GOING TO THE DOCTORS

But morethan you can also look at your situation from a more pragmatic point of view What if you hadn’t had the scalp problem you would still not know so in a way there just a series of lucky moments for you and thank goodness there was
I think there will always be the missed opportunities in this system as in the old system and your case illustrates it well but that doesn’t make the whole system wrong because of one lucky happening

Just before the lockdown I went to my doctor with a very minor but worsening problem with my scalp. During the examination my doctor noticed a birthmark that she didn’t like the look of . She did an emergency two week referral. I never for a minute thought it was anything serious. It turned out to be a rare cancer. If I’d have contacted the surgery after the lockdown I would probably never been given an appointment about such a minor problem and sent a prescription for just the scalp treatment. Even if I’d had a video appointment I’d have just shown the front of my scalp not the birthmark which is situated at the back. The cancer was successfully removed within a week of lockdown being lifted because the consultant insisted that the cancer was growing. I’m sure that had my doctor not been so prompt in her in referral the condition would have worsened. Distance consultation will end up causing some patients conditions to worsen and may cost others their lives. I worry that Covid will be the excuse to decimate our precious NHS services.

Things are easing up in the surgery, our local was closed until yesterday, you had to go to the nearby surgery which is a bus ride away. Most consultations were via phone, so was surprised to be offered one. I hadn't been there since February, only half a dozen seats well spaced out and one in one out. Excellent!

I use the NHS app to book appointments and check test results, medication etc.
All the GP appointments have been changed to phone calls.
I went to the surgery last week for an annual blood test and it was empty.
The only problem with our surgery is that there is always a queue to get through on the phone.
Our local A&E has a triage/minor injuries/out of hours in front of it so that you are seen by the best person for the job. I believe you need a referral from 111 to go there at present.

So sorry about all the people who needed their treatment and didn't get it. Must have all that worry on top of everything else. But why stop something so important?!

Harrigran, sorry for belated response. Wishing you and your DH all the best and hope the interruption to his treatment hasn't been detrimental.

Sorry to hear that Growing Old.
DH slipped off the radar and lost five months of drug treatment that was keeping him stable. It is extremely worrying that cancer patients are not getting their treatment.

Covid!!! Not vivid.

I saw someone or other on TV last week, saying that cancer now needs to be prioritised as highly as vivid was/ is, because people are missing vital care.

Growing, so sorry to hear that.

Further to my earlier post about my friend being fobbed off with phone /photo contact, and her cancer treatment being ignored, well she went into hospital recently, then was discharged a couple of days ago, sent home to die - prognosis of a fortnight or so left to her. Distance consultions? I think not.

Face to face consultations are a vital part of the diagnosis process in my opinion and for various reasons.

Our GP surgery is like a castle with a moat, you can not get past the door. You have to ring from the car park and someone comes to the door, it is not acceptable, what about the very old and those without faculties to ring ?
I am sorry but when you train as a doctor or nurse you accept the possibility that you will come in contact with nasty diseaeses. Been there, done that and got the certificates to prove it.

I had been in contact with Shingles )2 children aged 3and 6)yes it is rare Wanted to get my husband the Shingles injection (free aged 70)got told NO by GP as Jab in short supply next day phone call by receptionist to give my husband date and time of appointment

No way would I have a video consultation for haemorrhoids. It would also risk doing myself an injury trying to film them.

Our nearest hospital is a large teaching one, and still has an A & E dept to which you can just turn up. The local hospital in the town where I lived until four years ago, stopped the ' turn up ' option, and adopted a referral by GP system.

My Surgery has been using telephone consultations for the last few years, a face to face appointment will be arranged if necessary.

You do not have to tell the Receptionist why you want to speak to a GP but it does help if you can give a brief outline.

I have attended my GP Surgery twice during lockdown, once after a telephone consultation when GP decided he needed to examine me & once for a blood test. Book in at Reception, wait by external door (not sure this will work in wet/cold weather). GP/Nurse etc opens door, checks temperature & lets you in. Must provide your own mask. Surgery operates a one way system. It works very well & an added bonus of being able to park in Surgery car park.

I know it won't suit every-one & I'm sure a good Surgery will make allowances for Patients who find it difficult to use telephone/email/video.

the mind boggles if it had been a gynae problem...

My DD and I both use the same surgery. I recently had a telephone appointment with a doctor about my sinusitis. I have a history of this and so was happy with using the phone as I knew what the problem was. My DD had earache and was also given a telephone appointment. The doctor said he needed to look in her ears and asked her to come to the surgery and ring the bell. He came out in full PPE and examined her ears in the street. The street was busy with shoppers and they were standing next to the queue for the nearby pharmacy. The issue was resolved with a prescription but she found the whole experience uncomfortable and embarrassing.

Lizzypopbottle
Exactly the same thing with my grandma. Only it was us who took her to A&E.
I too have diverticula disease and that situation often springs to mind when I have flare up ?

I'm sure some/most GPs will be conscientious about offering face to face consultations if they are indicated but I will tell you what happened to my mother several years ago. Look away now if you're of a nervous disposition...

She and my dad lived approximately eight miles from their doctors' surgery. She had diverticular disease and had flare ups from time to time. She had the symptoms of an infection and was quite ill, so my dad phoned the surgery. They diagnosed diverticulitis (inflammation i.e. likely infection) over the phone and prescribed antibiotics. These didn't work and she was in some pain. My dad phoned again. They prescribed a different antibiotic. This also didn't work. No GP had seen her. When her abdomen became distended my dad called 999 and an ambulance took her to hospital. Emergency surgery revealed a ruptured bowel and peritonitis. She came through the surgery (five hours and she was lucky) but she came home with a colostomy bag because of the extensive damage to her bowel. She had been too ill to go to the surgery and the GPs reckoned a couple of telephone consultations was enough.

I think my parents should have sued and if GPs want to avoid negligence claims, they may well find they have to do more work rather than less by following up telephone/video consultations with face to face appointments where one face to face appointment would have been sufficient.

I think the triage and phone consultations can work well for many consultations and am sure most surgeries have made good use of this system during the pandemic. So much so that many GPs such as ours, intend to continue with this way of working.

However, I have some reservations about it. Some less articulate, very elderly and vulnerable people, such as those with mental health conditions, may be deterred from seeking timely help and advice.

I am also concerned that some potentially serious conditions may be missed by triage, and wonder if this system will be properly evaluated, or simply readily adopted as a money saver?

Our surgery uses Ask My GP, an email service that also allows photos, files and videos to be sent. There’s an option to direct your enquiry to a named person - one of the doctors, nurses etc. I’ve used it several times and had a reply within an hour. I think it’s brilliant! Best thing since sliced bread, even. The last problem that got sorted was my BP which was on the high side and my legs were going into balloon mode. All sorted by one of the Nurse Practitioners, all I had to do was send pics of my legs taken first thing in the morning When they were almost skinny and pics of them taken a couple of hours later when they’d ballooned, along with BP readings (I’ve a monitor purchased from Lloyds Chemists). The result was new, additional BP tablets and a follow up appointment for a blood test at the surgery.

It's a new system for us here and new things are always unfamiliar aren't they? I don't like the idea as a principle but it has worked well so far for both of us. Photos of a 'thing' on my back were responded to the same day with calm reassurance, it would have been no different face to face. Mr C had a telephone assessment with a GP based in the next town as she was the first available to call, on being assured we could travel he was invited him to attend the next morning for bloods and an examination. If the system continues like this confidence will build and I'll be OK about support via the phone. Anything new takes time for me and yes, I do know we may be lucky with the organisation of our group practice which is huge.

I think all the new systems are good I've tried them all. I can book a telephone consult on line for a time on the day. If the doc thinks you should be seen he will tell you to come in. I have used 111 over a weekend and had a doctor ring me and send a perscription to my local pharmacy. I have had paramedics come by ambulance and take me -or not to hospital. It is sometimes hilarious as I am severely deaf and the phone is a struggle ' but needs must!