Doctors and how they come across

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,

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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

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.

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.

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'

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.

I’ve always found the GPs fine. Admittedly I am lucky enough not to need them very often, but it seems to be a different one each time.

The last hospital doctor I saw - at least 3 times - the respiratory consultant when I had pneumonia/pleurisy, was a 10/10, or even an 11 - he was lovely.

What area has she chosen to go into Vintagewhine?
Did she think she might like to be a GP before?

GPs do a completely different job now and spend a huge percentage of their week doing paperwork. My niece who's a doctor said she'd rather work on the till in Tesco than be a GP as she'd get less abuse. This was after doing a stint at a GP surgery during her training.fwiw my surgery is excellent and I've no complaints.

When I was young our family doctor was a middle aged woman who lived a short walk away and held her surgeries at her own home. No appointments
necessary, we would just turn up and sit in the waiting room. She knew your family and medical history and would always do house calls if necessary. Only downside was that she smoked like a chimney throughout the consultation. We never thought anything about it at the time! We never see the same doctor twice now and they don't know you from Adam!

To see a particular doctor now I have to book at midday, on a Friday for 6 weeks hence.
So do I kitty - so I do that and am happy.
I'd rather have my favourite GP for non urgent things - and if it's really urgent I don't think I care who it is.

We have a few different doctors at our practice but whichever one you see seems to remember you. They also seem to have plenty of time for you. We have to book in the morning for a same day appointment but it is always possible to see the duty doctor in an emergency.

I had an appointment today with a 'Pharmacist'. He was like a robot and I found it a very strange experience. I would much rather have seen my usual doctor but the system has changed and now it isn't possible to book an appointment.

There is something very reassuring about seeing a doctor who knows your medical history and I think it's sad that the care isn't what it used to be.

Nearly all the doctors at our practice are pretty good. I have a favourite who is really excellent but most will actually give you that extra bit of time and what is good that the receptionists can triage an afternoon appointment if you ring in the morning and they are allocated a bit extra time. Morning appointments are the 10 min quickies if its an infection calling for antibiotics or a situation where a referral on is obvious.

But `I have had to chase referrals at some points and "join up the dots" in overall care and glad ~I still have the wits to do this - I sometimes come having sent a brief written list of symptoms to the surgery by email so they can copy and paste.

I think we have really lost something valuable not being able to see the same doctor or at least one who was slightly familiar with your history.
Do you know what I would love ? I would love a doctor , like in the old days. who would have the experience to have an inkling of what might be causing the problem. Now we have doctors who sit and google your symptoms in front of you when you could do that yourself at home. Sometimes it feels as good as going into the local newsagent, giving him your symptoms, he googles and then says 'I can sell you some paracetamol'

When DH left the Army and we moved to our first house in South Yorkshire we signed on with the same doctor that had looked after my family for years. His surgery was two rooms in a terraced house - just he and his receptionist, with whom you argued at your peril. He was lovely. Old school, seen it all, cradle to grave, never without a pipe in his mouth. Everybody was devastated when he retired. We moved to a larger practice and were happy with it too.

When we came to our current practice we were under the senior partner who was very no nonsense but an excellent physician. I think most people were a little afraid of her - I was myself but when DH died, she was kindness and patience itself with me and nothing was too much trouble for her. Unfortunately she herself has now taken early retirement. I had an appointment with her on the day she left. I remember her saying to me that she was confident that she had left the practice in the best possible position going forward. It seems as if she has.

When I was early 30’s we had just moved to Shropshire and I was pregnant and very concerned after nearly losing our second child.

Our new GP was kind, thorough, gentlemanly and good at his job, he reassured us all would be well and got as a referral the following day.

He came to the house after I had a car accident at 6 months pregnant, he visited twice after the baby was born and when I became ill with a kidney issue some weeks later he telephoned every week with my weekly blood test results.
I eventually had to be hospitalised and yes he visited me in the hospital.
This was 1994.

We then moved to Lancashire…..it was dire!

They did the bare minimum begrudgingly.

On marriage moved 20 miles away I joined the practice that my husband's family used.
First time I saw the head GP he offered me a cigarette and asked if I wanted a whiskey.
When told I didn't drink or smoke he called me a good girl.
Next time I saw a junior GP and he was just as bad.
This was 1980.

My recent experience has been very impressive. Maybe be he was new to the practice but the young lad was very competent and friendly and phoned two days later with test results and told me what he planned to do next. That also happened. I'd expected to have to phone for blood test results myself and was resigned to a long wait for referral for scan. Two days after scan received a text and appointment for follow-up review and reassurance about scan findings. 👍 NHS

Our family gp, when I was young, wore his coat in the surgery and smoked like a chimney but he knew all the family and asked how each individual one was.

Until very recently we could ask for an appt with a particular gp who, similarly, knew all our family situations - no of children etc. No longer. To see a particular doctor now I have to book at midday, on a Friday for 6 weeks hence.

The great benefit of any appointment that I have with the surgery nurse is that she regularly finds time for a purposeful medical conversation.
Appointments with any of the GP’s always feel so rushed so that they rarely meet the standard of a what a consultation really ought to be.