Getting a GP appt

Not everyone who wants a GP appointment needs one - many conditions can be treated or dealt with by a nurse.

I’ve got two health issues that I regularly have appointments for - one is dealt with by an ANP and the other I see my GP for. I’ve never had an issue getting an appointment with either.

I’ve no idea what goes on at our surgery, it’s like the Mary Celeste. You can’t get anything done there anymore. All routine stuff like smear test, bloods, coil fittings etc are done elsewhere. Often very much out of area and need booking weeks/months in advance.

Any process that should be relatively simple necessitates 10 phone calls and hours on hold trying to push through to the next step. I asked for diuretics (via econsult) because I’ve got swollen hands and feet. It took two weeks to get an appointment which wasn’t at our surgery (I think they run a local overflow clinic that encompasses lots of surgeries) where I was told I needed blood tests first. More hoop-jumping to get an appointment for bloods (no appointments within a month). Finally had the blood tests, and they’ve come back massively out of range. I assumed the GP would call me but a week later I was still waiting so I rang them. I’ve been given a phone appointment in two weeks. We’re now two months on and it’s still not resolved.

Even two years ago that whole process that has taken weeks would have been done almost immediately. Even our pharmacist admits she’s at the end of her tether with them and doesn’t know what the hell they do any more.

Seeing numerous, mostly frail, elderly people in very large numbers with multiple complex co morbidities.
And statistically more now than before Covid. With less staff.
Practice nurse.

Seeing a nurse etc has been a thing for many years now... at least 20 plus.

A simple ear infection is either left to heal on its own or in some cases, given a generic AB, same most minor infections.

The GP is there, either as back up or to deal with more serious issues, my elderly in-laws have no issues getting to see a GP and people do have the intelligence to know the difference between a nurse and a GP, you'll be told at the time of booking too.

With a sicker and an aging population, your son should have no worries and GPs have always been "private", never part of the NHS.

Surely he did some basic research before embarking on this career or is there another agenda here?

My surgery lists all their staff so I can clearly see who is a GP, who is the Advanced Nurse Practitioner, who is the Advanced Clinical Paramedic etc. I therefore know when it's a GP I'm seeing and it's all NHS. I'm not seeing anyone privately. When I went a few weeks ago I saw the ANP, my appointment next week is with a GP.

That’s because there aren’t enough GPs for the number of people who want appointments. So AHPs have to see the minor things that don’t need seeing by a doctor. Your son will never be out of work and if by some miracle he is he can move to Australia and there will be plenty for him there

I am in good health and hardly ever go to the doctor, but as it happens I went yesterday. I saw a real GP, face to face, having made the appointment a week before.

Both my appointments have/will be with doctors. I have seen a nurse practitioner for antibiotics for a simple infection though

I have no issue, same day appointments always available
Also evening and weekend ones
If it’s something like I’ve got tonsillitis/uti for the millionth time I just ask for the nurse (can’t remember her proper title) as she’s seen me before and it leaves the GP free then for other people

I rang up asking to see a GP for my knee sprain, the only appointment I could for a fortnight was a phone consultation with a nurse practitioner. You can't examine a physical injury on the phone. and where I live that appy would cost you $40 only to probably end up in a and e. So now trying to sort something through my physio but hobbling about...

Always have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment here

Same, I never have any issues getting an appointment at all, I can always see a GP when I need to.

Sounds like you were wanting a GP when you should have just gone to a pharmacy in the first place.

My GP practice is pretty much inaccessible if you work full-time on-site, so I’ve had to pay privately for every medical issue for the last few years, with the exception of longstanding repeat prescriptions (although looking at my repeats slip I’m now 2 years overdue a review). It’s incredibly frustrating and tbh there are a few medical things I’m trying to just cope with having at the moment as I can’t afford to keep paying. So it’s not rosy everywhere. Regarding GPs vs AHPs - I’ve no idea as I can’t access any of them anyway.

So you've changed your point from your "Sorry, but those who think you're getting an actual GP ..
You're not." statement then...

Maybe in your area...

In our surgery the staff board, complete with photos, tells you who everyone is and who are GP's, who are nurses, who are pharmacists etc.

There's also a brilliantly helpful list of who runs the asthma clinic, which GP does contraceptive implants and when, and the likes.

They also have set rules with some patients. I call for me, I get triaged like anyone else and signposted to the right person. Call for DD4, who has extensive needs and complicated conditions and she gets an appointment with one of two GPs - nobody else.

Yes they do that sort of thing but not seeing patients privately.

So many of the people who think they needs a GP don’t actually need a doctor - and that blocks the slots GP’s have to offer
I think it’s great that surgeries now have precscribing nurses, paramedics and pharmacists as it leaves quicker access to doctor to those who need it.
and i do know when I see a GP as they’ve been there years and new ones can be identified by their photo on the practice website - I find it odd that you are so insistent that you know how every gp surgery operates?

Don’t understand!

Nope.

I got an asthma check done by an asthma nurse.

I got a child development check from a health visitor.

I got an assessment of wrist pain from a physio based at the GP practise.

I got a paramedic phone assessment, then face to face, and then a GP review when I had a cough that meant couldn’t catch breath.

It’s not always an appointment with a GP when you contact a practise, but they’re definitely still there and doing patient contacts. They’re just not the only health professionals that deliver primary care through GP practises.

Are you quite ok? 😳

What are you on about, I see the GP at my GP surgery if and when required. They are actual GP's OP. Do you not want your son to become one for some reason so trying to make the case for him not being required in the future? People are living longer with more and more problems so absolutely positive they will be needed long into the future.