GP surgery's are a complete joke

I work for the NHS. Some staff take the piss on their phones and on the net. It’s the management. Like tarn! *****

 

This. People forget that GPs are their own private entity with an NHS badge above the door. The way they have used covid to basically operate an online/video service is shocking, particularly for older people and people with mental health issues who desperately need and value that face to face interaction. Personally I had a video call last year for a potential elbow break. Was told to go to south Bristol hospital. So off I drove with my broken arm (hadn't been confirmed as broken at that stage). Waited in the 'second waiting room' which was essentially the outside space; it was blowing a gale and raining, and old people were sat about waiting for hours. There was hardly anyone inside the actual waiting area ('covid rules', what a joke). And when I got in, the old school nurse who happened to be northern )) told me that the GP had basically fobbed me off and could have diagnosed it in a face to face 5 minute consultation, instead of having to drive with a broken arm and wait 5 hours in the rain. Fortunately I am still young and it was a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things, but I really feel for people that struggle and are being made to jump through unnecessary added hurdles just because GPs up and down the country have decided to work from home

 

Victoria Medical Centre are the same, about 4 months ago I hurt my finger at work not constantly in pain but when the pain came f8ck me did I know about it, I couldn’t get in touch with the GP so ended up at A&E where a A&E GP saw me. I was basically made out to be wasting time and told to go to my GP. The day after I rang my GP and finally got through after a hour of ringing I was then on hold over 5 minutes before the receptionist answered and offered me a appointment at 9:30 that morning, when I explained I was at work and would like a later appointment I was told to ring back after lunchtime as they can’t make afternoon appointments in the morning. I never actually got to see my GP or anyone at the surgery.

 

It's almost like the system is designed so that you can't get to see them. Meanwhile, I bet their salaries haven't been made more difficult to access.

 

You would think they would be ramping up appointments seen as the get £155 per appointment!

 

My wife and kids were there, finally last year I told my wife I’m moving them to the practice I’m registered with, Asheville medical at kendray. Within a few weeks both girls were checked over by a nurse and enrolled on there system, you’ve more chance of speaking to Putin than a doctor at Huddersfield road

 

I’m married to a GP. I am pleased to confirm that she just chills out at home all day kicking back counting her money. She answers the odd call by video when she can be arsed. Just the easy stuff though.

I am of course being sarcastic. I can’t begin to tell posters above how wrong they are when they intimate that GPS are lazy and so on. It’s a very tough job (many decisions made, if wrong, could be fatal and they are over capacity - demonstrated by difficult if getting through to them) made even tougher by chronic (and I mean chronic) underfunding of the government. There’s also a massive education piece in terms of some of the general public abusing / misusing the service.

I appreciate some frustrations above, but you’re aiming your vitriol at the wrong people.

 

I wouldn't insinuate that GPs are lazy, but what I would say is that many have used covid as a reason to take everyday services online, when some people (a lot of them!) desperately need face-to-face consultation, and not on a screen. Particularly when it comes to mental health. I would be intrigued to know the percentage of GPs that are currently working from home and how many appointments are held online. Some appointments don't require face-to-face of course and some people are a drain on the system in this respect. But for others, I would argue that that fatality you talk about potentially extends to people who are being denied an in-person service through things like misdiagnosis and mental health sufferers who aren't getting the care and attention they deserve. The system in it's current form is broken, and GPs have a hand in that.

 

When you say they have a hand in that, what do you mean?

The problem regarding mental health issues arises from lack of govt funding in the wider community.

Also - ‘People forget that GPs are their own private entity with an NHS badge above the door’

This is misleading - they essentially are funded by govt - so hands are tied to bring in more GPS/ nurse practitioners / physicians assistants etc , which would alleviate many issues regarding capacity if govt was more generous

 

Online consultations allowed an extra 1m GP appointments over the last year than would be possible with face-to-face. A lot depends on the practice (and practices are now private businesses that contract to the NHS), but ours would offer a same day phone appointment and then make a GP appointment if required.

 

What exacerbates the funding gaps are outsourcing to private companies. My GP was taken on by a private company about a decade ago and went from being a good solid and ideally placed GP practice (though I rarely used it) to one that automated as many services as it could while losing/getting rid of their actual GP's going from 7 to 1 (an ever changing locum).

The provider has again changed in the last few years and this one is a lot better, but it still is light on skilled GP's and far too reliant on practice nurses.

 

Forget doctors what about the bloody chemists? Have been in the pharmacy in a massive queue,watching four people at desks not serving anybody. Can't work out what they are doing that's more important than serving customers.

 

That's all well and good and I haven't accused GPS of being lazy at all. The system itself is totally insane though.
Releasing all appointments at 8am on morning so everyone can have a mad scramble to get a appointment.
I work 6-2, luckily I have a work phone and can take calls. Most our employees aren't allowed a phone on them at work and as such simply can't make appointment to speak to a GP.

 

By 'having a hand in it' I mean that they are signing up to taking things online so they are part of the problem.

And on the NHS badge above the door, in my opinion 'many' GPs hide behind the NHS and get a pass because a lot of people don't realise they are privatised and work within their own budgets etc. That's why you get some good GPs and some bad (they individually decide what to do with their money) and I have experienced both within a 3 mile radius. To clarify, there are plenty of good GPs, but the system and the allowing of this online charade to continue is damaging many people, particularly those with mental health issues, and I speak from experience.

 

The numbers look good but you have to look at the quality of service and the longer term outcomes. Certain situations call for face to face appointments regardless of age etc, and over prescribing over the phone/video is a common issue.

 

Very similar story with ours.

 

That sounds very good but the actual experience for many is nothing like that.
A potential Scenario
I'd like to make a appointment to speak to a GP, unfortunately you have to call at 8am to make the appointment for that day, this call can take up a hour to get through. Unfortunately I'm working at that time and can't make that call.
No problem get someone to call on your behalf. Excellent, when will they call back? Can it be a slot after I have finished work? Unfortunately not, it could be anytime and they will only call once if you miss the call you'll have to start again tomorrow.
That's not good, we'll it's important so I'll bite the bullet and take a day's leave from work, after all its my health. Unfortunately all the appointments have gone for today try again tomorrow.
Work won't keep giving me leave at short notice and I can't go off sick as SSP isn't enough I already can't afford my Energy bills. I'll just leave it I'm sure I'll be OK, it's not important to potentially catch medical problems as early as possible.....

Personally i will not defend this type of service and I don't belive its either acceptable or something we should strive for.

 

Seems like the government are running the nhs further into a bigger mess , hoping that more of the public pay to go private .

 

But they’re making a clinical decision to have the appointment online / over the phone aren’t they.

it’s a matter of pure maths and unfortunately whilst they would ideally see each patient for a 15 minute appointment face to face…they can’t. They do not have the capacity - the reason why that is so is because there are not enough staff and the reason for that is because they aren’t given enough funding.

they are overrun….and I speak from experience

 

Exactly that. And how can you make a snap 'clinical decision' to have an appointment with someone who is struggling immensely over the phone, when that person clearly needs to be seen in person? I'm not having a dig at you personally, or your wife's profession, as there are a lot of GPs who do care and the reason they get into it in the first place is to help others, but at present I do believe the system needs fixing, along with the many, many people affected by recent times who haven't been afforded a personal appointment that offers a greater chance of genuine care and resolution.

I would also sack the rude, obnoxious and, in some cases, downright disgusting receptionists who (wo)man the desks every morning. Not ALL of them, but the blatant ones who everyone knows about but nobody dares to do anything about.