GP can't give medical advice on phone while patient abroad?

[DorothyL]

Just phoned my gp - we are on holiday abroad but ds has ongoing health problems.
I was told that I could not be given medical advice while we are abroad ? Does anybody if this is right? I just wanted some advice regarding his medication.
Am rather baffled!

No. I'm a GP - our indemnity insurers are very clear that they will not cover us for any advice given while a patient is abroad.

so if you sued me as a result of the advice given, I could lose my house and everything I own. plus strictly speaking you're not entitled to NHS care whilst out of the country.

This was the same advice that we used to give at NHS direct. If you're out of the country, the NHS isn't covered to treat you or advise you.
That's what travel insurance is for.

Would it be the same for a consultant?

yes. if it's not urgent it can wait until you get back. if it's a problem that has arisen whilst abroad you need to see a doctor locally, who can always speak to your UK consultant if needed.

How did the GP know you're abroad?
Note to self, don't mention this if I ever need to call GP from holiday

yes, true, if we don't know then we can't avoid giving the advice. but you're a bit stuffed if I need to see you! If I ring back then the ring tone is different so I will always check.

well, if you think about the NHS would have to treat everyone on the planet if it treated people while they were abroad...

plus all of the insurance points above.

if you have holiday health insurance you'll have to call the local doctor.

Call your travel insurance advice line, it is what you paid for. NHS stops at the border.

This is a boy with a genetic condition and ongoing health problems and it's just a quick question about medication/dosage

If I contact a doctor here there will be masses to explain, which would just be a two minute phone call with his own doctor

Yes, but you've had the rules explained to you. If you are outside the UK, you are not covered by the NHS.

If they can't give advise whilst abroad then that's what they will stick with regardless of if it's a quick/simple question.
I wouldn't risk it if I was the DR

It's the same for a consultant, or any nhs doctor.

A 2 minute phone call is not worth risking your career for if something goes wrong!

Sorry but YABU. It's a little bit cheeky but I understand why you asked.

This is a boy with a genetic condition and ongoing health problems and it's just a quick question about medication/dosage

presumably an issue that has arisen while you are abroad? hence not an NHS issue. really sorry but you cannot ask us to work uninsured.

Your travel insurance should have a medical helpline to call whole abroad.

I can't answer the question above but I know when I was very sick abroad (...well over a decade ago, so much may change...) not only did my NHS GP take a desperate call, my case was referred by her up the triage tree and a consultant at the London Centre for Tropical Diseases had input into my medication and care liaising with the staff at the hospital I was in. Not that I was involved in any of this!

Glandular Fever?

Shit, wrong thread!

I understand the insurance issue but still think it's wrong

It's in the context of my general frustration with getting consistent and personalised care for ds

Why do you think it's wrong if you understand the insurance reason? Should a GP put themselves at risk for you? Should they put them at risk several times a day for all the other patients as well?

It's in the context of my general frustration with getting consistent and personalised
care for ds

Given that DS has a pre-existing condition, this should be have been well covered by your travel insurance in advance?

Can you email the consultant?

How many times a day is ok for doctors to risk their career? You know, the thing they gave up their youth studying for.