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?

[quote julieca]@ARudeTerriblePerson then change GPs. But do not think that is what GPs are like. I have a brilliant surgery. My relative who has a serious mental illness has a brilliant surgery. GPs and nurses who are great and regularly go beyond what you could expect. I do not want attacks on GPs to just persuade the older GPs in the surgery to retire.
We all have a choice of who we have as our GP. That means we have to do the work to get a really good one for us. And I know that different GPs suit different people.[/quote]
We used to be able to change surgeries where I live, but all 3 have now merged into one, so we no longer have a choice.

My surgery were fantastic pre-merger, now not so much. And as they haven't actually merged premises, there is no end of confusion as to which surgery people's appointments are at, due to duplicate (and even triplicate) surnames among the GPs.

They are still doing F2F appts though!

Go to medical school for 5 years then do your post registration qualifications then tell gps what to do. Honestly it's always the people who work in the most menial jobs that like to bash doctors, teachers!

Well, I'm unemployed, but I don't bash doctors or teachers.

And I also respect those that do the so-called 'menial' jobs that we've had recent hard experience of just how vital they are - and how thankless, too, so often.

Been playing a wind instrument for about 30 years and first attack was coming back after lockdown. Also really struggled on about 3 mile walk, stopping and starting, feeling light headed and out of it. Previously no problem. Second attack playing wind instrument. Thought initially it was just breath control.
Light headedness is getting worse, now just daily stuff.

[quote Cbtb]@ARudeTerriblePerson what other solutions are there? The system is broken. Most successful systems private or public have a much higher number of GP/family doctor equivalents per head that the Uk. What model of primary healthcare do you know of that has a reduced number of doctors/head than ours?

I wish we would get over this full time rubbish as well. We’re short of nurses but I don’t hear that the issue is that most nurses work part time….nursing standard hours are 37.5/week and even the daily Mail admits that most GPs work 36hrs a week. GPs apparently are part time and nurses full time? Why do people think this? A full time GP would be working 50-60hrs a week in practice (personal development of course is on top). I’ve had this at work when nurses have told me they wished they could be part time like me and then have been a bit sheepish when I have pointed out that they work less hours than me already (this is when I was 80% so worked 38.5hrs/week

I think doctors like me don’t help ourselves saying we work part time. This is a profession where the standard working week used to be 72hours and only has recently reduced to 48 with a lot of pushback. Individual doctors have fought back against this by working full time for the majority of the population hours 36-40hrs a week yet we refer to ourselves as part time. We’re not.[/quote]
I think GPs do a first-class job under very difficult circumstances, but that demand for health care has now outstripped resources, due to a combination of rising population and reduction in funding.

Clearly, more resources are needed, more doctors are needed and perhaps more thought given to training nurse practitioners to take on some of the workload.

But none of this will ever happen under this government, who seem hellbent on privatising the NHS by stealth.

Clearly, more resources are needed, more doctors are needed and perhaps more thought given to training nurse practitioners to take on some of the workload.

Nurse practitioners have taken on much of the workloadthey often diagnose, prescribe, refer and perform ward rounds. Let's not take the piss with them thoughthey do it for far less pay (than GPs) and are more at risk of being struck off by the NMC than GPs are with the GMC.

Yawn! Another day, another GP bashing thread on MN.

Time some of you got off your arses and hit that medical school.,it's only five years plus anotjer two (minimum) on GP rotation and another year as a GP trainee.

Do let me know how it goes. We are desperate for GPs ...many are over 55 and younger doctors are voting with their feet and choosing other specialities.

But yes...constant bashing will soon encourage them eh?

@Marmite17 there are too many people demanding help from a system, so triage is difficult too. A couple of episodes of light headedness does not warrant an ECG and blood tests, in a lot of people’s opinion. A vitamin d deficiency could cause dizziness and light headedness, so surely worth trying to take a supplement and see if it makes a difference. Also, how is your blood pressure? Low? If it’s monthly, there is a possibility it’s related to iron levels too. Surely there are lots of conversations that could be had, before demanding an ECG?

I’m not blaming just you, as I’m sure there are many people placing a lot of demand on services, but I think a mentality of helping ourselves a bit wouldn’t hurt, and could take some pressure off

First they came for the teachers.
Then they came for the nurses.
Next up, the Doctors. . .

@mbosnz

Well, I'm unemployed, but I don't bash doctors or teachers.

And I also respect those that do the so-called 'menial' jobs that we've had recent hard experience of just how vital they are - and how thankless, too, so often.

Hear hear

We have fewer GPs than almost every comparable country. That is a result of 11 years Conservative control of the NHS. Blame them and don't believe the hate stirred up by the Daily Mail. In 2015 the Conservatives promised 5000 more GP's by 2020. The actual increase was a couple of hundred. Boris Johnson promised 6000 more. They just lie

Had a great GPfor about 30 years, always saw same one. Younger then so rarely needed a doctor. For about the last 10 years I rarely see the same doctor. And have had conflicting advice. Especially re statins. Long term Dr said no, looking at 10 year forecast. Others yes. Anti myself but do take pills for high blood pressure. Lowest dose. If this is a cardiac problem would re consider but need conversation with doctor.

[quote Derbee]@Marmite17 there are too many people demanding help from a system, so triage is difficult too. A couple of episodes of light headedness does not warrant an ECG and blood tests, in a lot of people’s opinion. A vitamin d deficiency could cause dizziness and light headedness, so surely worth trying to take a supplement and see if it makes a difference. Also, how is your blood pressure? Low? If it’s monthly, there is a possibility it’s related to iron levels too. Surely there are lots of conversations that could be had, before demanding an ECG?

I’m not blaming just you, as I’m sure there are many people placing a lot of demand on services, but I think a mentality of helping ourselves a bit wouldn’t hurt, and could take some pressure off[/quote]
I don't think PP demanded an ECG, to be fair. It likely was suggested/requested by GP or nurse and sounds like it hasn't happened yet (???)
I've done a few ECGs based on lightheadedness triggered by exercise along with BP checks and bloods (practice nurse). It's good practice, IMO.
Also, you need bloods done to ascertain vitamin deficiency.

Where are we at, with availability of blood testing, given shortage of supplies?

@mbosnz

Where are we at, with availability of blood testing, given shortage of supplies?

Back to normal where I am (SE) butI don't know if other areas have received supplies. Not had any alerts that the shortage was still ongoing...

@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?

I understood the money was to be used to hire extra doctors, not pay the existing doctors more money

I also think that there is too much pressure on the nurse practitioners. Mine suggested tests which clearly weren't agreed to with GP. Big responsibility for not much pay

I think we ought to realise that we as the general public, along with the general practitioners, and the nurse practitioners etc, should not allow them to divide and conquer us.

We all want the same thing - an adequately funded and well supplied, functional, health service.

Let's hold the bastards who are failing to enable that to be delivered, accountable, rather than letting them play the blame game. Require them to deliver on their rhetoric and promises.

@mbosnz

Where are we at, with availability of blood testing, given shortage of supplies?

Our shortage lasted over a month, this week we have just started getting supplies and getting people booked in for bloods.

And where exactly are these spare doctors that we can just hire ?

It must be so stressful, not having the basic equipment, for a vital job that enables people's healthy well-being.

@mbosnz

I think we ought to realise that we as the general public, along with the general practitioners, and the nurse practitioners etc, should not allow them to divide and conquer us.

We all want the same thing - an adequately funded and well supplied, functional, health service.

Let's hold the bastards who are failing to enable that to be delivered, accountable, rather than letting them play the blame game. Require them to deliver on their rhetoric and promises.

Completely agree. Unfortunately, the bastards always get let off the hook by offering tokenisms and passing the buck (let's blame those lazy, part-time GPs) Thanks for the cash, Javid!! Far too little, too late.

Too little, too late i'm afraid. I strongly believe the Govt has let the NHS system get to a point where it is so broken, privatisation is looking a good option.
As a 3/4 time GP DH works 4 days a week and does 7-7.30 (50+ hrs). He then spends weekend on the laptop doing results, appts etc. For £60,000 - the same as plumbers, electricians, builders. He has student loans over £50,000 and gets nothing but criticism and abuse. HIs surgery is so underfunded he buys his own medical supplies to use.
He is leaving medicine in 4 months.

Holy heck. My daughter is wanting to go into medicine. I've tried to talk her out of it. Gulp.

Meanwhile, in IT land, DH is doing 50-60 hours per week, and is getting significantly over the £100, 000 figure thrown out to lure the jealous carpings. . .

I went to uni' as a mature student with a neuro surgeon, and a GP, both retraining as lawyers.