to wonder what GPs are doing at the moment?

[MaMaLa321]

I couldn't give blood last time, because my iron level was so low, and I was strongly advised to see my GP.
I called my GP to be told that there are no face-to-face consultations and that I had to have a phone consultation (in a month's time) which will be of no use whatsoever because I'll need a blood test from the nurse. And no, I can't book an appointment with the nurse directly, I have to go through the GP.
And yes, I am aware that this is in no way an emergency but it means that serious conditions aren't being picked up.
But no wonder A and E is overwhelmed. And what are GPs doing?

That’s kind of funny because I can’t book with a GP directly I have to go through a nurse 🤷‍♀️ I’ve got so many thyroid issue symptoms but I can’t get an appointment at all, I’ve put this off for nearly 18 months because of covid and it’s still no easier to get an appointment.

They're dealing with patients, mainly. Or volunteering giving vaccines.

Your problem is too many patients for too few doctors. Not lazy doctors.

But kudos for the totally original and not at all overdone GP bashing.

I understand GPs are working in response to your question. They are, however, working differently to how we have been used to. It’s the correct use of resources to have tha phone consult so the GP can take a history and decide which bloods exactly to order. They can then follow that up with any treatment or further investigations you need.

Four weeks is too long, I’d agree but definitely doesn’t indicate that the doctors are lazing around, quite the opposite.

Brace yourself op .....

Nothing
Fuck all
Dim byd
Nada
Sitting on their arses sipping cocktails
Is that the answer you wanted OP?

well, seeing as I never said that GPs are lazy, this is going as standard for AIBU.
But I can't see anything wrong with asking what they're doing if they're not seeing patients. That's an enormous amount of work removed.

@MaMaLa321

well, seeing as I never said that GPs are lazy, this is going as standard for AIBU. But I can't see anything wrong with asking what they're doing if they're not seeing patients. That's an enormous amount of work removed.

They are seeing patients. They're full. That's why you have to wait a month, because you can't just magic up extra doctors. It's not right, but it doesn't mean they're not seeing patients.

Mine has seen me twice in the last week to listen to my chest (recovering from pneumonia) and has ensured i’m on the right antibiotics and steroids

so how come I could see a doctor within a day or two before covid? A jump from a couple of days to a month seems disproportionate.

@MaMaLa321

so how come I could see a doctor within a day or two before covid? A jump from a couple of days to a month seems disproportionate.

Because there is a huge backlog of patients needing to be seen which put off seeing doctors or who had ongoing treatment paused as a result of the pandemic.

This is fairly well known OP.

I wonder how many GPS have retired over the last 18 months , certainly some have gone as they are fed up of the constant abuse and crazy workload

@BathshebaKnickerStickers

Mine has seen me twice in the last week to listen to my chest (recovering from pneumonia) and has ensured i’m on the right antibiotics and steroids

Then you’re lucky because I’m losing my hair and having suicidal thoughts but cannot get seen face to face and wait for an online consultation is 3+ weeks.

I’m going to assume it was a surprise that your iron levels are low OP and you have no symptoms of serious anaemia, so really you dont need to see a GP. See a pharmacist about this, they are well qualified to advise. There’s lots to do to increase your iron levels without needing a GP appointment and they can help you choose the right supplement to get you started.

If you gain symptoms (shortness of breath, fatigue…) and the change in diet/supplements are not working then call to see your GP.

Yeah, they’re seeing patients, just not you.

A phone consultation shouldn’t be booked in for a month’s time though - that is poor and I would be surprised if they can’t do anything about that. Guessing you live in a very populated area or one without many practices?

And I don’t blame the GP’s we have a shortage for sure. But I know quite a few GP’s who only work part time now, and again I can’t blame them it’s down to the government and shit funding etc but it’s difficult to stomach when you need help and it feels like no one will help you.

I’ve see a GP several times in person - usually with a day or two of asking for an appointment, or the same day. They do do a phone consultation first, though. I’ve also had a few phone consultations. They phone back within the hour often.

@MynameisJune do you specifically request an emergency appointment? Suicidal thoughts warrants a n emergency appointment. You’d also be very welcome at A&E.

There aren’t enough GPs.

It’s not a conspiracy to make people froth at the mouth. An already groaning NHS has just taken on a pandemic, and is limping out of the other side with fewer bodies to deal with the populace.

My city has two podiatrists to deal with 120k+ people. There are GP surgeries with upwards of 15k patients running with about 12 GPS and assorted nurse practitioners/nurses/phlebotomists and other HCPs.

You’re waiting a month, because that’s when they can see you for what sounds like a pretty routine bit of work. I’m sure if you told them you have chest pains, and can’t feel your left arm you’d be seen today, because that is an actually urgent issue.

They're seeing patients, doing phone consultations and writing prescriptions/referrals as they've always done, and trying to do that in a 'covid safe' way as directed.
But there seems to be less GPs around, and more demands for their services, especially when you add the backlog of cases pushed back because of covid, the wait now while they catch up on those cases that's pushing it all further down the line, and then the usual winter stresses and strains, people needing support from GPs because they are waiting to be seen from their referral, plus planning and rolling out a new national vaccine programme that has had 3rd doses and boosters added to it.
We've had warnings there aren't enough GPs and funding to meet demand, this is the result.

Our surgery is seeing people. I’ve seen a GP in person 3 times recently for different things and had a blood test.
They do telephone triage first but always face to face if needed too. The longest I waited for an appointment was 1 week and that was for a specific GP. Usually it’s 48hrs max (excl. weekends).

It's a lottery. Here they do seem to be seeing some patients and I have been seen a few times.

Different story in my mother's town though. Even getting the phone answered there is a bonus, never mind getting to see a GP. If you do get through and they think you need to be seen they don't ask you to come in or (heaven forbid) make a home visit themselves. They send paramedics.

@Lockheart

They're dealing with patients, mainly. Or volunteering giving vaccines.

Your problem is too many patients for too few doctors. Not lazy doctors.

But kudos for the totally original and not at all overdone GP bashing.

This in spades. I do wish posters would stop GP bashing.

[quote IfImLyingImDying]@MynameisJune do you specifically request an emergency appointment? Suicidal thoughts warrants a n emergency appointment. You’d also be very welcome at A&E.[/quote]
They wouldn’t give me an emergency appointment, that’s just for people that need antibiotics and the like apparently.

Have you specifically said about the suicidal thoughts @MynameisJune. If so that’s terrible and you need to speak to the practice manager, which I know you won’t feel like doing but it’s worth a shot. If not, you can call 111 who can get a crisis team member to call you back or do turn up at A&E.

@MaMaLa321 YANBU, and my GP Practice is the same. Unfortnately, these threads (like the ones on my local area facebook page) turn into a slanging match with lots of personal attacks on GPs, and health care workers. A lot of whom are working very hard (and have done all through the pandemic.)

There is an understandable tendency for people to wonder what they are doing though, because it's been almost 2 years now, and the GPs seem to be the only ones so far, who have not resumed normal service (the new normal that is!)

And it does feel like they are using covid as an excuse to not see people now. Anyone who says they have resumed normal service where you are; you are VERY lucky, because I don't know anyone whose GP has resumed normal service.

I am actually genuinely worried that it will never EVER go back to normal. Both myself and my DH have things the GP needs to SEE, properly SEE! Not just look at a photo. But they keep fobbing us off with meds and drugs for it. Result: both of us have something that is not going away and has not been cured/healed. We are both very close to going to A & E.

It's getting very frustrating and upsetting now. I really wish they would resume the online booking system. It's been 2 years since I saw a GP about anything.