Online Doctors in the UK compared

This article has one simple aim, to show you how to easily compare online doctors operating in the UK.

We will take you through how to compare services to find the best.

• How online GP costs vary and what you get for your money.
• The experience of patients using these services.
• How to find reviews of NHS organisations. Showing how the service provided is rated by official bodies and a few other key factors to consider.

You should feel empowered to decide if using an internet doctor is the best choice for your situation.  You will also understand the process involved in choosing, through our online doctors review section.

Video call online GP services offered in the UK

Due to demand many companies are now offering GP video call services in the UK.  These companies try and make seeking medical advice more convenient and easier to access.  These services offer a Platform which enables you to connect online, in real time, to Practitioners.

We look at some of the key players in this expanding market, Babylon Health and Push Dr.

We explain how official NHS bodies rate these web based GP services.  These companies have great promotional videos and slick websites, we explain how to identify key criteria such as do they provide good medical advice and can they be trusted.

This is not from our personal experience, but from NHS regulatory bodies and other official sources that many people don’t know are there to help make this decision.

Online Doctors Apps Compared

Two big online doctors offer appointments in the UK, Babylon Health and Push Doctor.  These companies offer slightly different products, but use NHS GPs via an app.

The Push Doctor app has a 4.7 rating, from nearly 9,000 reviews and is free to download.

Babylon Health has a 4.8 rating and nearly 12,000 reviews.  Again this is a free app designed  to let you talk to a doctor, after subscribing.

Key factors when choosing which of these services to use include the cost, time it takes to get an appointment and quality of the health advice provided.  Further information on these elements is provided below.

Online Doctors Appointments Compared

The time between booking an appointment and speaking to a doctor using one of the Push Dr or Babylon apps will vary.  Both companies advertise you can talk to a GP the same day, often within a few hours.  This is a big claim and a potential major benefit compared to some traditional surgeries.  These online doctor websites detail the medical professionals who you will be talking to using their app.

Are Online Doctors’ Appointments Available on the Weekend?

Push doctor claim to be the UKs number one online doctor.  Their doctors are available from 8am-8pm 7 days a week.  Bookings can be made 24/7 and prescriptions can be picked up the same day.

Babylon Health state you can talk to a doctor 24/7 ‘in minutes’, including weekends.  After downloading the app you can choose a date and time for the conversation and decide if you want video chat, or to use the audio only option.  To use the appointment time more effectively you may wish to add notes or photos ahead of your consultation.  This is a payment led option, Babylon also offer a free online GP consultation service called GP at hand.

GP at hand requires you as the patient to transfer your GP practice from your current physical NHS GP practice, to the GP at hand service.  This is not suitable for all patients, further information can be found here.  We explain how to change a GP practice later in this article.

Online GP Appointment Costs Compared

Two main pricing models are offered by Babylon online GP services, a one-off appointment can be booked for £25.

Babylon offer a second online doctors service subscription model.  For £5 per month you can have unlimited appointments with NHS doctors using their app.  There is a minimum contract of three months.

Push Doctor offer two main pricing plans, a £30 appointment for non-members, there are also additional costs for prescription admin fees and appointment extensions.

The second involve members paying £3 per month, and appointments are £20 as and when you need them, including weekends.  Push Dr is available for IOS and android.

Can Online GPs Give me a Prescription?

The short answer is online GPs can give you a prescription during your appointment.  There is no additional charge for creating this prescription for Babylon members, however, you will need to pay any relevant charges when collecting your prescription from your pharmacy.  This is because Babylon generate a private prescription and are not part of the NHS prescription charge system.  A prescription should be available in about an hour up until 10pm, after this time it will be ready to collect the next morning. The Babylon app also provides the choice to have your medicine delivered directly, the charge for this varies.

Push Dr operate a similar policy to create a prescription.  After your consultation you will be asked to enter a postcode and a local pharmacy will be found and the prescription sent to it.  A one hour prescription collection service is available costing £2.95, otherwise most prescriptions are available the same day at no extra cost.  Prescriptions issued by Push Dr are private prescriptions and you will be charged for the medicine.

The Best Online Doctors in the UK

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are the independent regulator of health and social care services in the UK.  It is the CQC’s role to make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.  The CQC visit each general practice and assess them against a number of criteria.  The surgeries are then rated from ‘Inadequate’, to ‘Requires Improvement’, ‘Good’ and the highest rating of ‘Outstanding’.    You can see the results for your current general practice on the CQC’s website.  The CQC are therefore a great source for understanding how well the best online doctors in the UK are performing.

The CQC’s reporting of services offered by Push Dr Limited can be found here and those for Babylon Health here.

The alternative to an online GP appointment

Choosing a GP used to involve registering with the practice closest to your home or work.  For most of the time, if you’re lucky that would be it, unless a foreign holiday required a set of injections.

At other times we really depend on our local medical services. When you wake up ill.  That’s when the fun started, trying to get an appointment with your trusted GP. This usually involved phoning up or queuing before trying to convince the receptionist you needed an appointment to see the GP.  There are two main problems with this model:

1. Taking time off work / out of education to visit the surgery for an appointment.
2. The length of time it took between feeling ill and getting an appointment.

Talk to my local doctor by skype 

Many general practices in the UK have introduced a number of methods to improve on the ‘fall ill, que up and wait for an appointment’ model described.

It is now common for practices to offer for the GP to call you back, if suitable.  They will then decide how to progress and if a face-to-face appointment is needed.

The ability to choose and book a time slot online also reduces a large part of the uncertainty about when an appointment is available.  However, it is common for appointments to be running late, meaning more time than expected still needs to be taken off work, or away from education.  It is often not just a quick in and out service.

Talking to a doctor by skype, via an app, or video call is also being offered in some local surgeries, but at the time of writing (2018) not all.  These quickly emerging companies offering apps letting you to talk to a NHS GP 24/7, via a smartphone are a huge development in the practitioner / patient relationship.

The negatives about using an online doctor

A balanced view about how to video call online GP services needs to highlight the negatives of such services.  It can be much quicker to call an online video call doctor than trying to get an appointment at your local practice, but be aware there are negatives about using an online doctor.

1. No personal relationship (but this is not so common now anyway).  If you are known personally by your local GP a good relationship can develop.  The organisations running online doctor services employ hundreds of GPs, we are not aware of the option to request to speak to a specific practitioner.
2. A second obvious drawback is the cost. Apart from the cost of parking, petrol, bus fare or taking time off work there are no immediate costs with using your local surgery.  Prescriptions are currently charged for in most situations in England, unless you are exempt.  All of the online video call providers highlighted have a system to charge patients, either per session, or for a monthly subscription.  This cost needs to be weighed against the benefits of time saved and cost of getting to the surgery.
3. Registration issues.  To use the GP at hand service you will need to register with Babylon health.  This means de-registering with your current practice.  Babylon take you through this process, but it means you will no longer be part of your local GP surgery.  You can still remain part of your local practice if you choose to use the monthly subscription service, rather than GP at hand.

The benefits of using a video call GP service

Video call GP services claim a number of benefits including speed, flexibility and comfort.

1. Speed, it is often possible to contact a medic the same day, or even same hour as you decide it is necessary.  A range of available slots will be shown, allowing you to pick the best option.
2. Flexibility (no time off work etc.)  Needing to see the doctor is now a more flexible process.  Choose a time, then call, you know how long it will take and can plan accordingly.
3. Don’t have to wait in noisy receptions with ill people.  Many patients don’t like to sit and wait in a reception area full of ill people.  Receptionists are often notorious, these factors are removed when using a video call GP service.

These factors are only beneficial when the medical diagnosis and treatment provided is of a high standard.  Use the tools highlighted to check how online doctors are rated.

Online doctors in the UK compared summary

Your health and the advice provided is key when comparing online doctors in the UK.  Many companies offer facilities to talk to a General Practitioner via an app.  Be sure to use a reputable organisation using GPs that are registered with the NHS and CQC and are based in the UK.

Push Dr and Babylon health are two of the biggest providers of online GP consultations.  Both provide the facility to talk with a registered NHS GP using their apps, with slightly varying pricing.  Prescriptions are available from both companies and they are available within a very short time frame from a local pharmacy, or via delivery services.

De-registering from your current GP and registering with Babylon’s GP at hand service is a big step, but may be beneficial to patients who have little time to visit a physical doctor’s surgery.

Don’t just consider the price and speed that you can get an appointment, ensure you are happy with the medical advice provided by these companies.

Different rules apply for finding a doctor if you are an international student from the European Economic Area or not.  The National Health Service (NHS) is a publically funded health care system that providing health care for the residents of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  If you fall ill or need to access treatment while living in the UK you may be required to provide documentation.  This guide explains what the NHS is, how to find the medical help you require and what documents need to be completed to receive this medical help.

Contents

1.Introduction: What is the European Economic Area (EEA)

2.Introduction: What is the National Health Service (NHS)

3.How to find a doctor if you are a student from the European Economic Area (EEA)

4.Do I need Healthcare Insurance if I come from the EEA

5.How do I register for health care as a student from the EEA

6.How can I access hospital treatment if I come from the EEA

7.How to find a doctor if you are from OUTSIDE the EEA.

8.How do I register for health care as a student from OUTSIDE the EEA

9.How can I access hospital treatment as a international student from OUTSIDE the EEA

What is the European Economic Area (EEA)

The European Economic Area includes all European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.  Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are part of the EEA EFTA states.  If you are a national holding a passport from one of the European Union states, or Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway you should qualify as a EEA citizen.  If you do not have nationality from one of these states you will be classified as being from outside the EEA.  Please refer to the appropriate guidance for EEA citizens and Non-EEA citizens.

What is the National Health Service (NHS)

The National Health Service (NHS) is a provider of healthcare in the UK.  The NHS is free at the point of use for all UK residents.  Planned care and accident and emergency care provided at hospitals are part of the NHS.  Care and treatment provided by General Practitioners is also included.  The NHS is funded by taxes and employs more than 1.5 million people.

How to find a doctor if you are a Student from the European Economic Area (EEA)

As a student from the EEA you will need to register with a doctor, known as a General Practitioner (GP).  GP doctors are often based in small organisations called practices, health centres, medical groups or surgeries.  These organisations provide care for UK residents from childhood to old age.  The location and other information about these practices can be found here – doctors near my university

Do I need Healthcare Insurance if I come from the EEA

If you are a student from another country in the European Union, living in the UK for less than 6 months, you will require a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which must be obtained from your home country.

The EHIC card allows you to access free NHS treatment that is medically required while you live in the UK.  This covers any medically necessary treatment.  If you as an international student require medical treatment that can’t wait until you return to your home country you are covered with a valid EHIC card.  This includes treatment for pre-existing medical conditions and maternity care.  The cost of your care is then recovered from your country of residence.

Information about how to acquire a EHIC card can be found here http://ec.europa.eu

https://www.internationalstudents.cam.ac.uk/files/healthcare_information_eea_students.pdf

The EHIC issued by an EEA member state means you hold comprehensive sickness insurance for your time studying in the UK.

How do I register with a Doctor if I come from the EEA

To register with a doctor as a EEA resident first find a doctor close to your home or university here – doctors close to my university. 

• Type in your address in the box and search.
• A list of NHS doctors from the area will be listed.
• Contact the practice and ask them if they are accepting new patients and how to register.

Most doctors that are near universities or areas where students live will be used to students from the EEA area trying to access healthcare.

• Registration is free
• You can only be registered with one GP/health centre at any time.

Most medical practices will require basic details such as your

• Name
• Home address in the UK,
• The date you came into the UK and
• Proof that you have registered with the university or college.

Some practices may not be accepting new patients, if that is the case then you will need to find an alternative doctor.

After you have completed the registration process you will be sent a NHS number.

This NHS number shows that you qualify for NHS treatment and should be delivered to your UK address within eight weeks.  If you have not received your NHS number within this time contact the health centre you registered with and ask for their advice.  If you move address after registering inform your health centre as the number will be sent to your home address.

The NHS number is an important.  You should take it with you every time you visit a doctor, dentist or the hospital.  Your NHS number is unique to you and helps healthcare providers and staff identify your health records, so you receive safe and effective care from the NHS.

Please note, in NHS medical cards are no longer issued in England.  In recent years this has been replaced for all patients with an NHS number.

How can I access hospital treatment if I come from the EEA

If you require more specialised or hospital services you will need to be referred by a GP.  For unplanned care there are a number of alternatives

• Calling 999
• Visiting Accident and Emergency
• Dialling 111
• Going to a local ‘Walk in Centre’
• Having a GP consultation

How to find a doctor if you are from OUTSIDE the EEA

Students from countries outside of the EEA area are able to register with doctors in the UK.  Before you arrive in the UK it is required that you pay a health immigration surcharge.  This surcharge should be paid as part of your visa application process.

The immigration health surcharge is currently (2017) £150 per year that a visa is granted for.  If a visa is granted for more than 6 months the full £150 will have to be paid.  This is an additional fee in addition to any other visa fees.

Further information on the immigration health surcharge can be found here https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application/overview

Once the immigration health surcharge is paid students are able to access NHS services like any UK resident.  Medical assistance can be received from doctors, dentists or at hospitals.  If you have private medical insurance in your own country, you may wish to see if this can be extended to the UK.  This can’t replace paying the immigration health surcharge.

How can I register for health care as a student from abroad

As a student you will need to register with a doctor, known as a General Practitioner (GP).  GP doctors are often based in small organisations called practices, health centres, medical groups or surgeries.  These organisations provide care for UK residents from childhood to old age.  The location and other information about these practices can be found here – doctors close to university.

To register with a doctor first find a doctor close to your home or university click on the doctors close to university link.

• Type in your address in the box and search.
• A list of NHS doctors from the area will be listed.
• Contact the practice and ask them if they are accepting new patients and how to register.

Most doctors that are near universities or areas where students live will be used to students trying to access healthcare.

• Registration is free
• You can only be registered with one GP/health centre at any time.

Most medical practices will require basic details such as your

• Name
• Home address in the UK,
• The date you came into the UK and
• Proof that you have registered with the university or college.

Some practices may not be accepting new patients, if that is the case then you will need to find an alternative doctor.

After you have completed the registration process you will be sent a NHS number.

This NHS number shows that you qualify for NHS treatment and should be delivered to your UK address within eight weeks.  If you have not received your NHS number within this time contact the health centre you registered with and ask for their advice.  If you move address after registering inform your health centre as the number will be sent to your home address.

The NHS number is an important.  You should take it with you every time you visit a doctor, dentist or the hospital.  Your NHS number is unique to you and helps healthcare providers and staff identify your health records, so you receive safe and effective care from the NHS.

Please note, in NHS medical cards are no longer issued in England.  In recent years this has been replaced for all patients with an NHS number.

How can I access hospital treatment if I come from OUTSIDE the EEA

If you require more specialised or hospital services you will need to be referred by a GP.  For unplanned care there are a number of alternatives

• Calling 999
• Visiting Accident and Emergency
• Dialling 111
• Going to a local ‘Walk in Centre’
• Having a GP consultation

Patients rely on their GP, if your doctor doesn’t care, or seems like they don’t care it can be distressing.  Showing care and concern is a key skill that a GP needs.  When we go to the doctor it is because we are worried about a symptom or illness and we need their help.  This can be a worrying time and we may feel desperate.  Patients want their doctor to listen to their symptoms, understand their concerns and believe them about their illness.  If a GP doesn’t do this it may feel like the doctor doesn’t care.

An uncaring doctor can make patients nervous during appointments, feel like an inconvenience to the DR or in the worst cases put them off going to the doctor at all.  This is not a healthy situation, but there are solutions.

What Can I do if My Doctor Doesn’t Care

As a patient in England you do not have to suffer a doctor that doesn’t care.  There are a number of options open to you including discussing the situation with your current GP.  Moving GP Practices to try and find a better, more caring practitioner, or making appointments with a new GP in your current practice.  All of these options should be considered, further detail is described below.

Can I move GP Practice if my Doctor Doesn’t Seem to Care?

As a patient in England you should be happy with the treatment you receive.  You have the right to leave one practice and move to another surgery if you like.  No reason needs to be provided for wanting to leave a practice and you don’t need to tell your new surgery why you want to join them.  Simply find a new practice and ask if the will register you as a new patient. The BestDoctorNearMe.co.uk how to change GP page provides more detail on how to do this.

How Can I Find a Doctor that Cares

The NHS in England survey patients twice a year in the GP Patient survey.  This nationwide survey asks a range of questions resulting in GP Practices being rated and ranked.  One area Medical Practices are rated on is the level of Care and Concern shown to patients.  Not all doctors have the same skill sets and some practice include GPs that show more care and concern.

Not many people in England are aware that their GP and others are rated for their care and concern.  This rating is provided by the people who best positioned to judge doctors – their  patients and the Department for Health.  The BestDoctorsNearMe.co.uk website published the NHS information that ranks the care and concern showed to patients.  This information can be used to help make sure you find a doctor that does care and is concerned about you and your health.  The description below explains how to use this information to try and find another practice that may have more caring staff.

To Find a Doctor That Cares Near You

• Go to the BestDoctorsNearMe.co.uk GP Ratings page
• Enter your town or post code into the box and search

How to find a doctor that cares

• This page include information on a range of topics.
• Choose ‘Patient Experience’ in the ‘Topics’ dropdown box and click ‘update results’

• One of the results is called ‘Treated with Care and Concern by the GP’

The information within the ‘Treated with Care and Concern by the GP’ column shows patients  results from the GP Survey and how many patients responded positively to this question.

GP Practices that have a tick next to them are rated as amongst the best at showing the most care and concern for their patients.

Surgeries and practices that show an exclamation mark have been ranked as the least caring and compassionate surgeries by patients.

Health Centres that have an ‘ok’ next to them are ranked in the middle range.  They are not the most caring, or not the least caring.

To further try and show the least caring and most caring GP Practices a percentage score is provided.  The most caring doctors are shown with a score nearer 100, the lower the score the less caring doctors are.

To compare how caring doctors are near you follow the instructions listed above and compare the percentages for each GP Practice and look for the better rated, more concerned doctors, shown with a tick.  In this way you can review information for all GP Practices and doctors in the area you are interested in.  This information can help identify if there are other surgeries that may be better suited to your needs.  The information is updated twice a year, meaning the comparisons displayed are up-to-date for 2017.

What Other Options do I have if my Doctor Doesn’t Care about me

If your doctor doesn’t seem concerned about you or care about your problems than you can change to a different GP in your current practice.  This option means you don’t need to register with a new surgery, but instead simply ask to see a different GP the next time you make an appointment.  You should not have to provide a reason for asking to see a different GP.

If for some reason you are unable to move practice or see another GP in your current surgery it may be worth considering discussing the situation with the GP that seems not to care.  This conversation may be difficult for both the patient and doctor and it could result in a positive or negative outcome.  It is an option to consider if moving surgery or practitioner is not an option.

Summary: My Doctor Doesn’t Care What Can I do?

Having a doctor that doesn’t care, or show compassion can be terrible.  An uncaring GP may seem like they don’t believe you, or not be interested in your illnesses.  The NHS in England collect information showing how well patients think their doctor cares for them.  This information is easy to understand and can help find a caring doctor in your town.  As a patient in England you do not have to stay with the same doctor, or the same GP Practice.  The ability to move practice is very positive.  If your doctor doesn’t care for your health then it is important to try and find a GP that does.

It can be very frustrating if your doctor doesn’t listen to you.  One of the most common reasons for unhappiness with health care is doctors not listening to their patients.  Listening is part of the art of communication.  A poor bedside manner, with a doctor that doesn’t listen to symptoms or patient needs can mean you are not understood.  The art of listening is one of the most common reasons for complaints and patient dissatisfaction.  Patient surveys in England have consistently shown patients want better communication with their doctor.  There are many examples of doctors’ being described as arrogant, without compassion, making the patient feel like an inconvenience, rude or unfriendly.  These could all be in part due to a doctor not listening to you the patient.

Published research, such as Doctor-Patient Communication: A review (2010) have identified that many doctors overestimate their ability to communicate.  A doctor that thinks they have strong communication skills may believe they are listening and talking to patients well and that their patients are happy.  In reality patients may feel that the GP doesn’t listen, is unfriendly, rude or has a poor attitude.

Effective patient to doctor communication is key to a healthy patient GP relationship.  There are huge benefits to being able to discuss problems with a doctor in a constructive manner.  A patient needs to feel that the doctor understands their feelings about their illness and are willing and able to offer help and support.

What Can I do if my Doctor has a Poor Bedside Manner

If you feel like your doctor has a poor bedside manner and poor listening skills it may seem hard to improve the situation.  Many patients feel reluctant to bring the topic of communication up with their GP.  It is difficult to confront someone to highlight their weaknesses, but as a patient you have a number of options including moving practice, changing GP within your current practice, or trying to change your current situation.

Can I Move to a Different GP Practice if my Doctor Doesn’t Listen?

As a patient in England you have the right to move to a different GP Practice.  The BestDoctorNearMe.co.uk How to move GP page has full details of how to do this.  In simple terms you need to find another practice that will accept you as a patient and register with them.  No reason needs to be given when leaving or joining a new surgery.  When leaving your current practice some patients may want to provide feedback that they think a certain doctor has a terrible bedside manner or doesn’t listen to try and improve the situation for remaining patients.  You do not have to give a reason when leaving or joining a new surgery, but you can provide feedback to the practice manager if you would like.

How Can I Find a Doctor with Great Communication Skills

Moving to find a doctor with great communication skills, including one that will listen to your concerns is a right of NHS patients in England.  However how do you know you will not experience the same problems in a new surgery?  The NHS collects information highlighting the best communicating GP Practices in England.  BestDoctorsNearMe.co.uk publish this NHS information so you can compare surgeries close to your home and find the best practice for listening and communication.  Follow the steps highlighted below:

• Go to the BestDoctorsNearMe.co.uk GP Ratings page
• Enter the town or postcode you are interested in.

• In the ‘Topics’ section choose ‘Patient Experience’

• Click ‘Update Results’

The ‘Being listened to’ and ‘Explanations of tests and treatment’ measures will help compare GP Practices and find the best communicators in your area.  Both measures show results from the GP Patient Survey.  As the title suggest, this is a survey of patients were they are asked to give their views on care provided by their GP.  The NHS conducts this survey twice a year and so results will be up-to-date for 2017.

The theory is that the best placed people to review how good care and treatment provided is patients themselves.  Results are shown for all surgeries in the area chosen.  Practices are split into three broad categories.

• Among the worst – highlighted by an exclamation mark
• Among the Best – indicated with a tick
• Those in the middle – marked with an ‘ok’

Finding Practices that have a tick for both ‘being listened to’ and ‘explanations of tests and treatment’ could indicate practices with strong listening and communications skills.  Further comparisons are possible by using the percentages attached to each measure.  The higher the score the better (maximum is 100).  Practices with a tick and a score of over 90% have been rated better by their patients than practices with an ‘ok’ or exclamation mark and a percentage score in the 70’s for example.

Can I Change Doctor Within the Same GP Practice due to Communication Problems?

One potential solution is to change doctor within the same GP Practice.  Asking to Change GP within your current surgery is not uncommon.  This should be quite straightforward, simply ask not to see your current doctor, or ask to see another doctor by name when you book the appointment.  You do not need to give a reason when asking to see a different doctor within the same practice and it is probably quite common.

Moving GP Practice may not be practical for some people due to transport or other issues.  If your practice has more than one GP and the problem with listening and not taking your views into consideration seems to be with only one GP within the practice, then changing doctor in the same surgery could be the answer.

How to Improve my Doctors Listening Skills

It may not be practical to move Practice or change GP and so the only option could be to try and improve your current doctors listening and communication skills.  This can be tricky as recent research (Doctor-Patient Communication: A review (2010)) indicates many clinicians believe they have stronger communication skills than in reality.  The journalist Maria Shriver advocates a number of steps to improve communication between you and your doctor.  This includes:

• Taking time to answer questions asked by the GP. It may seem like the GP has their own agenda, but these questions could help them understand your problem and make them more prepared to listen to your views..
• Provide a full but concise explanation. If a doctor asks where is the pain, tell them, but also tell them when it started and what you were doing at the time.
• Ask questions. If you don’t understand something, don’t be afraid to ask for an explanation or further information.
• Keep your cool and maintain a respectful approach. To make sure you are heard try and keep your cool and language under control.  A civil approach will help you to be heard.

Summary: What can I do if my Doctor Doesn’t Listen

Effective medical treatment relies upon a doctor who listens to your needs and symptoms.  If your doctor doesn’t listen, or take in what you are telling them it can be very frustrating.  It is distressing if you are not happy with your doctor as they are so important to your health.  Feeling unhappy with your GP is difficult with uncertainty about what you can do or what help is available.  If you are not satisfied with the care and communication provided by your local GP you are not alone.  Unfortunately many people within the English NHS and private system feel the same way, but help is available.  As a patient in England you do not need to suffer a bad patient doctor relationship.  You have the right to leave your GP Practice and find another surgery – as long as they let you register.  This is not practical in all situations, but if possible when making appointments you can ask to see a specific GP, or not to see a GP you are unhappy with.  If there are multiple GPs at your surgery this could be a solution.