Does anyone feel like when you see a GP their job is to disprove anything is wrong rather than investigate what is happening? I just wonder if this is the case in other health services?

[Whyjustwhy123]

I’ve not had to see a GP for years, but in the last couple of months has to see them twice. The first time for an injury and the second time for a reaction to medication that was given for the first visit.

Both times I’ve given my symptoms and rather than any tests to investigate what may be causing the issues or blood tests to check something I was just offered strong painkillers.

It very much feels like rather than my symptoms dictating what conversation we had but the GP very early on in the appointment haven decided what the issue is. Then followed up at both appointments, but if this changes go to A&E or call 999. And I’m thinking surely it would make sense to treat me properly at this point and avoid a trip to A&E.

Im not wanting to ‘bash’ GPs and I suspect my experience is the result of the pressures on them. But both times I came away feeling like I had been mistaken in having to see them. And despite this neither issue has been resolved!

I have a symptom, I had a scan of my head- clear and blood tests also normal but I'm still having the symptoms, actually hurt myself over the weekend and still in pain. I was expecting to be called back so it could be investigated further as it could result in serious injury or even death but I wasn't. I didn't have any problem making an appointment to see my GP though.

No one seems to want to answer my question.

Would I be receiving this treatment in other well renowned health systems?

This is no way a criticism of GPS, who work incredibly hard and I admire.

But I genuinely worry that as patients we are being convinced that a poor service or a ‘good enough’ service is what we should expect.

The GP has said to me that it might be I need an X-ray, but to try physio first.

im genuinely curious is this the approach other health systems would take?

So pay a couple of hundred quid for a private xray and take the results back to your GP?

The whole concept of proper diagnosis before treatment has gone down the pan.

It is frightening that such a basic principle is being swiftly eroded.

We're being conned into thinking that diagnoses by others (physios, pharmacists, practice nurses, medical assistants) is fine - it is not. It is a poor substitute for proper care, which we have insufficient funds and trained staff to provide.

Oh you're not wrong OP. It's called gatekeeping. An NHS GP's job is to cost less for the NHS. Of course, if they think you have a brain tumour they will do something about it, otherwise they will often try to minimise. My experience goes like this.

1. No preventive care. You're never encouraged to attend just for a checkup. The exception is things like smear tests. In any case, in some areas it's almost impossible to see the GP anyway.
2. Minimising of symptoms. They will tell you to go away for a few weeks in the hope it disappears.
3. Giving the most common medication for your problem as a way of diagnosing instead of referring for tests.
4. Realising there's a problem, but trying to solve it themselves because they are gatekeepers. Only referring to a specialist after a long time of trying to solve it themselves even though they know it's beyond their experience.

It's absolutely not like that in other health services.
Obviously where healthcare is paid for you can have the opposite problem of people being referred for tests they don't need, having specialists recommended to them because they're mates of the GP, etc.

"So pay a couple of hundred quid for a private xray and take the results back to your GP?"

There are ethical problems with this as well as the basic principle that she pays tax so shouldn't need to go for private healthcare!

The NHS is really struggling, but I hear it's very bad in the US where people literally die because they can't afford treatment.

@Squidger45 and that is what I’ll end up doing.

Unacceptable.
Pharmacists do not diagnose. They often will not even dare give proper advice on how to take medication eg I asked whether I should follow my dr's advice or the advice on the leaflet and they wouldn't take the responsibility of answering.

You should not have to list your symptoms in a room full of patients because of confidentiality reasons. There is the same problem with telling a pharmacist about your medical problems in the middle of the pharmacy.

Yes, but those are not the only two health systems in the world.

@8state there are other health systems in the world other than the US or the U.K.

I've lived in several countries and have definitely received better GP care elsewhere.

@Gwenhwyfar I didn't think it could be right. The last time I phoned for my teen with an unusual lump/swelling the receptionist told me to see the pharmacist before she could give me an appointment. I have since called back, telling them my teen isn't comfortable with that. They have given us an appointment but for the middle of June. It's always been a very good surgery, but we haven't needed them for around 6 years. The new approach is a bit of a shock.

I hear from friends that live there that the Netherlands has a very good system. It is paid for with insurance, I think, but presumably it's affordable. Would be interested to hear of other systems, if anyone knows.

Yes our GP surgery is quite bad. Notoriously so in that it has been in the news a few times for various reasons- none of which were edifying.

Last time I went to it was for an asthma review. I said that I did not think my preventer inhaler was working for me as I was having to use my reliver quite alot. I was told that it was likely down to 'user error' i.e. i was not using it properly. I am 55 and been asthmatic all my life and the medication had recently been changed when I went for a new script. One thing I do know how to do is use my inhaler properly- not least because I use a spacer as well.

A week later I had a massive asthma attack and ended up in hospital. Preventer was changed then and no more problems. It would have been nice if they had listened to me and not just assumed I was a stupid idiot who did not use my inhaler properly.

GP care is better here in Belgium. You can also go straight to a specialist, but there can be long waits so it's not all perfect.

" It would have been nice if they had listened to me and not just assumed I was a stupid idiot who did not use my inhaler properly."

Did you make a complaint? I hear so many horror stories, but hardly anyone seems to make a complaint.

I have 2 friends who had lumps who were both asked to send in photos. I'm not a medic, but I presume that is not an ideal way to check lumps?

Honestly I am scared to make a complaint. Because what care would I get then? Plus I have a disabled child who is under alot of medical care and genuinely worry about possible knock on effects. That might sound silly but it's an issue for me. I am always scrupulously polite to the surgery. Not seen my actual nominated GP since I went to her 4 years back asking for a paed referral for my child for possible tourettes (now diagnosed) and had her roll her eyes at me and huff and tell me it could have been done by an ANP instead and had no need to request her to do it.

Our surgery is the same. The call handlers now ask a series of questions, will put you on hold for a while and then give you an appointment with either the nurse, pharmacist or the paramedic based at the surgery (primarily a telephone consultation first). If you then present with something they can’t deal with, you are offered a GP appointment. So we have to go through several minor gate holders before we actually get to the chief gate holder and then they palm you off with either a pain killer, antibiotic or antidepressant instead of referring. My mil was ‘palmed off’ like this for a year whilst they faffed about trying to treat her with what they assumed to be a benign issue which was actually a cancer.

@ChocolateyBiccy It doesn't sound right! GPs seem to have restricted services a lot since Covid as well. Not sure why.

So another question to any GPS reading this.

Do you believe the best way to diagnose a lump is via the pharmacist or a photo? I’m not asking whether you think this is the best approach in the struggling NHS I’m asking if you think clinically it’s the best approach?

The GP care of my parents has been absolutely shocking. They dismissed their symptoms and kept prescribing antidepressants for something that was obviously not depression. I finally had to go in and tell them which referrals we needed due to the obvious symptoms of a serious condition (now diagnosed). Only then did anything happen. I'm incredibly cross with how dismissive they are of vulnerable people who aren't pushy.

Further to that, they forgot to send my aunt's referral to the hospital which has delayed by months a condition which is life threatening.

I go to a different GPs and they have been excellent so I guess it depends on who you get.

In the hospital the care has been excellent even if there are huge delays for everything. I really feel for them and the pressure they are under.

You said it was an injury in your first post, not a chronic condition?

If you don't like the NHS you can pay for private insurance or go private for a particular treatment if you want.

Similar experiences here, both for me and my family. One family relative got fobbed off with her symptoms for over 10+ appointments. Turned out her cancer had come back. It was caught too late and she died. Sadly, I hear a LOT of similar stories.

I have at least had a very good experience with the local hospital.