Doctors and how they come across

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

Jaxjacky

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’.

Yes, that’s how our surgery system works now…….I should have been more specific.
Those long waits in the call queue were a blessed nuisance, particularly when you’re feeling unwell.

I was signed on to one particular doctor nine years ago and have never once seen him. Face to face appointments are rare here anyway, and it's always with different doctors.
I do feel that, for the first time in my life, I don't have a doctor who knows me. Something that was comforting at GP surgeries has really been lost and it's sad.
Our surgery prefers emails these days, even phone calls are discouraged. I must admit though that emails are well responded to.

We used to have a fairly decent older male doctor plus a rabid nightmare female doctor! Now we have 2 cocky younger doctors but the same vicious, viper of a receptionist, who shouts at little old men if they step over a line, in front of the reception desk!

M0nica

Our first GP was an alcoholic. You only saw him if desperate.

Ours smoked during the consultation.

I'm always startled to get texts from my GP practice. I don't remember ever giving them my mobile phone number.

we had wonderful doctor/s then we moved
I had a skin complaint which needed urgent attention a new young male doctor said he would consult with an nhs dermatologist.
weeks later I received a text!!! beginning…
“dear mrs X - I regret to inform you” I gasped as I thought it would read…nothing can be done.. but it went on to say, the nHS will not
pay for this../ which we had already discussed.
awful message, stressful, unprofessional, cruel

JenniferEccles

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

I assume you are aware that most immigration is regulated and has absolutely nothing to do with porous borders or "boats". In fact, some of those immigrants are the very same people who are treating you in the NHS.

The vast majority of immigration is not uncontrolled.

twaddle

JenniferEccles

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

I assume you are aware that most immigration is regulated and has absolutely nothing to do with porous borders or "boats". In fact, some of those immigrants are the very same people who are treating you in the NHS.

The vast majority of immigration is not uncontrolled.

‘The British worker is now forced to fund an entirely new demographic bargain: a shrinking productive majority of native born workers having to pay the bills for an expanding population of dependants, many if whom only recently arrived in the country. This is not a sustainable foundation for any nation and certainly not for one that is already in decline’ quote from Suicide of a Nation.

Its bordering on paranoia, in my opinion, to hold those bigoted points of views.

In a 4 day stay in hospital in January, gasping for oxygen, I was nothing but grateful for the many backgrounds of the people who helped me. I live in a city where 10.3% of the population have diverse backgrounds.

You know very well that around 94% of incomers are here legally and many for essential jobs, as we have an aging population and not enough trained doctors and nurses.

I know I'm speaking sharply, but I'm also bearing in mind the comments of a lovely male ambulance driver on TV on the night shift, saddened by the number of very elderly people living lonely and alone. (West African family origin)

It wouldn't happen in his culture.

One of our big problems is that people moan about the levels of staffing in our key social supporters, but unlike countries like the Netherlands, won't pay the level of taxes for the level of support they want and need.

Wyllow3

Its bordering on paranoia, in my opinion, to hold those bigoted points of views.

In a 4 day stay in hospital in January, gasping for oxygen, I was nothing but grateful for the many backgrounds of the people who helped me. I live in a city where 10.3% of the population have diverse backgrounds.

You know very well that around 94% of incomers are here legally and many for essential jobs, as we have an aging population and not enough trained doctors and nurses.

I know I'm speaking sharply, but I'm also bearing in mind the comments of a lovely male ambulance driver on TV on the night shift, saddened by the number of very elderly people living lonely and alone. (West African family origin)

It wouldn't happen in his culture.

One of our big problems is that people moan about the levels of staffing in our key social supporters, but unlike countries like the Netherlands, won't pay the level of taxes for the level of support they want and need.

The fashionable claim that the Boriswave of immigration was needed to ‘save our NHS’ was always misleading. Of the 43 million visas that were handed out during this time, only about one in forty went to doctors or nurses.

But the bigger picture is even more troubling. For decades Britain’s politicians have preferred to import foreign doctors rather than train young British people. Such is their addiction to this that in 2025 it was revealed the country has twice as many foreign doctors and nurses as the Western average with foreign trained doctors making up nearly 42% of the medical workforce, compared to only 15% in Germany and 11% in France.
In 2024 Britain produced just over 9,000 trained doctors yet registered nearly 20,000 from overseas, including roughly 17,000 from poorer nations such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Bangladesh, countries whose own health standards are lower. In 2025 the Times reported that many doctors who had been banned from practising overseas were still approved to treat British patients.
Poorer countries lose their desperately needed clinicians.’

I agree we should train more doctors now UK citizens whatever their family origins and I agree those doctors are needed in the countries of origin.

However, that wasn't your complaint. Your complaint was we were swamped by immigrants.

Exactly! You are deflecting, Meandrogrog. You are probably correct, but that's not the point. It was claimed that immigration was/is "uncontrolled" and of course "boats" were mentioned. The so-called Boriswave might have been a mistake, but it wasn't uncontrolled, nor did the majority arrive on boats.

In any case, immigration isn't the only (or even the main) reason the NHS is in trouble. The main reason is that the population is ageing. Life expectancy has increased, but healthy living hasn't. More people are now surviving conditions such as cancer, but need extra funding. Some treatments are eye-wateringly expensive, but we have come to expect them.

Newly-arrived immigrants (the ones claimed to be the cause of NHS woes) are actually younger and fitter than the average citizen, so actually cost the NHS very little.

Meandrogrog

twaddle

JenniferEccles

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

I assume you are aware that most immigration is regulated and has absolutely nothing to do with porous borders or "boats". In fact, some of those immigrants are the very same people who are treating you in the NHS.

The vast majority of immigration is not uncontrolled.

‘The British worker is now forced to fund an entirely new demographic bargain: a shrinking productive majority of native born workers having to pay the bills for an expanding population of dependants, many if whom only recently arrived in the country. This is not a sustainable foundation for any nation and certainly not for one that is already in decline’ quote from Suicide of a Nation.

If that quote is typical, it's no wonder the book is being panned as empty rhetoric.

twaddle

Meandrogrog

twaddle

JenniferEccles

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

I assume you are aware that most immigration is regulated and has absolutely nothing to do with porous borders or "boats". In fact, some of those immigrants are the very same people who are treating you in the NHS.

The vast majority of immigration is not uncontrolled.

‘The British worker is now forced to fund an entirely new demographic bargain: a shrinking productive majority of native born workers having to pay the bills for an expanding population of dependants, many if whom only recently arrived in the country. This is not a sustainable foundation for any nation and certainly not for one that is already in decline’ quote from Suicide of a Nation.

If that quote is typical, it's no wonder the book is being panned as empty rhetoric.

Who is panning the book as empty rhetoric please?

It matters little what you, I, or Matt Goodwin think, the damage has been done and the change is irrevocable.

Meandrogrog

Is the book you suggest we all need to read the one which relies on fabricated AI-generated "facts," and uses inflammatory rhetoric to stoke division?
The one that lacks any academic rigour?
Written (and referenced) at least in part, by ChatGPT?
With made-up "quotes" from historical figures like Cicero, Friedrich Hayek, and James Burnham?

...I think I'll give it a miss thank you.

my husband has had a recent stay in hospital and if we didn't have immigration, the hospital quite frankly wouldn't be able to function. The nurses from India are exceptional

bylinetimes.com/2026/03/23/mattgpt-the-sorry-tale-of-matt-goodwins-ai-assisted-fake-quote-filled-new-book/

I advise reading of this fairly short article, which specifically names the many fabricated quotes and doubtful statistics and Matt Goodwins "explanations" which are fruitless since we could all cross check each quote ourselves.

what he does so is reveal not just shocking ignorance masked as academia, but himself - an absolute key theoretician of the far right -

as dishonest, lazy, and willing to hoodwink those who don't have the means to question, or realise the necessity, of any kind of academic rigour

Wyllow3

bylinetimes.com/2026/03/23/mattgpt-the-sorry-tale-of-matt-goodwins-ai-assisted-fake-quote-filled-new-book/

I advise reading of this fairly short article, which specifically names the many fabricated quotes and doubtful statistics and Matt Goodwins "explanations" which are fruitless since we could all cross check each quote ourselves.

what he does so is reveal not just shocking ignorance masked as academia, but himself - an absolute key theoretician of the far right -

*as dishonest, lazy, and willing to hoodwink those who don't have the means to question, or realise the necessity, of any kind of academic rigour*

We can all find links that support our views. I am finding the book honest and balanced.

I have not the slightest problem with controlled immigration of needed occupations, all countries allow this.

Basgetti

M0nica

Our first GP was an alcoholic. You only saw him if desperate.

Ours smoked during the consultation.

Mine did too. Came out smelling like an ashtray. He did know me, but had rather controversial views ie when I was depressed at 17yrs telling me to go have some babies to take my mind off it!

Meandrogog, In that case you can breathe easy and stop worrying about immigration because the vast majority of immigration to the UK is controlled.

The fact that you find the book balanced shows where your fulcrum is.

Meandrogrog

twaddle

Meandrogrog

twaddle

JenniferEccles

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

I assume you are aware that most immigration is regulated and has absolutely nothing to do with porous borders or "boats". In fact, some of those immigrants are the very same people who are treating you in the NHS.

The vast majority of immigration is not uncontrolled.

‘The British worker is now forced to fund an entirely new demographic bargain: a shrinking productive majority of native born workers having to pay the bills for an expanding population of dependants, many if whom only recently arrived in the country. This is not a sustainable foundation for any nation and certainly not for one that is already in decline’ quote from Suicide of a Nation.

If that quote is typical, it's no wonder the book is being panned as empty rhetoric.

Who is panning the book as empty rhetoric please?

It matters little what you, I, or Matt Goodwin think, the damage has been done and the change is irrevocable.

What damage? Claims such as this need challenging because they cause unnecessary fear.

Maybe you could start off by using your own words to describe how and why damage has been done.

You are providing even more examples of post-literacy for those who questioned what it is.

twaddle

Meandrogrog

twaddle

Meandrogrog

twaddle

JenniferEccles

When I mentioned fewer GPs I was actually talking about the country in general rather than my area here in the south east.

As regards the growth in population, of course it’s mainly down to immigration, which successive governments have failed to address despite all the usual assurances of ‘stopping the boats’ and, what was the Labour promise, oh yes, ‘smash the gangs’
That’s going well, isn’t it?

Immigration is uncontrolled. We have porous borders, open to all.

It all adds to a demand on everything, including of course the NHS.

I assume you are aware that most immigration is regulated and has absolutely nothing to do with porous borders or "boats". In fact, some of those immigrants are the very same people who are treating you in the NHS.

The vast majority of immigration is not uncontrolled.

‘The British worker is now forced to fund an entirely new demographic bargain: a shrinking productive majority of native born workers having to pay the bills for an expanding population of dependants, many if whom only recently arrived in the country. This is not a sustainable foundation for any nation and certainly not for one that is already in decline’ quote from Suicide of a Nation.

If that quote is typical, it's no wonder the book is being panned as empty rhetoric.

Who is panning the book as empty rhetoric please?

It matters little what you, I, or Matt Goodwin think, the damage has been done and the change is irrevocable.

What damage? Claims such as this need challenging because they cause unnecessary fear.

Maybe you could start off by using your own words to describe how and why damage has been done.

You are providing even more examples of post-literacy for those who questioned what it is.

The fact that you cannot see the damage that others clearly can, says it all!

But Meandrogrog, if you are going to make a valid point, you don't invent quotes from famous people and philosophers, or misuse or invent statistics, or borrow huge chunks from social media.

Doing that totally rubbishes what you are saying, whatever point of view you are coming from: it invalidates your theories.

Many years ago I had a Gp who nobody really liked However a friend who was a consultant in a leading hospital said he was really good , one of the best junior doctors on rotation who he ever had. I think what people dislike he said it as it was and didn’t suffer fools gladly. He did mellow with experience His strong point was that he listened