Are GPs as busy as they keep telling us they are?

My OH just came back from the surgery. Was there for blood tests. They have replaced the older signing in screen on the wall with a new one which has a few more functions.

He did as instructed but it came up as error. He went and told the receptionist who said “you’ve done something wrong then” and huffily came out to look at it. She said the technician had just left from repairing it 15 minutes ago. She then put in his details and error came up again!

They never believe you down there.

Perhaps if they worked more than two days a week they wouldn't BE as busy !

rocketstop

Perhaps if they worked more than two days a week they wouldn't BE as busy !

Ok how do you propose to ‘make’ GPs or indeed anyone work more than 2 days a week. Have you disregarded the factual,posts from people employed in, or with close relatives working in general practice.
Perhaps if we trained more GPs then looked after them more effectively we wouldn’t be in such a mess

Iam64 sadly some are entrenched and don’t want to listen to others truth.

Yes JaxJacky - or even listen to actual truth 👍🏻

I have to say I was very impressed with my local surgery yesterday. I was phoned by a doctor, who then asked me to come to the surgery in the afternoon. She was lovely - very though, kind and caring and referred me to the hospital for further tests as well as prescribing antibiotics. I felt very well cared for and listened to - this last part is the most important. This particular health centre has a terrible reputation and has twice been rated inadequate, but I was very happy with all aspects of it yesterday. I am sure most doctors are the same and work very hard. It is the system which needs repairing, not the doctors.

Iam64

Yes JaxJacky - or even listen to actual truth 👍🏻

I think, in the future, misinformation and ignorance (ignorance in the sense of not knowing what you are talking about) is going to be the cause of much civil upheaval and unrest.

Does the average person, who doesn't have a relative in the medical / health industry, have any idea what GPs do - other than what they 'see' during their 10 minute appointment?

As Musicgirl says, It is the system which needs repairing, not the doctors.

I'm afraid that if people believe GPs are deliberately avoiding seeing patients because they don't want to - no amount of factual information will change that belief.

Im afraid that if people believe GPs are deliberately avoiding seeing patients because they don’t want to - no amount of factual information will change that belief

I’m sure that’s right Dickens, but you do have to wonder at that process of thought don’t you? Do people realistically think doctors did all that training just so they can sit in a consultation room doing nothing? Or that they are out playing golf?
Beggars belief really.

Our GPs are working to rule, seeing, visiting or phoning only 25 per day. As the two of them only work two days a week each it’s now a 25 day (5 week) wait for an appointment, assuming you can even get someone to answer the phone when you call. It’s no good popping in to request an appointment, you’re told to go home and phone 🤷🏼‍♀️
It’s ridiculous, no wonder people drive 15 miles to the nearest hospital A&E.

Oh, and there’s never anyone in the waiting room when I,and a number of others, collect medication etc.

RosesandLilac

Our GPs are working to rule, seeing, visiting or phoning only 25 per day. As the two of them only work two days a week each it’s now a 25 day (5 week) wait for an appointment, assuming you can even get someone to answer the phone when you call. It’s no good popping in to request an appointment, you’re told to go home and phone 🤷🏼‍♀️
It’s ridiculous, no wonder people drive 15 miles to the nearest hospital A&E.

In your position - if I had a mobile or smartphone I'd phone immediately from that - whilst you're still in the waiting room. 1. That would highlight what an absurd instruction they'd just given you 2. You'd be sorted sooner 3. They could see that you would see if they were just letting the phone ring without answering it - so they're less likely to try that on.

I have regular appointments at my GP surgery to see the diabetes nurse. I get sent a link to book directly. Whenever I go to the surgery, it's buzzing.

In the past, I've moaned long and hard about getting an appointment, but the latest booking system seems to be working and I've been seen the same day I've contacted the surgery.

I only wish there were more capacity at secondary level. After being put on a two week cancer pathway the same day I made an appointment and having melanoma suspicion confirmed by tele-dermatolgy, I'm now on a waiting list for a biopsy ... for goodness how long.

Granny ,I feel exactly the same . I was in our surgery recently - only me there . What are our our GPs doing!?

My neighbour who is over 100 years old has home visits from the doctor.

What a negative, suspicious view you have of GPs. It’s no point any of the posters with greater understanding or first hand knowledge even attempting to influence you

We live in a Trumpian world where nonsense is seen as just as valid as research based info

I work in a gp surgery , and reading all these negative comments is really hurtful .. if patients could actually spend a day observing behind the scenes just how hard every member of staff is working including the doctors , they would apologise.. primary care is broken . , staff are broken . If a doctor works 3 days a week that equals 36/40 hours !! If a doctor is full time ,that equals 50/60 hours or more!!
If only patients could actually see what actually happens and how the doctors and nursing teams are exhausted. Surgeries now have many more patients than a few years ago and far less doctors and nurses , so yes there is going to be a long wait for routine appts..

Iam64

What a negative, suspicious view you have of GPs. It’s no point any of the posters with greater understanding or first hand knowledge even attempting to influence you

We live in a Trumpian world where nonsense is seen as just as valid as research based info

Quite.

Iam64

What a negative, suspicious view you have of GPs. It’s no point any of the posters with greater understanding or first hand knowledge even attempting to influence you

We live in a Trumpian world where nonsense is seen as just as valid as research based info

Indeed.

Shelflife

Granny ,I feel exactly the same . I was in our surgery recently - only me there . What are our our GPs doing!?

What do you think they’re doing?

Refusing to see any patients?
Playing golf?
Doing their nails?
Browsing Facebook?

What do you think they’re actually doing?

(Clue: it’s something to do with patients)

It’s a long hard road to become a doctor. Two of my family are and it doesn’t stop when you qualify because you have to keep up to date with new developments. Anyone who thinks they don’t work hard is in cloud cuckoo land. Some of the comments here are very surprising-nothing like it is here at any rate and I can’t imagine it would be that different in a first world country, either.

Yes, nearly all GPs work part-time now and who can blame them. However a lot of them also have other responsibilities working in healthcare.
There are fewer face to face appointments which is why waiting rooms seem empty. But they will see you if necessary and my practice is very good at triaging appropriately. So many things can be done now without the need to see a doctor and that’s a good thing.

My practice is lovely, yes the waiting room isn’t crowed like it was because they triage people first. I have contacted them in the morning and had a text back to come down at a certain time that day or if it isn’t urgent in 3 days. I am in hospital after having heart surgery because my Dr did a follow up call in the morning. Mentioned something else and she had me down like a shot and into hospital. I can’t fault them and yes the they are busy but you don’t see it

Our GP practice has more doctors than ever before and several nurses/practitioners as well. It is a rural practice and given that there hasn't been an enormous influx of population I honestly don't know why it is so difficult to see a doctor. If you go and get sent for tests etc you can forget getting any kind of feedback. Messages don't seem to get through either. I despair of the NHS I really do.

My tests always appear on the NHS App, usually within a day or two for blood tests. It also records every interaction and message that I have with the practice and also discharge notes from when I was in hospital. I

Our surgery is very large and always very busy.

However they have introduced online services allowing appt bookings and repeat prescriptions and normally this works well.