Scaling back GP care

maddyone It’s clear from comments here that NHS is not consistently delivering high quality care. The problems people describe are genuine yet you seem to be rubbishing them. The system is not always providing care ‘at the point of need’ if someone has to wait 3 weeks for an appointment or can’t get through by phone. I see your annoyance, I’m in a family of teachers and dislike the criticism they get but I’m afraid you’re sounding like nurses and doctors of 40 years ago who had the attitude that patients should be ‘grateful’; we are, but we do not have to be subservient. We all pay a share toward NHS.

I think what has changed dramatically over the past twenty years is GPs expectation of the job. One of my first memories is of our family doctor coming in the night, suit over his pyjamas to see my brother during a polio scare. He and his two partners were part of the community their children went to school with their patients' children, we all met at parties and church. There were some scary epidemics in those days and all the practice doctors were there 24/7 during them, my doctor had a camp bed in his office he used when he was too tired to go home. That was the job. Those days are long gone. Times have changed.

The Health Centre in my town is only open at the pharmacy and that is recent. You have to phone if you are unwell or have a query. The GP phones you back but they are very reluctant to actually see and physically examine you. I used to work there as a nurse and I am not very happy with the service. All reception desks have screens up yet no patients are allowed near them. You can see the screens from the pharmacy. If you do actually get an appointment to see someone you have to wait outside. If they don't come and fetch you after 10 minutes of your time you have to phone them and tell them you are waiting. It is not easy for me never mind older patients some of whom do not have a mobile phone. As suggested in the press many people are not going near them and delaying treatment. My friend's husband had a heart attack with a cardiac arrest before 1st lockdown. He had a stent fitted and recently is having chest pain again but does not want to bother the doctors as "they are so busy". It is very difficult to imagine what they are actually doing if they are not seeing patients.

We have 2 recently retired doctors in our family, both signed up and re-registered as soon as it was mentioned they would be needed..........neither has been asked to help even though they live in a city rife with COVID.

I have 2 good friends who’re recently retired GPs they, despite having been very unwell early on with covid themselves, volunteered for duty. They were not taken up on it either.

My husband looked up his medical records last week on SystmOnline. In block capitals was “DID NOT ATTEND FLU VACCINE CLINIC” Oh yes he did!! As he has for the last 15 years. ??‍♂️

I belong to one of the most 'outstanding' GP surgeries in the UK - not once have they closed their doors - you can get a call from a doctor the day you ring and if need seen then can go that day or the day after - I am post-op and my GP is coming to see me Tuesday .... excellent!

My Mum however is in an area where the surgeries have literally shut! They can't get calls and if they do manage one the GP's are at home!

Definitely a Postcode Lottery !

As I understand things, no additional funding will be offered but it's not EVERY GP practice, it won't necessarily be GP 's administering the vaccinations but different staff, plus pharmacists, therapists, and army personnel.

The vaccinations will be administered at centres in the community.

However, it seems to me that we all have a responsibility in this. There are going to be significant numbers of people who need help to GET to the centres, maybe that's what we need to do.

There were five Doctors in my surgery in March at the first lockdown, then one retired, one got into a practice nearer to where she lived. There are now three managing 11,000 patients? There are no other doctors lists in my area taking new patients. My husband is shielding, his bloods, consultant visits are managed by telephone and a temporary drive through phlebotomy centre in a playing field about 30mins from our home. We live in a suburb of Liverpool.

As with many others, initially I was of the opinion that general practitioners were hiding away and not doing many of their normal duties. Recently, I am of the opinion that what has been going on or NOT as the case may be has been due directives from National Health England and central Government. Why have we not been informed of this?

Caragran

My doctors are a disgrace. Done nothing since beginning of March. The practice administer is telling patients what they should and shouldn't be doing. If I ask for repeat prescriptions they usually come back with items missing
Am spending more time chasing around than enough

Me too. Fed up with chasing them up this last month.
Things missing. Receptionist says they're down the pharmacy.
Pharmacy say's I can assure you they're not. And so it goes.
It's taken 4 weeks of phone calls for the receptionist to send a prescription to be sent to Charter so that they can send out night drainage and leg bags to my housebound brother who has a permanent catheter.
Had an automated phone call on Thursday to say mine and my son's medication was ready to collect from the pharmacy. He went on Friday evening to collect and was told they weren't ready. Come back tomorrow. I despair.

There are several complaints on here about GP surgeries. I wonder if official complaints have been made through appropriate channels and, if so, what happened.

Tweedle24 ?

I once complained about a receptionist at the local surgery who lied to me. No question about it, she did lie. The Practice Manager was on it straight away, the receptionist was disciplined and their processes changed.

I could have come on an internet forum to complain about it, but I thought my way was better.

Alegrias2 My point exactly.

Well Vickymeldrew, I am sorry you feel I have posted a moany miserable thread. I thought this site was supposed to be supportive. Most posters have been sympathetic and I thank them for that. I actually do work for the NHS on a Covid ward and watched my patients die and it has been traumatic to say the least and especially for their families. When it comes down to it though I am talking about my experience with my GP surgery concerning my very sick husband and the system that just isn't working. If I hadn't pressed my GP to take action and just accepted anti sickness tablets which she had offered I have no doubt he may not have survived. Sorry to be so moany miserable again.