What do G.Ps actually presently do ?

Borobarmy

Borobarmy

Well-known member
Don’t get me wrong as the Front Line doctors have been a Godsend during this pandemic and richly like the rest of the NHS deserve their pay rise. However what the hell are GPS currently doing ? My mam been attempting to see one for 6 months Now and is 84 . I phoned the surgery and enquired and was told they don’t actually occupy the clinic during the day after coming in for an hour ( to sign prescriptions) and then tittle off . They don’t do home visits but can possibly do an online consultation ( she’s 88 , deaf and blind ) .
I’m assuming they’re been kept at arms length in case things worsen , which seems to be the position were in . So can we please get our best silverware out and use it practically . I’m certainly not aiming criticism at them personally as they do as directed , but what the hell is going on ?
 
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Very similar to our GP surgery. You can see a 'health practitioner' at any time but getting to see a GP is not easy at all unless you're then referred by the HP. The GP will then refer you to a consultant.

The time for a prescription has gone from same day if ordered in the morning to 72 hours notice. Prescription requests are no longer taken over the phone.

My practice has gone from 2 GPs to 4 GPs while these changes have been going on,, the population in the town remains similar to what it was in the 60s.
 
I’ve needed to ‘see’ mine twice this year, both time got a phone consultation first thing next day. One of them was a repeat infection, so I knew what I needed, he just asked me to email in a photo to confirm and then he issued the prescription. Have to say overall the service was better than ever and I liked not having to go in.

Not so easy if you’re deaf and blind mind.
 
Thanks for reply . So it may be just my mams surgery then so good to know it perhaps isn’t the norm . I shall go to my plan B
 
Ingleby_Flash said:
I’ve needed to ‘see’ mine twice this year, both time got a phone consultation first thing next day. One of them was a repeat infection, so I knew what I needed, he just asked me to email in a photo to confirm and then he issued the prescription. Have to say overall the service was better than ever and I liked not having to go in.

Not so easy if you’re deaf and blind mind.
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Or don't do e-mail or scanning photos. Or like a lot of the guys in my pub(remember them) have phones that were smart when the Abacus was king.
 
Borobarmy said:
Thanks for reply . So it may be just my mams surgery then so good to know it perhaps isn’t the norm . I shall go to my plan B
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Need to shift GPs if you're not happy. All surgeries should offer appointments as always- but they may be undertaken in different ways. If they are providing a crap service you need to leave them.

We have had contact with ours multiple times over the pandemic and telephone consultation/ video call has been within the week.

I work closely with a lot of GPs and they are still doing home visits but minimising all face to face contact where possible- same as much of the NHS. The GP roles are shifting to nurse practitioners for most ailments, along with advanced pharmacists, physios and paramedics supporting GP workloads.
 
The receptionist ( who thinks she’s Dr No ) asked why I couldn’t provide iPad or iplayer images to which I responded what if they would be of a personal nature . Not in this case but what about language factor ? So are they ‘working‘ from home for these ‘consultations’ ?
edit . I think I’ll circumnavigate the receptionist . Thanks for responses
 
Borobarmy said:
Don’t get me wrong as the Front Line doctors have been a Godsend during this pandemic and richly like the rest of the NHS deserve their pay rise. However what the hell are GPS currently doing ? My mam been attempting to see one for 6 months Now and is 84 . I phoned the surgery and enquired and was told they don’t actually occupy the clinic during the day after coming in for an hour ( to sign prescriptions) and then tittle off . They don’t do home visits but can possibly do an online consultation ( she’s 88 , deaf and blind ) .
I’m assuming they’re been kept at arms length in case things worsen , which seems to be the position were in . So can we please get our best silverware out and use it practically . I’m certainly not aiming criticism at them personally as they do as directed , but what the hell is going on ?
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A GP friend is still seeing patients face to face, when she believes it's necessary. About 3-4 a day, but clearly much less than last March.
 
Both, there are people in practices and doing remote consultations. It's also beneficial for business continuity if a positive case occurs in the GP practice, the staff at home can continue to work/ do the necessary face to face activity.

There is a lot of pressure to provide the same service under more difficult pressures and using technology which isnt easy. However if you/ your family need GP advice/ support or an appointment provision should be made. If it's not I would go straight to their complaints- usually on the website online. Or alternatively find a better GP surgery (I appreciate geography usually impacts more than quality in this decision often)
 
I needed to speak to my GP about a couple of things on a blood test I do privately each year, I rang for an appointment and they gave me a phone consultation the next day.

Repeat prescriptions I just do about a week before i need them via the Boots website who contact the GP for authorisation.
 
So the GPs are cutting down face to face appointments but you can get in to see health practitioners?

Doesn't make sense.

I've done the email a photo in lark too, when I asked why I hadn't had any feedback a couple of weeks later I was told the doctor was on the sick. So why wasn't it picked up by one of the other GPs?
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
So the GPs are cutting down face to face appointments but you can get in to see health practitioners?

Doesn't make sense.

I've done the email a photo in lark too, when I asked why I hadn't had any feedback a couple of weeks later I was told the doctor was on the sick. So why wasn't it picked up by one of the other GPs?
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That’s what perplexed me , most other face to face employees are expected to carry on engaging public like you point out re health Practitioners . Hence are they being kept at distance to inhibit risk ?
 
Our surgery is now making it very difficult to actually see anyone.
It is markedly different.
Not at all good for old people or anyone with needs.
Phone consultations are really unhelpful.
 
If GPs are 100% refusing to see patients I think it is wrong. OK it should be when patients need to be visually seen.

I spoke to 2 GPs earlier this week on the phone and went in with a urine sample and had a blood sample taken with a nurse at the practice. I took my own blood sample to the hospital which is not far from the practice. The practice now serves about 70,000 people and I saw 3 patients there and about 10 staff in view. It was eerily quiet. One GP forgot to send a prescription request through to my pharmacy, so I had to chase the medical practice up by phone, but it was sorted out.

I would guess the GPs are trying to minimise contact for the benefit of every body. CoVid is creating so much stress and its 8.5 months now. My elderly and immobile mother had hearing assessment at home in October, the NHS staff will normally come out of you explain the distress that not been seen is having and longer term problems developing and that your mother fully accepts the risks of CV19.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
So the GPs are cutting down face to face appointments but you can get in to see health practitioners?

Doesn't make sense.

I've done the email a photo in lark too, when I asked why I hadn't had any feedback a couple of weeks later I was told the doctor was on the sick. So why wasn't it picked up by one of the other GPs?
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That's the direction that primary care is shifting. Not GPs cutting down on appointments, but other practitioners being employed (cheaper) than GPs to provide additional service e.g Physios to assess instead of GPs (30% of all GP caseload) for example.

Face to face appointments are being limited in all NHS settings where possible. Space in waiting areas and buildings is surprisingly limited so it is not feasible to have even close to the same throughput as previously.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Very similar to our GP surgery. You can see a 'health practitioner' at any time but getting to see a GP is not easy at all unless you're then referred by the HP. The GP will then refer you to a consultant.

The time for a prescription has gone from same day if ordered in the morning to 72 hours notice. Prescription requests are no longer taken over the phone.

My practice has gone from 2 GPs to 4 GPs while these changes have been going on,, the population in the town remains similar to what it was in the 60s.
Click to expand...
Identical here
 
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