Gps Patient's And Covid-19

[Thisoldbird]

Does anyone wonder how long, if ever, it will be before patients can see a GP again

I know several poorly people who desperately heed the help of a GP.
I would like to take my 87 ye old husband for some advice too.

Our surgery are pretty good for telephone appointments but many times a patient would be better treated to be seen face to face.

I have a very sick terminally Ill friend who is feeling very abandoned by his GP who keeps changing medication to alleviate a problem..

I'm beginning to think some are quite happy with things the way they are regarding day to day work.
Anyone else feel the same?

[ummmm]

Similar, Sanmac. My GP phoned me to ask how I was getting on with the new drugs he'd prescribed. That wouldn't have happened previously.

Teacake - I don't think the receptionist is doing the triage.

[sanmac]

I forgot to add that he asked me both times if I would like a face-to-face visit, which I didn't.

[sanmac]

Ummmm, I guess it all comes down to where you live and which GP you choose.

[Milo2]

My surgery operates a system where you ring the surgery and the GP then rings back to assess whether a face to face appointment is necessary. I had a problem that required an examination and so was offered a same day appointment. I haven’t needed to contact the surgery during the crisis but according to a neighbour the same system is still running. From a personal point of view it works well.

[teacake44]

23.01 ummmm, I don't think teacake said that?

[Vagus]

Last week I was seen in person at my gp surgery, the dentist, and the hospital. All of those visits were necessary and couldn’t have been done over the phone and there was absolutely no problem arranging the appointments.
Where possible I much prefer telephone consultations, but when face to face is needed I haven’t had any problems.
Also, a family member has this morning had a scan on their aorta as part of a screening programme for men 65 and over.

[jourdain2]

The occasional phone-call with a Dr. is fine as long as it nothing very serious - or to sort out if it is worth bothering the surgery about. But it is no substitute for face to face. Forget this video stuff - it's just an enhanced 'make you feel better' phone call. Nothing can substitute for personal interaction.

We're facing a struggle because our GP (specially responsible for the over 70s and very, very good, understanding complex balancing acts for OH's drugs etc.) has left. So there'll be someone new - who doesn't know us. The last chap was Dutch and we often spoke French during consultations - he was happy in that language, preferred it to English. Somewhat forboding prospect.

[jourdain2]

^^^ sorry - for 'forboding' please substitute forbidding.

[New Judge]

//How do you know this, NJ? Have you been a patient at all the surgeries?//

No. But I have friends, neighbours and acquaintances that I speak to who are patients of most of them. They all tell similar tales.

[teacake44]

It must well be a problem all over the UK, or it would not have been discussed in depth like it was last week on a TV program. I can't just now think of.

[New Judge]

It is a problem all over the UK, especially in most of the larger towns and cities where I have contacts. Perhaps those living in more isolated locations have a "Dr Finlay" on call who will get out of bed at 3am to remove a splinter from their finger (followed by a "wee dram", of course). The idea that somebody would come to my house to take a blood sample is the stuff of fiction. I can't even get a sample taken at my GP's surgery (in normal times, that is - at the moment the premises are completely closed to the paying public). That's despite it employing seven or eight doctors, four or five practice nurses and sundry "support" staff. No, it's two buses for me if I'm to have that (or just about anything else) done.

[teacake44]

Yet another volcano rumbling away ready to explode any time, and will land on the steps of A&Es.

[Purist]

hah I can't even get a phone appointment at the moment, been trying since Friday!

[dannyk13]

Sorry to hear about your terminally ill friend. The GP's at my surgery will home visit if a telephone consult is not adequate for the patient's situation.