Sharing medical appointments with others.

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

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ааDoctors only want to profit from our problems.

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

That's good to hear Marydoll

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.

.

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.

Probably a better idea Cocopops.

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

I think they could be useful for certain conditions. I would welcone ond for ME/CFS and fibromyalgia. Perhaps the doctors would learn from them too and accept that ME actually does exist and cause multiple problems. However I think patients should be given a choice. Regarding flu jabs, our doctors here in my part of NIreland are concentrating on over 70s this year. The local pharmacy is charging £15. So those better off will have more chance of a winter without flu. The way forward for the NHS two tier system. frightening..

That's not what the groups are for.

Exactly, everyone will line up as if for a flu jab, except that they will have tests, not an injection. The only difference will be that they have to make an appointment to join the queue.

Flu jabs dont need an actual appointment though? I line up for mine and dont see what more is needed?

It seems that patients and doctors are happy with the scheme and if they keep the sessions to 2 hours I am sure they could be very helpful. As I have said before, the cynic in me thinks that once they are established they will start start chipping at the length of the sessions and they will soon be like jabs for flu. Each person sees the nurse, gets the tests done and once everyone is seen they are all sent on their way.

I wonder how the GP's who are expected run these groups feel about having to do it.It would be interesting to hear their point of view.

Far more satisfying professionally to be able to plan a good course of 1/2hr group sessions than to try to chuck all the required info @ people who have just been diagnosed in a 15 min slot, so that you can say you did and be "covered" legally (box ticking) even though you know its not really going in.....and repeat X times..

Running longer group sessions gives HCPs a chance to actually do what they went into the job to do: help people.

Groups like this have been running for years and have not been cut down as they are actually very cost and time effective.

I still think that however good these groups are, they will soon start cutting the time they give to them, for all the reasons given for introducing them, lack of GPs, etc etc and within 5 years the groups will only last 30 minutes at most. Discussion will be limited. It will end up like queuing for the flu jab.

I wonder how the GP's who are expected run these groups feel about having to do it.It would be interesting to hear their point of view.

Well said, "Notanan"
There is not enough time at a GP or hospital appointment to ask all the questions you want to ask. Sometime you come out and remember something you failed to ask.
These sessions give you thinking time and sometimes another person's question triggers something you wanted to ask.
My RA clinic always runs late and appointments are like gold dust, so you feel you don't want to take up too much time.
I say; Don't knock it until you have tried it!

The other people in the group will know that your first name is Mary and you have asthma. Less info actually than if they were behind you in the check in queue at your GP for a 1:1. You dont all pee in pots on front of each other it's not a prison camp!

People usually have lots of questions about the condition and local services etc for the professionals running the group. Sometimes people share that a treatment did or didn't work for them &why. Mostly people are there to listen/learn.

It already exists and works REALLY well for a lot of people. Health outcomes are better for people who attend Vs people who just book in for a 1:1 GP appointment as and when things go wrong. It is REALLY irresponsible of the media to twist it into some new awful thing & scaring people off from getting information about prevention/rehab/management

Sory! ONES not one's, I'm a pedant!

That wouldn't be possible due to GDPR regulations, so no need to worry about personal info plastered all over the internet.
The one's I have been to are general, no-one's personal details are discussed, unless the patient them self volunteers them.
I benefitted a great deal and there was always an opportunity to speak on a one to one basis with the health professional at the end.

I wouldn't be happy to find details of my health condition and consultation plastered in a Tweet for all to read!

Confidentialty agreement my arse! It wouldn't deter someone who didn't give a fig.......

I wouldn't want to do this with anything that was very personal but OTOH would it be a comfort to know that others share your condition and could offer support, such as ideas to help cope with it?

For chronic conditions, diabetes, arthritis, depression, group consultations with a specialist nurse or doctor could work well and sharing experience with others helps many cope . It's the specialist aspect that is the advantage, in my experience a specialist nurse is much better than newly qualified GP, or an overworked old one

I agree notanan. They are not an alternative to one to one consultations, in my opinion, they complement each other.
Gmelon, like you, I too need treatment, medication, scans and my consultant for my multiple conditioner, but I looked upon this opportunity as a bonus.
It's not for everyone, but it certainly helped me. My RA consultant certainly couldn't devote all his valuable time to answering my many questions. This group allowed me to do so and I'm glad I was given this opportunity.