Let Your Voice Be Heard!

It must have been very nice sitting around doing nothing whilst being furloughed. The comment that doctors haven’t gone back to work since Covid is earth shattering in its ignorance! The only doctors that didn’t manage to work all the way through are those who DIED as a result of looking after Covid patients.

........doctors and dentists aren’t back at work.......

Doctors have NEVER STOPPED WORKING throughout the Covid19 pandemic. The ignorance among many Gransnetters about doctors is truly astounding.

Don't understand why doctors and dentists aren't back at work. I've gone back after being furloughed. I really need to see a dentist and a doctor since lockdown, but dentists not seeing anyone unless you're in constant pain (abscess or bleeding). Doctors appointment on the telephone in 2 weeks to be assessed (I guess this will not be the doctor).
No wonder accident and emergency is so busy

I retired from nursing four years ago. Although there were matrons, they weren’t like the matrons many years ago who ensured all the nurses knew her patients and the ward sister knew all the patients on her ward. The ‘modern’ matrons have a very different role and I got to the point when I just had to give up it all up. I was appalled at the quality of patient care

It saddens me to see that the intention to ask for support for the rights of all elderly and vulnerable patients to receive good quality NHS health care, has become a battle ground about failing GP services. It has been self evident during this pandemic that care homes were not protected as they should have been. And as a result many residents died without the benefit of pain relief or medical care. It is also self evident that the elderly and vulnerable will be the losers in a health care system designed purely for a technological age of which they have no understanding or part. If you have an interest in ensuring the whole of society is catered for in any newly evolving NHS, please consider adding your power to "Silver Voices" on behalf of those likely to be left behind. Thank you!

Several of my carer friends quit their jobs because of the amount of time they had per resident. It was not enough to give even basic care let alone the fact that it was the only time an elderly person would see another person for days at a time. Its heartbreaking. Yet I still feel I don't want to burden my own children when I cannot look after myself.

Things like this should never be for private profit companies.

larry and Pamela
Thank you for lovely posts outlining the kind of treatment most GPs provide. You’ve made me feel better.

My DH has recently had a telephone conversation with his GP., Followed up by a face to face consultation because the Dr. felt he needed to see the injury. It all worked perfectly.

Back in the day, and I’m not the ancient we didn’t have many female Drs. at all. I am glad that we do have many now and I think that they have a right to a life other than work. Better that they work part time and stay in the profession than leave because the work/life balance is too stressful.

IMO, for what it’s worth, I think the NHS has been so successful that it’s given us permission not to look after ourselves.

I had to contact my GP this morning. You are asked what the basic problem is by the receptionist and then a GP rings back to go into detail. I rang the surgery at 9 had a call back at 11 30 and saw the GP at 12 45. I wouldn’t have got any better attention before Covid so I was very pleased with my treatment.

I agree HAZBEEN absolutely I agree. But I have noticed a disturbing trend on Gransnet over a few threads that really show almost dislike, certainly disrespect of doctors, particularly GPs. And far too many comments along the lines of ‘we pay their wages’ which I find to be particularly arrogant. It is not for us to decide how much doctors are paid, it is up to government. And let us not forget that GPs are self employed, they are absolutely not public employees, in the way NHS hospital doctors are.

I hope you get the appropriate treatment and recover fully HAZBEEN.

Yes Maddy Covid is the reason for the telephone appointments with the consultant but NOT the reason for phone calls from anyone but a GP, that system was already starting before covid hit as many on here have stated.
I find the lack of compassion and care for people in their later years and suffering from life changing illnesses very worrying. I know you will say your daughter is very caring but even you have to admit there are some who arent. All professions have good and bad and we can only comment on our own experiences.

4allweknow
You are right. There are a HUGE number of time wasters using the NHS inappropriately. My daughter has told me of patients demanding sun cream on the NHS and also nit lotion. These are things that can be bought over the counter, and the NHS absolutely should not be wasting money on these types of items.

Havbeen
That is very sad, but I think you’ll find Covid19 was the reason.

My daughter works 36 hours a week in THREE days. Quite a lot I think. The resentment on here about doctors is truly astounding. Every single one of you will need a doctor, or has needed a doctor in the past. I hope people tell them how much they resent them. Not on here, say it to the doctor’s face.

I am not having a go at doctors or more specifically GPs but the system that seems to be becoming the norm. Trying to book an appointment is a nightmare for some people as in my surgery where you cant even speak to a GP most of the time but may be granted a call from a nurse or other "health worker". As I stated in an earlier post I was even diagnosed with blood cancer without having a face to face appointment and was told the news in a rushed phone call which left me very shocked and worried. I think I do have the right to question why.

Nobody is written off if they’re over 55. Following the Covid19 crisis, there is a backlog. Not really surprising.

....most women do not have the choice of working part-time because they would not earn enough.

Obviously the thinking is that doctors don’t deserve their pay. How much is twelve years training is worth? If anyone deigns to suggest a suitable amount I’d be interested to know what it would be.

If a person wants to earn as much as a doctor, they should train as a doctor.

I wonder why I’m not surprised by the total lack of respect for doctors that I see on here. My daughter and her husband have both told me of the me, me, me attitude that patients display today.
As for ‘we pay their wages’ what an arrogant comment. Actually we pay the wages of everyone who has a job, through our taxes, our council tax, our road taxes, and by buying anything. Who pays the wages of the shop assistant who serves you? You do of course, when you buy something.

Paying their wages, indirectly I might add, does not give you free reign to think you call the shots, you don’t. But I do know there’s a lot of resentment shown towards doctors these days, gone are the days when they were treated with respect. I truly hope that everyone of you who are pointing out the faults of doctors didn’t stand outside and clap for our NHS. If you did, you’re a hypocrite.

A 93 year old lady I know had open heart surgery for aortic valve replacement about 3 weeks ago. Couldn't have had better care. And yes, NHS.

One area that should be investigated is the private companies that run the carers who look after people in their own homes.

My BIL had Parkinsons and a carer came in morning and evening to get him up and put him to bed, 5 days a week. This carer had a rota - same people every day. The carer received a mileage allowance from which the company used to deduct VAT and they also used to deduct a further amount because"everyone fiddles their mileage"

(a) the company had no right to deduct VAT
(b) it is not beyond the skills of most clerical staff to work out the mileage that the carer did in a day and to pay him correctly. Given that he saw the same people every day the sums wouldn't have to be computed that often.

My cataract op was cancelled. I am with Benenden, so I thought I'd ask them to push me to the top of the list with it being private. Guess what! They have the same waiting lists as NHS. I am not being seen by the Opthamologist till April 2021. You are written off if you are over 55!

Would the French system work here?

Think the post mentioning GPs working part time may have wanted to highlight that the cost of training for a GP is the same for one who then goes on to work full or part time. 36 hours a week? I worked well over 48 hours with contract for 36 hours, no overtime, and that was me a "lowly, lazy, final salary pension" Local Authority manager.
The NHS has been abused for far too long. The slightest graze, cut or bump and kids are in A & E. Adults are just not prepared to wait on their body healing with minor injuries, it's got to be fixed NOW and turn up at A & E for something common sense would fix. I despair at times when I watch some emergency dept programmes and see what some folk regard as an accident or emergency. Perhaps the phoning ahead system will help reduce the time wasters and save the NHS some money.

I agree completely people in general will realise too late

Of course we have the right to question. We are paying their wages.