Sharing medical appointments with others.

Group education sessions for chronic conditions are one thing but a definite No to group consultation sessions for reasons of privacy and confidentiality.

Probably a better idea Cocopops.

.

As I said currently the sessions are up to 2 hours long. Perhaps I am over cynical but I am willing to bet that once the system is established, they will start to chip away at the length of the sessions

These groups have been running successfully for years elsewhere and have not been chipped away.
Not sure why the North east is late to the game, or why it is suddenly news, but they are already well established in lots of regions and have proven successful.

Notanan, I think part of the negativity about this is a result of some people not really understanding what is involved in these groups.
No-one has come on here so far and reported that they were a participant who either found it all a total waste of time or their confidential medical history was made public.
In my experience of them, individual diagnoses are not made at these groups, they are for people who have already been diagnosed with long term conditions and need support to manage them.
They are so successful in my Health Board that there is a long waiting list to attend. I remember one lady bursting into tears when she realised that the symptoms she was experiencing were part of her condition and most people in the group were also experiencing them. She thought she was the only person who felt like this.

That's good to hear Marydoll

Well exactly Mary doll

Despite posters who have ATTENDED stating otherwise, some posters can't get past the headline's implications that we'll all be group squatting into pee pots every time we get a UTI!

The press is not on your side on this.
Either it was a slow week
Or lazy journalism
Or something more sinister/political

ааDoctors only want to profit from our problems.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

There have always been group work and it can be very useful
I ran smoking cessation groups 20 years ago I have a friend who attended a diabetic group just before lock down and found it very helpful I have another friend with bi poler who also attended a group and found it helpful to realise so many people shared her ups and downs
Look at AA successfully run groups for ever
I do think you are being cynical monica
There is nothing like realising you are not the only one, to dilute a problem and yes Anniebach mental health groups can work and some people need to talk it out with others who have experienced similar
They are not for everyone but can be extremely useful and as I say have been run for years in NHS and in charities for various illnesses