Gps Patient's And Covid-19

[Thisoldbird]

Does anyone wonder how long, if ever, it will be before patients can see a GP again

I know several poorly people who desperately heed the help of a GP.
I would like to take my 87 ye old husband for some advice too.

Our surgery are pretty good for telephone appointments but many times a patient would be better treated to be seen face to face.

I have a very sick terminally Ill friend who is feeling very abandoned by his GP who keeps changing medication to alleviate a problem..

I'm beginning to think some are quite happy with things the way they are regarding day to day work.
Anyone else feel the same?

[Mamyalynne]

I'd be very disappointed if my GP wasn't seeing seriously ill patients, my surgery has an online consult page where they triage you and decide the next move.

My Daughter has seen her GP (face to face) twice in the past couple of months.

Try to contact the Practice Manager.

[teacake44]

It seems to be a new trend spreading across the UK, doctors and nurses are still treating people in hospitals, but local area doctors seem to think that covid is a good enough reason to cut their hours down to almost zero, or give you a phone call has and when they wish to, if your lucky. There was a program on TV the other night about doctors not seeing people face to face, so it looks you may get seriously ill waiting to see, even if it wasn't serious to begin with. Same with dentists, but mention coming private and you will get an appointment the next day with both.

[Buenchico]

The BMA's official guidance for GPs can be found here:
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/covid-19/gp-practices/covid-19-toolkit-for-gps-and-gp-practices/service-provision

You'll see that over-75 health checks should have resumed from 1 July but the use of remote reviews is regarded as worthy of consideration for some conditions and, indeed, as the optimal way of dealing with others (such as hypertension).

[Baldric]

Kate has an ulcerated leg due to a fall in Hospital. Both Tash and myself can sort out the dressings but to be fair if it's not looking better by Friday morning I will be taking her back to A & E.

[Buenchico]

>>> but local area doctors seem to think that covid is a good enough reason to cut their hours down to almost zero, or give you a phone call has and when they wish to, if your lucky

. . . or, maybe, TC44, they've just come to realise that remote consultations are a far more efficient way of working. It's to be hoped that, even after the Covid-19 problems are behind us (if they ever will be), at least 90% of all GP consultations in the future will either be by phone or by video call. Face-to-face consultations should only ever be the (very limited) exception and never the rule.

[Mamyalynne]

I put a link up to the GP Toolkit a few days ago - if your practice isn't following guidance on good care then start a complaint procedure.

[teacake44]

I've not bothered a doctor in nearly twenty years + I know that some doctors may know their regulars well, and it may be just a case of repeat drugs. But lets just say I phoned my doctor saying I had a lump on my neck and I'm not on video, what then?? I do however know people who are having problems getting to see one.

[jourdain2]

I'm getting very worried. We lived abroad for about 20 yrs and saved the NHS a fortune - we had both also paid in since our teenage years; fully paid up to the NHS. It seems to be almost impossible to get medical help now that we need it. I am suspected glaucoma and optician has signed form saying I need a cataract removing urgently - all hospital appointments have been cancelled and I can't get the optician's form to them.

OH has problem legs - I am fighting small ulcerations in order to stop them becoming big (he needs his veins injecting - guess what? That appt. has also been cancelled and I am on my own.) The pressure in his legs affects his already dicey heart.

The surgery door is plastered with DO NOT ENTER IF signs when we do get there to see his very good and competent nurse - unfortunately she is now on holiday, which is why I'm holding the fort.
I also get the feeling that staff are drifting along working and assuming that they are doing their best. I exempt individuals such as the podiatrist I finally got to see OH on Fri. who did a wonderful job & told him to ring anytime, having seen the state of his feet. The general feel is that they are not stepping up top the mark.

[jennyjoan]

Jourdain my friends brother and her friend had to go private for cataracts to be removed about three weeks ago itwas the quickest way

[jennyjoan]

Jourdain my friends brother and her friend had to go private for cataracts to be removed about three weeks ago itwas the quickest way

[teacake44]

I think may be that's all part of the plan, we get desperate for treatment, hence, forced to go private, that's if you have the pennies??

[New Judge]

Quite frankly the way the GP system has handled this business is an absolute disgrace. I notice that GPs are fully supportive of Mr Hancock's idea that remote consultations should be the new (permanent) normal. They (among other white collar workers who enjoy "working from home") should be careful what they wish for. A remote GP system (which is essentially a system for getting people to see a medic who knows what they are talking about) could be operated from anywhere. If it is to be operated over the phone or internet, the "GPs" can be in a call centre in Mumbai. Run through your symptoms, give us your postcode and we'll direct you to the right place. That system could operate in the UK now, except that GPs major on the "personal service" aspect. Well, there is no personal service now and if there isn't to be one in the future, transfer the tasks to a cheaper facility overseas and bang go the £100k pa clearing house jobs.

[jno]

I rang my GP for a phone appointment last week to discuss an ailment. She listened to my symptoms and told me to come on down later in the day.Went in by the back door, wearing a mask, had my temperature taken and my hands washed, then led round to one of the surgeries. She was fully gowned and had a mask and a shield. She poked and prodded as necessary, sent a scrip to the pharmacy, and I came home.

Presumably it sounded like something potentially urgent, even though it proved not to be.

Have you tried asking friends and neighbours if they know of a good GP you could switch to?

[New Judge]

//Have you tried asking friends and neighbours if they know of a good GP you could switch to?//

If there was a good GP in my area (which there isn't) the practice would be accepting no new patients. In fact, the bad GPs in my area (which is most of them) are accepting no new patients.

[jno]

sorry, NJ, your post wasn't there; I was responding to Thisoldbird, who may be luckier.

[woofgang]

My surgery has been using phone and email trage for years and I think its excellent. It has meant that over the last 9 years, the twice when I needed to see someone urgently, I could be seen that day. On other occasions, a phone conversation has been sufficient for me to get repeat treatment for a recurring problem (sinuses) without wasting their time or mine. As has been said, if you aren't getting treatment that meets your needs then ask around about changing GP, and/or complain.

[teacake44]

I can only assume that they are all fighting to become TV stars.

[ummmm]

How do you know this, NJ? Have you been a patient at all the surgeries?

I prefer phone consultations. I've found that much more ground is covered. Plus I don't have the hassle of going to the surgery.

[sanmac]

Over the past three months, my GP has phoned me twice (I didn't call him). Once to remind me that my prescriptions needed renewing and that he would send the renewal to the pharmacy. A month or so later he phoned and asked what day and time I would like a phlebotomist to come over and take samples for blood-work...Excellent work, I'd say.

[diddlydo]

The phone triage by an unqualified receptionist and a remote "appointment" with a GP started in our practice ages ago. It's an absolute sham.