To think the GP surgeries should be open today?

[Sparklingbrook]

Why are they shut? And Monday for that matter? We have 4 days of being at the mercy of OOH now.

I may be BU as I don't need an appointment. But the DC have a good history of being ill over holidays.

I suppose they reckon routine problems can wait 4 days and emergencies can be dealt with by OOH? I'm guessing the staff could do with holidays too.

Yeah but how many ill dc actually require a gp visit?

I'm sure they could but staff at the hospital don't have the same luxury. All the shops are open.....

GPs deserve tune off with their families too!

Time off obviously

I think it just seems a bit archaic. It's the 21st century. I would imagine Tuesday will be the day from hell for staff and the GPs.

"at the mercy of OOH"

Are they not an out of hours medical service? Or have they moved into ritual torture?

Doctors deserve time off too. OOH still operates, walk in centres still operate, NHS Direct still operates. It's just like a weekend, only longer.

Why GPs though? Why are they special? DH has gone to work today, I am going food shopping, and as I said the hospital staff don't get time off with family unless they have booked it I assume.

I must add my GP is the loveliest GP ever, the Receptionists are fantastic and I don't begrudge anyone time off with the family so I am not GP bashing, just wondering really.

And I have had varying experiences with OOH over the years.....

YABU, they are entitled to time off like everyone else.

Of course some jobs can't have time off such as hospital staff as you can't just send all patients home but thy will be a core doing only the necessary things, ie inpatients and no outpatients unless emergencies.

If there is something that can't wait until Tuesday there is OOH and A&E.

I know they are entitled to time off, I just don't get it. I am not saying I begrudge them time off. I'm really not.

I don't understand the split of what is open and what isn't.

I'm a teacher, I'm off today. The banks are shut, council shut, some shops here are shut, none of my neighbours seem to have gone to work today.

My dh is a GP, he's off today and tomorrow. But who is providing ooh for his practice and the 2 neighbouring ones? On Sunday and Monday, it's him!

If your job doesn't give you bank holidays off (and for our family it's also a religious holiday and we'll be at church twice - it is Good Friday after all!!) then that's not he problem of folks who do get bank holidays!

I doubt hospitals are running normal clincs though.

GP practices don't have the money/staff to provide services around the clock or 365 days a year.

We are lucky locally that we have a great OOH though even if they do refuse to treat DS which is easily accessible if something really can't wait.

It would probably be better for everything to be shut on Good Friday like on Easter Sunday then.

Except the hospitals-they aren't allowed to shut. And the emergency services. No time off for them.

Also why are libraries not open on a Sunday?

OP, it is a Public Holiday, there is sufficient OOHs cover available.

And obviously, I like bank workers, office workers, teachers etc am obviously special because I have the day off. It is down to you whether you go shopping today, but I remember a time when shops were closed on Bank Holidays...

Perhaps they should go back to that then Latte? It may be a public holiday but not all of the public are having a holiday.

But GPs aren't an emergency service so don't need to be open.

The gp contract says they can close and cover with ooh, hospitals contracts are 24/7 365 days a year.

Do you think they should be open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day then?

Easter is actually the most important religious festival in the Christian calendar. Today is one of the most deeply spiritual there is.

Hospitals are running ass a weekend over the 4 day hank holiday. So there will be some staff in such as ward nurses but doctors will only be to the same level as weekends and there will be no outpatients or routine operating or procedures. So you are wrong about your comment about hospital staff. And those doctors who are working will get a day off in lieu for working Friday or Monday -don't know about nurses but I think they get extra pay for bank holidays. And I'd imagine most people working on Friday or Monday will have a similar arrangement.

Yabu for moaning about something that makes no difference whatsoever to you or anyone you know. And for getting your facts wrong. And for the fact that gps are no less entitled to time off than anyone else - you don't martyr yourself when you become a doctor to the whims of everyone else who might just like a routine doctors appointment today because it's easier as they're off work anyway

Good Friday is important so why isn't everything shut?

And the shops were closed on Sundays until the early 90s (?). Imagine no large supermarkets or the West End on Sundays. I remember it well and the quietness, even in London, that pervaded Sundays.