UK's largest GP chain replaces some doctors with less qualified staff.

It is happening everywhere, DiamondLily.

The NHS Hospital Consultant I see (or don't see!) has changed working practices so that pharmacists now deal with many of his patients by telephone.
It is not at all satisfactory.

We have Nurse Practitioners in our GP surgery and have had for many years. They see all the minor ailments (asthma, chest infections, ears, eyes, cuts, bruises etc) Ifmthey think you need to be seen by a Doctor they will call one in from the next room.

GrannyGravy13

We have Nurse Practitioners in our GP surgery and have had for many years. They see all the minor ailments (asthma, chest infections, ears, eyes, cuts, bruises etc) Ifmthey think you need to be seen by a Doctor they will call one in from the next room.

Is your practice run by a private company?

GrannyGravy13

We have Nurse Practitioners in our GP surgery and have had for many years. They see all the minor ailments (asthma, chest infections, ears, eyes, cuts, bruises etc) Ifmthey think you need to be seen by a Doctor they will call one in from the next room.

Nurse Practitioners aren't the same as Physician Associates. Nurse Practitioners have had three years of nurse training before doing additional qualifications and are only qualified to deal with certain groups of patients.

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

We have Nurse Practitioners in our GP surgery and have had for many years. They see all the minor ailments (asthma, chest infections, ears, eyes, cuts, bruises etc) Ifmthey think you need to be seen by a Doctor they will call one in from the next room.

Is your practice run by a private company?

It is owned and run by the GP’s themselves.

All GP services are technically private They have agreements with the NHS, have done since it’s inception.

growstuff

GrannyGravy13

We have Nurse Practitioners in our GP surgery and have had for many years. They see all the minor ailments (asthma, chest infections, ears, eyes, cuts, bruises etc) Ifmthey think you need to be seen by a Doctor they will call one in from the next room.

Nurse Practitioners aren't the same as Physician Associates. Nurse Practitioners have had three years of nurse training before doing additional qualifications and are only qualified to deal with certain groups of patients.

What and how much training do Physician Associates have?

Two years after a science degree, according to the article.

They are dealing with the whole range of conditions which a GP does.

growstuff

Two years after a science degree, according to the article.

OK thanks, (sorry I should close the GN tab and get on with proper stuff ?)

growstuff

They are dealing with the whole range of conditions which a GP does.

Right…

That is not acceptable unless they have the wherewithal to call in a GP to the consultation if needed, if of course they realise it’s needed ?

I was listening to this when it came up on Today. I assume it will be on Panorama. That will make interesting watching.

Callistemon21

It is happening everywhere, DiamondLily.

The NHS Hospital Consultant I see (or don't see!) has changed working practices so that pharmacists now deal with many of his patients by telephone.
It is not at all satisfactory.

It's ok if they're properly supervised. But, according to the undercover investigation, that's not happening.?

Our practice has Nurse Practitioners too. I haven't encountered any problems with her overseeing annual blood and urine tests.

Also, because I had asthma diagnoses in the past, she suggested I do some peak flow readings and send them to the surgery, which I did. A more senior nurse rang me to find out if this was because of any breathing problems but I told her No, the nurse was just being thorough.

Was the BBC undercover person sent to investigate because of complaints?

GrannyGravy13

Whitewavemark2

GrannyGravy13

We have Nurse Practitioners in our GP surgery and have had for many years. They see all the minor ailments (asthma, chest infections, ears, eyes, cuts, bruises etc) Ifmthey think you need to be seen by a Doctor they will call one in from the next room.

Is your practice run by a private company?

It is owned and run by the GP’s themselves.

All GP services are technically private They have agreements with the NHS, have done since it’s inception.

Bit different to an American health provider I would have thought, and hope

But this isn't about Nurse Practitioners.

Baggs

Was the BBC undercover person sent to investigate because of complaints?

No idea, but I do know that there's been concern for ages, so maybe the BBC picked up on that and decided to find out for themselves.

growstuff

But this isn't about Nurse Practitioners.

I think it could be in part, if it's an attempt to use what man doctorpower the practices have more efficiently.

That's why I asked about the reason for the investigation.

x posts gs

It seems that a GP and a Practice Manager had alerted them, according to the article, as they felt it was"unsafe practice".

"One GP, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had witnessed the way PAs had been used where she worked. "They were fantastic colleagues and trained to do certain roles, but not trained to basically do as much work as a GP. They were doing the same job as us, with less experience."

Thanks, DL.

Then all is explained.

Up until this year , my father's surgery was superb .
I thought how incredibly lucky he was as I heard horror stories about the other surgeries .

When I phoned them a few weeks ago, I was refused a home visit for his distressing skin condition, which I 've cured myself .
.And then ,when his breathing was compromised his new GP blamed me for requesting a home visit too late and said, what had hell can I do about it ?
I'd tried to get the receptionist to understand the seriousness of my request . She wouldn't listen .
He had pneumonia in both lungs .

Our local hospital also discharged him with dangerously falling oxygen levels earlier in the year .
Within a day ,he was drifting in and out of consciousness .

Three months on within enormous amount of care on my part he is slowly improving -regaining his strength and eating /drinking .
I find that I really have to stand my ground these days .

If something unlawful was happening the anonymous GP should have reported it.

To be fair, given the shortage of GPs, what is a practice to do if it's to help all its registered patients? Without lowering standards of care, something has to give.

Very dangerous.
I know someone doing this, after following the science degree route and only scraping a pass after repeating two years at different universities, then failing to complete the hospital placements required to qualify as a GP. She refers to herself a doctor, and I doubt if her patients realise she isn't properly qualified.
Having known her all her life, I wouldn't trust her in a dolls' hospital.