So the remaining lot are being told they are a lazy lot. Nice.
I don't think this is the problem tbh.
There's been enough threads on MN about the problematic triage and how its not only frustrating but daft. Here's just two examples on this thread.
It’s stupid. I also had to book my whooping cough vaccine. I rang up and the receptionist told me I first would be booked in for a telephone appointment confused to ascertain if I needed to be seen. I argued the toss and said I did need to be seen because how do you administer a vaccine over the phone? But she wouldn’t budge. So last week I had to have a telephone appointment with the nurse who agreed that yes, I could come in in person for the vaccine. Bloody stupid.
and
I think it is the inconsistencies that annoys me. A practice near me is operating pretty much as usual. Mine has been appalling. Recently found a breast lump. Had a phone appointment to determine if I needed to be seen. Then a telephone appointment just before my face to face appointment then the face to face appointment and referral. What could have been done in one face to face appointment took three appointment slots.
The problem when you start putting barriers up and making people jump through hoops, is that people won't. By nature many will just take the easiest route possible or if they are anxious, just be so put off by the whole process and panic.
This system isn't working. And given that things are reopening in the next month, I do think there needs to be some rethinking of this type of triaging where its been done extensively. Its the thing thats putting extra pressure on staff in its own right. Its not just proving problematic for patients.
Doctors work best if they have good relationships and contact with patients. This triage system is interferring with that and its damaging trust between the two. Thats why you are seeing comments about 'timewasters' and criticism of doctors.
In reality new parents need that contact even for minor things, because its not just about the illness that child has. Its about an ongoing relationship between doctor and patient and feeling that you can approach the doctor for anything even if its trival. Because that is good for worried parents' mental health and makes them more likely to go to the doctor for other things which might be important.
We HAVE created this culture of the worried well, but the flip side to this is messaging about 'do not see a doctor unless you need to' resonnances with different people in different ways. It doesn't stop the 'timewasters' - it makes the 'considerate patient' who actually does need to see the doctor think 'oh I don't want to waste their time with this' and they instead put up with things that really do need medical attention.
One of the big things here is the number of parents who have lost various forms of social support over the last 18 months. They don't necessarily have relationships with other parents to reassure them and to give them more confidence. And yes there is anxiety about covid.
The issue with GPs is they have to deal with all the 'boy who cried wolf' type situations because of the times when those 'minor' cases turn out to be a go straight to A&E moment. Being unprofessional about it (and tbh I find a couple of the posts by HCPs on this thread concerning from that point of view as they potentially could have unintended consequences) is unhelpful as are the 'but my surgery is open' comments. The point is - as people are pointing out - that thats not necessarily the case everywhere and there is a public perception from some that surgeries are 'closed' because they've had real trouble accessing their GP and have in certain situations felt incredibly unwelcome and made to feel like a nuisance. Thats a huge deal and it matters.
It is very clear there is an element of 'jobsworths' being a problem. Patients can't just vote with their feet and change surgeries if they are unlucky enough to be registered at a practice which is like this. They are stuck with it.
Inconsistencies and barriers are the issue.
Its alienating people who just want to see a doctor, any doctor, because they need reassurance.
At this point, if we are talking about this being an issue of 'protecting vulnerable patients' we need to be switching to a system of identifying these patients and directing them down a managed route whilst putting others into more open system in terms of access. So for example you have a dedicated doctor / area / system for more vulnerable patients. All of these should be double vaccinated where possible now anyway.