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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

371 replies

Swedes2Turnips1 · 11/12/2007 13:42

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?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 11/12/2007 16:03

And ivykate, i can't see what is wrong with going to your GP with an abnormal test - at least the GP would then know what was wrong and both parties would have saved time

Because it starts to become dangerous to have two different systems treating you at the same time. I have no objections to private health care, but to use one then the other is going to ultimaetly cause problems for the patient and then who is going to carry the can if/when things don't go correctly?

mylittlepudding · 11/12/2007 16:06

Swedes - possibly!

I don't know what it's for and I'm not a GP... but they might do. It should be their clinical decision.

Original poster
Swedes2Turnips1 · 11/12/2007 16:08

I walk often but hardly ever use public transport. I have four children - two tinies (have you ever tried getting on a bus with a double pushchair, a five month old and a 24 month old?) I rarely use the car but if I am paying a babysitter it makes sense to get where I am going quickly.

OP posts:
FrayedKnot · 11/12/2007 16:08

Oh, sorry, that's more tricky then, I agree. I've never come across a surgery that didn;t.

Is it over or underactive thyroid?

walkinginawinterBundleland · 11/12/2007 16:09

swedes I was asking why you didn't use transport/legs when you had a babysitter

ivykaty44 · 11/12/2007 16:10

My gp practice will not allow you to take a pushchair into the build...

walkinginawinterBundleland · 11/12/2007 16:10

i haven't just tried getting on a bus with two small children and a pushchair, I have done it...and lived to tell the tale

ivykaty44 · 11/12/2007 16:10

sorry building

walkinginawinterBundleland · 11/12/2007 16:11

really? I have never heard of that

Original poster
Swedes2Turnips1 · 11/12/2007 16:12

I have already said what it is for. My sister has been found to have low thyroxine as had my father. It was strongly recommended that us sisters get tested asap as there is a very strong familial link plus I am currently displaying some of the symptoms (although they could be due to normal post natal stuff tiredness, hair thinning, dry skin etc)

OP posts:
FrayedKnot · 11/12/2007 16:13

If it's underactive then I doubt you are at any medical risk by not having the test unless you have very obvious symptoms. I would probably not bother, tbh.

I am hypothyroid and so is my Aunt but no-one has ever suggested my sisters get tested.

It sounds like more bother than its worth, although fwiw I do think blood tests etc should be provided locally at reasonable distance from people's homes wihtout needing to pay for parking and such.

I ahve to visit the surgery twice a month to drop off & pick up prescriptions, and then also for blood tests every few months. Luckily it is walking distance from my house and has lots of toys for children to play with when I get there

florenceuk · 11/12/2007 16:13

IK, we're not suggesting Swedes goes willy nilly to the private sector for lots of different things - for a start Swedes is obviously reasonably intelligent and will remember what each party has told her. It would be easier if her medical records could be available to her as a patient to take with her and share wtih whoever is treating her I guess. Grateful if you could enlighten me as to waht some of the bad outcomes might be of this particular path though - I'm not sure I can see them.

People can have perfectly valid reasons for wanting not to queue or avail themselves of the NHS for particular purposes (as a recent thread on MN has demonstrated). The NHS is not perfect.

Original poster
Swedes2Turnips1 · 11/12/2007 16:14

Can't you drive? Or do you choose to go on a bus with a double pushchair and two young children?

OP posts:
FrayedKnot · 11/12/2007 16:14

Sorry, x posts, I would get tested if you are symptomatic.

mylittlepudding · 11/12/2007 16:15

Sorry, Swedes, I misread. I imagine they will think it's entirely reasonable

macdoodle · 11/12/2007 16:18

I can give you lots of examples of very poor communication between the private sector and the patients GP with sometimes hassle and poor outcome for patient - the GP always picks up the pieces it is their job...I have no issue with some of the beurocracy/hassle that sweds clearly has had to deal with...it is her scathing disrespect for a well trained professional most of whom will always try to do their best for their patients despite a government that is trying to dismantle and privatise general practice ...and make it seem like it is the doctors fault...if you think the beurocracy annoys you imagine how much worse it is for the poor dr who cannot do what they wan when they want even if it is their patients best interest...just a view from the other side

Blandmum · 11/12/2007 16:19

Thankfully mine is an absolute gem.

the practice took on DH from the RAF medical service, and when you think that they had no requirement to take him on, and he is a huge cost in drugs budget (his anti sickness meds are £28 a day, and that is without his other medications.

The doctors have been so good with him, liaising with the Macmillan nurse and the hospice. They spend a lot of time with him, and have flagged up my notes and the kids, so that if we fall ill we get fast track service.....they told me that the last thing I need is to have the extra stress of waiting for appointments etc.

I have no doubt in my mind that without the excellent care these people have given him, he would be dead.

So lets hear it for the excellent GPs out there....gawd bless them Evey one!

Original poster
Swedes2Turnips1 · 11/12/2007 16:19

frayedknot - how were you diagnosed? Were you horribly forgetful prior to your diagnosis?

OP posts:
walkinginawinterBundleland · 11/12/2007 16:20

of course I can drive, I just choose not to sometimes because the journey times are quicker and I really don't want to add to the woes of this planet because of my laziness.

walkinginawinterBundleland · 11/12/2007 16:21

hear hear MB

Original poster
Swedes2Turnips1 · 11/12/2007 16:21

So suddenly this thread is about my neglect of the planet because I occasionally drive a car

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 11/12/2007 16:25

Sorry I cant see where I suggested st goes willy nilly between the two sectors?

But St is not a doctor and although intelligent it is not a good situation to be going between doctors and telling them there own job - imo far better to let one doctor do there job from start to finish.

Outcomes of using two different systems - lost notes in the post springs to mind, only half the notes arriving.

The NHS is not wonderful, overstrchted but the private sector has a way to go aswell. Tis a pity they cant learn from each other.

walkinginawinterBundleland · 11/12/2007 16:26

swedes you are the one who made much of the fact that you had to travel to your gp, then the hospital, with your children and pay for the parking etc etc etc

not me

I find it odd

as I do your attitude towards skilled professionals who deserve a degree of respect. and the other people who might need their help.

florenceuk · 11/12/2007 16:29

i must say that my GPs are usually OK, and one of the doctors at my practice is excellent. But having come from a different system I cannot help but question the amoutn of time the NHS system consumes both for GPs and patients - for example in NZ, I used to be able to go and see any doctor I wanted without having to book days and days in advance. I also think your experience will vary enormously in teh UK depending on the luck of geography, and I just don't think that's right.

I also worry about this puritan ethic that says, you must queue, you must take the bus, it is good for you to suffer and if you choose to pay to make life easier you will go to hell. Hey, capitalism is what made the Empire! In Swede's case, she is tkaing a test which if it goes a particular way will mean she gets appropriate treatment - i can't see the problem unless this test is somehow a lot trickier or complicated than this implies (I cheerfully admit no medical knowledge and will bow to professionals in this area).

Blandmum · 11/12/2007 16:32

A slight diversion, but I have to say that without exception all the staff in the NHS that we have seen over the last horrid year have been exceptionally kind and helpful.

They have to work within a system so insane, that I cannot understand how they cope without going loopy. All credit to them, doctors, nurses, plebotomists, pharmacists, auxilliaries, cleaners and volenteers, all outstanding.

The system is shit, but the people are diamond