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.

[TeaOneSugar]

My dh is emergency services and working this weekend, he knew bank holidays were part of the deal when he took the job.

[NuhichNuhaymuh]

Today is a bank holiday rather than a public holiday though isn't it?

Banks are closed, soo bank staff are off, but it is (in theory) a normal workjng bank for the lesser mortals.

[Sparklingbrook]

I wondered how long it would be before I got accused of moaning. I have repeatedly said I don't begrudge GPs their holiday.

[Sparklingbrook]

Perhaps Mumsnet should close for Bank Holidays too.

[YellowDinosaur]

And as for your 'why should gps have the time off when other people have to work'

Well i'm a doctor and I work nights and weekends sometimes. To use your own ridiculous argument how dare you have any nights or weekend off. If i'm working then why shouldn't I be able to go clothes shopping or buy a coffee or eat in a posh restaurant at 3 am - i'm working so everyone else should be too! Yes, lets all work 24/7 because it's not fair for anyone to be off when others are working. Ffs

[NuhichNuhaymuh]

stupid prediction text!!! normal working day, not bank!!!!

[TeaOneSugar]

So why start the thread?

[Sparklingbrook]

Thanks for that Yellow. Nowhere did I say anything about all night clothes shopping. Isn't AIBU great?

[Sparklingbrook]

I started the thread because I was just thinking DH has gone off to work, and I am going shopping yet GPs are shut. Then I realised they are shut til Tuesday that's all. I was just thinking about who was open and who wasn't.

[diddl]

'Tis all closed over here (Germany).

Shops open tomorrow, & then closed again Sun & Mon.

[NuhichNuhaymuh]

also should have added my gp is working today, but just one surgery (usually two).

There is no reason why gps shouldnt be open, where I work now is, but all places prior to this job I had to go in as usual

[TeaOneSugar]

If you need to see a gp today you will be able to see one, the service is being provided just in a different way.

[Sparklingbrook]

Isn't that better then diddl? Everything shut? Everyone knows everything is shut?

[goodygumdrops]

I think its down to cost. A lot of people working bank holidays get paid a 'premium' - in the NHS I think its time and 60% or near enough. So they will only open services considered 'essential.' So there will be no routine stuff - no speech and language therapists, no physios, no radiography, no outpatients clinics etc etc

[Hulababy]

We have a drop in medical centre staffed with gps and nurses. Open every day morning til night, even over Christmas. I've had to use it a few times just generally because it's not always possible to get an appointment at my own GPs. Works well.

[Sparklingbrook]

I know that Tea, unfortunately OOH can be quite difficult in these parts. Phone calls, then waiting for a return phone call, then going to the local hospital etc. Fingers crossed I won't need to phone anyway.

[FigSolution]

Sparklingbrook, it is archaic because it is cheap. Provision of a wrap around 24/7 365day primary care service would be extremely expensive, and quite rightly too.

[weegiemum]

Emergency health services are open today. I get a routine treatment in hospital once a month - isn't available today, the "weekly" ward is shut.

GP is not an emergency service!

[Sparklingbrook]

I wouldn't use the GP as an emergency service because that would be a bit bonkers frankly.

[FigSolution]

SALTs, physios and radiographers will absolutely be working over the bank holiday weekend. They all being just as essential to patient care as doctors and nurses . Outpatient clinics will be shut though.

[auforfoulkesake]

good Friday has always been odd imo.
when I was a teen, long time ago, our local newsagents was open briefly and that was all.
I don't know what is open and what isn't
and my local co op is sometimes open til 10 pm on a good Friday but I wont count on it.

[JollyYellowGiant]

Our GP is open today and Monday :)

[auforfoulkesake]

I want to take dd shoe shoping but I am nkot sure what is open and am going to ring shortlty

[YellowDinosaur]

No you didn't say anything about all night clothes shopping. But your argument was that other emergency services and shop staff (among others) have to work bank holidays so why shouldn't gps. Well why should they? You haven't given any reasonable argument as to why they should. If you had a medical problem that couldn't wait there is no guarantee (depending on your gp practice) that they would be able to fit you in that day anyway. That is what a&e is for which is open round the clock.

When you take a job one of the things you consider is if there are any antisocial hours. If you don't like it don't do it (and I do appreciate that some people need to take any job they van get at three moment but most out of hours jobs get enhanced pay compared with 9 to 5)

If you take your argument, which seemed to be 'others are working so why shouldn't gps be just in case my kids who have a history of getting ill need then' then to take it to it's logical conclusion, I could day 'i'm working nights so why are all the lazy clothes shop workers sleeping when I might want to go shopping at a time that suits me'. Oh and it's ridiculous because being on a shift I couldn't leave but it wouldn't be ridiculous to want the canteen staff to work so I can actually buy some food on my night shift.

All jobs have different working patterns, gps not working bank holidays is not a surprise or an inconvenience to you so I don't really get your rather pointless rant.

[JudithOfThePascha]

I don't think GPs need to be open today. They don't provide an emergency service - that's what A&E/OOH care is all about.

I think that more people/businesses should observe bank holidays, tbh.