To wonder why it takes a GP 7 years to train?

[Swedes2Turnips1]

When all they seem to do is say 'I will write you a letter of referral' or 'You will have to make an appointment with the practice nurse for that'. What do they actually do these days?

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Don't tar them all with the one brush now, will you?

I have just asked for an appointment for a blood test for a specific thing - only to be told I must go to the GP to get a referral letter and then get an appointment from the local hospital for a blood test. What is the point of the GP appointment? Bureaucracy gone mad.

Can't you go private - might save you some time if all you need is a blood test

Don't you need a referral to go private as well?

Yes go private obviously you have no respect for anyone medical ...I sincerely hope you never have need of their expertise

In answer to the OP.

Anyone could walk in with any number of ailments and a GP is expected to know of this ailment and then see how to go about curing said ailment..

I think this is why it takes 7 years.

ooh let's all turn up at the hospital and demand a blood test. without an appt.

How about just ringing your gp surgery and asking him to call back and ask him to do letter. You are being a little unreasonable I think as it is not him demanding to see you - the hospital are saying it is the procedure...hopefully will just take a phone call.

If you have an ongoing condition which requires regular blood tests then the consultant you see at the hospital should be able to give you the bloodwork forms for future checks.

Are you just expecting the hospital to carry out tests on your say so?

i agree with SelfishMrsClaus -dont tar all with same brush.

Does it really take 7 years to train to be a GP? Blimey, how long does it take to be a specialist then?

I personally really like my GP's and nurses and even the receptionists (well except one).

My GP surgery is very well run better than the last surgery I was with - they were dreadful.

YAB a little bit U.

doctors to be - 20 years on, was a very good doc to watch to totally understand how the system works. tbh i'm surprised (and grateful) that most of them are still working for the NHS.

My sister has recently been diagnosed as having a very low thyroxine and us sisters have been advised to have ours tested because there is a very strong familial link. It is a simple blood test.

Jingly, a GP is a specialist. Well obv not, but trained to the same level iyswim!!

GP is the same level of experience and education as a Consultant. Hence years of training.

GPs are specialists. They have specialised in General Practice. Just because it's called general doesn't mean it's unskilled. they have specialised in the huge variety of things which people go to GPs about.

x posts there.

So are specialists/consultants trained as GP's first then specialise? How does it work?

So phone the gp, tell him what you've been advised and ask him to refer you. Then find something more worth getting upset about....!

I have done that. Told by doc's receptionist that GPs have to see patient in person before any referral.

The blood test might be simple (although it isn't actually) but what you do with the results and how you as a patient are supported - not so simple.
Would you really want someone who had studied for less than seven years to be your primary medical advisor on everything from your mental health to your ingrowing toenail?

So I drag my two unders twos to the doc's appointment and pay to park etc then I get the appointment at the hospital and drag two under twos there and pay to park there too.

I'm not a medic but have two GPs in my family and have lived with several training medics. so I might not be quite right but they all train for say 4-5 years in medicine and various specialities, and then hive off into taking 6 months slots in certain specialities. At some point the GPs train as GPs while the others train in say Psychiatry or Geriatrics. Same length of training.

It's because they have to know a bit of EVERYTHING about EVERYTHING! A good GP is worth his/her weight in gold!

Crikey, no wonder the nhs is on its knees.

ah..well I'd try phoning and saying you want GP to phone you back if it's difficult for you to go in there and explain situation to him - receptionist quoting rule book but prob. a way round it.