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?

Safeguarding issues must be being missed left right and centre.

It’s frustrating when your profession is perceived to be under attack. I understand this. But can GPs really not appreciate that the current way of working is leading to many problems for many of us without being defensive?

thanks secretdoor I'll try that

So when did all these missing GPs leave?

Cos appointments in person took place before Covid.

How many GPs left during Covid? Enough to cripple primary care?

Thought not.

GPs must be wasting a lot of time having phone appts and then duplicating the time with a necessary F2F appointment. My OH's oncologist told him that he needed the GP to look at his foot (badly swollen). Phoned the GP to ask for F2F and told the receptionist it was requested by the oncologist, but, no, needed a GP phone appt first, which, as expected was a waste of time as OH just told the GP what the oncologist has said, and then booked a F2F appointment. That initial GP phone call was a complete waste of the GP time and could have been given to someone who actually needed a phone appointment. How many times is that happening?

It may not be their fault but stop with the NHS worship. It's crap and people are dying and suffering. Here in the ME we got a new British GP. I had tonsillitis and his go to was ride it out unless you need emergency treatment because it's a waste of money, suffer and you will probably be OK. Saw another Dr 5 mins later and was prescribed the medication, he rolled his eyes and asked me wtf is with the UK not treating actual medical conditions and who the hell has weeks to sit at home. And also his interview was all about depriving and killing people because of cost.

@SecretDoor

EConsults should have a response within 48 hrs so if you are clear that you want a blood test on the online form this may be a quicker way of accessing one

Not all surgeries have this, mine doesn’t.

The cut off for referral with a low HB from blood donoring service is actually high!
I’ve also been put in a temporary suspension for low HB with it dropping in previous 2 visits - no need to panic, a phone appt will be perfectly adequate in 1 month, then to talk through possibilities and maybe request a blood test from the nurse then.
They cut off level is 12.5 which is pretty dam high for most people.
So a 1 month wait is reasonable in this situation

Mine doesn’t have a messaging or econsult option, their website says you can book appointments online but when you try it says not available at this time.

The NHS is broken, yes it’s free at point of use which is amazing but it’s also not the world leading system it used to be.

@MaMaLa321

In the meantime OP, what could you be doing to get your iron levels up. I think that's something you could be focusing on while you wait. Yes, thanks, I'm doing that. In fact, I wouldn't have contacted the GP if the blood transfusion service hadn't strongly advised me to. And, as I said in my OP, I'm fully aware of being non-urgent. But I am amazed that questioning the level of service results in such a high level of hostility from some posters.

I know. It's always the same. This is a 2 sides to every story thing and both are valid I think.

My surgery is fortknox. We haven't yet moved to online in the first place and the GPS were part time even before covid. I'll be surprised if it survives.

GPS have been leaving for years

We were short of around 15 to 20% before the pandemic, that's thousands short

We have about half the number of GPs per head of population than say Germany

Which means even if all vacancies were filled our GPs would have a heavy workload

Get over it. You voted for decades for a private health service , go use it

Sorry if like most of us you can't afford it

It's not a problem you can solve overnight

One reason they are using the phone system. Is to try and prioritise because they can't help everyone,

My GP phoned me at 8:30 this morning to let me know that she'd had a letter from my psych about my ADHD meds and she wanted to make sure she booked me in for a blood pressure check asap. She is brilliant.

Personally I've preferred the phone appointments but I've also been able to get in when needed - my last in-person appointment was in March this year.

I have stopped investing and will have a fund of at least 500k if I have return

That's the reality between life and death. My sister in law begged for 3 years for a referral. Once she had an ultrasound, which costs about £65, she was stage 4 and died a month later. The compensation may help, her 5 year old in later life but he would have preferred to have a mum for the sake of a scan and a CA125 which we get annually here for free.

@Badbadbunny

GPs must be wasting a lot of time having phone appts and then duplicating the time with a necessary F2F appointment. My OH's oncologist told him that he needed the GP to look at his foot (badly swollen). Phoned the GP to ask for F2F and told the receptionist it was requested by the oncologist, but, no, needed a GP phone appt first, which, as expected was a waste of time as OH just told the GP what the oncologist has said, and then booked a F2F appointment. That initial GP phone call was a complete waste of the GP time and could have been given to someone who actually needed a phone appointment. How many times is that happening?

A lot is the short answer

My doctors I had to ring reception insist on a triage call who then decided antibiotics were needed I disagreed and said I felt the inhaler was more appropriate (literally no signs of infection apart from a wheeze) so a face to face was arranged he was running almost an hour late so that's an hour with a potential chest infection in the cold only to find no chest infection an inhaler was needed could have taken the antibiotics but it's drilled into us about antibiotic resistance and I didn't want to risk it

Quite a large proportion of them died in the pandemic.

@RandomDent

Quite a large proportion of them died in the pandemic.

GPs did, or healthcare workers?

Because I think GPs had one of the best levels of protection available. Certainly at my surgery no one could get in or out.

They are under massive strain of being unable to cope with demand, like everywhere in the NHS.

All I can say is that I was at the GP surgery today with my baby and even with social distancing and an extra waiting area being made it was rammed. Mostly elderly with complex needs, children, and babies.

I’ve not had a problem getting a face to face appointment yet (since Covid) and was rather surprised to get through after two attempts this morning. I have two routine appointments booked in for tomorrow.

The reception staff, who are friendly and polite, triage calls so I think lesser problems usually go to the nurse and the paramedic, then I assume phone calls maybe. I found it harder to get a appointment pre pandemic tbf

Im not going to assume the quality of your practice as have lived in an area with a terrible practice before but it is certainly not across the board.

I assume that my GPs are working because I can see that they are.

The reception staff didn’t stop for a second taking calls/checking in patients but one or two people arrived full of aggro because they had been reading the Daily Mail or whatever and were ready for a scrap which I think is extremely unfair.

@Badbadbunny

GPs must be wasting a lot of time having phone appts and then duplicating the time with a necessary F2F appointment. My OH's oncologist told him that he needed the GP to look at his foot (badly swollen). Phoned the GP to ask for F2F and told the receptionist it was requested by the oncologist, but, no, needed a GP phone appt first, which, as expected was a waste of time as OH just told the GP what the oncologist has said, and then booked a F2F appointment. That initial GP phone call was a complete waste of the GP time and could have been given to someone who actually needed a phone appointment. How many times is that happening?

Exactly this. ^ So much time is wasted with all the phone consultations, and then (potentially) having to see the patient anyway - or having them go to A & E.

It's stupid. I wonder if they hope people will get bored and give up.

Why do you think they were running an hour late if there were no patients there being seen face to face?

The problem with telephone consultations is they miss visual cues. Also simple things, like when you see your doctor they might check blood pressure.

I haven’t had blood pressure checked for 2 years. I know you can by machines but I’m not sure how accurate they are.

Buy machines.

Working, and waiting for the tories to fund the nhs properly, I’d imagine.

I cant get a smear test in my area, I have to ring back monthly to be told to try again in a month as no spaces. More of a nurse issue that GP I know but I think something needs fixing