To think this is partly why the NHS is fucked?

[Babysharkdododont]

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
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.

I’m a GP. We don’t get payments for seeing pregnant women. At my surgery patients books straight in with midwife . OP I see you’ve managed to sort it, but I would query this system, as I think the receptionist may be mistaken.

ffsnosexallowed can you tell me where you obtained that information about GPs receiving a payment for seeing a pregnant woman?

I’ve been pregnant several times (only two ‘stuck’) but I’ve NEVER had a pregnancy test (as in a urine test) by ant doctor or midwife, they’ve all just taken my word for it and proof of ‘the pudding’ was seen at first scans. With DD I went along to the GP with a sample all ready for him to test and was just told that if I’d tested at home then that was sufficient. DD is 21 this year.

Straight to midwife here... and they don't actually check that you are pregnant. So unless you had a period or bleed and had a scan prior to 12 weeks they just take your word for it.

Absolutely!

I have been having blocked ear problems for the past week. I have seen a senior nurse at a walk in centre and was told I have impacted wax and would need them syringing...
I phoned to get an appointment for syringing today, but they need me to see a doctor first 🙄 😤.

I hate the ridiculous rules that seem to litter the NHS and just waste time and energy all round - I am on long term medication for a chronic condition under the care of the hospital, yet I regularly get summoned to the GP. Appointment usually goes something like this.
GP: How's your medication?
Me:fine
GP: do you think we need to adjust it?
Me: no, I had the same conversation at the hospital last week and they are happy with my progress
GP: so why are you here?
Me: because your receptionist bloody hounded me for the last month to come in and see you, wasting your time and mine for no apparent reason 😡

It adds no value, is a box ticking exercise and is one of the reasons you can't get a sodding GP appointment for weeks when you are actually ill. I just refuse to go in now, unless someone can explain why the appointment is necessary

My friends pregnant she called her gp to make an appointment and they refused and said just pick which hospital you want and call them. My friend was really shocked you didn't have to prove you we're pregnant snd so was I!

I didn't have to see a gp! They took my word for it.

Where I live you don't need to see anyone, you phone a number on a leaflet and they book you in at the hospital for a booking appointment at 8 weeks and a scan at 12 weeks!

My friend got emergency GP appointment for a ripped nail????

How the receptionist allowed it!

Was told to wrap it up until grown enough to cut off!

On the topic of unnecessary GP appointments ... I suffer badly from earwax, have done all my life, my ears are syringed every 1-2 years. Before I can see the practice nurse for a syringing, I have to see the GP to confirm that it is wax. Then the first thing the practice nurse does is check to see that it's just wax. Why can't I simply book the practice nurse - especially with my history - and then she declines the syringing and refers me to the GP if she sees something untoward?

I was also 'forced' to see a GP last year in order to be referred for standard annual blood tests on my thyroid. I knew I'd need the blood results before the GP can do anything. The GP knew this too. He couldn't understand why the Receptionist insisted I see him, just to get the okay for an annual blood test. What a waste of an appointment (other than he's a lovely chap!)

My doctors just got me to fill out a midwife referral form and I was contacted for appointment with my midwife never seen a doctor about my pregnancy lol!

I'm in the nhs and agree things like this are so stupid! I had one receptionist tell me I just book in with gp to confirm (?!) and then the next one i spoke to said oh no we just take your word for it! 🤦🏻‍♀️ And they didn't see me until 10 weeks anyway so surely I'd have realised if I wasn't pregnant by then!!!

That is such a waste of time.

In my area you wait until your 6 weeks then phone the midwife number which is in a pack you pick up from the GP surgery (you don’t need an appointment you just go in and pick up a pack from reception). Then your midwife sees you at 10 weeks at your home, takes bloods & arranges the scan. So much better

Slightly off topic here, but another example of NHS wasting resources. I had a blood test done for my hospital appointment, then saw my specialist at the hospital. The next day I received a letter asking me to book an appointment for my yearly blood test. I went to the GP receptionist and said,
"I had this blood test done last week, why do I need to do it again?"
"Ah, you need to do it again for the GP surgery because we are the ones issuing your medication."
Me: "But I've only just done it. The hospital have got my results."
Receptionist: "Ah, but we don't have them."
Me: "Why not just ask for them, they're at the hospital."
Receptionist. "Ah, we can't do that, it just isn't possible."
I finished up emailing the hospital, asking them to send my results to the GP. I am awaiting further developments.

@Nicolamarlow1

Speaking as a GP, the new GDPR regulations have made problems like this a million times worse.

We’re all worried now that if we accidentally send some results or mention something a patient has told us to another doctor - without explicit patient consent - then our practice could be fined tens of thousands of pounds. It’s already happened to a practice near us.

Because of that, we are having to be ridiculously over cautious about any information sharing.

11 years ago and 6 years ago I had to see the GP to refer me to the midwife ( last time the GP also gave me the antiflu vaccine since it was the flu season). Checked my blood pressure, just asked me the last time I had my period and if I did a pregnancy test at home, that was all. These days most of the GP practises in Glasgow have the self-referring brochure that is given away by the reception staff, all you need to do is call the number, give your details, last period day and you receive the dates of your booking appointment and first scan through the post.

For the posters complaining about having to see a GP prior to booking for ear irrigation - in the fast majority of practices this is not performed by a registered nurse but by a healthcare assistant who has attending a one day training course to perform this. HCAs cannot diagnose or decide on treatment plans they can ONLY perform set tasks as directed by a nurse of doctor.

Ear irrigation has risks including the risk of permanently damaged your ear drum and there are a number of reasons why it cannot be performed on certain people. Therefore a GP or registered nurse has to see you first to assess you are safe to have the procedure and then delegate the task of performing it to the HCA. Not all practices will follow this but it is the right way for it to be done.

However in terms of pregnancy yes it is a complete waste of time to see the GP first and you should be able to book direct with a midwife.

Mintychoc1 my midwife told me that the GPs get payment for referring pregnant women to midwife. It took me so long to get a GP appointment I was over 11 weeks at my booking in appointment.