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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Wasting GPs' time?

125 replies

buckingfrolicks · 25/05/2016 20:45

Watching Behind Closed Doors what amazes me is how people are going to their GP about things I would never think of going to the doctors with.

Athletes foot. A sore leg. A sore throat. Being scared of flying.

AIBU to think it is a waste of NHS resources to take these matters to the gps?

OP posts:

Myusernameismyusername · 25/05/2016 22:36

I can get frustrated by some things. I have what might seem a trivial medical type thing that I have had for years. I have tried £££££ of OTC things, prescription stuff and nothing helps. And it can sometimes make me feel really miserable trying to deal with it. I go to the GP about it every couple of years when I ask for help but nothing much comes of of it and then I just feel kind of a time waster although it bothers ME a lot, so I don't really know what's the best thing to do!

Littleorangecat · 25/05/2016 22:43

I've bought prescription cream for arhletes foot for 2 years and it's gone into my toenail over the last year which I've treated with over the counter stuff, but now my toe nail has come away from the nail bed in big chunks and is raw & bleeding. I don't think IABU going to the gp's now.

Storminateapot · 25/05/2016 22:49

I go by the 2 week rule. If it's no better, or it's getting worse in 2 weeks I get it checked.

I'm shocked by how many of my friends take their children to the doctor for every cold to get antibiotics. And ARE GIVEN THEM!! My kids haven't had antibiotics for years - I let their healthy immune systems have at it. Obviously I would if they were seriously unwell, but if it's a few more days of feeling rough as opposed to quick fix antibiotics, I'm afraid I leave it to their bodies to fix & just treat/minimise symptoms.

Friends also seem to think they need to see their GP for every ailment to get it logged on their health record. I don't get that at all!!

makingmiracles · 25/05/2016 22:53

Yes, a lot of people go for the most meanial things.
I always ring and request a phone appt, from there I can explain what the problem is, the dr either issues a prescription or leaves a swab form at reception for me to collect and return or if thy need to see the problem gets me an appt.

If everyone did that I would imagine it would free up a lot of GPs time!

Euripidesralph · 25/05/2016 22:53

I think this is a difficult line to walk to be honest ... I generally agree and rarely go to the docs for myself or dh but go more often for the dc

Having said that...I knew a lovely lady who ignored gynaecological symptoms (nit initially serious...bloating etc) and unfortunately by the time she did go it was ovarian cancer .. .not a lot could be done at that point...and she was known for not wanting to bother the docs

As well as my father who thought it silly to go to the docs for leg pain.... trouble was it turned out to be caused by the arterial blockage and resulted in a bypass

Now of course not everything will be serious and you can't live in fear but it stands to reason you won't always make the right judgement call and could end up checking something out that was really minor

It's common sense time but still tricky

makingmiracles · 25/05/2016 22:55

The other thing that gets my goat is when people take ages in an appt, sometimes I realise it's not their fault, but if you know you have lots of things to talk to the dr about, or your problem needs lengthy explanation/examination, book 2 appts back to back fgs!!

Notsurewhyimhere · 25/05/2016 22:57

I had athletes foot/fungal nail infection. I needed to get stronger antibiotics from the doctor than what I could get from the chemists

Myusernameismyusername · 25/05/2016 22:57

I once went with a pain in my calf, it was all hard and I had felt a kind of 'snap' sensation when I was walking (in flip flops, not very supportive foot wear' and GP sent me to A&E for DVT testing. Can't fault the service but it was a pulled muscle. Felt stupid again

notamummy10 · 25/05/2016 23:00

I'm catching up on My5, one of the episodes had a women who wanted a sick note to prevent her from taking the British Citizenship test for indefinite leave... Her reasoning was because she couldn't speak English, so the doctor gave her advice to take an ESOL course.

ToxicBits · 25/05/2016 23:03

Urgh I hate this "why go to the gp for trivial things" attitude. If someone is going for a minor thing perhaps the overarching issue is anxiety and by going it reassures them and keeps them calm?

I'm a frequent visitor at the gp. I went with a gammy shoulder a few years ago and ended up with 3 major life affecting diagnoses.

I've gone to a&e with a migraine and been admitted and treated for sepsis in the past too.

You have to realise people know their own bodies and trust they know when it needs medical attention.

ToxicBits · 25/05/2016 23:05

making see it doesn't bother me as my attitude is if they're taking ages they need to take that time.

I've been the cause of many a delay and I make no apologies about it

ncdprivacy1 · 25/05/2016 23:05

I've seen my GP monthly for a few years due to long term mental health issues (4 weekly appointments that all involved have told me are fine and best to stick with). I've learnt if you know your appointment will take a long time , book a double one for the end of a surgery where possible as it's easier for all , less chance of taking up lots of everyone's time (barring the poor GP I suppose!)

In terms of everything else , it's common sense - if something comes and doesn't go or is unusually absolutely awful, see a doctor. Coughs, colds, thrush, simple uti, etc can all be dealt with by a pharmacist at first usually.. I often think a GP surgery isn't great for long term MH either resource wise (although mine do a bloody good job) but I'm not sure how to sort that one!

notamummy10 · 25/05/2016 23:06

ToxicBits my mum's been to A&E for a migraine before, the 111 service advised her to. She was on oxygen and morphine for a bit, thankfully she only had to stay in for a few hours!

ToxicBits · 25/05/2016 23:07

not I've been for pure migraines too, ones that won't break and have gone into status migranious. There's fuck all they can do other than pump you full of morphine fluids and antisickness meds. It's awful.

Foofoobum · 25/05/2016 23:08

started buying Trimethoprim otc in one of the countries where I work because it's so difficult to get an appointment when I get a bout of cystitis.

Not all cystitis is caused by a bacterial UTI and trimethoprim isn't always the best antibiotic for a uti. It depends on what bacteria you have. Given the resistance of bugs to antibiotics these days don't you think it's more irresponsible to self medicate than to get treated for and with the right thing?

My cousin went to the doctor with "just a sore leg" - ended up it was dvt and she had to inject medication herself every day for 6 months. Imagine she'd just left it cos it was only a sore leg.

notamummy10 · 25/05/2016 23:09

Toxic it was awful for me to sit there as I couldn't do anything to help her

ncdprivacy1 · 25/05/2016 23:10

I've actually had my appointments switched by the doctor as well, ie. seen others before me as they knew I wouldn't be 'in and out'. Not sure how fair that is on others but I suppose it's a time saving strategy.

GraysAnalogy · 25/05/2016 23:11

Yeah it's ridiculous.

Even worse when they come into A&E. 'my ear piercing is infected I think'. Oh, it's an emergency is it?

ToxicBits · 25/05/2016 23:13

Tbh many GP's send people to a&e with infected piercings as they think they'll need local anaesthetic injections and other gubbins to remove the offending item

GraysAnalogy · 25/05/2016 23:16

I'd like to know where 'many' has come from? Any GP sending someone with a minor ear piercing infection to A&E is doing their job wrong.

Any person turning up to A&E with an ear piercing is using their brain wrong. Go to the piercing place and get advice, go to your GP, go to a walk in centre, go to the pharmacy.. don't turn up to A&E.

GraysAnalogy · 25/05/2016 23:16

Incidentally the person was told to remove their ear piercing and sent on their way. It's ridiculous that time and money was spent on this.

ToxicBits · 25/05/2016 23:18

Many meaning the many people I know who are pierced in odd places and have had them become infected or stuck, gone to the gp, gp got flustered and sent them to hospital.

GraysAnalogy · 25/05/2016 23:18

Plus anyone sent by their GP goes through ambulatory, not A&E

GraysAnalogy · 25/05/2016 23:20

What are all these people you know doing that they get their piercings infected or 'stuck' so much that you can say 'many' are sent to A&E via their doctor I'd suggest looking at where the hell they're getting pierced at! And I say that as someone who has had 12 piercings and know a lot of folk with the same!

ToxicBits · 25/05/2016 23:22

It's not aways ears. Its lips, nips and bits too and hey don't shoot the messenger! I know people from far and wide into the alternative look so it's not just a problem in my local area

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