GPs to work to rule? So what change?

[Borg Refinery]

I'm really sorry about that T00ts, yes a lot do now have to go to A&E to get small things sorted. Dunno if you have it where you are, but we used 111 a couple of times and they have GPs waiting in rooms in the hospital for emergencies out of hours, or sometimes send you to the local GP surgery to be looked at if they have space?

The healthcare situation in the UK is dire, not great here although at least they make an effort at the VA where my wife goes (that stands for Veterans' Affairs - they have special hospitals for veterans' healthcare)

[T00ts]

Last week I made a discovery that I thought needed a medical opinion. For several days I called at varying times to be told that 'you are 25 on the list' or thereabouts. I could have pressed # and kept my place in the queue but that involved my listening for the phone wherever I happened to be that day and that wasn't going to happen.

Eventually I was 5 in the queue and decided to hang on and after explaining my dilemma to the 'trained' receptionist I was given an  appointment with the emergency care team for early the next day. Pleasant enough with a decision let's wait two weeks and if things don't improve we'll get a scan. Thanks. I was fairly happy with that until I thought about it on the way home. 

He introduced himself as Andy, no medical title at all, so I looked him up. He wasn't listed although the one nurse that constituted the Emergency care team was. I then went to my online record to see what he had entered about our meeting. His access to my records was described as Nurse Access role, so I guess that's what he was. I feel like I have just been seen by the NHS equivalent to the man on the door. What really infuriated me was how many times he asked what I thought it was, only then to go to great lengths to tell me I was possibly wrong. I hope he proves right. Add to that -  having asked my allergies did not recognise any of the meds I listed. No wonder everyone now goes to A&E.

[Streetwalker]

Not only am I a diabetic with mental health issues but have also been diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Yet I haven't seen a GP in over three years. When I speak to one over the phone it is almost always one I have never spoken to before. The waiting room is permanently locked. You just dont get in unless a receptionist lets you in. There are never more than two people in there, often no one at all and anyone there is usually there to see a nurse rather than a GP. A GP seems about as rare as unicorn poo.

To even get a telephone call you first have to convince the non-medically qualified receptionist that your medical condition is serious enough to even warrant that. And you cannot book a time slot for the day of the call so have to spend the whole day waiting for the phone to ring. And often it doesnt. And their decision is based on an online questionnaire you have to fill in which many elderly cannot get their heads around. So they show up at the surgery where the receptionist instead of asking them what is wrong and booking something appropriate, simply runs through the online questionnaire with them, filling it in for them so they can then read it and make a decision based upon it, when they know what it says because they themselves have just pigging typed it!

Probably why I can never get to book an appointment with one of the actual experienced GP's , when the receptionist asks me whats the problem I say "What medical qualifications have you got ?"  the answer is none but my response of "I'll tell it to the doctor" leaves me with a 'general appointment' with one of the lesser GP's
You can't win ,they have sorted the system to suit themselves which means it doesn't suit us 

[srb7677]

Not only am I a diabetic with mental health issues but have also been diagnosed with Parkinsons Disease. Yet I haven't seen a GP in over three years. When I speak to one over the phone it is almost always one I have never spoken to before. The waiting room is permanently locked. You just dont get in unless a receptionist lets you in. There are never more than two people in there, often no one at all and anyone there is usually there to see a nurse rather than a GP. A GP seems about as rare as unicorn poo.

To even get a telephone call you first have to convince the non-medically qualified receptionist that your medical condition is serious enough to even warrant that. And you cannot book a time slot for the day of the call so have to spend the whole day waiting for the phone to ring. And often it doesnt. And their decision is based on an online questionnaire you have to fill in which many elderly cannot get their heads around. So they show up at the surgery where the receptionist instead of asking them what is wrong and booking something appropriate, simply runs through the online questionnaire with them, filling it in for them so they can then read it and make a decision based upon it, when they know what it says because they themselves have just pigging typed it!

[Streetwalker]

Pre covid my very busy GP surgery combined with 2 others and purpose built a new mega surgery with all mod cons about 2 miles from the old building. Since then a pharmacy has been included and now a private Dental surgery. So now it is smart and air conditioned with very adequate parking. A bit of a gem really.

Then Covid hit with all the ramifications that caused and since then each time I have called in it's virtually empty. We have now 3 GP practises on 2 floors yet there is never more than 2-3 people waiting for their appointments in their designated area and usually it is a nurse who calls. The old building used to be heaving with umpteen Drs flying about and nurses/office staff too making it a hive of industry.

On studying the the staff lists it appears that there are a variety of Drs most of whom I have never heard of, it is also a teaching surgery - whatever that means - but most of them work part time. I have just been asked to book a non-urgent appointment to discuss some blood results and the first available is 23rd September - fortunately this year!

Tell me, when they start their work to rule what will change?

Im sure these multi doctor all singing all dancing surgeries were built with the intention of covering for the lowering of standards . My own has a couple of senior GP's (partners )that are booked up months in advance and another 8 who are about as much used as a chocolate teapot with whom I have had miss-diagnoses and the odd referral . Not one instance of them getting anything right . Talking to others it seems the norm so if its this lot that I won't be able to see I wont be missing them .

[papasmurf]

It won't change anything at my local GP Practice 7 part time GPs, 6 female, 1 male, 4 locums.  I have only seen a Dr once in about 10 years, because of the number of specialist nurses. 

[T00ts]

Pre covid my very busy GP surgery combined with 2 others and purpose built a new mega surgery with all mod cons about 2 miles from the old building. Since then a pharmacy has been included and now a private Dental surgery. So now it is smart and air conditioned with very adequate parking. A bit of a gem really.

Then Covid hit with all the ramifications that caused and since then each time I have called in it's virtually empty. We have now 3 GP practises on 2 floors yet there is never more than 2-3 people waiting for their appointments in their designated area and usually it is a nurse who calls. The old building used to be heaving with umpteen Drs flying about and nurses/office staff too making it a hive of industry.

On studying the the staff lists it appears that there are a variety of Drs most of whom I have never heard of, it is also a teaching surgery - whatever that means - but most of them work part time. I have just been asked to book a non-urgent appointment to discuss some blood results and the first available is 23rd September - fortunately this year!

Tell me, when they start their work to rule what will change?