How Can They Not Have Heard Of Calpol?

[douglas9401]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-57583733

Whiny happy people getting let loose again it seems, using up resources instead of common sense.

[jno]

Calpol? Whatever happend to good old gin?

[New Judge]

//To be replaced with what?//

A system where the patient goes to a health website, clicks on "guts/legs/back/eyes/ears/throat/etc." as appropriate and can make arrangements to see a clinician who knows what he or she is talking about and who can help with the ailment. Instead they have to negotiate a so-called "primary care" system which is nothing of the sort. All it does is delays a consultation with somebody who can help them.

Yes, I've simplified it. But a more sophisticated version of the NHS online version of the 111 service should do the job to get most people to the right place.

I don't think I have ever been particularly helped by my GP. "Take these pain killers and if you're not better or dead in three weeks make another appointment" are my usual recollections. Anything I've suffered from which needed further attention was dealt with elsewhere. A GP practice is simply a "clearing house" designed to keep patients away from doctors.

GPs should be careful what they wish for. In keeping themselves locked away from their patients, a competent government would look at whether the service was really necessary. They could come to the same conclusion as me - that it is a very expensive anachronism that has outlived its usefulness and bang goes their £100k pa stipends. All we're short of is a competent government.

[calmck]

Portugal health service you register at the local health centre and are assigned a family doctor. Children automatically referred to vaccination centre for all childhood jabs

[New Judge]

//NJ, they are not allowed to turn anyone away from A&E. They can only triage you last.//

In my local A&E, pixie, (the one I took the guidance from) if you are triaged as not dying (or similar) you are not permitted to wait. You are told to ring 111 and they make an appointment for you if their "triage" system determines that you need it. Whether they are "allowed" to turn you away or not makes no difference because that's what they do. I have spoken to two people who have endured exactly that. Both returned to their cars and made calls to 111. One had an appointment made for him for an hour later; the other did not. She was told by 111 to consult her (that is my) GP (who had refused to see her and told her earlier that day to attend A&E). She returned home and became so ill two days later that she had to be collected by ambulance. I know this because I called the ambulance for her. These are not fantasies, they are things that have happened to my acquaintances.

[lankeela]

Same with chemists - I've been collecting a prescription for a friend with dementia over the past year and the queue at the chemist is full of people collecting loads of stuff and not all old people - some middle aged and younger people particularly women who have three or four items and moan about the wait - I can't remember the last time I had anything on prescription. Most of them have got half their teeth missing and stand outside smoking like a chimney.