Can nurses see patients instead of Doctors?

[Denisec4502]

I booked an appointment to see my Doctor last week for today for my 10 year old daughter, I finished work early to take her to get a diagnosis, and possibly some medication for itchy eyes (hayfever), although when I booked the appointment I did not mention what was wrong with her. When we arrived at the Doctors this afternoon the doctor was just on his way out, I thought this strange and just waited for our appointment. We were called in by a smartly dressed lady who I assumed was a locum Doctor. When she told me "you cannot get eye drops for hayfever, you just have to take anti-histamine tablets" warning bells rang, as my Sister uses prescribed eye drops for her hayfever eyes.... when I asked what her position at the practice was, she advised me she was the Practice Nurse. I was outraged, no offence to nurses, but why was I not told by the receptionist when I made the appointment that I would not be seeing a qualified Doc. The Nurse could see I was not convinced so she rang the Doc (who I now find had gone to his other surgery 4 miles away), to see what could prescribed, he indeed said there were eye drops my daughter could have on prescription. Unfortunately the "nurse" was not able to sign prescriptions so I have got to go back tomorrow !! I was not best pleased. What a waste of time. To add insult to injury ,she told me the Doc is too busy to see all his patients !! I go to the Doc about once every 2 years... Pay my National Health contributions from my salary and CANNOT EVEN SEE A QUALIFIED DOCTOR. Surely this is wrong...??

[andy-hughes]

I understand how you feel, but it is common practise in a lot of practices for a Practice Nurse to see non-urgent cases which he / she can usually diagnose and / or treat , although as you say, they cannot prescribe.

I think it takes a lot of pressure off GP's who are drowning in paperwork, as is anyone who has any connection with Central Government funding!

If you think your, or your family member's ailment warrants a doctor's apprasial, ask when you book your appointment, and be firm - you should get to see your GP, although probably not s quickly as you could see a PN.

[Denisec4502]

Thanks. I was not aware this is common practice now, as I have been with the same doc for 27 years and this has never happened to me before.

[Goodsoulette]

We have a nurse pracitioner at our surgery she is excellent. Just sounds like yours needs to listen a bit more. Whoever it is, is often only putting your symptoms into a computer to get the list of medication available to you anyway.

[gina32]

i have once been to see the pn at my surgery and she gave me a prescription, maybe some can and some cant

[bednobs]

nurses are able to prescribe if they have undertaken a prescibing course. They in theory can prescribe anything thats prescribable but in practice stick to their own speciality. Thus practice nurses prescribe for cmmonly seen ailments, whilst cardiac nurses might prescribe beta blockers, and palliative care nurses might prescribe morphine

[sense4all]

I have had an appointment with a prescribing practice nurse. I knew I was going to see her tho' and I knew what was wrong with me already. Not really appropriate in all cases tho'! I understand your frustration.

[bednobs]

i agree, they should have informed you before hand. that you would be seeing the nurse, although in their defence i would have to say nurses get more training in prescribing that doctors do!

[Goodsoulette]

I entirely agree with you bednobs. There are definitely areas of care, say pain management where a nurse would know better.

[Pocket_Rocket]

As bednobs says, some suitably qualified nurses can prescribe, but they have a limited list of medicines known as the nurses formulary. The same applies with pharmacists. If you sign up to the scheme at your local chemist, you can ask them to look at your symptoms (they will usually have a private area/room) and they can prescribe from a limited list of medicines.