GP Practice Ad Hoc Phonecalls To Me

It is probably a monetary thing. GP practices get money for providing certain proactive services, such as blood pressure monitoring. I am presuming that you have a clinical diagnosis of autism. If so then a request not to be contacted by phone - autistic people's problems with phone use is well documented - seems a very reasonable accommodation. If they have alternative means, such as email or text messaging, available to contact you.

I would write to the practice again stating your autism, that you find unsolicited phone calls very stressful and that it disrupts your mental equilibrium, make sure they have the information needed to contact you not requiring a phone call, stress the following:

"The Equality Act (2010) states all organisations including health and social care, such as hospitals and GP surgeries must take steps to remove the barriers individuals face because of disability.

The NHS must make it as easy for disabled people to use health services as it is for people who are not disabled."

See: www.england.nhs.uk/.../

I can see why you ask that, however, they do indeed have email and text means available (which is why the multiple phone performance is so very puzzling).  In addition, they have sometimes used printed letter by post, or document attachment via online accurx to which I was alerted by text with the link.

Something is more odd than usual, (I have no clue as to what / why) as they have sometimes (recently) even made a referral to something not prior discussed with me (which I really didn't appreciate - as, had that featured in conversation, I would have declined the idea - as it was clearly the least appropriate interface in support of good mental health plus good Neurodivergent health).  Weird.

They even referred me to a physical health clinic at Hospital - without telling me what they expected would happen there (or the duration, or how to prepare - it sounded like you might need to fast - but they weren't sure ...just odd).  When I asked; they first seemed really unsure (which didn't exactly instill confidence), then started frightening me with a great long list of things - several of which I had not heard before (I am generally pretty clued up on medical matters) and to which I had not consented. 

Thankfully, the Hospital Consultant reviewed the referral and then realised (wait for it) the GP had actually selected the incorrect clinic (a long, worrying re-book to a different clinic ensued - least said, soonest mended!).

I think you are correct; an updated letter is a good idea.  The catch is: a) we aren't allowed anymore (all Patients) to hand in letters to our GP these days, b) nor are we (all Patients) allowed to email our GP like we used to do.  It is crackers - you have to use the online triage screen (during office hours) - and it is like trying to communicate via social media post style character limit. 

Last year, I tried to hand in the completed home monitoring form a Nurse had given me to do ...only to find the Reception personnel really quizzed me as to whether the Nurse was expecting it - and they wouldn't take it from my hand until I quoted (in detail) who / when / why I had attended the appointment with the Nurse (an appointment I might add: which they had initiated - not me).

Maybe I should explore the possibility of trying to get a meeting with the Practice Manager.  (As our Patient Participation Group - PPG - doesn't seem to be functioning these days - I believe their last Patient-visible document is of the vintage 2023).

Something is definitely strange.  When I attended the first appointment in the Practice with the Social Prescriber person (not my idea either) the appointment wasn't on the automatic check-in system (it happens sometimes).  The system tells you to just let Reception know you had arrived for your appointment.  When I did so, it happened to be the Practice Manager at the desk.  Rather than speak through the speaker in the perspex COVID-19 screen (as would be usual), they looked embarrassed and  came into the waiting room to explain the person would come and collect me from the waiting room (usually the information is put up on the TV screen - your name / who you see / which room number and you just walk down there yourself).  It almost felt like they thought I had now become someone who couldn't hear? (nope, good old "bat ears" is my problem ...I hear EVERYTHING in the Practice and I wasn't wearing ear defenders or headphones etc. so that wasn't a misunderstood visual cue).

Frankly, the whole nonsense is getting really off-putting.  I cannot decide whether they all need some Neurodivergent awareness training, or if they have already attended some and they have completely got the wrong idea.

I can see why you ask that, however, they do indeed have email and text means available (which is why the multiple phone performance is so very puzzling).  In addition, they have sometimes used printed letter by post, or document attachment via online accurx to which I was alerted by text with the link.

Something is more odd than usual, (I have no clue as to what / why) as they have sometimes (recently) even made a referral to something not prior discussed with me (which I really didn't appreciate - as, had that featured in conversation, I would have declined the idea - as it was clearly the least appropriate interface in support of good mental health plus good Neurodivergent health).  Weird.

They even referred me to a physical health clinic at Hospital - without telling me what they expected would happen there (or the duration, or how to prepare - it sounded like you might need to fast - but they weren't sure ...just odd).  When I asked; they first seemed really unsure (which didn't exactly instill confidence), then started frightening me with a great long list of things - several of which I had not heard before (I am generally pretty clued up on medical matters) and to which I had not consented. 

Thankfully, the Hospital Consultant reviewed the referral and then realised (wait for it) the GP had actually selected the incorrect clinic (a long, worrying re-book to a different clinic ensued - least said, soonest mended!).

I think you are correct; an updated letter is a good idea.  The catch is: a) we aren't allowed anymore (all Patients) to hand in letters to our GP these days, b) nor are we (all Patients) allowed to email our GP like we used to do.  It is crackers - you have to use the online triage screen (during office hours) - and it is like trying to communicate via social media post style character limit. 

Last year, I tried to hand in the completed home monitoring form a Nurse had given me to do ...only to find the Reception personnel really quizzed me as to whether the Nurse was expecting it - and they wouldn't take it from my hand until I quoted (in detail) who / when / why I had attended the appointment with the Nurse (an appointment I might add: which they had initiated - not me).

Maybe I should explore the possibility of trying to get a meeting with the Practice Manager.  (As our Patient Participation Group - PPG - doesn't seem to be functioning these days - I believe their last Patient-visible document is of the vintage 2023).

Something is definitely strange.  When I attended the first appointment in the Practice with the Social Prescriber person (not my idea either) the appointment wasn't on the automatic check-in system (it happens sometimes).  The system tells you to just let Reception know you had arrived for your appointment.  When I did so, it happened to be the Practice Manager at the desk.  Rather than speak through the speaker in the perspex COVID-19 screen (as would be usual), they looked embarrassed and  came into the waiting room to explain the person would come and collect me from the waiting room (usually the information is put up on the TV screen - your name / who you see / which room number and you just walk down there yourself).  It almost felt like they thought I had now become someone who couldn't hear? (nope, good old "bat ears" is my problem ...I hear EVERYTHING in the Practice and I wasn't wearing ear defenders or headphones etc. so that wasn't a misunderstood visual cue).

Frankly, the whole nonsense is getting really off-putting.  I cannot decide whether they all need some Neurodivergent awareness training, or if they have already attended some and they have completely got the wrong idea.