed me on the phone (asking stuff like "is there REALLY anything wrong with you" in a mocking voice) then told me I'd get a call back for a referral. Not got that call yet. Been relying on alcohol and hiding in home whenever I can since then.

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scarabx@reddit

If you're in Mk try this

https://mktalkingtherapies.nhs.uk/self-referral

Or if the link doesn't post, Google IAPT and your area. You can self refer without going through the GP (you do need to be registered at one is all).

I'm in Leighton and got on a course in about 5 weeks recently, though it differs by area (my gf applied at same.time in Kent and is still waiting about 4-5 months later). You can also chase them. Iits not the best, it's a 'how do we deal with large numbers on low budget' approach, but it's better than nothing and they can also help you get access to further services if at tye end of the course they provide you push. They'll 100% take you seriously though and be understanding.

You can always call the Samaritans to talk too. You don't have to be stood on a ledge to call, if you think talking to someone even maybe might help they're happy to talk.

Otherwise...definitely when you're feeling some energy push tye GP. You shouldn't need to push but sadly that's the way it is these days.

And it's tough and I'm not the best to advise as I've hady issues with alcohol too, but try to limit it. Ask 'did that help (even briefly)' and if not try to change. Personally (and I'm not advising this) I find nipping to my local might cost more but helps more as it's a change of scenery, some conversation sometimes and some noise. Might cost more but its better that once or twice a week than tins at home most nights. And I try to gate it behind say a walk/run. If I need something, go for a walk, if I still need it, go pub. Helps push me to do the healthy option first.

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Disastrous-Yak230@reddit

Most GP just gaslight now. No real help, patients left in worse situations each and every time help is required/needed.

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Routine-Relief-537@reddit

Especially when it comes to disabled and chronically ill people.

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MauveFairy@reddit

This happened to my partner, he was going for years saying he had pain all over his body. All his tests were coming back clear and they just kept telling him it was nothing, we finally found one good GP who diagnosed him with fibromyalgia. Young men aren't even considered with these problems because everyone assumes only older women get it

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nasted@reddit

Your access to a GP is based on where you live. They have catchment areas like schools. So you can’t pick and choose where you go.

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CodeDominator@reddit (OP)

Yeah, I realized that much. However, on the NHS website there's a filter "Accepts out of area registrations", but of course, the one with decent reviews doesn't, so I guess I'm picking the least bad option from what's available to my postcode.

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Mean-Marionberry8560@reddit

I’m not sure if you’ve seen this thing called the news recently, but the NHS is fucked. GP funding has been cut by 53% once inflation is accounted for since 2012. They were given 2.1% this year. That’s another below inflation budget increase. There are unemployed GPs because nobody can afford to pay them even the quite shit wage that UK GPs get paid. There is physically no capacity left. Most places don’t even have any empty rooms to put a doctor in if they could afford one, because we don’t have money to invest in premises. You know how to resolve this - barrage MPs, vote with your feet at the GE, and in the meantime you’ll either have to suck it up or go private.

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clues13@reddit

I have been at the red house Bletchley for years and whenever I’ve had an issue they have always seemed ok

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zombiezmaj@reddit

Yes it's normal because people are more likely to leave one when they're annoyed because either the Dr won't do something they want (either because it's not necessary or not appropriate) or had a bad appointment

It doesn't mean it's true. You'd be better off reading the content of the reviews rather than the rating themselves.... and check on nhs website for individual Dr reviews which is normally where those reviews end up

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Critical-Box-1851@reddit

Oakridge park isn't so bad

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Squishwhale@reddit

Because people like to moan. GP service isn't fantastic but I've never had any issues at our current surgery. Even the receptionists are friendly.

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magical_cheese@reddit

Most people only review a GP when they’ve had a bad experience possibly. I’ve only had positive experiences at my current GP but wouldn’t review them. Don’t get me wrong though, there are a lot of issues and a lot of barriers to appointments etc

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redditkatiereddit@reddit

I’m not sure you can shop for a GP unless you go private, as it’s location based. My GP has abysmal reviews but I’ve always found them good to me and my baby, everyone’s experiences are different so I think you just have to register with your local GP and hope they can help you with your problems.

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ricopicouk@reddit

People only comment when there is an issue. Normal and non consequencial services are not commented on. I think you would be suprised at the amount of people they see weekly.

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AloysiusRevisited@reddit

Where are you seeing these reviews?

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CodeDominator@reddit (OP)

Google Maps.