To think my GP practice shouldn’t shut next Monday?

[Astounding]

I’m not anti-monarchist but was surprised when I got a text from my medical centre saying out of respect for HRH, they will be closed on Monday. Can’t they have a 2 min silence and then see the patients who need them? It’s just going to put strain on OOH and A&E departments.

Oh but they are 😆

Doesn't really make any difference is my GP surgery is open or shut. They always redirect to A&E, Out of Hours and Walk in Centre anyway. Pre Covid they would say ring back the following day at 8am but don't do that now.

I'm a HCP at an NHS hospital and we've been told today that any routine clinics/operations etc will not go ahead, same as they do not on any public bank holiday.

The worst part of working for the health service is letting patients down, but we won't have the medical, nursing, admin or support staff to run clinics and lists. Staff are expecting the day off too.

Not my choice but it's causing a lot of anger with patients, understandably, especially given the short notice compared to permanent bank holidays. Of course we have to respect HM too and realise this is a unique event and that the country is in mourning. As per usual, A&E and out of hours will be available, but any routine or elective lists, are being cancelled.

It's ONE DAY. FFS get a grip.

Yes!!!!!!

My daughter has been waiting 18 months for a hip operation. She is in pain. Complicated arrangements are in place for the following weeks. It was due Monday and now it's been cancelled. They are saying it will be at least another 3 months as all the other slots are already booked. My mother had a 2 week cancer referral appointment for Monday.
No queen worthy of respect would have wanted to cause the misery this is bringing on top of the covid disruption.

Sorry about your daughter. I understand the frustration. My husband is on a two week rule for a new tumour and this will delay things further. I understand it’s just a day but things will get delayed by more than a day as is your case. But it’s an important day for the monarchy and public too. I don’t know what to think x

Our hospital is keeping all clinics and operations running. Admin staff and managers get the day off.

I am so sorry. That has to be awful for your DD. I tend to agree with the pp that this is the sort of thing the queen would NOT have wanted to be happening.

*Also, its rather pointless the GP practice being open when people cant get their prescriptions from the local chemist because they are closed. Patients complain when we offer them a service on a Sunday to see a GP because they then have to drive to one of the big supermarkets to get their medication.

And I find it interesting OP that your comment was aimed at the GP surgeries - what about the dentists, the pharmacies and the opticians. All of whom also offer health care but will not doubt be shut.*

On bank holidays and Sundays there is always a pharmacy rota so someone in the area will be open even on Christmas Day (although may only be a couple of hours but long enough to get a prescription dispensed).

That's really crap for you, I think the "just one day" people don't get that fit sure of us this could cause weeks or months of difficulty. Hope your appointments come through soon.

Have a read of the thread, the real stories about the cost of cancelling much needed appointments.

There are some real heartbreaking stories on this thread alone about the real cost of appointments being cancelled.

Maybe look outside your own bubble once in a while. Some people will wait weeks if not longer for a much needed appointment to be rescheduled.

As a GP based HCP I find your post insulting.

The schools are shut so we need to look after our kids. We also want to mourn our queen.

Oh stop being moaning minnie. Its one day.

get over it.

YANBU.

At a time with healthcare is on its knees and they are saying something like 40% of the population are on waiting lists for treatment, all healthcare should remain open.

It's not a case of, well, businesses are closed. Well, yes, because they aren't a critical service. Healthcare is!

But generally I don't agree with the bank holiday anyway. It's just a means to artificially place importance on the royal family when most of us don't give two hoots about the institution. Am I sad the queen died? As much as I would be able any older person I knew vaguely. But it doesn't warrant the shut down of the country when we can't afford it.

I agree, a two minute silence would be just as effective with much less loss in productivity.

Read the thread. Read the impact that one day is having on people. Read about the person in extreme pain who's been waiting 18 months for her hip operation and now has to wait three months more because of that 'just one day'. And the cancer patients in this thread...

If transport workers and hospitality staff (and nurses and junior hospital doctors) can work the BH so can surgeons and those allied to surgery.

It’s a bloody nightmare. Yes I am working that day - everyone is working as usual in my place of work. No I don’t care that I am missing the funeral.

Have you seen how many have gone to lay flowers and wait by the roadside? I think your two hoots is the minority. Gp services have nothing to do with a waiting list for operations or referals.

With hospitals it’s not so much that people don’t want to work. It’s that management don’t want us to work as they’ll have to pay bank holiday rates.

I work in the social care sector. We don’t get to shut. I agree with previous poster who said funeral should have been on a Sunday.

The op posted about gp surgery's not hospital appointments. My daughter has an appointment shes now waited 5 years for on Monday it will be rescheduled but nothing to do with the gp being shut.

@Awoooga have you got a BP monitor at home?
If not, I know some GP's have a machine in the waiting area. If yours does I'd go down today / tomorrow and take a few readings. If they're high flag them up to the receptionist.
Pre-eclampsia is serious and so are it's after effects. Make sure you're okay. Congratulations on your baby.

Read the thread. Read the impact that one day is having on people. Read about the person in extreme pain who's been waiting 18 months for her hip operation and now has to wait three months more because of that 'just one day'. And the cancer patients in this thread...

Thank you (from a cancer patient!) And also bear in mind that a lot of us who are in the medical system have already been coping with delays and short minute cancellations and trying to rearrange things and not knowing what's going on for months now.

Gp surgeries are usually closed on bank holidays, therefore it's reasonable to expect them to be closed for this one.

The term 'key workers' includes a wide range of roles. Many will be off work as they will be granted the bank holiday as part of their employment contract entitlements.