Use the internet instead of visiting your GP?

[Slartybartfast]

I am not sure that is the best advice.
ime the internet tends to give worst case scenario.
i know there are a lack of GPs but who came up with this idea?

Speaking as a GP avoider the internet advice tends to encourage i visit a GP

It's not a bad idea for people to use the internet as a resource provided its reputable sites i.e. Nhs choices.

I do think generally people need to be responsible for their own health and often self care is appropriate for a significant number of conditions, particularly minor illness. The nhs choices website is really good and provides clear advice re conditions/symptoms/how to treat and when to seek medical advice.

It's not a replacement for seeing a GP of course when appropriate and I don't think anyone is suggesting that?

my dm just rung me so I could google her symptoms
I didnt, i Just said, see the GP and/or she has a nurse appointment anyway

I thought the advice was NOT to self-doctor via Google?

That said, there are some stupid threads on here where I think WTF are you doing? Go and see a doctor! Like, AIBU to visit my GP? (Drip feed - my heads fallen off)

nhs choices isnt mentioned, as far as i skim read
www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-42511553

These guidelines are so troubling. Yes, the NHS is in crisis, but the solution isn’t not to use it! And the government/media demonising people who use NHS services is divisive, irresponsible and will be catastrophic in the long term. The NHS needs more funding! Like, duh!

oops, read again, it is mentioned as a possible reputable source. but again i read NHS choice for any issues and it certainly does encourage me to make the visit

I wonder if this advice will put the sort of people who try to avoid bothering the doctor off even further, and do little to stop the ones who do.

Same as a lot of advice really it usually gets consumed by the people who don't need it and ignored by the ones who do.

Thing is if its your kids health for eg it's hard to tell people to do things that they feel inside are risky.

Then you get people who don't go at all and stuff gets missed.

exactly, more funding required! duh indeed

The thing I read said NHS choices

I like this mug.

The trouble with Google is there's a lot of 'square peg, round hole' misinterpretation. If I google my usual symptoms it tells me I probably have MS. It's Ménière's disease.

BBC article does say A reputable online source would include NHS Choices, she said, praising the site for its "helpful, sensible advice that's up-to-date, written by doctors and nurses for patients.

It depends.

Last time my niece was stung by a wasp, a quick google told us what the best treatment was (her mother is a medical doctor and googled as well, btw).
The cause was obvious and the treatment didn't involve prescription medication.

Otherwise it's best to see a doctor or nurse.

I was confused too OP. Even worse I had to call for an a,balance the other day. My dad had a very bad fall and I and he genuinely thought he'd broken his back. He couldn't move his legs and was screaming in pain. 999 said they'll get an ambulance to me when they could ( fair enough, he was breathing) but then threw in if you can make other arrangements then do tha! I was stumped! Dad is so unwell with cancer etc anyway, what other option did I have? Ambulance people said I did the right thing and I WASN'T wasting their time. As it is, dad is home but in a bad way, so I will still have to get the GP out next week if he's not better. He is not particularly elderly before anyone says. He's in his 60s!

Sorry for the rant! I just wish people would consider that not everyone had the same life as them, and living with 2 severely disabled parents is killing me and I do need the ambulance/GP more than someone who has a more normal life.

Surely they must have filtered out most of the time wasters by making it so that you can't get an appointment in less than about 3 weeks. Most things will have got better by then!

you did do the right thing pinkbuffolo, to your parents. it isnt a one size fits all

My GP surgery haven’t done anything for years that I didn’t already know they were going to do. They’ve gone from providing insight to just being a gateway to what you need. It’s really frustrating because you practically have to ride up on a unicorn throwing virginal water to get an appointment in the first place

*I wonder if this advice will put the sort of people who try to avoid bothering the doctor off even further, and do little to stop the ones who do.

Same as a lot of advice really it usually gets consumed by the people who don't need it and ignored by the ones who do.*

Yes, I agree with this. I think it also depends on the interpretation of the advice and information given. My husband refuses to use Dr Google as he thinks it encourages hypochondria, I use it all the time. We googled something together once he concluded his leg would need amputating, I concluded he had pulled a muscle.

I have never googled any symptoms and thought I was seriously ill, it's usually the opposite - after a quick Google I decide I am absolutely fine and I'm usually right.

Totally, Cherry. I can't get antibiotics for cystitis, which I get fairly frequently, without seeing a doctor. I know when it's cystitis, they know I know when it's cystitis, but I have to use up an appointment someone else could make good use of before I can get what I need. It doesn't help with antibiotic control because they're giving me the same antibiotics the exact same number of times as they would be if they didn't make me go in first. If they want to trust patients to know when to self-care, they should trust patients with how to do so appropriately.

Also, they should make it policy that home care treatments for common ailments should be no more expensive than a normal prescription (looking at you, Canesten).

Yes, it does specifiy reputable sources. If it says to visit the GP then obviously you should but for minor things such as sore throats, colds, mild fever, upset tummy etc it can help you to get better at home. While most people are quite sensible, i would imagine there are people who will traipse up to the GPs for any old thing.

It depends what it's for.
E.g. I feel terrible but am unsure if it's cold or flu. Both can be treated at home so use nhs online and treat accordingly.
E.g. sprain or minir injury but have forgotten what the immediate response should be. Look at nhs website for the raise, ice, elevation etc guidance

A spot of common sense, use nhs website and direct yourself to the most appropriate service (including self treatment and pharmacy) makes a lot of sense.

Googling a whole range of symptoms and deciding your headache might be brain cancer and going yo your GP for every sniffle because you're convinced you have pneumonia is probably not a good use of the internet.

Also, they should make it policy that home care treatments for common ailments should be no more expensive than a normal prescription (looking at you, Canesten)
Agree here. Canisten thrush treatments are extortionate and it's often hard to find an own brnad equivalent around here. I still pay ut though

Also if you have free prescriptions, low income, pensioner, child then you wouldnt want to go to chemist when you can get a prescription.

I have a rare disease and quite often when I am sat in front of a new doctor, I’ll look at their computer and they’ve Googled the illness!