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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is partly why the NHS is fucked?

95 replies

Babysharkdododont · 15/02/2019 12:21

Newly pregnant with 2nd dc. Went to GP practice today to ask to book in with Midwife. Was told I have to see a GP first, I queried this as last time was direct Midwife booking. Was told definitely have to see a GP, so I asked why, was told "well otherwise everybody would just be booking Midwife appointments". Surely only pregnant women would book, even if it was open access Confused
Anyway, asked for a GP appointment, they have none. I'm to go to morning surgery and wait.....the receptionist seemed completely oblivious to the fact I was having to take a GP appointment I don't need, when there are none available.
I'm a nurse and love the NHS dearly, but this petty beurocracy is killing it off.

OP posts:
CatG85 · 15/02/2019 13:34

That's crazy! My GP surgery doesn't bother with a GP appt and actually give you the number for the local midwifery unit and you book directly with them instead.
What are these non pregnant women booking midwife appointments for I wonder????

Roomba · 15/02/2019 13:36

I'd love to know who would be booking a midwife appeapary from pregnant women Confused?

I actually got told off by a GP when I went along after discovering I was pregnant first time. How was I to know that I needed to go straight to the midwives - and I'd even told reception why I needed an appointment when I booked it, which I did point out!

Tbf our receptionists are usually great. Much better than my last surgery, who phoned my abusive ex up to double check they needed to change the baby's address as well as mine, as we were about to move to escape him without notice... Yes, I complained and got a massive apology. Lucky my ex wasn't the sort to murder us though. And it delayed my plans and made life even more hell for months afterwards.

skunkatanka · 15/02/2019 13:49

I agree about wastage. I've just had an op and had a total of 4 blood tests (at initial appointment, twice at pre op appointments and once again in the hospital. All tested and all fine. What a waste of money. I also had two separate pre op appointments- one for an initial discussion at which I was tested for everything and then a few weeks later at the official pre op where I was tested again! There seems no sense to it.

Ihatemyseleffordoingthis · 15/02/2019 14:02

well otherwise everybody would just be booking Midwife appointments

but you know that would be true. There would be not pregnant women booking appointments. Booking appointments iirc involve certain info and tests, certain things are triggered, certain processes to be setup. There are fewer Midwives and less midwife availability than GP availability.

FWIW though, I did my booking appt with DC3 over the phone. And GPs never did a pg test with me, ever.

Poppiesway1 · 15/02/2019 14:02

With ds1 they wouldn’t take my word for it and insisted on doing another pregnancy test to check (the dr also wanted to know if I was planning on getting married and if I was in a stable relationship, what my circumstances were- not my usual GP) with ds2 they took my word for it but I still had to see GP first.

AlaskanOilBaron · 15/02/2019 14:06

What it isn't, is the NHS making shit up as they go along. They can't afford to.

OK, so: 1. what's the explanation then for the OP's current quandary? 2. in what sense does the NHS feel the weight of not being able to afford to do something? Doesn't their service just further deteriorate?

For the most part, I am generally incredibly happy with the quality of we've received from the NHS. The medics are almost always fantastic. The bureaucracy is absolutely out of control, though.

Reastie · 15/02/2019 14:06

. I did it via gp as needed to see her about pg related issue. I’ve been pg three times and have never been tested by them, they’ve always taken my word for it bit I remember with dd (after mc) my gp refused to refer me to me until I was over 8 weeks pg in case I had a mc again.

curiositycreature · 15/02/2019 14:06

I don't think the GP would make up this rule Claire - it would be the midwifery team who specify whether they take self referrals or not.

AlaskanOilBaron · 15/02/2019 14:06

quality of care

sola82 · 15/02/2019 14:08

When I got pregnant I had to see a GP to get referred to a midwife. There were no GP appointments and no walk in clinic at my surgery so it took me nearly 3 weeks to get an appointment. They didn't even do a pregnancy test the GP just asked some questions and filled out an online form. It's a stupid system.
The midwife told me the surgery gets payments for every patient they refer to a midwife. Not sure how true this is.

AudTheDeepMinded · 15/02/2019 14:08

When I had my first no health official checked whether I was actually pregnant. I remember being pretty amazed that they simply took my word for it. If I had have been lying (or deluded/mistaken) the first they would have known about it would have been at the first scan. But why the MW can't dip your wee instead of the GP is a mystery to me too!

Iwouldlikesomecake · 15/02/2019 14:12

MW here

We don't dip test your wee to check you're pregnant. None of the places I've worked have done that. We test for other stuff but not to confirm pregnancy.

Racecardriver · 15/02/2019 14:12

YANBU. There whole thing is mismanaged.

Dixiechickonhols · 15/02/2019 14:23

It does sound bizarre. Maybe it’s to deal with the don’t want to be pregnant scenarios. In that situation wanting to see Gp and reception asking why, you saying pregnancy and then reception say I’ll make you an appointment with midwife and you have to say no I want an abortion in front of everyone. Or you accept midwife apt, get there and are told only gp can refer for abortion and you’ve wasted a couple of weeks. Some people get referred for consultant care - again them seeing midwife would be a waste.

itbemay · 15/02/2019 14:33

That's madness! Sounds like GP surgery own protocol for whatever reason! Here its a self referral number and they make you an appointment there and then.

Congrats BTW OP!

Purpleartichoke · 15/02/2019 14:39

Different location, but even 20 years ago, my OB had a big sign in the office sayingb

Purpleartichoke · 15/02/2019 14:40

Saying they don’t do pregnancy tests as standard procedure. The office tests are the same as the home test. They thought it was wasteful to repeat when a self-report and the first visit exam were enough to confirm pregnancy. They only tested if there were doubts.

Tinkobell · 15/02/2019 14:41

What it is OP is the heartless slashing of budgets to do with female welfare - no midwives, axed contraception/ sexual health services, no health visitors. It's shameless and it damages society.

SnowyAlpsandPeaks · 15/02/2019 14:45

My first pregnancy I was told to just book
Straight with the midwife who took my dates, but never done a test.
My second I went to the GP who said congratulations and to book with the midwife, and again I never had a test just took my dates.
Both just took my word that I’d done 2 home pregnancy tests and they were positive.

OlderThanAverageforMN · 15/02/2019 14:45

I had to do this ridiculous system years ago too. I saw the GP who asked me if I was pregnant, I said yes, he said you better make an appointment with the midwife then Hmm No tests, no nothing.

redyawn · 15/02/2019 14:52

The NHS is in a shocking state...... I've had a lot of dealings with it in the last few weeks, spent hours sitting in waiting rooms. The staff are overworked and the patients are frustrated.

A few months ago, I went to a hospital outpatients department. The doctor told me to come back in 6 weeks but there were no appointments for 3 months. I took the first available appointment. About 10 days before the appointment, I got a letter saying it had been delayed by 2 weeks. A week later, I got another letter saying that it had been delayed another month. The third appointment coincided with my uncle's funeral, so I had to rebook it and so it was put back another 2 months. Good thing my issue has actually resolved, so I only had to go to the appointment to double-check. Normally I would have been really upset.

Similar thing happened with a paediatrix appointment for DD.

I had to go to A&E last week. Waited 6 hours.... etc etc etc. now I am juggling a whole load of new appointments....it is like wading through treacle

Greywalls12 · 15/02/2019 14:57

We self refer in my area and then the midwife contacts you to make an appointment.
No one tested my wee to confirm pregnancy, actually I don't think the midwife even asked me if i had taken a test Grin

SilverySurfer · 15/02/2019 15:03

Over two years ago my consultant said I needed an op. He sees outpatients and operates at Stoke Mandeville but is based at High Wycombe Hospital.

I subsequently get a letter to go for pre op - but they can't do it at Stoke Mandeville (why have a pre op dept if they don't do pre ops?), I have to go to High Wycombe. They arrange ambulance transport (I'm disabled, use walking frame and nor can I afford a taxi to do a 50 mile round trip. All fine and I wait for op date.

Nearly a year later, while talking to the nurse in my doctor's surgery I mention I have not heard anything. She looks on my records and finds copy of a letter to consultant telling him funding is not available for my op. I write to consultant who says 'sorry, thought that had been copied to you - we have got funding now.' Pre op out of date so another ambulance to take me to High Wycombe where the pre op person ticks off the same answers on the same form as last time. Nothing happens, pre op only lasts four months, then I get a letter with an appointment to see the consultant last month. Yes, we are going ahead with the op, then get a letter to go to pre op at High Wycombe next week, where no doubt they will make third lot of ticks against boxes, and ambulance is booked.

How much do you think this has all cost? I wouldn't even like to guess.

Original poster
Babysharkdododont · 15/02/2019 16:56

Well ladies I tracked down midwifery services through Facebook and have arranged to be contacted directly by the midwife. Apparently some GP's like to "congratulation you on your pregnancy personally" which I took to mean generate some sort of payment, but I think I've found a way to sidestep the red tape.
Thanks for all the congratulations Smile

OP posts:
Ffsnosexallowed · 15/02/2019 16:59

It'll not be some "overpaid" manager's decision. It'll be the GP, who will get a payment for seeing you (which they would miss out on if you went direct to midwife). I agree, it's ridiculous

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