Doctors???

[twazerk]

I live in South Yorkshire, does anyone know how much my doctors practice gets to have me on the books? I never visit my doctors as you have to arrange to be ill around 6 weeks in advance and run the gauntlet of 20 questions from the very indignant receptionist.

[Octavius]

Its the same everywhere. Why not go private and get taxed twice instead! These numbers are approximate and are probably out of date.

GPs - selected fees and allowances

Basic practice allowance (per annum)
First 400 patients - about �4,000
Each successive patient from 401 - 600 - about �10ea Each successive patient from 601 - 800 - about �8 ea
Each successive patient from 801 � 1,000 - about �6 ea
Each successive patient from 1,001 - 1,200 - about �4 ea
Maximum rate for 1,200 patients - about �10k

They also get Standard capitation fees (per patient) but that requires me typing a lot more information. Check out the BMA website for anything further.

Assuming you are under 65, it would be about �20. Plus depending on the level of local depravation they might get a bit more.

[Lil O'lady]

Twazerk's point is very important though - why do we find ourselves having to explain the ins and outs of the cat's whatsit to a receptionist who has no medical qualification? Why can't GP's use online diagnosis as a simple first step?I'd be delghted to see the whole arrangement dragged kicking and screaming into the 1990's.....

[MrXLA]

Why do many people on here perist in moaning about a service which clearly will never satisfy their demands in its current form.

Why not ask the government for the proportion of YOUR tax that goes towards YOUR healthcare back and instead have a privatised system.

***However note, in many cases the cost incurred would be far greater than the contribution made via income taxation (meaning many people would be financially worse off).

(Some 'high' earners would probably be better off since they are taxed at a high rate and then go private since the cost of being out of work for prolonged periods of time is greater than the cost incurred expediating their healthcare privately)

Or don't whinge about it, accept that its not perefct and be thankful that we have an NHS whereas in some countries people don't have access to food or clean water.

[MrXLA]

In an ideal world you would be able to ring a GP and get an appointment that day (and in FACT you can do that in some practices).
However there is a finite number of appointments in any day , doctors are very gifted but time dilation is not one of their many skills.

[twazerk]

Am I right in guessing that MrXLA is a doctor or somehow engaged in the medical profession?
The argument that there are other people on the earth worse off than us just does not work, we could argue that other people pay less tax or benefit from more sunshine etc.
The truth is, GP's have so many people on the books for whatever reason, at many practices an appointment whilst you are actually unwell is almost impossible. I sometimes think that the receptionist tries to fob you off for a fortnight in the hope that your illness will go away.

[bednobs]

twazerk, that is not true (it may be your perception, but it is simply untrue)

All gp surgeries must run 2 systems - 1 for emergency appointments (say you wake up feeling unwell) and will see you wthin 48 hours. the other is for longer term bookings (reviews etc) which you can make an appointment in the future for. Additionally, all surgeries Have to provide "immediate and necassary" appointments to anyone (not just people registered in their surgery.) Aditionally for serious and urgent healthcare, we have an ambulance system, which is always on standby 24/7. Aditionally we have a and e departments where any one can turn up any time for healthcare. Aditionally lots of areas now hve "walk in centres" where you dont even have to be registered and you can be seen on the same day. Aditionally, you can get 24 hour a day advice from qualified nurses on NHS direct.

[abstibus]

Good for you, bednobs. It has always been my belief that because the NHS is 'free at point of delivery' it is not appreciated. We are lucky to live in a country where 11 years of school education (another undervalued area) and healthcare for all is 'free'.
Have the moaners ever lived anywhere these are not?
They'd get one h*** of a shock.

[twazerk]

Sadly Bednobs I must live in a different country where an appointment at our local surgery within 48 hours for ANY reason is quite out of the question, and the option of going to hospital to wait 7 hours at a&e to be told the doctors are 'very busy' is not something you do twice! and NHS direct told my son to 'go to his doctors' it's a joke.
Annemollie (nice name) I am an employer and find that most of the people coming out of the free 11 year education system cannot write, cannot spell and struggle with basic maths.
I have lived in many countries and have experienced many different cultures, part of the problem we have in Britain is that we DON'T complain, if we did, and did it properly, we would not have to put up with such poor levels of service.

[MrXLA]

Sadly twazerk you are misinformed and misguided, incidentally the first 11 years of my education was provided by the taxpayer and I went on to do rather well.
Doctors ARE VERY BUSY, nurses in hospitals are treated rather poorly but at least they get breaks, DOCTORS DON'T!!!, certainly not allocated ones anyway. On the rare occasion that they do one of their own team will typically hurl abuse at them for having 5 mins. of their feet.

Whilst I wouldn't like to see the end of the NHS completely, it least it would serve to demonstrate to people like yourself how lucky you once were.
People employed in a private oragnisation would never accept the amount of S**t that NHS staff put up with.

[twazerk]

Misinformed and misguided? I speak from experience!!!

I was also a victim of a state funded public school and have survived.

From your spelling etc, all I can say is 'I rest my case'

[MrXLA]

Well as I'm sure you have guessed english and grammar are not subjects in which I excel at, but I assure you I more than make up for it in other areas.

I don't doubt for one minute that you have had bad experiences , however it is very clear that you have zero appreciation for the pressure the staff in the NHS are under.
The fact is the only way to make it better would be more resources i.e. more money and there simply isn't enough.

[MrXLA]

'victim' is in inappropriate and offensive term to describe public education.
Clearly you have issues, are education system and healthcare services are not perfect, but they never will be.
There will always be problems with them however please try not to forget that they work very well for many people everyday.

[MrXLA]

are should read 'our' education sytem...

[MrXLA]

Your experience is only from your perspective and it may well be that you have been unlucky. However your inability to view a system or situation from any other person's viewpoint but your own is sadly one of the main reasons we have problems in our society.

[bednobs]

Twazerk, you say yourself that you never visit your doctors, therefore i dont understand how you can have an informed opinion on the appointment system. It is simply not true about not being able to get an appointment within 48 hours, as the government have set down that ALL gp surgeries HAVE to provide appointments within 48 hours for "emergencies" If your surgery are not living up to this, instead of just whinging about it, report them to the local pct who will review their contract, and make sure they are sticking to it, or take away their contract.. If you feel the attitude of the receptionist is substandard then again, instead of just bitching about it, inform someone; make a complaint; speak with the practice manager

if you feel you have an emergency and cant be seen at the surgery, take yourself to A and E. If it is truley an emergency they will see you and help you(even if it takes some time; the doctors arent just sitting twiddling their thumb waiting for you to arrive). If it is not an emergency, then make an appointment for the future with the gp.
In lots of areas now you can get a private gp, so if you remain unsatisfied then you have to option to pay for a gp service and good luck to you. At least you dont get ignorant patients not turnng up when they have to pay!

[twazerk]

Bednobs, As I said, I don't visit my doctors but I am not a hermit, I have a wife, children, family and suprisingly friends!
I would love to live in your vision of this country.

[abstibus]

This is just to inject (!) a note of light relief. A few years ago, I was working in a university in South China. It was very hot and humid (tropics) during the day, and everything closed down from 11.30 for 3 hours.
During this time, the university hosted a huge international conference for dveloping countries, with delegates from Fiji, Cuba, the former Yugoslavia, etc. - you get the drift.
One day I met two very irate gentlemen from Pakistan who had just been to the hospital and discovered that the doctors were 'sleeping' and couldn't be disturbed.
One of them said to me ' This country is in the Middle Ages. This cannot happen in my country. If we go to the hospital and find the doctors are sleeping, we take them outside and beat them'.
I was a bit lost for words.

[twazerk]

Now that the dust has settled, perhaps we could all agree that yes some of us do get lousy service BUT, the problem is complex. I'm sure that there are some heroic people in the healthcare system trying to do the best they can with very limited funding.
The fact remains that in some areas, the service is still very poor and we should all make our opinions clear to the powers that be.