To think that people have become completely incapable....

[memorial]

Ok so I'm a GP (yes yes I know I could be anybody) and have been for over 20 years.
But bloody hell our society have become completely and utter incapable of any kind of self care or self responsibility. I have never known anything like the kind of demand we are facing. And I'm sorry most of it is just complete and utter nonsense. Over and over again.
Genuinely ill and needy people are being lost in the deluge. It's absolutely impossible to offer any kind of decent care. And we are losing doctors, nurses and staff rapidly. And we cannot recruit. It's not about pay It's about absolutely ridiculous workload and risk.
Yes the system is broken yes we need more of everything.
But every single thing does not need GP hand holding. It doesn't need 2 page complaints because you didn't get what you wanted when you wanted it.
Some days I just think people won't be happy until I go and wipe their arses for them.
I'm done. And it's not just me.

Ok then.

What are people asking you for that is annoying you?

example?

I don't blame you for feeling this way. I wouldn't want to be a GP for all the tea in china.

Not long until the schools go back

Yanbu.
There is some people who overly use the GP or expect a GP to advise them on basic life skills.
I think those people are in the minority, you see more of them in your line of work.
I see lots of capable people doing their best to get by every day.

Maybe your in the wrong profession if you lack so much empathy for your patients like this. What’s trivial to you maybe isn’t to them

I’m rarely at the doctors, I would have to be in severe pain or be extremely worried about something before I go. However I have friends/family who go to the doctors at the least wee thing and I think, a pharmacist could have helped with that. However I did go to a pharmacist for a problem I had and they were useless so I can see why people would rather speak to a doctor.

Ok so you're done.

Do you want us to say we're devastated at losing you?

YANBU. I was in A&E not long ago with a very very poorly DD and someone had brought their 8-9 year old in because she had a sore throat and (as she told the receptionist) “when I looked there’s a lump and I’m worried it’s throat cancer and I’m not taking any chances with my daughter when it comes to cancer”. I promise you I’m not making this up. The most frustrating part was that a) the receptionist was clearly not allowed to tell her to go away and b) the triage nurse also wasn’t allowed to tell her this either. She saw an actual real life doctor with these concerns.

How to say you are fed up with people presenting with mental health symptoms, without actually saying it.

You'll be pleased to know I'm up doing my physio stretches, @memorial

Sooo many examples
Stomach pain for the 100th consult in the 20 years I've known them. Investigated so many many times. So many discussion about IBS and self care.
Beyond numerous coughs/colds/sore ears/vomiting.....often within hours of onset. Literally hours.
Can you explain this test (normal for the 100th time)/ hospital letter/medication ad infinutum
Can you "just" write a letter/sign here/say its OK to have a massage/have a tattoo/have piercing/have a hair dye/run a marathon
Sore knee/elbow/arm/ankle....for days. No exercises tried or anything
Quick fixes wanted for everything
Meanwhile the strangulated hernia who never complained but I squeezed in is in intensive care because she couldn't get through for 2 days. The little old man who didn't seem right when I checked his BP and I happened to ask if he was OK is being abused by his wife and broke down in tears because he had never told anyone but didn't want to bother us.
The poorly controlled diabetics who are waiting weeks for appointments.
The dying patient I saw on my way home at 8pm because I didn't get a chance earlier and now needs to wait till tomorrow to get sorted.
100s and 100s of calls emails letters demands every day. Yes the government needs to resource it better but honestly I don't think it's fixable. Pandoras box is well and truly.open

Disclaimer I was not referring to people who have mental health issues in my post at all as that is an important part of a GP's service with my post.

Absolutely the opposite. The patients with mental health problems can't get through because they just don't have the energy to do so. I book them follow ups in extra slots I add on so they don't have to. They are a massive group losing out in this healthcare lottery.

I am not sure why people are having a go at OP and being sarcastic. People do go to the GP far too often and often for the wrong things. I have a friend who goes to the GP for things like a one off headache, a sore throat that she has only had for a day. She does not wait or do anything sensible like have a nap or rest for a day to see if she feels better. She goes straight to the GP the minute she feels slightly off.

I didn't feel OP's referred to MH either.
My DM was always at the doctors with the same problem like many of the free medical card holders. 😂

From what I can tell my Dr mainly communicates by text message. I'm all for it tbh. Although when I went in for a dodgy fanny lately, him coming in, not even saying hello, then saying swab that bit and leaving was a bit disconcerting after a smear. It's fine though I'm slab of meat to be processed. I'm sure I will get a text about the results.

I've been in this profession for 25years. I am a very good GP. I am almost certainly on the verge of burnout. I am also the only senior experience GP left in my practice. This unfettered demand has seen off 2 experienced GPs in less than 2 years. But sure keep expecting the impossible and we will all leave. I am certainly plotting my escape.

Thank you. Exactly this. Imagine 10% of a 10000 patient population doing this every week.

What do you do with all the time saved by completely ignoring women with horrific peri-menopause/menopause symptoms?

@EmeraldShamrock1 @memorial
You still agree with this post OP, the other day regarding a bereaved woman and her GP’s attitude to her weight gain?

EmeraldShamrock1 · 22/08/2022 16:17
Services are so poor that a dietician referral will be a last option.

He should have not spoken to you in that manner at all.

I'd ask him what made him assume that you expected extra special treatment.

He's an arsehole.

I only have one GP friend and she says exactly this.

the system doesn't help by exacerbating the requirements of the worried well though.

she also says - that parents are wanting children to be seen after a day of having a cold.

her main concern is that genuinely ill people don't want to bother the doctor.

Very pleased. They do actually work. Sometimes I think patients would prefer I could fart some fairy dust on them. Many tell me they just can't be bothered.