One Illness At A Time

[TheOtherHalf]

When I went to GPs last week, there is now a notice advising that you are only to discuss one illness with your GP and other problems should be a separate appointment. ???? Why ?? I sometimes dont bother going with something I think may be trivial but when I do go, I think that perhaps I should be mention this as well. But now we cant ! What if the symptoms are related to something else Ive had a problem with am I not supposed to mention it. I find this crazy, also it would save the Doctor time too, surely. Their 10 mins appointment slots are mad as they dont know what you are going to tell them once you get there. Do others have this problem at their surgery ?

[shoota]

Yes - daft idea imo.

[Sqad]

I am sorry, I find it difficult to relate to modern medical procedures......good luck anyway.

[Robinia]

It's ridiculous, what if more than one 'complaint' add up to a single diagnosis? How long will it take if you have to keep going back? I don't know whether my surgery has any such notice but I'll be ignoring it, once you've said it, they can't make you 'unsay' it.... lol. I suppose they can choose to ignore it.

[Misky]

It makes no sense - even Doc Martin said "If you had told me of all of these different symptoms in the first place, I could have dealt with you better". Go on, quote Martin Clunes' character at your GP...!

[pixie373]

Has always been like that at ours. They suggest booking a double appointment if you have more than one thing to ask about. But it is hard enough getting a single appointment. Apparently, the most hated phrase of GPs is, "now, I'm here..."

[Sqad]

Type Your Answer Here...Of course there is another side to this.........:
We have had many threads in the past,e.g Desktop, Madmen and many others extolling the virtues of their "kind and understanding" Drs who listened attentively to their multitude of symptoms for at least a hour an hour......poor bu99ers who were waiting ages for their turn to arrive, meaning that everyone would be waiting and the last appt probably waited for an hour.

However, I think that it should be up to the Dr. to decide if the consultation is going over the allocated time and for the patient to make another appt.

Two sides to the coin.

[ethandron]

Our surgery has had this rule in place for about four or five years now.
What I do is save up all the small, non urgent stuff and then once a year, when my annual medication review is due, I make a 20 minute appointment and get the lot sorted in one visit.
I discussed this with my gp and she said she much prefers people to do it this way.
I make ordinary appointments throughout the year if I have a more urgent problem which needs sorting.

[anneasquith]

ive never heard anything so stupid in all my life,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, NHS, god help us all.

[DaisyNonna]

How do you decide if a symptom belongs to a certain illness?
Doctor in one room. Patient has to travel there again for another appointment?
Doctor hopefully healthy. Patient by definition ill and may have to travel by public transport after having walked to the bus stop.
What a caring understanding Health (W) Service we have.

[askyourgran]

We have the same system, walk in and wait (usually 2 hours) for a 10 min slot for one thing only. It's supposed to be an emergency, sickness, rashes, fevers or an ailment that has just occurred and not one you have been seen for before. I never get to see the same GP twice which annoys me and I can't seem to be able to book an appointment for a proper consultation. Really crazy.

[emmie]

i have wondered the same, ten minutes and out you go,,,

[mazie]

I'm so glad I don't have to visit my doctor very often. The last time I went was about 10 years ago....I don't like him much and I'm sure he feels the same about me!

[emmie]

what pees me off is that the ten minutes you get doesn't include the fluffing hour you wait in the surgery, why are they always so behind in their appointments.

[bednobs]

it's been like that at mt home gp for at least 20 years, and works ok. I don't get the problem really

[jno]

my GP's surgery has the same sign but everyone ignores it. The 10-minute slots are not adhered to either, which is why they often run late - but that annoys those people waiting, so what are they to do?

[bednobs]

emmie, the reason they are so behind is for exactly the thing this post is about - people storing up problems to talk to the GP about 5 things at once

[emmie]

but as already pointed out what is the use of having a designated time slot, if my appointment is 2,20 then if people are actually only getting 10 mins, then surely why would i need to wait a full hour, as i did one day.

[grumpy01]

You have to get past the Rotweiller(receptionist) first,then if that works its the triage nurse then if your lucky its the Doctor.

[emmie]

and don;t use the 111 service its not up to it.