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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the difficulty in seeing a GP is a plan to erode NHS treatment by stealth

138 replies

DuckyMcDuck · 03/08/2021 18:06

It is still impossible to get an appointment at our GPs so over the last couple of weeks we have had to pay for appointment to a) check my ears for ear wax and b) to pay a podiatrist to sort out of DS's ingrowing toenail (as he was in a lot of pain and they said it would be at least a months wait for a referral)

Both cost us over £100, now we are lucky we can pay for it but AIBU to think these are treatments that should have been sorted by a GPs visit.

OP posts:
BewareTheBeardedDragon · 03/08/2021 18:11

I doubt GPs would collude in a planned downfall of the NHS?

AluckyEllie · 03/08/2021 18:17

No, GP’s are not plotting to privatise the NHS.

Yes the government are running the NHS into the ground to make private healthcare more popular and also so they can contract out to private companies without outrage. It goes for everything- GP visits, CT scans, elective minor surgeries, physio access. Etc etc.

Wintercoffee · 03/08/2021 18:40

Yeah I would believe the government are running the NHS into the ground so privatisation isn’t met with outrage. I was diagnosed with anaemia and was told to buy my own vitamins and minerals to combat this Hmm. Thought that’s what I paid my tax for? (Scotland)

It’s a shamble, I had to phone 52 times to my GP surgery to schedule a routine blood test, it’s outrageous.

Upamountain43 · 03/08/2021 18:48

No but there is definite plan to change the GP system. Not sure how yet but it is unlikely GP's will exist in the same way in 10 - 20 years time. They are seen as unsustainable and expensive for what they actually do - which is predominantly gatekeep secondary care.

Some countries do not have anything like a GP system so it is perfectly possible to run without them.

MissChanandlerBong22 · 03/08/2021 19:17

Yes the government are running the NHS into the ground to make private healthcare more popular and also so they can contract out to private companies without outrage. It goes for everything- GP visits, CT scans, elective minor surgeries, physio access. Etc etc.

Yes, that’s what I was going to stay. The government are well aware that the public are on the whole very attached to the NHS. So they won’t openly dismantle it. But they’re deliberately destabilising it in the hope public affection for it will wane.

MissChanandlerBong22 · 03/08/2021 19:18

That said, I could be wrong but I think podiatry’s not typically done by GPs or hasn’t been for a long time?

HalloHello · 03/08/2021 19:20

To be fair, a GP isn't going to sort out an ingrown toenail anyway, you would always need a referall for that.

I am lucky that my GP are very easily accessible, mostly still dealt with over the phone within 48 hours, also have an online econsult service where they email you back with advice and can prescribe if needed, and send prescription to local pharmacy. If they need to see you, they will. I needed bloods and was seen within a week. You get put in a queue when you ring and it tells you every 2 mins how many people ahead of you in the queue so you can decide if it's worth staying on. So it can be done. I don't know what the secret is but they're not all like that.

SimonJT · 03/08/2021 19:21

The majority of GPs do not work for the NHS, they are mainly private business that bill the NHS for their time.

anon12345678901 · 03/08/2021 19:23

My GP is great, I've always been able to see them same day and my child also. They're very highly rated in our area. Our GP doesn't deal with ingrown toenails or ear wax though 🤷🏻‍♀️

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 03/08/2021 19:26

I’ve been saying this for years. There will be no national conversation about funding of healthcare and introduction of a European system —I’m not really in favour of that either: insurance company involvement results in inevitable rising costs as they need their cut — because that’s not what the government wants.

We’re sleepwalking into a US style system in which the fortunate get the best care — albeit with hefty premiums and co-pays — and the unfortunate are bankrupted or can’t afford their insulin.

Thatsjustwhatithink · 03/08/2021 19:28

@DuckyMcDuck

It is still impossible to get an appointment at our GPs so over the last couple of weeks we have had to pay for appointment to a) check my ears for ear wax and b) to pay a podiatrist to sort out of DS's ingrowing toenail (as he was in a lot of pain and they said it would be at least a months wait for a referral)

Both cost us over £100, now we are lucky we can pay for it but AIBU to think these are treatments that should have been sorted by a GPs visit.

You are being very unreasonable because you've left out the key context.

It's difficult to get a GPs appointment because we are still in a pandemic. You know that huge worldwide virus that's been killing people? You may have seen it in your town or on the news.

In addition, GPs are now catching up with serious illness such as cancer...but you want your ears checked for earwax so I just can't understand why the GP didn't prioritise you over possible cancer cases??? You're son has an ingrown toenail, sucks but not life threatening.

Take yourself to a private room and have a serious word with yourself.

CMSdividend · 03/08/2021 19:30

I had an appointment to speak to a GP in my surgery today. Needed a prescription, she said it will be at my designated pharmacy so I asked if it was the one attached to the surgery and she laughed and said "err not sure, I'm 200 miles away from you!"

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 03/08/2021 19:46

My ds needed to see a GP about his ankle, not broken but causing issues. He was seen, in person, within a week. I'm not doubting the situation is different elsewhere and I'm not doubting that the government has sinister motives in broad terms though.

Daphnise · 03/08/2021 19:51

The GPs who locked their doors, and didn't answer the phone during the time of COVID, and some no doubt still are doing this, were not acting out of some NHS overall plan, but just to suit themselves, and avoid patients.

LysistrataVickers · 03/08/2021 19:54

@AluckyEllie

No, GP’s are not plotting to privatise the NHS.

Yes the government are running the NHS into the ground to make private healthcare more popular and also so they can contract out to private companies without outrage. It goes for everything- GP visits, CT scans, elective minor surgeries, physio access. Etc etc.

This
Musicaltheatremum · 03/08/2021 20:01

@SimonJT

The majority of GPs do not work for the NHS, they are mainly private business that bill the NHS for their time.
What rubbish!!! We do not bill the NHS we have to provide services, run our practices, pay our staff, pay the electric, gas, cleaning bills from the money we are allocated depending on our list size. We don't get sick pay. It's much cheaper for GPs to run like this as surgeries run by the health board cost far more
OhWhyNot · 03/08/2021 20:02

No I don’t think it is

But we will be seeing more fees and insurance being involved

We could have a much better service and I think we shall go more of the way of other European countries

We won’t change to an American system. It won’t have the support we have very different attitudes towards health care to how many American (even liberal Americans) have

ActonSquirrel · 03/08/2021 20:04

@Wintercoffee

Yeah I would believe the government are running the NHS into the ground so privatisation isn’t met with outrage. I was diagnosed with anaemia and was told to buy my own vitamins and minerals to combat this Hmm. Thought that’s what I paid my tax for? (Scotland)

It’s a shamble, I had to phone 52 times to my GP surgery to schedule a routine blood test, it’s outrageous.

Iron tablets are available for £1.49. They aren't prescription only.

I'm not feeling the outrage over you having yo pay that and I've suffered horribly with anaemia to the extent I needed infusions.

People who had cancer treatment and heart ops cancelled I'll feel outrage over.

Zotter · 03/08/2021 20:04

@OhWhyNot

No I don’t think it is

But we will be seeing more fees and insurance being involved

We could have a much better service and I think we shall go more of the way of other European countries

We won’t change to an American system. It won’t have the support we have very different attitudes towards health care to how many American (even liberal Americans) have

I wish I could believe that but I think private profit based for most more likely than alternative European models.
gamerchick · 03/08/2021 20:06

You wanted to see a doctor for earwax?

NotPersephone · 03/08/2021 20:08

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

Theunamedcat · 03/08/2021 20:15

@gamerchick

You wanted to see a doctor for earwax?
Yes? Thats fairly normal as your dissuaded from using cotton buds your not allowed private microsuction in my area without being seen by a medical practitioner first realistically who else is going to look in your ears and see its an ear wax issue as opposed to a spider setting up home or a lost earing or blue tac (thanks ds)
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 03/08/2021 20:17

The thing is, this is not about the pandemic - and yes thanks PP, most of us worked through it.

Prior to Covid it was very difficult to get a GP appointment. Has been for years. Services have been gatekept and organised in ways that disadvantage many patients.

This isn't new, it's just been exacerbated by Covid. Underfunding is to blame. So is the way GP contracts are set up. So is NHS culture. So are voters' repeated failures to elect politicians who will protect the NHS. It's a whole cocktail of failures and Covid has just shone a light on the problem.

ActonSquirrel · 03/08/2021 20:24

Earwax ...
try this

There are other options than Cotton buds or the GP. No wonder people can't get appointments.