Sharing medical appointments with others.

No one is to be forced to join these groups and everyone can still have a private appointment with the GP. My understanding is that it will only cover things which can be generalised and not anything which is personal or embarrassing. I imagine it to be a sort of guided self-help group.

I have a condition which I would be quite happy to discuss openly with others to see if anyone had helpful advice. I also suffer from insomnia so would be happy to discuss this with a group. Even if someone did talk about me outside the group it wouldn't matter because there is nothing personal in my condition.

I agree that such groups would have one know it all but, who knows, they might have something useful to say.

I think my health centre already runs groups for type 2 diabetes as this was hinted at when I was told I was pre- diabetic. Such groups may be ok to talk about diet and a healthy lifestyle, with nurses to check BP and weight, receive specimens, and perhaps a GP available for part of the time for Q and A, but nothing replaces an individual private conversation about particular symptoms.

I felt very privileged to be awarded a whole hour’s consultation with the incontinence nurse, plus two follow up appointments. It felt like a real luxury, and actually out of proportion to my symptoms, but it was lovely to be listened to, checked out and reassured and exercises given. This is obviously a very personal thing, but I think there are very few conditions which can be treated collectively.

I wouldnt use it as my health issues are too personal

Signing a confidentiality clause won't do the slightest bit of good. Those who habitually neither discuss their own or any one else's affairs will keep their mouths shut anyway. Those who open their mouths before using their brains will trot out information that they should never have been given.

I accompanied my sister to a group information session for cancer patients. It was excellent as general information was given to patients and relatives, but this was over and above private consultations with doctors and nurses.

I can think of a long list of illnesses and conditions that I would not care to discuss in public, as I am sure all of you can too.

It can be hard enough getting answers from medical professionals when you are alone with them, but trying to get time to ask in a group sounds a very bad idea.

And if anyone does disclose information, what then ?

Apparently, all who attend must sign a form agreeing not to disclose to anyone else, any information about any other attendee they may hear during a session.

Confidentiality? Haha! I have been in positions where confidentiality was essential, and then been approached by the partner of a member or one one occasion a friend of a group member who expressed surprise about/wanted to discuss xxxx (the subject which had been declared confidential.)
I’m with the OP in thinking the appointments would rapidly be cut down - half an hour is probably generous. I think it might end up a quick fifteen minutes with a nurse practitioner or practice nurse and since we currently can’t get an appointment for taking blood samples without having to do a 20 mile round trip to another surgery in the ‘group practice’ . . .

Glory be! Whose bright idea was this? Even people with similar conditions can be different from each other and some patients may be more dominant than others about their illness. As other posters have mentioned the problem of confidentiality will not be fixed by being told not to share information outside the room! Support groups are different and are handled differently

I have two concerns regarding this: firstly that some patients would find it impossible to keep confidentiality and would discuss the session with friends and family. At some point, some information would leak out of the group.

Secondly, that there is always a 'top dog' in something such as this. They would hog most of the conversation, ergo, time and more timid members of the group could be overlooked.

Although a decent facilitator could possibly deal with the latter situation, I very much doubt whether all participants would have equal consideration.

I can’t see that a confidentiality agreement will necessarily prevent discussion away from the group, and why would you want to discuss your health concerns in a large group anyway.
Support groups are a different matter, I think, and do have value. I would go to one of those, but not a shared appointment. A 2 hour clinic, dedicated to a particular condition, with separate appointments and a nurse to do tests would be better.

Sounds rather like ante-natal classes . Sounds as though once such groups start up patients will not have much choice.

There will always be someone who knows all about everything, wh is a great turn-off for others.

In towns same economy of scale cld prob be obtained by groups of practices combining to run mini clinics with individual appointments.

Hideous idea. I'd rather die than share my ailment details with a room full of strangers (or even friends for that matter).

Think it depends what ailment but I think it could work regarding confidentiality I see people I looked after when working and would never consider telling anyone about their medical conditions but of course it's all about trust don't think my oh would go though .

Anniebach, that's how I read it too. Not a support group, but sharing your appointment with a group of others with same illness. I had to smile when one of the conditions the article said might be covered was erectile dysfunction. I had visions of 15 or so men all showing and telling ( I'm being flippant!)?
If the appointments are to last 2 hours then surely the GP can see 12 individuals in that time( our surgery gives 10 minute appointments) and at least you can be assured your problems are likely to remain confidential.
Support groups, yes. Joint appointments.no.

Not a cat in hells chance of me attending one. I'm not interested in anyone else's health.

It’s an emphatic no from me. Support groups are ok for those that freely choose them, but not suitable for my particular ailments.

Any kind of support group is great for some people especially if a doctor is present as opposed to a nurse who's been on a week long course and is suddenly expected to be an expert. These events do not replace a 1 on 1 apt with a doctor. My DH for one would not go to one of these group apts and if a private docs apt is not available then he, I suspect like many others, would just not attend and their conditions may worsen. Apart from anything else how would you trust others in the group to respect your privacy?

I was ill on Friday and had home care team fantastic better than any doctors out quickly and no fuss treat me like royalty got job done bye bye doctor!

My OH went to a group appointment at the physio for his arthritic knee and that went well so depends what it is for. I wouldn't fancy showing off my bits to all and sundry!!

Along similar lines, the physiotherapists at our local hospital hold pulmonary rehabilitation sessions. About ten of us attended and did exercises and had talks by various experts. It was very good.

This isn’t support groups it’s sharing your GP appointment with a group .

The other new initiative being tried out is where you describe your ailment to a 'trained' doctors' receptionist who then points you in the right direction, physio, dentist etc. I have extreme difficulty getting to see my GP as it is (not managed it at all this year, only seen nurses), so putting another obstacle in the way won't help.

I used to manage a large specialist Long Term conditions nursing team who had been advocating these kinds of groups for years. I went to the USA to look at an IT based LTC Management system which worked like a charm for patients whose LTC had been diagnosed and had a management plan. I can see my routine rheumatology appointment going this way- fine by me.

It depends what the problem is - here I have attended a 'knee clinic' which was run by a physiotherapist for about 20 people and it was quite helpful. However, it was a one-off and then different approaches were recommended.

I am not sure that other medical problems should be discussed in an open meeting, and, in the case of mental health, most definitely not.
However, I suppose this is how other organisations are run, such as AA.
Some people find support groups helpful, others do not.

I have bronchiectasis and NTM and find support groups on Facebook very helpful. I think group meetings for a limited amount of problems may be good.