The reason people get angry is because they can’t get an appointment. The reason people can’t get appointments is because there aren’t enough GPs.
I actually no longer believe this to be true. I swallowed this for a while but based on personal experience including that of my dds healthcare, plus the experiences of other relatives and friends, plus what I hear from former colleagues (I'm an ex nurse myself) not just nurses and hospital drs but also radiographers, physios, pharmacists and even administrators what's actually the problem is that gp's don't understand how the nhs operates and don't wish to and make decisions based on how the outcome directly affects them or their practice
They were never truly part of the nhs refusing to be so right from inception and causing problems even then. Nye bevan was incredibly frustrated and disappointed in how they behaved.
Personally I think at that point what should have happened was the nhs gradually used those GPs who were and still are essentially private practitioners sub contracted to the nhs less and less and recruited and trained AND KEPT WITHIN THE NHS PROPER new GP's
Another factor in my opinion is that patients have to see Gp's repeatedly for the SAME health issue because instead of properly investigating, testing and diagnosing and treating those issues GP's at most prescribe medications that temporarily mask symptoms leaving patients to suffer for long periods even decades in some cases
Also because they don't like referring to a specialist as it impacts them/their practice (which is a separate business to the nhs) negatively financially.
I have endo, I presented to multiple gps with textbook symptoms I would say on average at least once a month for 14 years, so that's at least 168 appointments when if I'd been referred to a gynaecologist at the start rather than being put on the pill at a young age and given medication that barely helped with the pain and bleeding and anaemia etc I reckon probably 100 or so of those appointments wouldn't have been necessary. And that's without also considering the cost to the nhs of several a&e visits due to fainting due to blood loss/anaemia/pain, the miscarriage treatment and several surgeries - the last of which the surgeon mistakenly thought I had not reported my symptoms accurately or timeously. When I put her in the picture she was appalled and shocked at what I had been through unnecessarily in her opinion
My dd was born with physically visible symptoms of her disability that were ignored, again we went repeatedly to gps with symptoms for almost 13 years until a locum gp referred us to a specialist who instantly dx dd before she even sat in the chair in the specialists office. A dx that was later confirmed by various tests, and again the specialist was appalled that we'd not been referred earlier but this time was unsurprised as she found it a common occurrence
If those issues had been dealt with correctly and promptly hundreds of appointments would have been freed up and several hospital visits avoided altogether saving the nhs goodness knows how much money!
It's not a safe, sensible or financially appropriate way to practice!
My mothers cancer was dx later than ideal due to her being fobbed off with "oh it's just your age"
2 of my relatives HAVE actually died due to gps ignoring important symptoms.
I have little to no faith in GP's in this country at this point.
I also have friends and relatives who are receptionists and quite honestly they have seen enough that they rarely would see an nhs gp for a symptom they felt might indicate something sinister, they'll either go private or attend via a&e which I and they know they shouldn't but their own experiences both as patients and working with them is what's led to that. One of them is the next of kin to one of the people that died after being fobbed off.
It's FAR too difficult to:
Get rid of bad gps even those who are plain dangerous it's a long route to do so and requires a ridiculous amount it proof
To move gp without having a "good" reason like moving house
To complain about a gp - it may not be officially what is supposed to happen but it can and does happen that patients who complain are "black balled" if you live in an area where there are few gps available anyway it's really not worth the hassle.
The whole system at primary care level is a MESS and it's NOT just about underfunding, lack of resources, difficulty recruiting etc it's because for too many DECADES Gps have been allowed to call the shots!
Look at how hard it is to just get an appointment, look at the fact that unlike when I was a child (admittedly 3 decades ago now but not that long ago in the grand scheme) gps VERY rarely do house calls, those in regular practices nowadays very rarely if ever provide evening or weekend cover, continuity of care has gone right out the window! I was asked recently who my named gp was and I couldn't answer because the person I was assigned to when I first joined the practice has since retired and I've never been informed of who I'm supposedly registered with now - even when I've asked! That was an interesting and bizarre conversation as I was basically told off for not knowing when I had no way OF knowing and the person asking could check for me but they wouldn't and wouldn't tell me. Half the time I've no idea who I'm speaking to as I never get the same gp twice in a row.
This video - well I hardly know where to start!
Firstly of course nobody should ever be verbally or physically abused or threatened that is never ok and I would hope anyone that is reports it and the perpetrators dealt with
BUT many of the comments cited could have very different meanings IF we knew the context in which those comments were made.
Patients who are SCARED, in pain and suffering SHOULD be able to see a gp when necessary.
Personally I think telephone appointments WHERE APPROPRIATE are a great idea. I'm housebound due to agoraphobia among other issues and until COVID I had to fight to get them! Even when I was promised by the practice manager that a note had been made that I could and should have telephone appointments. Most of my appointments are regarding mh and repeat prescriptions.
BUT there are some situations and conditions that require a physical, in person assessment and that gps FAILED to do this during the pandemic is unconscionable. Hospital hcps continued to treat and support their patients, as did community hcps in other areas using Ppe and other protective measures where appropriate, what the hell made gps think they shouldn't continue to do their jobs that they were still being PAID for during I crisis of the like the nhs had never previously seen?! It stinks to high heaven and frankly in my opinion they should have had their pay docked! If you're not doing your job properly you don't get paid! They are not gods, they are not kings they are employees like any other and should have quickly got over themselves.
I've heard several reports of some gps STILL refusing to even attend the practice office let alone see patients.
Again - if they're not doing their jobs they shouldn't be paid!
I accept of course this won't be all gps, I know about 1/3 of the gps at my surgery continued to attend and saw patients when there was a clinical need. I am hearing through various sources that there is considerable...friction...between those that carried on and did their jobs and those that basically ran away! I totally understand that and in their shoes I'd be furious with colleagues that let me down in this way.
The video is extremely ill advised, unprofessional and to be honest embarrassing! If the people appearing in it keep their jobs I think that would be a mistake. I'm
Wondering if their bosses even knew they made it. It seems to be endorsed by their professional body but I wonder if that body actually knew the scathing and yes antagonistic tone it would take towards patients. Dreadfully tone deaf idea all round