My GP has told me that 80% of their appointments don't need a GP appointment.

Completely agree. If you are worried about something, you should go to the doctor. We are NOT doctors. THAT' S WHY WE GO TO THE DOCTOR'S.

Says someone dismissing symptoms for which people are advise by the NHS to go to A&E. Did anyone actually speak to them before telling them to go home to ensure they had not experienced these symptoms? Or perhaps they were having frequent nose bleeds dismissed by their GP? My DC had to be seen and treated by ENT for nosebleeds.

Just thought of another one. My dd had meningitis. Our GP at the time had a system you had to have a phone appointment before they gave you a face to face. On the phone I said she’s got a fever lethargic I can hardly wake her and her nappy is dry- I was told had to be at least 24 hours of a dry nappy before I should worry. I waited a couple more hours and took her to A&E and was in the waiting room when the rash came up and within minutes she’s getting injections and her heart monitored as her pulse was weird and concerning. She would have died if I had listened to that gp

someone came in claiming they had a heart attack, but really it was indigestion

I hope they were examined properly before your BIL dismissed them. Women often have their symptoms dismissed because a heart attack can present differently in them, including:

• Anxiety
• Shortness of breath
• Upset stomach
• Pain in the shoulder, back or arm
• Unusual tiredness and weakness”

If you had ever worked in pharmacy you would be astounded at the volume of over-ordered and wasted medication returned to pharmacies. Not every patient stockpiles but there are lots who do, particularly as the NHS does not charge most people for medication, there is an argument that a small, nominal charge per item would make people think more.
There have been very large studies done which show that, overall, wastage is lower with 28 day supplies than with larger quantities

I think when your nose bleed finished six hours ago, still demanding to see a doctor is a bit excessive. 😂

Perhaps try not to quote advice that isn't relevant to make yourself look good.

The reason the NHS is close to collapse is because of drama llamas who waste valuable time and money.

Nose bleed:

Go to A&E if:
You have a nosebleed and:
your nosebleed lasts longer than 10 to 15 minutes
the bleeding seems excessive
you're swallowing a large amount of blood that makes you vomit
the bleeding started after a blow to your head
you're feeling weak or dizzy
you're having difficulty breathing

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/nosebleed/

Thinking about conditions like endometriosis where the average sufferer has been seeking help for 8-9 years before getting diagnosis. So all those appointments by these dismissive GPs would fall into this GPs category of not needing an appointment.

similar is true for MS.

I had an aunt die from ovarian cancer after months of GP dismissal. She had a palpatable lump before they would refer for tests by which time it was too late. A friends mother died of a brain tumour after the gp sent her away multiple times telling her it’s just part of aging (she was in her 30s). Another friend wasted many appointments over thyroid issues before she was given the blood test she needed for diagnosis.

stories like this should be the exception but I know too many (women) personally who have been told they are wasting GP time when they have genuinely needed medical care. So I don’t believe this stat to be true I believe it to be the opinion of a GP who is likely the problem.

i do of course know one or two people who are down the gp when they should be going to the pharmacist but they honestly believe they need a GP not being medically trained. the damage done by using stats like this to put people off seeing the GP is too high.

You'd be surprised. BIL works in A&E and, honestly, he has the patience of a saint to deal with some of this stuff. He never gives details, obviously, but he'll tell us how someone came in with a nosebleed and refused to leave or how someone came in claiming they had a heart attack, but really it was indigestion.

Infected In growing nails could require antibiotics and the nail being removed

and a broken toe isn’t life threatening. It would efinitley not be urgent. I know because I had one (not just broken but split completely in half!) and yes I had to wear trainers- I had to work and it was winter!

the point is a parent saying their child had an achey toe doesn’t mean there wasn’t anything serious. No one sits with their child in A&e for 8 hours unless they really feel it needs looking at!

@Kendodd I take your point, so the fact that NHS medics also operate in the private sector should be curbed then.

In Ireland, the NHS equivalents now have a contract that forbids working in the private system. However, they have been well compensated for the lack of private income in their public only contracts. Public only consultant salaries range between €230k and 280K with other allowances on top.

The problem everywhere I think, is holding on to qualified doctors, and adequate staffing. Lots to ponder, lots to do, lots that can be done. If the will and the investment is forthcoming.

Why would you tell someone to go to an optician with a sticky eye?

If a patient had given me those symptoms I would have flagged it straight to a GP whether the patient was added to that day's consultation list and even if there wasn't one available immediately I'd still tell a GP. I think after being in the job 16 years and having common sense I know when something like that is potentially serious. That is why patients need to tell Receptionist a bit more than "it's private".

However I don't think there are many Receptionists that stay in the job long because of the abuse, shit working conditions for low pay and as a result there is inexperience and disinterest in the job and then they leave and the next inexperienced Receptionist is hired.

I'm in my 50s too, and my memory is the opposite - we never saw the GP unless we were virtually dying. My best friend with terrible asthma recalls being practically blue before her mum would consider taking her to the doctor's.

Same. Hope you doing ok!

Of course we know what initial questions to ask. We don't give medical advice we ask enough questions to get patients to the most appropriate care.

Receptionist "how may I help you today?"
Patient "I'd like to see the Doctor"
R - "could you give me a brief idea of what the problem is please?"
P - "I think I've got a UTI"
R " Burning on urination? frequency? Any pain? "
P - "yes and I have a dragging feeling when I go"
R - "You'll have a phone call in the first instance, let me check we've got your correct telephone number. "

2nd call
P "I've got a problem with my eyes"
R - "Any discharge?"
P " Yes they are sticky"
R "Have you been to the pharmacy?"
P " No"
R - "If you contact them first they might be able to help or they could advise you to contact an optician".

if someone had back pain I wouldn't ask if they have pins and needles, urinary incontinence, any sensation of wanting to go to the toilet because it's those type of questions that only the GP needs to ask for that scenario. Asking if patients have phlegm with a cough, sore throat, runny nose or how long they've had diarrhoea for are normal questions anyone can ask.

When my husband phoned our old surgery and was triaged by the receptionist he was told he didn't need an urgent appointment and could wait two weeks to be seen. He called because he was bright yellow and his eyes were the colour of the Gruffalo's, he was excessively tired and had lost three stone in weight in a very short space of time.

I have zero bloody faith in being triaged by someone with no medical training.

I got one of mine updated to 56 days, because I was going to be away. I had expected it to be a one-off, but they've never reduced it, and it's not something I'm going to point out.

(Which reminds me, they texted me earlier to say next prescription is ready. It will still be there tomorrow.)

Most of my appointments are usually with the nurse - I've got bloods, flu jab and a smear coming up over the next fortnight. I did suggest they could be combined, but no.

I've also had a referral direct to gynae with just a phone call - they didn't need to see me in person for that. But I did need some contact, just not in person.

I literally write scientific articles about what used to be termed "inappropriate presentations."

I don't recognise these numbers. A&E, the estimates are about 40% are inappropriate (Ismali? 2014? off top of my head) and most of those presenters are suitable for primary care, so not completely without medical need.

In primary care (GPs, ANPs)... I've never heard a GP say something like "shouldn't be here." Sometimes frustrated they can't improve situation for the frequent attenders, and recognising that person's anxiety is their health problem.

GP surgery as gateway to secondary care is supposed to give you balance between specialist who only understands one part of your health and generalist who is trying to see combined picture, and could provide continuity of care.

Absolutely all of this.

Plus antibiotics really adversely affect immunity, so every time these people take them they become more prone to another infection.

Not trained as doctors but trained as a medical professional.

Pharmacists are not medically trained.

They know enough to ask if it's a regular appointment (ie for blood tests) or for a child's vaccination or a midwife booking in appointment.

I really dislike these types of comments from doctors. People visit the doctor because they need medical advice. While it may be that the issue would have resolved itself, the general public isn’t trained to identify that. And often mild symptoms could lead to something very serious!!

Maybe ask mumsnet to not encourage it with their advertising