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.

I'm married to a GP who would agree with you. Who is also close to burnout, whose stress levels in another profession would have him on sick leave. He's battered by the media and public opinions of being part-time, absent, not-a-real-doctor and demanding patients. He's a good GP. It's not worth it though; in any free time we're working towards his way out and change of career. Can you leave to be a GP out of general practice?

Why are people so stupid they’re arguing with a GP who is clearly just trying to make things better for everyone.

Ironic that people are quick to complain that you’re not supportive to patients with mental health problems. But when you’ve raised a discussion (is that not what MN is about?!) and you’ve mentioned that you’re close to a blow out from stress everyone is jumping on the bandwagon and you’re the villain! I agree with OP, and I think receptionists should be able to request that some patients see a pharmacist before being given appointments.

For what it's worth, I'm the kind of person who wouldn't go to the doctor unless I was on the brink of shedding my mortal coil, possibly not even then. I haven't bothered my GP in years. In fact I don't even know who he/she is. But then I've got medical anxiety...

I am a doctor, not a GP and work in Australia. I work a public/private mix which is pretty common here. Where I work there’s an easy and open referral and communication process between private and public specialist services.

I am busy and efficient, I think, and work part time because of kids. I’m still drained at the end of a long day, but getting though 70 patients would not be possible for me. I’d make mistakes.

I am always horrified when I read threads like this about how many patients UK GPs are interacting with per day, either with face to face appts or phone calls.

It’s too many to be safe, too many to think clearly about and too many to enjoy the process of getting to the bottom of something complicated and interesting.

The OP is burnt out, getting frustrated with “the public” is common when doctors are exhausted. The inherent frustration is not be use they hate people, but because they can’t do the job to the best of their ability

So you don't think Menopausal women should go to the Doctor? Women should just shut the fuck up I suppose. If you are me at the system then be mad at the system. Stop taking it out on patients. Women notoriously get fucking ignored by their GPs all the time. Telehealth during Covid was a godsend because I could write down what was wrong with me in advance instead of all my shitty GPs talkin over me.

*mad at the system

I don't think people necessarily have a disagreement/problem with the Op saying she's exhausted - the issue is blaming it on the patients. I'm not sure what data is on what patients are seeing doctors about and whether that has changed ebcome more trivial but there is data that the number of patients each doctor has has grown a lot - so even if the same proportion were coming with trivial matters this is going to massively impinge on doctors "real" work

we need more doctors and more spending on the NHS - its not a matter of blaming doctors or patients

I hear you OP. I work for the NHS so I see it, patients crying and demanding appointments for a routine problem (I work in a specialist trust that by definition deals with well people as opposed to poorly people). We have had routine category surgical patients pushed onto lists because of the amount of noise they made and stretched surgical lists to the limit.

I live in a city, a good friend of mine is one of these people who uses her GP for every minor little thing, they actually know her name and date of birth when she calls without even asking-in a gp surgery of its size that’s not a good sign. They don’t know me from Adam (I am registered with the same surgery)

I sympathise. My mother is constantly at the GP for every twinge. She’s had every test going and they all point to her being as healthy as she can be. She still complains about her treatment.

You go to the doctor. You can’t seriously expect anyone to diagnose you over Mumsnet. Phone 111 or do an eConsult.

I had a hospital appointment recently and got there 20 minutes early. I went straight in as there had already been two no-shows. When I left they were trying to find another bloke who hadn't turned up. Bloody disgraceful.

I hear you! I worked with a lady who wanted to book in an apt at the GP because she had a bee sting! I was furious on your behalf. My SIL is another one who frequently visits the Dr for no real reason 🙄

dont your receptionist field the calls?
instead of overwhelming GPs

What proportion of appointments do you think are an unreasonable waste of time?

Would a small charge help?

Would a small prescription charge of 1 or 2 reduce appointments?

A colleagues child has an allergy to fruit squash or something in it. The grandparents won't stop giving it to her child. And every time she goes to the GP and wastes an appointment because piriton costs money over the counter but is free with a prescription. The husband drives a Mercedes. I couldn't hide my shock and disgust when she told me giggling.

I have a frequent flyer mother. She has had a lot wrong with her. Her GPs have saved her life three times over. We are incredibly grateful.

But lately it seems that nothing outside of the GP appointment works, so everything needs chasing so many times, each time a total waste of GP time.

This is the modern British problem, in every field. Teachers are expected to parent children. MPs are free solicitors. Social services must provide every aspect of care and amusement for elderly parents.

Unless we deal with it we are screwed.

Have you thought about writing his up for a paper or a blog? Do what the secret barrister did?

A lot of people are missing the point of the OP’s post. She’s talking about the people who are going to their GP when they do not need to go. They are wasting the GPs time and everyone else’s too. The people who DO need appointments can’t get them because of the time wasters. And there are many time wasters. I know a lot of them. I mentioned my mum. I also have a colleague who went to the GP because he had a sore finger. One because he had a rash on his arm. It’s pathetic.

I hear you @memorial, GP here and reached the end of my tether too. I'll be out of my practice by the end of the year as my health has suffered for too long trying to meet infinite demand with diminishing staff. I have said forever that there needs to be a national education programme on what GP can and can't do and where and when to get help, as it is GP & A&E are the only two doors to the NHS so are used by everyone for everything.

I don't know what the solution is, but there needs to be one urgently as GP will not continue in its current form too much longer. There is talk of hospitals taking over GP practices and running them, but it will not be a doctor-led model as we simply don't have enough, so phone and text from a nurse or a admin following a protocol is what patients will get (& before anyone says I'm scaremongering look at 111 that's the model gov. thinks works)

Sore throat could easily be tonsillitis which could need antibiotics. Ear pain could well be ear infection which could also need antibiotics.
DDs consultant says any ear pain and she needs to see a GP straight away. Or shall I tell her not to bother as it's just ear pain. FFS.

They probably do but when there are entitled people screaming at them down the phone they probably don’t want to help. My mother is like this. Kicks off when they suggest an appointment with the nurse instead. We’ve talked to her. She’s doesn’t get it. And she used to be a nurse!

HCP here - I hear u OP -
thanks for all that you do,
i recognise what you are saying and agree it is really getting worse -
look after yourself as much as you can while
you remain in the profession and again - thank you !

Ignore the nay sayers. I know exactly what you mean. I saw a relative recently. She is younger than me, has T2 diabetes and is doing nothing to improve her diet. She is horribly overweight and she is now insulin dependent. She has neuropathy in her feet and has other related health issues. She is on so many tablets - far more than DH who has had cancer and a stroke (both unavoidable in his case).

I feel so sad for her.

It sounds like you are very exasperated with the minority of patients taking up the majority of appointments. It sounds exhausting. This thread got me thinking about an appointment my husband had last year. My DH hadn't seen the doctor in maybe 20 years (half his life) when he went in. And he didn't want to go, but the condition that he had (was diagnosed with), was starting to really get to him. During the appointment the doctor asked a lot of questions and was absolutely great. At the end of the appointment she said something like, "Well, I know this is something that I need to take seriously, you never come to see me, so I know it must be affecting you a lot". At the time I was really surprised to hear she had said it. It felt like a judgement call, but reading this thread it makes sense.

Patients who go to the doctors for every minor symptom are more at risk of being ignored if/when something serious comes up? It's not negligence, or at least it makes sense. If I was to see a patient constantly, I can imagine not taking their concerns as seriously as I could/should. I see my GP as a last resort, not the first. First I use the internet, then the pharmacist... I can see how frustrating this situation must be.

I think everything needing a GP referral is a major waste of GP time. Lots of processes date back to a time when GPs knew their patients well.

I seldom visit/call GP unless I require antibiotics (for tonsillitis/sinus etc), and I only do this because I can't get them without a script. There should be something in place at the pharmacist or a GP based pharmacist where they can see a history of these infections and can prescribe the antibiotic and cut out the middle man.

Also, referrals - when I was pregnant I had to get a referral through the GP. This consisted of me ringing the GP, speaking to a locum who had never met me to take my details and then refer me to the maternity unit - self referral not in place here.

Two wastes of time for the GP, but not the fault of the patient. I am aware other trusts may be different but this is the protocol in mine.

If everyone had obligatory means tested state-subsidised health insurance which was managed by government regulated non-profit organizations, as they are in many countries in Europe, which is totally unlike the American model, then many of the problems we see being discussed here, would disappear over night. Those with chronic conditions and people on low incomes would still get 99% of their treatment free, but everyone contributes an amount proportionate to their income.

Great idea.

We could call it National Insurance and income tax!

Also YABU about signing off letters to declare someone's fitness for an activity. These forms require GP sign off - another outdated practice.