The Glebe Surgery

The Glebe Surgery 2024-08-14 Person 4 5 0

As I have Type 1 Diabetes, and have recently experienced some other possibly connected issues, I have had need to see/speak to the GP or nurse on a number of occasions in the last couple of years. Overall this has been a great experience, albeit it is evident sometimes the pressure the surgery staff are under as consultations can seem a little rushed. But I don't see this as a negative necessarily as I'm all for using everyone's time efficiently, and the communication is generally excellent. However I am providing feedback now as there is an issue of principle I'd like to raise which I feel goes to the heart of patient care. I set this out in the 'Anything better we could have done' box below.

My concern is that there have been a couple of conversations recently with clinical staff which tried to put focus on what I am costing the practice and/or the NHS, which I feel is unjustified and inappropriate. The first related to blood glucose sensors (Libre 2) which are vital to being able to manage my diabetes and have been provided on repeat prescription for some years now. It emerged that these are amongst a group of more expensive medicines/supplies that the practice issues that are being effectively rationed, according to the conversation I had. I have to wait a number of weeks before I am able to order my next prescription online. The problem with this is that sometimes the sensors fail or come off the body before they are meant to, and so having a rigid window means that my supplies are in danger of running down over time and then being left with no supply at all. The fact they are rationed suggests the patient is not to be trusted to only order the amount they require (which I find, to be honest, a little insulting even if there are a minority of 'stockpilers' - but I am not one of them!). I was told this is because they are so expensive that the surgery has to be careful about issuing too many. So, whether intentionally or not, I am being made to feel that I am costing the system too much. My greater fear is that some patients could take this to heart and stop asking for the supplies they need, and are entitled to, because they feel guilty about costing the NHS too much. I have had another recent conversation whereby it emerged that another NHS service that used to be free is now charged for - a simple letter to take through airport security which I should really have due to the need to take life-sustaining supplies, including an insulin pump, when I cross international borders. But apparently this is 'optional' because I 'choose' to go on holiday, and therefore chargeable. Similarly, a simple ear syringe procedure, to resolve aural discomfort and sometimes impaired hearing, is also now not considered essential and routinely NHS patients have to pay for a private treatment (which may cause some people to not seek treatment and suffer longer term effects). I fully appreciate that GP practices increasingly and through no fault of their own have to conduct their business in a commercial fashion, which is no doubt leading to these decisions. But I do feel there are implications for patients' well-being and therefore wanted to highlight as feedback.

The Glebe Surgery 2024-08-14 Person 5 5 0

Great options to choose from

Excellent service very pleased.

The Glebe Surgery 2024-08-14 Person 4 5 0

Doctor requested blood test

Nothing prompt and simple procedure

The Glebe Surgery 2024-08-14 Person 4 5 0

The receptionist checked before making my appt to ensure the right person saw me.

A system crash meant there was a 20 minute+ delay in being seen. A couple of us wondered if we'd been forgotten. A quick explanation from the receptionist would have been reassuring.

The Glebe Surgery 2024-08-13 Person 5 5 0

Could not fault my treatment.

Nothing