What to GPs actually DO?

One of my GC needed to see a GP two weeks ago (they are 18 months old) AC was told GP would only see GC if they had a negative Covid Test. AC responded with ok we shall go to A & E and tell them the reason why they offered a phone consultation and asked for photos of baby, none of us were impressed.

Up till Covid our practice was exceptionally good, now on the local door step page nothing but complaints.

ExDancer both a post operative wound check and suture removal would normally be carried out by a practice nurse, not a GP. Your surgery may be short on practice nurses at the moment due to them taking annual leave in the school holidays - it’s more likely that than anything to do with the covid situation, as the reason they have referred you to the Urgent Treatment Centre.

My GP surgery has been appalling. My daughter's has been brilliant and operated almost as normal throughout the pandemic. Judging by the amount of comments about GPs up and down the country people aren't happy.

It's all well and good for NHS England to tell people to go to the doctors if they're feeling ill. They seem to think people aren't going due to not wanting to bother the NHS.

I think the real reason is they can't get appointments and have given up. A phone call can be brilliant but for some patients 1 - 1 is vital

My First surgery took place in March, and I was told they couldn't see me, this one was 10 days ago. It seems odd to say the least, that they would still be short of nurses to do such a routine job.
I'm inclined to do it myself.

ExDancer
Here’s an account ( and comments) from one Dr.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9847323/ISABEL-OAKESHOTT-day-frazzled-GP-proof-seeing-patients-face-face-saves-lives.html

ExDancer there are a number of people on GN who have family members in the profession, I’m sure they’ll let you know.
Our surgery have been brilliant, but they have suffered from staff having to isolate, having Covid and usual sickness on top. A lot of them have not had a break since the start of 2020, they’ve been as worried and concerned about an unknown virus as the rest of us, but have done their best, in my view.

MerylStreep

ExDancer
Here’s an account ( and comments) from one Dr.

www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9847323/ISABEL-OAKESHOTT-day-frazzled-GP-proof-seeing-patients-face-face-saves-lives.html

Let’s hope people read this before attacking GP’s wholesale

Lucca I read that too however it doesn't help allay the thoughts that you shouldn't bother the GP even if you ought to. Our GP was brilliant at diagnosing DH stroke when she saw him face to face. Unfortunately it was on 3rd day after symptoms which were diagnosed as labyrinthitis over the phone. Too late for clot busting drugs.
I would also like to add dentists into this question and why they can treat private patients for anything but not NHS patients. My friend was told it was because the dentist's mask did not pass NHS guidelines???? If not you could equally pass or receive viruses from private patients (or I am a bit dense). She is waiting till they open up again.

Elaine1
I’ve seen my NHS dentist 3 times during the past year. My daughter twice, my son in law once.

I had a biopsy recently, I was told to contact my surgery for suture removal, when I said that my husband could do it (retired vet) they gave me the scalpel so he could do it!

I think that variation around the country is huge. My GP, apart from the receptionists border guards is fine and I can usually get a phone consultation. I have only needed one in the past year and they were brilliant when DH was dying of cancer.
On the other hand where DD lives: Agh. She found a lump on her breast and saw her GP 6 months ago who said she would be referred for further investigation. She has heard nothing so I nagged her to follow it up. She rang the GP recently and the receptionist said "Only 6 months, some patients have been waiting 2 years!" I kid you not.
She doesn't even know which clinic she would be referred to.

I wish it wasn't like this and I hope you can have the sutures removed soon ExDancer.

BTW I was told by my Dentist that he has 9000 patients, The prices he charges, he must be very rich and he is also charging because his PPE failed the NHS test.

The GPs at my local practice are often leaving the surgery, going home to eat and remind spouses and children that they’re alive, then disappearing behind a mound of paperwork until 11pm. I’m on the PPG at my local Health Centre and one of our main concerns is GP burnout - I’m afraid the current workload is unsustainable for most senior GPs.

In addition to seeing patients, reviewing tests, making referrals, doing telephone triage, minor surgery etc., it’s also the job of Senior GPs to liaise with other organisations, deal with CCGs, supervise training placements, attend Practice Management meetings, hire staff, supervise junior GPs…… the list really is endless. And some of these GPs are mums and dads with young children and households to run too. The shopping needs to be done along with the laundry and housework…….!!

I have huge calls on my time and I’m regarded as having a ‘busy’ life, but my local GPs take busyness to another level. In my opinion to imagine your GP is sitting at a desk and simply answering the phone is to do him/her a great disservice.

GPs in the UK are stretched probably because there are only 58 of them per 100,000 people. In Australia there are 103 in cities then with varying numbers down to 70 in very remote areas. Still much higher than the UK even in the remote bush. We just have too many people in this country and the infrastructure can't cope.

ExDancer the receptionists at my GP practice make up their own rules. No, you do not want to be hanging about a busy hospital double jabbed or not! I hope you get this sorted soon.

That's a good question. There's very few GPs available at our surgery. The GP who runs the practice never has appointments online. It seems as though the place is kept going by nurse practitioners. A 3 week wait is pretty normal for a GP telephone appointment.

Grammaretto I realise you are in a different part of the country to me and have no wish to worry you but breast lumps are usually checked within two weeks. I find the receptionists comment to your DD unbelievable unless your DDs GP is convinced it’s nothing untoward. I would get her to try again and insist on knowing what they are doing. It sounds very strange to me. Hope she is ok.

Grammaretto

I think that variation around the country is huge. My GP, apart from the receptionists border guards is fine and I can usually get a phone consultation. I have only needed one in the past year and they were brilliant when DH was dying of cancer.
On the other hand where DD lives: Agh. She found a lump on her breast and saw her GP 6 months ago who said she would be referred for further investigation. She has heard nothing so I nagged her to follow it up. She rang the GP recently and the receptionist said "Only 6 months, some patients have been waiting 2 years!" I kid you not.
She doesn't even know which clinic she would be referred to.

I wish it wasn't like this and I hope you can have the sutures removed soon ExDancer.

BTW I was told by my Dentist that he has 9000 patients, The prices he charges, he must be very rich and he is also charging because his PPE failed the NHS test.

I hope your daughter has got seen? I found a lump that I thought I should get checked out, called gp reception who immediately said the gp would call me, and did before lunch. I explained what I had found and she asked me to come in to the surgery that afternoon. She referred me to my local hospital breast care centre and within 2 weeks I was seen and tests done. Fortunately everything was ok. The care I received from my surgery and hospital trust was brilliant even in a pandemic. I’ve recently moved house and GP, I’m hoping I don’t need care yet and that it’s as good as my previous experience.

Tea3 I bet they don’t. ?.
I imagine like most GP surgeries the rules they work to are set out quite clearly by the GPS. If they made up their own the GPS would be in trouble.
What usually happens is the ogre on the reception desk tells the patient the GP has no appointments or can’t fit them in. Patient eventually gets to speak to GP who says of course I will see you. Patient glares at receptionist as they go into the GP ‘S room. GP is nice as pie to patient. GP then rages at the receptionist for not telling the patient they couldn’t be seen.
You have no idea how many times that happens. ?

For months now a local GP practice has posted messages on the local Facebook page asking patients not to call them unless it's urgent. Reasons have varied from week to week; staff self isolating, staff ill, concentrating on COVID jabs, staff have been "pinged", staff holidays, no internet, no water, too many patients requiring face to face appointments. Every week they ask that people go to the pharmacy for "self care" advice or go to Primary Care at the hospital. I'm glad I changed practice a couple of years ago; no problems at the new one.

There is an app now called Livi NHS where you can get a video consultation with a GP the same day, my surgery told me about it when I couldn't get an appointment. As long as your records are available for them to see, they will call you free of charge for a video consultation. The outcome and notes from that is fed straight back to your GP surgery so they can follow up if necessary.

My carpal tunnel wound was checked three days later at the hospital, where it was performed and the stitches removed by the practice nurse. This however, was before the pandemic.

I have had a number of GP phone telephone consultations, during the pandemic, all within an hour of speaking to a receptionist. That however, could be because I'm extremely, clinically vulnerable. I am indeed fortunate, when I hear of others' experiences.

Mattsmum2 I too had similar excellent care in March this year, breast clinic within 2 weeks, fortunately clear.

My friends son developed pains in his back after being involved in a traffic accident a few weeks before.
The receptionist after consulting a colleague told him that yes, he could have an appointment as he had not seen a doctor for over a year.
Are we rationed?

Doodle I agree with you. The GP receptionists, as all front line staff, work according to rules set out by their superiors. And like other front line staff, they bear the brunt of people’s frustration. In fact they would get into trouble if acted differently from instructions.