Doctors and how they come across

When I was young our GP came out on house visits, sat on the end of the bed, had a cup of tea and chatted to my mother. He also had a garden party for his patients. Now I know the paramedic at the surgery better than anyone else. He is an interesting character and always goes for the worst case scenario first which can be a bit alarming, I wonder if it is his training. Before Covid we always saw one of two GPs on request.

if I request an appointment with a female doctor it is at least two weeks wait.... the one I saw last looked like a schoolgirl! she was very good though but being an old lady I would like a middleaged lady if it's my nether 'regions'

I had a major operation in 2002 which alters my health procedures.

Because medics don't read all my notes from years ago they are unaware of all my needs. I now have multiple copies of the situation vis a vis the operation in 2002 for handing out to relevant personnel such as the ward sister and my dedicated nurse when I am admitted to hospital.

I discussed this communications problem with a GP and she endorsed this is what I should do.

Stand outside in a long queue at 8:15 to even get a phone call, then be assigned to any one of the nurses, if you complain you get a doctor, any one who happens to be there on the day.

You can book online if you want to wait for 1-3 weeks and go online about midnight. Then they may cancel or move this without letting you know.

If you get past all of this, they are mostly great and caring, but often not had time to read your history.

All these innovations never seem to be for the benefit of the patient, do they.

Our GP surgery have done a complete turnaround lately……..appointments are relatively easy to get and waiting times are agreeable.

I do find that it is important for the patient to talk to the GP as in, ‘good morning/aftrnoon’ , ‘how are you DR?’ Not difficult to strike up a conversation.

Astitchintime

Our GP surgery have done a complete turnaround lately……..appointments are relatively easy to get and waiting times are agreeable.

I do find that it is important for the patient to talk to the GP as in, ‘good morning/aftrnoon’ , ‘how are you DR?’ Not difficult to strike up a conversation.

I much prefer the online e- consult form rather than hanging on the phone for ages with ‘you are number x in the queue’.

I'm 'm not sure whether some if the problems described above are due to innovations, but rather, shortage of GP's in your area, or particular practice. Quite simply, mine has enough GP's and nurses, and it's very well managed.

Yes, by and large the 20 mins one used to get have gone except for the greatest need. One has to be a lot more on the ball and concise and self aware to get the best out of it, and generally not expect the level of "kind bedside manner" there used to be, which is sad, but a reality.

The town centre GP practice I go to is so different from the way it was when we came to this town 46 years ago.
Most of the doctors now work part-time and as an elderly patient who is having to use the NHS services more, I feel like a unit to be dealt with rather than a person. No-one engages with my life as I want to lead it, they just want me out of the door with a prescription for another medicine.

When my DH died twenty one years ago, our family doctor who knew the family well, sent me a lovely hand written cards saying his sorry he was and how much he admired my husband.

Sadly retired now and the doctors and surgery were never the same after he left,

My local practice used to be so good until the retirement of the senior GP and now it's pretty dire. All GP's are part time, the only appts ever available are with trainee GP's who are at the surgery for a few months as part of their training. No appts ever advertised with the resident GP's.
Last year sometime all patients were allocated a named GP who is supposed to have overall care of them. We had texts telling us who this doc is but it was emphasised that this didn't mean we could always see this person or that they would treat us so no idea what the heck the point of the exercise was, probably just a tick the box exercise with no benefit whatsoever to the patients.

I had lots of blood tests on 5he 10th February and no one has sent a letter with my results, do they let you die if you have no computer or phone

In the practice I attend very infrequently GPs use Mayo Clinic site. If I think I have an issue I just check the issue myself. If nothing fits, I'd seek a GP appointment for probably 3 weeks' time.

My GP Practice has 25,000 patients..
I have been with them for nearly 40 years.

I found the two older Doctors,now left or retired. to be rude and arrogant and just in medicine to advance their careers in Primary Care.

I am still sorting out two medical conditions that were misdiagnosed or ignored by them over twenty years ago

They were rude and arrogant and patients were just treated as research fodder to advance their careers in medicine, medical education and Primary Care.

The female Doctor was very well in with being a Consultant to NICE and post COVID Research. She also received an OBE a couple of years ago.

The other is now a Regional Director of a National well known medical organisation.

Another other Senior Doctor did not send off several.referal.letters and it has taken me over two years to sort out this oversight and get appointments.

My medical Practice now has a lot of female Salaried GP's who are much better than the old brigade. More caring and down to earth and not full of themselves.

That is.my experience

Sometimes our doctors we see are good on other times do not really want to bother with a patient! Have a problem tied to something I am being treated for so when I filled in the 3 forms we now have to finally got a text saying doctor thinks I need a routine appointment! What is that as filling in yet another online form I can have an appointment next week at 8am or one in 3 weeks at 9.30. So had to take that. Other appointments available all very early which is difficult for me as meds have to be taken hour apart then wait till they work. So would be up about 4-5 am to be ready for the walk to the surgery! Wish I was a child again with our doctor who was like part of the family. Good old days for sure!

My doctor who looked after me with my third pregnancy was very famous, allegedly killed his wife, probably did, but when he was sober, morning appointments, was brilliant doctor, he really cared, in safe gynae hands, was exceptionally good when I had post natal depression, the drs I have to see now, seem not to care one iota!!

Our surgeries ( we have four in the practice) have really good listening GPs plus great senior practitioner nurses!
Yesterday I saw a GP at 8.00, by 4.30 I had had an X-ray of my pelvis plus blood tests are being done on Friday !NHS at its absolute best !

I remember in 1980 when applying to adopt our son we got an appointment at 18.30. for our medicals. When we arrived we were invited into his house (attached to the surgery) offered drinks and had a talk! Yes we passed the medical! What relaxed happy days.

We have too few GPs now and a rapidly growing population, in the main fuelled by uncontrolled immigration.
Then there is the fact that both male and female GPs only seem to want to work part time these days.
A sorry situation.

I’ve given up on our hopeless surgery and will never go there again.
They send a stream of letters wanting to check things they have targets for, irrelevant to me, but do not want to actually see patients. Their reputation locally is abysmal.
Why don’t I change surgeries? There’s only one and we cannot register with the excellent village surgeries nearby.

Can't you say your relationship with your existing surgery has irreparably broken down (if it has).

We changed surgeries that way.
We have not regretted it.

JenniferEccles

We have too few GPs now and a rapidly growing population, in the main fuelled by uncontrolled immigration.
Then there is the fact that both male and female GPs only seem to want to work part time these days.
A sorry situation.

The problems with GPS are not fuelled in the main by uncontrolled immigration. Firstly. immigration isn't uncontrolled. Secondly, there are are other factors such as an ageing population, which are driving demand for GP appointments.

This is the kind of throwaway comment which becomes normalised and accepted as true - and actually prevents a critical look at the real causes of problems.

A lot depends on where you live. Posters post about their own experience so it likely that JenniferEccles is quite right about her area.

twaddle

JenniferEccles

We have too few GPs now and a rapidly growing population, in the main fuelled by uncontrolled immigration.
Then there is the fact that both male and female GPs only seem to want to work part time these days.
A sorry situation.

The problems with GPS are not fuelled in the main by uncontrolled immigration. Firstly. immigration isn't uncontrolled. Secondly, there are are other factors such as an ageing population, which are driving demand for GP appointments.

This is the kind of throwaway comment which becomes normalised and accepted as true - and actually prevents a critical look at the real causes of problems.

You are quite right, immigration is uncontrolled and is leading to a breakdown in services of all kinds. I recommend reading Suicide of a Nation by Matt Goodwin. Take no notice of the lefties!

The surgery I’m with is four miles away and serves quite a few villages. It is a well-loved practice and I’ve had the same GP for 33 years, he is a gem and I’m very lucky.

I’ve had the same independent vets for 34 years and feel equally blessed to have them, the original two partners are 70 this year, as I am, and I dread their eventual departure.