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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Family gp appointments

40 replies

footpainhell · 04/08/2019 23:57

I really wish gps could offer family appointments... every few months something will come up with my family... right now on the list are:
-husband needs a vasectomy, needs a referral
-daughter has a rash (been to pharmacist and they say may need cream now, it’s been there a while and nothing is shifting it)

I need to face facts... I’m fast becoming deaf, my hearing is in decline need to sort.

-I have a sore foot from running injury that won’t heal after months. Need a physio maybe? -I need a smear, got letter last week -I have a white lump on eyelid that won’t go -I think husband is due a health check

We also have 2 ongoing paediatric appointments... that were obviously processed through gp

My idea is of “family appointments” I reckon it will save nhs loads. Instead of this one appointment=one problem nonsense. None of my stuff is urgent and doesn’t require same day appointment. Waiting lists will be shorter. I reckon a decent gp can sort out all those problems in 20-30 minutes? All the referrals, prescriptions, and a quick smear test.

I don’t want to make several appointments. It’s silly! I want to kill two birds with one stone!

Aibu to think this is one way to make nhs more efficient? Obviously there will still be same day acute appointments for urgent things.

OP posts:

user1473878824 · 05/08/2019 00:00

I get what you mean but I’m not sure I’d be desperate to discuss my vasectomy in front of my children...?

arethereanyleftatall · 05/08/2019 00:02

The only possible time it would save would be when the surname is typed in. After that, each individual problem would take the same amount of time as it ordinarily would. So, Yabu.
I would also imagine that your particular family seems to need a doctor a lot more often than most, as I can't imagine many family would ever all need to simultaneously see a doctor. Certainly my family never has. We go probably about once every two years between the four of us.

Butterymuffin · 05/08/2019 00:04

They can't deal with lots of issues in one slot. You'd have to book say 3 appointment slots in a row. Plus there would be the privacy issue. Some people will want not to talk through medical issues in front of family members. And then how would you make sure everyone can come at the same time? Lots of people have to stagger medical appointments so their partner can have the kids while they go. Waiting rooms would be full to bursting all the time. Sorry, don't think it's a goer.

Haggisfish · 05/08/2019 00:04

No you need three appts-smear is usually fine by a nurse, not gp: husband needs one for vasectomy referral and health check: daughter needs rash and you need one to discuss other issues. Hearing tests can be done in specsavers.

Original poster

footpainhell · 05/08/2019 00:04

He literally just needs to refer him... We have three kids. I’ve lost count the number of times I’ve taken kids to personal appointments! You just need to sometimes!

OP posts:

zen1 · 05/08/2019 00:08

I guess technically, if you booked far enough in advance for the non-urgent problems, you could book back-to-back slots so you could all go to the surgery at the same time and be seen one after the other. When two of my DC needed to be seen for different things, I’ve booked a double appointment and taken them both in at the same time.

GreenTulips · 05/08/2019 00:09

Go to boots for a free hearing test
Smear can be done by a nurse rather than doctor
Nurse can also see child’s rash
Eyelid can be referred to some beauty therapist - They have a method to get rid! (DD has one but wants to keep it)

I’m sure DH could get a telephone referral rather than need a visit

Saved NHS more if you go to the right place

Jojobears · 05/08/2019 00:24

Don’t think your kids need to see you get a smear or hear about their dads vasectomy. Your kids may need privacy too (depending on the age).

I have in the past managed to book back to back appointments for DS and I (he’s only 3)

bouncingraindrops · 05/08/2019 00:30

Awful idea. If you must all be there at the same time just make your necessary appointments around the same time.

I think GP's have enough to do without combining several consultations into one. And add to that trying to actually discuss an issue clearly with the rest of the family in the background, no, bad idea

arethereanyleftatall · 05/08/2019 00:30

Another reason yabu - they are probably wary of booking half hour slots because of the awfully high amount of no-shows. That would be half an hour wasted rather than ten mins.

Pipandmum · 05/08/2019 00:36

A doctor doesn’t do smear tests a nurse would.
I think a better idea is if some things could be handled over the phone. Your husband doesn’t need to see a GP for a vasectomy referral - he should be able to request one by phone. Same with your hearing test. That’s three things that don’t need face to face with a GP. The rash, your foot injury and eye do need a GP. Two of those could be handled in same appointment. Your husband’s health check would take longer and should be booked separately.

Jojobears · 06/08/2019 09:38

And don’t forget women who are being abused. An appointment alone may be a lifesaver.

Don’t know if this is done everywhere, but where I live at Ante natal booking appointments the MW asks the partner to leave the room, then asks the women if they are “safe” so to speak. In the toilets for pregnant women there are little notes for you to indicate if you need to see a MW on your own

Vulpine · 06/08/2019 09:41

why are your dh's appointments your responsibility?

YouWhoNeverArrived · 06/08/2019 09:44

What an awful idea. Show some respect for your doctor's time. Each problem should be allocated 10 minutes - even minor ones, once notes are written up, prescriptions issued and referrals done. And the nurse will do your smear, not the doctor.

What do you mean by a "health check"? In my surgery, our nurse or HCA would do this, and you'd only see a GP if your bloods or BP were abnormal.

TheVanguardSix · 06/08/2019 09:49

A smear in front of the whole family is just awkward.

NoBaggyPants · 06/08/2019 09:50

-husband needs a vasectomy, needs a referral

Husband needs to make appointment or ask for a callback.

-daughter has a rash (been to pharmacist and they say may need cream now, it’s been there a while and nothing is shifting it)

GP or nurse practitioner. Receptionist will advise.

I need to face facts... I’m fast becoming deaf, my hearing is in decline need to sort.

Specsavers or Boots, one or the other will have an NHS contract. Self refer.

-I have a sore foot from running injury that won’t heal after months. Need a physio maybe?

See if you can self refer for physio in your area. Google will tell you.

-I need a smear, got letter last week

Nurse, not GP.

-I have a white lump on eyelid that won’t go

Cosmetic. Ask at opticians at same time you go for hearing test.

-I think husband is due a health check

He'll receive a letter if he is due an NHS check.

PookieDo · 06/08/2019 09:52

Yeah I think the obvious is what your GP doesn’t do a smear test the nurse does

This wouldn’t save time I am LOL though 😂

I work at a GP surgery and sorry this wouldn’t be appealing because it would take the same amount of time as normal appointments you have listed things that probably a GP would rather treat as an individual appointment (vasectomy)

AgentJohnson · 06/08/2019 09:52

Hell no! Why can’t your H sort his own referral? Some people might delay going earlier to their GP because they were waiting ‘just in case’ other health concerns arose.

There are all kinds of privacy issues with your suggestion.

adaline · 06/08/2019 09:52

How does this save time? The GP will still need to open everyone's notes separately and deal with all the problems individually.

Most of the problems you've listed don't require a GP anyway.

Vasectomy referral - fine. Same as his general health check. But surely it's upto him if he needs one?
Rash - pharmacists are generally pretty good at dealing with rashes. If yours hasn't been helpful, why not try another one? Most rashes can be sorted with OTC creams and don't need a GP.
Boots offer hearing tests, as do some opticians. You don't need a GP appointment for it.
Sore foot/sports injury needs a physio - again, no GP needed.
Smear test is a nurse job.
Eyelid - most GP's won't deal with eye issues and will tell you to see your optician.

Fizzypoo · 06/08/2019 09:53

I ask for a double appointment if me and DC need something at the same time.

Bobbybobbins · 06/08/2019 09:54

Yanbu

We are lucky that our GPs are fairly open to discussing us both (eg me and one of my children) at an appointment. With two disabled children we have appointments coming out of our ears so I'm very glad to save time. We never seem to need the full 10 mins for one problem so far so to me it is a good use of time.

NoBaggyPants · 06/08/2019 09:54

Here's some information on the white lump on your eyelid. They're very common.

www.moorfields.nhs.uk/content/chalazion-meibomian-cyst

Bobbybobbins · 06/08/2019 09:54

Yanbu

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 06/08/2019 09:55

Err no!
A world of no!

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 06/08/2019 10:21

I do get what you mean actually and it can save time. When I take all three dc to the dentist for their checkups all three are booked a slot of so many minutes one after the other. Can’t remember how manny minutes 10/15 maybe? Anyway one goes in gets their checkup next two go in and we are most of the time in and out within the first child allotted appointment time. So there is a gap of booked out appointments sometime of up to half an hour that could have been used for someone else. It can save time being able to book a block of time to cover everything. I suppose logistically it may be complicated to implement though because some things will take longer to sort than others and thankfully we do t have a one appointment one thing system either so I can choose to book a single or double appointment using my common sense if I think something will take longer or it can all be quickly covers in one.

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