To think 20 hour waiting time in my A and E is crazy...

[Meltinthemiddle]

What the hell is happening to our NHS? Is this all down to covid and GP's not seeing patients face to face or people mis using the system. There's been alot of GP bashing recently and I do feel sorry for some of them as no doubt they are working flat out but their appointment system is shocking!

I feel sorry for imprint of GPS but not my own practice. I'm 8 months post partrum and I still haven't seen my GP to be signed off, I haven't even had a phone call conversation with them. My baby has been poorly multiple times that won't even get me past a receptionist just told go to A&E I try and explain it's not an A&E problem it's GP I work in a medical feild so feel confident saying this they still refuse, as I can't get her seen I eventually have to take her to A&E and apologise but explain and they say it's happening a lot.

@NightOwl19

I feel sorry for imprint of GPS but not my own practice. I'm 8 months post partrum and I still haven't seen my GP to be signed off, I haven't even had a phone call conversation with them. My baby has been poorly multiple times that won't even get me past a receptionist just told go to A&E I try and explain it's not an A&E problem it's GP I work in a medical feild so feel confident saying this they still refuse, as I can't get her seen I eventually have to take her to A&E and apologise but explain and they say it's happening a lot.

This is terrible. But do you suppose the GPs are being lazy, or do you think perhaps they have no capacity?

I work in a GP surgery. It's flat out busy for all staff. Reception are ASKED BY THE GPs to find out what the patient is calling about. Reception are told to only book appointments that are available (and we do f2f or phone at the patient's request. When the day's appointments are gone, we are told to ask if it is urgent for today, if the patient says yes, we do a triage and a GP will then phone or see them. There are loads of people don't turn up, don't answer their phones - so many time wasters.

Our GPs have been excellent during the pandemic I've had many a telephone consultation which I much prefer to the old system where you sat for an hour in waiting room. But they've always said when it comes to the kids or things that aren't straight forward or if you prefer you can have a f2f.

However, our surgery is really struggling now as everyone is constantly ringing and messaging asking about booster and flu jabs. They've repeatedly told people to stop as they will contact them. The knock on effect is people needing an urgent app can't get through and the staff are spending hours fielding calls and messages on jabs!

The whole system is a mess and has been for years. My experience of having a baby last year left me shocked at how bad things are (was told I had to change my own catheter bag as soon as I could get up after my section as one example).

People often go to a&e as they're desperate but I do agree we need a public information campaign that highlights what it's for and how to treat minor illness etc

The biggest issues in my view are time wasters, self-inflicted health issues

Is that in your experience as a nurse or a doctor in A&E?

@YearsSinceISawYou

It is wrong to use A&E like a doctor's surgery.

But everyone, A&E staff included, are aware that until GPs go back to work, this will continue.

Before anyone with a skin in the game jumps in, GPs are not working hard.

You know this do you ?? Not sure what I was doing from 7 am to 9.30 pm yesterday with NO breaks, with constant streams of work coming at me from at least 4 directions, any of which could have been urgent but utterly unfiltered and all needing attention. When you do it you can then shout the vindictive shit you are peddling. Yes the system is broken, yes the appointment system is utterly rubbish. But there ARE no more GPS to offer more appointments, they will run out quickly, because we cannot physically speak to or see more than one person at once... There is nothing I can do about it..

The GP bashing has to stop! They are all working their arses off but simply there is not enough of them! It is not the GPs fault that we are in this mess. It's the government. The more people GP bash the fewer medical students and junior Drs will want to pursue that pathway. Why would they with all this daily mail type a abuse?
Leave them alone and complain to your MP. It really is not down to GPs to fix this problem and tbh this mess will take years to fix. The whole system has been well and truly broken by the pandemic.

10-12 hours waiting time in A&E! Goodness me,have they got tents outside the hospital for waiting patients?I mean its Accident&Emergency......I have been twice to A&E in my 60 years of age. to be honest,should I need it now,I am sort of mentally prepared,I could quite possibly die of an otherwise treatable accident or emergency,because there is no NHS anymore( it seems totally broken).

@mbosnz
Each GP has roughly 2000 patients on their caseload but are supported by a strong advanced nurse practitioner team (who can diagnose, prescribe and refer), a good-sized nursing team, and a good sized admin team. The amount of paperwork alone that is processed in a GP practice is shocking: prescriptions, repeats, letters/discharge letters from secondary care, incoming/outgoing referrals, etc. It's endless!!!

I can see why smaller practices struggle and go bust!

@orangeautumnleaves

The GP bashing has to stop! They are all working their arses off but simply there is not enough of them! It is not the GPs fault that we are in this mess. It's the government. The more people GP bash the fewer medical students and junior Drs will want to pursue that pathway. Why would they with all this daily mail type a abuse? Leave them alone and complain to your MP. It really is not down to GPs to fix this problem and tbh this mess will take years to fix. The whole system has been well and truly broken by the pandemic.

Indeed. Much better for the government to pretend it’s not entirely their fault that the health service is in freefall. Blame someone else, “fix” it by privatising (as lots of people seem to want) and you are both the “saviours” and very rich by buying the right shares

It’s not the GPs that are the problem

As said upthread:

stop voting Conservative

It really is that simple.

Our GP’s surgery did a triage system way before Covid. I can call up to 10am and just ask to go on the triage list. I called a few weeks ago at 9:50 on my way to chemo and asked to go on the list. By 10am I had spoken to a GP and had a prescription for oramorph sent to the pharmacy and my Fit note renewed for 3 months. My fit note was emailed to me as well later that day.

@MrsPnut

Our GP’s surgery did a triage system way before Covid. I can call up to 10am and just ask to go on the triage list. I called a few weeks ago at 9:50 on my way to chemo and asked to go on the list. By 10am I had spoken to a GP and had a prescription for oramorph sent to the pharmacy and my Fit note renewed for 3 months. My fit note was emailed to me as well later that day.

BUT is that as important as Jeanette and her ingrown toenail?! Come on now, those pesky receptionists are clearly blocking medical care for those who need it most, like Jeanette.

they prioritise - I presume not all "patients" wait 20 hours - maybe the ones that do wait that long shouldn't have made A&E their fist choice if it wasn't an accident or emergnecy that needed attention? Clue is in the name.

I have had excellent service from my GP - they've done phone consults for about five years anyway - but an econsult followed up with a receptionist phone call within a couple of hours, GP shortly after that, then I popped in to the surgery at around midday for a 1:1 consult - way better than pre covid. (& GP said she preferred it because they are able to triage and prioritise appointments)

@Fordian

As said upthread:

stop voting Conservative

It really is that simple.

I endorse this message. But it’s possibly too late.