G.p.’s

[ludwigvan]

Will the country forgive the G.P.’s for going into hiding when we needed them most?

[bednobs]

I'd be very interested to know how not forgiving it forgetting will manifest David. Will you refuse to see ine even if your leg falls off? Will you see them every week too pee them off? Will you see them but put a grumpy face on?

[Maydup]

Our GPs have actually come out of hiding! They seem to be more effective these days, quicker to respond, phoning with and without prior arrangement. Never known it so good.

I'd like this system to continue and for them not to be bogged down by the long queues at the surgery. Much quicker to have a quick chat on the phone and just see those who they need to see.

[ummmm]

I prefer this system as well.

I'd rather speak on the phone than sit with sick people. My doctors is still open for blood tests etc.

[ludwigvan]

Tora, why do you always ask for a link to something? Can you not accept that someone can have an original idea or thought and that it is not prompted by something they have read?

[smurfchops]

Our GP is fine. He will ring you back and then if needs be he will make an appointment to see him. No problem. Please don’t tar them all with the same brush.

[bednobs]

i guess ttt is asking if you have anything to back up your question's premise. looking at the responses here "the country" have not been experiencing the same problems you apparently have

[woofgang]

theshedman "online consult which in itself takes ages and asks you the same questions over and over."

It took me about 10 minutes and I didn't see much repetition.

[teacake44]

Well all over Shropshire its in tatters, so I back up ludwigan on this one. If you want to see the perfect surgery ( of the past) then it is acted on TV,( GPs behind closed doors) TV stardom seems to be their main income now.

[bednobs]

youve got gp's all over shropshire?
lucky woman :)

[teacake44]

We know their there we see the blinds move when we are standing outside knocking on the door

[Bobbisox1]

Got to agree , you can’t see a GP at our practice has to be a Nurse Practitioner who’ll ask his advice then call you at home

[New Judge]

It doesn't matter if they do or they don't. GPs will still enjoy a salary far in excess of their worth; many more of them will move over to part time working as they realise they can still earn a good crust working two or three days a week (more than 70% of new entrant GPs intend working only part time); they will still carry out their function of preventing patients from seeing someone who knows what they're doing for as long as possible. Why should they worry?

//Many of the GPs around here seem to be working flat out with helping the vaccination programme.//

My GPs' practice has decided it "would not be appropriate" for them to participate in the vaccine rollout (despite having adequate and suitable premises and staff). Their involvement has been restricted to supplying somebody else with a list of patients. Second hand gossip indicates it is something to do with their budget. They had no problem popping round the local care homes administering the jab (for which they were paid £10 a pop).

Patients used to be able to make an appointment online. That facility has now been withdrawn. They now have to complete an online "triage" and somebody will then ring them back. A neighbour had the unfortunate need to use that service for a minor ailment which required referral to hospital (not an emergency). She was told to present herself to A&E.

//My doctors is still open for blood tests etc.//

My surgery (and others locally) have never taken blood samples. Patients have to go to the local hospital (two buses from where I live for those without wheels). They have to get their results by phone (not in person, even pre-Covid) and have only two one hour slots a day to do that. Then, if necessary, they must make an appointment to see a doctor.

As I've mentioned, the only service I've seen from my GP surgery in the last 12 months is when they reluctantly administered the 'flu jab in October. They kindly allowed patients to queue in the car park (in my case in the rain) and ushered them in through the back door and then out through the fire escape, treating them as if they were plague carriers.

[bednobs]

lol what do you class as be "reluctantly" given the flu jab NJ, a nurse with a needle, being held back by 2 receptionists?

[New Judge]

//...lol what do you class as be "reluctantly" given the flu jab NJ,//

The practice announced in about August/September time that it would not be administering the 'flu jab to its patients that Autumn. They were exploring "other options" as the pandemic had made it, in their opinion, unsafe to run mass vaccinations. I believe some patients made representations to our MP and the decision was reversed. That, in my book, is "reluctance."

[New Judge]

^^^
It may also go towards explaining why they believed it "was not appropriate" for them to become involved with the Covid vaccine programme.

[youngmafbog]

One link: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9432871/Why-GPs-refusing-patients-face-face.html

Personally we have had no problems down here, my wife has had a few medical issues and been chatted to on the phone and had multiple face to face. My daughter on the other hand in another part of the country has had problems(she is pregnant, they also would not see her 3 year old son).

[Apc2604]

Mine hasn't. They have been open throughout and I can't praise them enough. Yes, more telephone appointments and less face to face but that has worked well. And same day appointments or at the latest the next day. And they are a vaccine centre as well.

[teacake44]

I've been tossed from pillow to post, from surgery to POD for nearly 2 weeks now just for a stupid 30g tube of cream that I would be more than willing to pay for if I could buy over the counter, but no I can't prescription only. Madness, you spend your life on the phone or filling in forms on the internet. God help people who need drugs to keep them alive never mind a tube of cream, and god help older people who live on their own with no family and have no internet/ can't use, or not great on using the phone. Disgusting situation for some.

[-SharonA-]

My doctors is still closed.
I would have more respect if these gp's were helping out at our local health clinics giving jabs instead of using the army and specially trained up volunteers!!

[Sunk]

MacMillan Cancer:
// Up to 50,000 people in the UK have cancer that has not been diagnosed due to disruption from the Covid-19 pandemic, new research shows.
This figure could double to 100,000 by this time next year if authorities fail to fully restore vital cancer health services — including check-ups, screening and referrals — that have been cancelled or paused as a result of coronavirus. //

That is just one illness, other conditions are not being diagnosed too.

It appears from this thread that there is a bit of a postcode lottery in terms of GP services. Some reporting service as mormal, and others reporting no service at all.