The Medical Thread

[Staines R's]

I think the point being made on this thread is that some GP practices, by the anecdotal evidence on here most of them, have reacted to the pandemic by making it much harder to see a GP face to face, and pretty difficult to get a virtual appointment (I have to phone up at 8:30 on the morning in the dot to get a GP to phone me back at a random time of their choice…..when they have texted me to say they want to discuss my medication). My practice only does phone consultations, no video, I know of other which do Zoom etc, but of course some patients aren’t up to the technology.

There are broader issues like shortage of GPs, the ownership model for primary care practices, and the vast numbers needed to make up for the huge majority who work part time (no problem from where I stand) unlike the chap you highlight.

I’d refer you again to my answer to Col.

And again, I’m not sticking up for GP’s…..I’m just pointing out that society as it is, has to shoulder some responsibility.

Someone will be on here saying they couldn’t get an ambulance next

 

[bobmid]

If you have a child who has SEN, then you can times the frustration 10 fold. These kids are being left behind and will be exploited as cheap, uneducated labour for years to come.

Thought that was the plan all along!

 

[Staines R's]

Thought that was the plan all along!

You could very well be right with that one Bob.

 

[kiwiqpr]

I’d refer you again to my answer to Col.

And again, I’m not sticking up for GP’s…..I’m just pointing out that society as it is, has to shoulder some responsibility.

Someone will be on here saying they couldn’t get an ambulance next

No idea about not but before covid millions of gp appointments were missed by patients
Doesn't help people who do want to turn up
We have to pay to see a gp here
Not sure what happens if you can't be bothered turning up
Stops some of the sniffly nosed time wasters no doubt too

 

[Wherever]

I think like all professions you have good and bad GP’s. In my practice for instance

 

[rangercol]

But then again Col, you’re probably not his/her only patient.
When you have umpteen Doris’s or Berts who also want to see your GP, coupled with an aging population and a society that seems unable to help themselves with even the most minor of ailments…are you really surprised YOU can’t see your GP ?

Around our way, the GP's surgery is like a fortress.
Widely reported that it's virtually impossible to see a GP.

 

[Staines R's]

Around our way, the GP's surgery is like a fortress.
Widely reported that it's virtually impossible to see a GP.

I refer you to my previous reply Col

 

[rangercol]

I think like all professions you have good and bad GP’s. In my practice for instance

With respect, I don't think whether a GP is good at his/her job is what is being pointed out.

It's the fact that it's virtually impossible to see one.

I'll be amazed if we don't see terrible stats surrounding missed serious illnesses in the future.

 

[rangercol]

I refer you to my previous reply Col

Yes and I disagree with it.
There are bound to be some other factors, but the fact remains that I can do just about everything face to face now, except seeing my doctor.
It's a national scandal.

 

[Staines R's]

Yes and I disagree with it.
There are bound to be some other factors, but the fact remains that I can do just about everything face to face now, except seeing my doctor.
It's a national scandal.

Fair enough….however I stand by my earlier post

 

[bobmid]

Yes and I disagree with it.
There are bound to be some other factors, but the fact remains that I can do just about everything face to face now, except seeing my doctor.
It's a national scandal.

Got to agree with that.

 

[qprbeth]

I love the NHS. I have worked in it for 40 years...but...

Granddaughter 2. ( At the time 8 days old) was vomiting up milk, snuffling and feeding for only a few minutes .
Calls to 111 were passed to GP and then were passed back to A and E.. we were seen in a car park...who said it was viral ( should add we had all done PCRs..and were Covid19 negative)

A day later a health visitor was so worried they were in an over night paediatric ward.. and loads of tests were done.. so far so good ...but I have never been so scared in my life.


We as a whole family..with two kids under 2...and two Covid infections and ongoing diabetic and eye problems and obstetric problems have not seen a GP in 3 years...and not for want of trying.

The NHS has been wonderful..I am sad to say the local GP service...not so.

 

[Staines R's]

I love the NHS. I have worked in it for 40 years...but...

Granddaughter 2. ( At the time 8 days old) was vomiting up milk, snuffling and feeding for only a few minutes .
Calls to 111 were passed to GP and then were passed back to A and E.. we were seen in a car park...who said it was viral ( should add we had all done PCRs..and were Covid19 negative)

A day later a health visitor was so worried they were in an over night paediatric ward.. and loads of tests were done.. so far so good ...but I have never been so scared in my life.


We as a whole family..with two kids under 2...and two Covid infections and ongoing diabetic and eye problems and obstetric problems have not seen a GP in 3 years...and not for want of trying.

The NHS has been wonderful..I am sad to say the local GP service...not so.

Were you sent an ambulance or told to make your own way to A & E ?

Seems in granddaughters case the system worked as well as can be expected

 

[Wherever]

Yes and I disagree with it.
There are bound to be some other factors, but the fact remains that I can do just about everything face to face now, except seeing my doctor.
It's a national scandal.

I have no complaints about my central london (Crouch End) practise apart from the one rude South African that used to work there. I think they are doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances.

 

[rangercol]

I have no complaints about my central london (Crouch End) practise apart from the one rude South African that used to work there. I think they are doing an exceptionally good job given the circumstances.

Are GP appointments running as they did pre covid?

 

[Staines R's]

Are GP appointments running as they did pre covid?

Mine are…..but that doesn’t fit the popular narrative on here it seems.

 

[Steelmonkey]

Mine are…..but that doesn’t fit the popular narrative on here it seems.

You're the lucky one then. Even when my wife was really ill, the GP never saw her face-to-face. All bloods taken were done by the nurses at the practice. Same with me when I was ill, everything was done over the.phone, and if you didn't ring at 8am on the dot, you'd not even get as far as them calling you back as all available "appointments" were taken.

I know of at least two people who have died of cancer which may have been caught early enough had a GP seen them when they called in.

The NHS has been run on a shoestring for years, and now is being brutally exposed due to the underfunding by successive governments. It is top heavy with beaurocrats, all more concerned with penny pinching and reaching unobtainable targets than patient welfare. It's not the nurses, doctors, paramedics and orderlies who are at blame for this crisis, but the GPs aren't doing their cause any good by refusing to see their patients in person.

 

[rangercol]

You're the lucky one then. Even when my wife was really ill, the GP never saw her face-to-face. All bloods taken were done by the nurses at the practice. Same with me when I was ill, everything was done over the.phone, and if you didn't ring at 8am on the dot, you'd not even get as far as them calling you back as all available "appointments" were taken.

I know of at least two people who have died of cancer which may have been caught early enough had a GP seen them when they called in.

The NHS has been run on a shoestring for years, and now is being brutally exposed due to the underfunding by successive governments. It is top heavy with beaurocrats, all more concerned with penny pinching and reaching unobtainable targets than patient welfare. It's not the nurses, doctors, paramedics and orderlies who are at blame for this crisis, but the GPs aren't doing their cause any good by refusing to see their patients in person.

That's an absolutely superb post.

 

[rangercol]

Mine are…..but that doesn’t fit the popular narrative on here it seems.

Not just on here.
Yours is the first GP service I've heard about that are operating exactly as they did pre covid.

 

[Staines R's]

You're the lucky one then. Even when my wife was really ill, the GP never saw her face-to-face. All bloods taken were done by the nurses at the practice. Same with me when I was ill, everything was done over the.phone, and if you didn't ring at 8am on the dot, you'd not even get as far as them calling you back as all available "appointments" were taken.

I know of at least two people who have died of cancer which may have been caught early enough had a GP seen them when they called in.

The NHS has been run on a shoestring for years, and now is being brutally exposed due to the underfunding by successive governments. It is top heavy with beaurocrats, all more concerned with penny pinching and reaching unobtainable targets than patient welfare. It's not the nurses, doctors, paramedics and orderlies who are at blame for this crisis, but the GPs aren't doing their cause any good by refusing to see their patients in person.

Mate, and I mean mate, don’t get me wrong the system ain’t perfect and never will be but it’s always been the same with getting an appointment….ringing on the dot and hoping to get in the queue to speak to a stroppy receptionist who wants to know what’s wrong with you first before begrudgingly getting you in.
And why wouldn’t the practice nurse be able to take bloods ? Surely that’s part of her remit. I’ve seen the practice nurse on numerous occasions, BP, blood tests etc…isn’t that what they are there for…to take the load off a GP ?
The old days are gone from when we were kids…when the GP knew you and your family by name and would ask how you were getting on at the new job you started 5 years beforehand when you told him about it.

As I emphasised before, I’m not sticking up for all GP’s and saying what wonderful services they all give…….however I’m just pointing out that the Daily Mail narrative of “all GPs are lazy ****s who won’t meet you face to face” is also not correct.