Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

What is GPs nit seeing patients costing the NHS?

10 replies

DailyPotion · 17/12/2020 19:29

Long, long story, but on the advice/insistence of GP I have called an ambulance for DH twice this week.

He has severe pain and had called GP for pain relief. GP said call 999. Ambulance crew were very kind, checked him over and said he needed pain relief, call GP back.

Called GP again, tried to explain that he's been thoroughly checked, he needs pain relief for a muscular problem but GP wasn't happy and this time, called the ambulance himself, insisting that he needed to be seen urgently in A&E.

Ambulance crew, again lovely, but made it clear what they thought about a GP, who wont see patients, clogging up ambulances and A&E. DH really didn't want to go but as it seems to be the only way to get the medication he needs, they've taken him in, despite not thinking for a minute that he needs to go.

I expect he'll be quite some time. He's in pain, still doesn't have the meds and embarrassed to be there wasting everyone's time.

I suppose I'll be eating my words if it does turn out to be something serious, but if GP had concerns, especially after one paramedic had already checked him, shouldn't he have seen him himself (wearing the same PPE as the ambulance crew, mask, apron, gloves) before going through this again?

OP posts:
DailyPotion · 17/12/2020 19:31

Sorry, should have said GP didn't want me to take him, felt he needed an ambulance.

OP posts:
Moneuxly · 17/12/2020 19:38

I would trust a GP over a paramedic's view.

GPs are seeing patients (in most places)

DailyPotion · 17/12/2020 19:39

Well this one isn't/didn't.

I tend to agree the GP should know better than a paramedic....if he'd seen the patient.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Moneuxly · 17/12/2020 19:41

Yes but 999 and GP offer two different services - a GP cannot make someone wait for hours for an appointment if they believe they need urgent pain relief via 999 - it would be unethical.

DailyPotion · 17/12/2020 19:46

He was in a GP appointment, albeit by telephone, asking for pain relief.

OP posts:
towtheconstantbloodyrain · 17/12/2020 19:57

They very much definitely are seeing patients in most cases. Chum is a GP and arrived home at 2am this morning having worked solid until midnight from 7am ... having spent all day seeing and telephoning patients .

Torvean32 · 17/12/2020 20:35

My Gp surgery are not seeing ppl. I'm supposed to be seen once a month. They have not called me once. They constantly fob me off. I had tests asked for by a hospital dr, the Gp said they had not asked for them. I then requested a copy of the letter from the hospital Dr which clearly asks for the test. So my Gp has lied.
They've refused to give me my current blood results yet have asked for more.
The nurse had 7 attempts before she got blood and she used the same needle for 5 attempts.
It used to be a partner led practice, since going to the NHS most staff left and standards fell.
Time to move i think.

Your Gp should provide pain relief if it's within remitt. It's not a job for A&E really. Can you speak to a different Gp?

rookgizzardpie · 17/12/2020 21:07

@Torvean32

My Gp surgery are not seeing ppl. I'm supposed to be seen once a month. They have not called me once. They constantly fob me off. I had tests asked for by a hospital dr, the Gp said they had not asked for them. I then requested a copy of the letter from the hospital Dr which clearly asks for the test. So my Gp has lied. They've refused to give me my current blood results yet have asked for more. The nurse had 7 attempts before she got blood and she used the same needle for 5 attempts. It used to be a partner led practice, since going to the NHS most staff left and standards fell. Time to move i think.

Your Gp should provide pain relief if it's within remitt. It's not a job for A&E really. Can you speak to a different Gp?

what’s 7 attempts at taking your blood got to do with anything?
99victoria · 17/12/2020 22:20

My GP surgery isn't seeing people either. Appointments only available on the phone - not even video calls

mylittlefidget · 17/12/2020 22:26

If it's chest pain (remembering your previous post), then I wouldn't be happy with an at home assessment by the paramedics (or the GP!) either. He needs an A&E assessment and urgent bloods taken. Neither the GP nor the paramedics can organise 2 urgent troponin blood tests 6 hours apart and act on those results at home. Or do a ddimer test/ chest x-ray or possibly a CT scan. It would have been much easier for the GP to fob your husband off with pain killers rather than go through the trouble of ringing for another ambulance. It was the right call by your GP, and you are being highly unreasonable. I hope your husband is ok, but don't blame the GP for being conscientious and trying to do the right thing for your husband.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page