Sending GP a message

[Phil Russell]

I recently needed to send a GP a message and some data on a spreadsheet. Can you send it by email? No. Can you text it? No. The only way, which I confirmed when I took it as hardcopy and spoke to the surgery receptionist was to do what I had just done ... send or take it as hard copy. I was told it would be put in the Dr's pigeon hole. Last time I did this it seems that the secretary then had to scan the information to get an electronic version which was added to my file for the Dr to access.
Has the world gone mad?
Cheers Phil

 

[Byronic]

What was the problem with sending it by Email?
Your end or theirs?

The NHS and the rest of the world is moving towards a paper free storage environment - and has been moving in thst direction for years.

There are upsides and downsides.
I had many years of experience looking for paper files - not always in the right place etc.

Patient information can be sent virtually immediately anywhere online for a second opinion etc.

Our surgery has an Online Consultation form available 24 x7 which is triaged when the Surgery reopens.
Usually you get a response the next working day, often an appointment or a Prescription - occasionally just confirmation that it is being reviewed by a Medic.

Computerisation is a mixed blessing in my opinion.
Especially for old folks with limited knowledge of and access to technology.

 

[WibblyWay]

Has the world gone mad?

It most certainly has - and the NHS is fast becoming a world-leader in madness and focussing on internal process, targets and statistics, rather than focusing on the Patient's needs, their convenience, their travel requirements, their problems with technology - oh, yes and their health, their illness and circumstances.

 

[Bighit]

Our medical centre has an email address but its only accepts Emails from people they are expecting an Email from.

I have used it when they have asked for Pics of my fingers when i had a rash on them ( Iron overload was the diagnosis) and also for my Asthma check up .
We can hand paperwork in but can't get an appointment when standing in the reception .

 

[Phil Russell]

Re GP and email. There is no email address to send information to the GP. Whether they do not disclose it or it is non existent I don't know. Similarly for a text. So the issue is clearly their end. The receptionist, who I cannot blame for this state of affairs, simply said it was not possible to do and was part of 'the system'.
Cheers,
Phil

 

[Phil Russell]

Our medical centre has an email address but its only accepts Emails from people they are expecting an Email from.

Now that rings a bell ... several years ago, as part of a telephone diagnosis, I recall being given a link of some sort to send a couple of photos to a GP. (once the laughter died down I was declared OK).
Cheers, Phil

 

[Wizwoz]

My GP wanted me to send a weeks worth of BP readings and sent me a text with a link in it to post the results.
I waited while the weekend and took the readings Mon to Fri. Did the sums to get the average..Job done!
She didn't tell me the link expired after a week though!!!
I had to ring the surgery to get one of her minions to re-send the link!

 

[Lightning22]

Your GP's email address will be on the NHS.net, given the joys of cyber attacks, malware etc, the security settings are cranked all the way up. I expect attachments from non-secure systems would be blocked automatically, it can be difficult enough sending files to local government and non NHS.net users within the NHS.

 

[Phil Russell]

My GP wanted me to send a weeks worth of BP readings and sent me a text with a link in it to post the results.
I waited while the weekend and took the readings Mon to Fri. Did the sums to get the average. Job done!
She didn't tell me the link expired after a week though!!!
I had to ring the surgery to get one of her minions to re-send the link!

Now that sounds like a system I was asked to do. I found it to be the most unfriendly system I had ever (tried) to use. I was expected to use the system after every reading I took, logging on each time after having to get a passcode. I wanted to enter several results at one go, for example results from a 3 day period, but the system does not allow it: it allows only one entry at a time. There was no way I could review historical info either. I concluded the system was written/coded to satisfy the needs of the GP and not the user (patient).
Cheers, Phil