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.

The Golden Library is used by Worcester University students so possibly not a good example in hindsight.

Anyway, I have been out, everywhere is hideously busy as if the shops will be shut forever from tonight. And I expect the traffic warden is making a mint.

I find it much better to be ill at a weekend/bank holiday as you get an appointment with the out of hours doctor much more easily! Went this morning for some antibiotics as I developed a nasty ear infection yesterday evening, if I had had to go to my GP I would have had to wait until at least this evening for an appointment.

I think the question should be more along the lines of

"Why are so many people working, when it's a Bank Holiday"

rather than why are GPs actually taking the bank holiday.
I can understand emergency services and some hospital staff, and there are probably a few other jobs, but I'd support a campaign that returned us to the days where the majority of the working population respected bank holidays, (and Sundays come to that, but perhaps that's another thread altogether).

Sparkling I get the impression that you don't realise that today is a bank holiday. Therefore most places of work are closed. Essential services are still working, but most council run services aren't.

Nowadays shops are open on Good Friday and as most people are off work that accounts for how busy it is.

I think we should go back to Sunday - everything is closed, Bank Holidays are for everyone, so everything is closed, etc etc.

Life is far too fraught these days. I know that 'we' the british public wanted life like this, but I have decided I don't like it and want the old days back.

Hmmph.

Thanks Back that is a better way of putting it.

I have got the hump a bit that DH is at work. I used to work for a bank so do understand that if it's a Bank Holiday then they close. Although when we got back in the next working day it was manic to the point where it wasn't worth it TBH.

I wouldn't mind if everything shut.

Just a general comment - I think a lot of people expect an awful lot from their GPs. Obviously, as in every profession, you will find some truly crap doctors but I feel many of them are oppressed by budget constraints. I've had "sorry it's only meant to be one problem per appt but as it's related and you've only used 4 out of your 10 min appt...go on" and "sorry to have to ask you this but would you prefer to switch from ExpensiveHelpfulDrug to CheaperDrugThatDidn'tHelpYouBefore"?

It's been like Christmas at work today. All the big supermarkets are shut Sunday. You'd think they were shut for a year the amount of shopping people are doing. Nice day off for some and what do they do? Go shopping.

mantic. Do people not realise they are open tomorrow?

I agree sparkling with the confusion over what is open/shut. My GP surgery is closed until Tuesday and not doing repeat prescriptions for 2 weeks. The bins were collected, my new shoes were delivered, some shops closed, open shops were packed with folk stocking up for the apocalypse easter.

not doing repeat prescriptions for 2 weeks

That is madness!

Fig - only those providing emergency care. The others will be off. I should know, i work in one of those professions and my sister another! Radiographers diagnosing fractures etc yes. Those providing radiotherapy no. Sonographers no. SALT, no. Wanting physio for SPD? Not a chance!

sparkling I'm sure some people do. Those who haven't been in today will be there tomorrow. Glad I've got the rest of the week off

Nowadays shops are open on Good Friday

When I lived in Yorkshire Good Friday was generally ignored as a holiday and people got Monday and Tuesday as holidays at easter.

Nothing was open here. All shops, surgeries, bin collections, libraries - everywhere closes Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Christmas Day. Hospital running on call / weekend service only (so I get 4 days off, huzzah!). A few dairies were open but that was it. Quiet, peaceful, day-on-the-beach day.

It's fab :)

Reading this thread has made me realise I need to go shopping today, best do it on my way home after work else we'll be eating breadandpullit on Sunday.

I dread to think what the supermarkets will be like today, as they are shut tomorrow. Bet there's no Easter Eggs left either.

Not read this whole thread but just want to point out- doctors do NOT get paid double/extra for working a BH- you get paid your salary as normal.

Yes you are entitled to a lieu day for each BH you work, however, when you take this lieu day depends on how much cover there is eg how many colleagues are on annual leave/on call/nights and if you can actually take the time off without compromising patient care.

I have just been on a thread about the new 111 number replacing OOH. Doesn't sound very good.....

Its shameful that they should be shut today, especially with this new 111 system they are rolling out. Its ridiculous that for 4 days there is no access to simple medical care and the only way of getting any is to go to a&e! Bit ott for lesser injuries/requirments!!! But what are you to do if you do require medical advice/treatment in that time?

Doctors surgeries are always shut on a Saturday pumpkinsweetie :)

You do have access to simple medical care, it's just going to be more difficult to access it at present with 111 being newly rolled out. Want to know who to blame? The government. Its purely a money saving exercise. My local OOH provider bid for the contract but were declined in favour of 111 as they were much cheaper (cheaper for a reason). I wonder how many of you who complain about doctors, nurses and the NHS and such like voted Tory? Because if you did you've only got yourself to blame for the mess we are in.

My Doctors do open one Saturday morning a month I believe.

It seems to have got really confusing. Looks like we have 111 or OOH. But some people only have 111.

Then there's NHS Direct so don't know where that fits in.

I envisage a rise in people going to A&E in desperation.

Yes i agree that its all the governments fault. They are out to ruin everything to lower the deficit, but what is the true cost of these changes?, very worrying. Our gps is closed every Saturday & Sunday but over Easter it is closed the Friday & Monday as well, which makes it 4 days iyswim.
I have no bones with the nhs, everyone needs a holiday but i do think that the government is sending our Nhs further down the pan in hope that people will be in favour of privatisation. Well i am not, what they are doing is wrong and discriminating to the poor & working class, of whom without the nhs would most probably go without treatment due to costs they cannot afford.

You can get medical advice. There is NHS direct and pharmacists offer advice. I almost always see my pharmacist before making a GP appt and she said she wishes more people would do that because it saves hassle and effort on everyone's parts!