To think GPs should do their job

[Wotnokids]

Just heard the news that £250million is to be made available to GPs to 'increase the amount of face to face appointments'. AIBU to think this is just extra cash for doing their job?

And most patients have no continuity of care whatsoever (Ref: The Patients Association).

I can assure you have continuity of care with the GP. The only person who does provide this.

Also, chemists could do repeat prescriptions. No need for a doctor.

Do you mean you have it, @julieca ? Because we don't. That's the whole point. There is no continuity of care, just randoms making decisions on the spot.

No chemists should not be involved in repeat prescriptions. My GP oversees my care and provides continuity of care.
If this was an option most people would still go to the GP.

Oh more GP bashing. Not seen this on mumsnet for 0.0000004 seconds

Something needs to change in the NHS. I think they need to introduce a token fee at point of contact, with those who can offord it paying maybe a fiver and those less able paying nothing. It would filter out all the people seeing the gp for a short term cold for example. No one needs to see the gp for a sniffles of a few days.

It's not like its even easy to access private in the UK. It's a broken system and for people like my mum.whos surgery refuse to see anyone, its pointless. Mum is always over A&E as that where the gp tells her to go. Its A&E or wait for death literally.

Yes I have continuity of care with my GP. The only person who holds it all together. Everyone else you see different people. It is why I wonder how people manage in a health system where GPs don't exist.
I also have a relative with a serious mental illness and the GP is absolutely brilliant. Goes above and beyond for this relative.

Most people I see complaining about GPs go for minor stuff that in many cases does not even need treatment of any kind.

What annoys me most is my surgery can't give you an appointment for 6 weeks but they are still taking on new patients. Also 52% of patients are female but there is only 1 female GP compared to 9 male. It's time for patients to stand up to GP practices & say it just isn't good enough, we deserve better.

@IncessantNameChanger No that just punishes people like my relative with a serious mental illness. No way he would go if he had to pay. Sometimes he takes persuasion when he is ill, payment would mean it would be a firm no.
My dad would also never go unless he had to be hospitalised. Again someone else who needs persuading to go.
I actually think some people would go more if they had to pay and would expect longer appointments because they had paid for it.

They waited until we vaccinated most of the population twice before they started with their bashing.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10090001/The-new-face-face-revolution-Sajid-Javid-launches-overhaul-GP-access.html

What does 'Hit squad' mean from that article?? Are they planning to assassinate us?

It's a postcode lottery. Which is why naming and shaming is a good idea. Far too much secrecy about how/if they work.

@Nat6999 that is a very unusual situation.
There have always been great GPs and some not so good, and a small number that are shit. You have to choose a good GP yourself. Ask around and get someone good.

@Nat6999

What annoys me most is my surgery can't give you an appointment for 6 weeks but they are still taking on new patients. Also 52% of patients are female but there is only 1 female GP compared to 9 male. It's time for patients to stand up to GP practices & say it just isn't good enough, we deserve better.

The practice don't get a choice with taking on new patients or not.

@ARudeTerriblePerson

It's a postcode lottery. Which is why naming and shaming is a good idea. Far too much secrecy about how/if they work.

Nope. It will just make people leave the job. The government will publish measures that make zero sense and tell you nothing about how good a GP really is. For example face to face appointments, loads of patients love being able to have video appointments. And before the pandemic there were regularly threads on MN complaining private GPs offered this and not the NHS.

I hadn't read the DM campaign before - bloody brilliant! Not surprised AT ALL that the BMA is opposed to it.

@julieca I should think the DM will keep on the govt's case with this one.

Loads of people here criticising GPs who obviously have zero idea of what is actually needed. Bloody idiots.

@ARudeTerriblePerson Then they will make care worse for people who actually need GP care. But I suspect they don't give a shit about actual patients.

I suspect they do, because their readership is composed of patients, many of whom can't afford to see a private GP.

Except their decisions are life or death in most cases, even down to prescribing the right med, choosing not to see a patient- still on their head if it’s the wrong choice and something happens. It’s not quite a job u just switch off from on your day off..

@ARudeTerriblePerson Everyone is a patient occasionally. But GPs surgeries need to be organised for people who need GP care. Not the person who goes once a year because they have a virus and thinks they should be given antibiotics. Or who goes with incredibly minor stuff that needs no medical care. Such people IME are good at spouting off about how GPs should be organised when they haven't a clue.

Also columnist Toryboy Andrew Pierce is committed to it.

And we have a shortage of GPs. This public attack will just make more retire early and leave care worse.
It seems to be the default government mode. Attack staff because of the reduction in services caused by your cuts.

Slagging off patients is one of the most annoying habits of GPs. Slagging off hospital doctors to patients is another. All very cathartic for the GP, but not remotely helpful, and a waste of time.