That GPs do not have endless capacity

[memorial]

The number of threads slating GPs for not seeing or doing this or that is saddening.
They may say they don't blame "GPs" but that's very much how it feels.
There are less GPs doing far more work day on day. Secondary care is almost at a standstill and we are picking up a lot of that slack. Add the can't be too careful/rather safe than sorry, the aging multimorbid population and the deluge of mental health problems....
GPs are retiring and leaving in their droves, it is near impossible to recruit and locums are expensive and do much less.
Other HCP can help but a recent study has shown they don't actually reduce workload or pressure.
We are seeing many FTF but in order to manage the demand we do have to do some kind of triage.
Those of us left are working 14/15 hr days and yes I know other professionals do as well. But do you want to be the 50th contact of the day, the 200th prescription, the 100th blood result of a tired stressed doctor. Would you be happy their decision making is on point. Pilots who make safety critical decisions have enforced time and rest periods. GP are expected to provide immediate access for everyone but also not allowed to miss anything/make a mistake/be short....
I ask those who are demanding to be seen what they think the solution is? What is the priority?
I am ill after a week of seeing numerous ill kids strep or otherwise. I probably shouldn't be working tomorrow but we have one GP on well earned leave and one who has a family emergency. I can absolutely guarantee that we will have numerous complaints and abusive behaviour tomorrow. What do you suggest we do?

Can you provide a source indicating that most GPs earn 100k?
I will give you a clue... You can't, because the fact is they don't.

I am always extremely apologetic and thankful on the occasions I have had genuine cause for taking up a doctor’s appointment.

You apologise for needing to see a doctor? It’s not free and they’re not doing you a favour. Can you imagine any other service where the end user feels the need to apologise for using it? It’s insane. This is where we’ve got to, people who are ill or in pain or otherwise deserving of help feel they need to apologise for accessing medical attention. It’s become so difficult people are putting off asking for help they need and deserve and it’s having fatal consequences.

I’m all for being grateful for good experiences. I’m currently in hospital frequently for appointments and getting extremely good care for which I’m truly grateful and say so whenever I can. But falling over ourselves for the basic care of getting a phone call or appointment is ridiculous.

But post like this make the wrong people not want to contact GP's, self diagnose, spend money they don't have on their own care.

I feel really bad contacting the GP these days, as I don't want to add to the problem. I get similar comments about my work, in my job but earn a hell of a lot less for longer hours than my GP friend does.

Can you imagine any other service where the end user feels the need to apologise for using it?

Isnt apologising just a British thing though?

I've been seeing 75% of patients in person in my appointments... but there is probably 100% more demand for contacts... I cant make the day 100% longer...

@ExpulsoCorona the gps don't see 200 patients per day (those prescriptions are signed within the allocated time slot) so I'm talking about repeats etc. they still all have to be signed by a gp even if not issued by them.

We need to tempt more foreign GPs and make adjustments to the course/pathway to entice more people.

Where I am (Channel Islands) I could call my GP at 9am tomorrow and be seen face to face probably by lunchtime, but I'd pay £40 for the appointment. Subsidy on charges exist for those on lower incomes or benefits.

All things considered, as someone generally healthy (touch-wood) and financially stable I'd take the payment option every time, over what my parents face trying to get an NHS appointment in the UK.

The downside is that our (free) A&E department gets bogged down with people who don't want to pay the GP, but it's still nothing like the wait times I read about in the UK.

We need the government to pay doctors university fees on the proviso they work in the NHS for 10 years.

@AnneLovesGilbert Yes unfortunately I do feel very apologetic for needing a service at times that I’m entitled to. That’s how I feel, like I’m a bother. I’ve been misdiagnosed a few times recently over the phone as well, told things were viral (over the phone), when they required antibiotics. It’s hard not to feel frustrated when things like that happen. But I am still apologetic because the staff are lovely and so run down, my heart still goes out to them as humans. But we do deserve better and I believe they WANT to be better, they just can’t right now.

People need access to healthcare and GPs are the gatekeepers of that access. The system doesn't work if it's impossible to get a GP's appointment - which it is in many areas at the moment. The only alternative in many cases is A&E, which is a waste of resources in many cases.

I know a few people who are currently willing to pay for a private GP appointment in order to get the referral they need (on the NHS). That's what happens when the system is broken - those with money find a way to play it and those without don't get the care they need.



They don't seem to have any capacity never mind endless capacity.
I've been trying to get my hypothyroidism controlled properly for the last two years and cannot get a GP to either see or even speak to me. Constant to and fro with e-consultations which are seemingly a waste of time - they don't seem to take time to read my records or look at any blood results. It's so frustrating.
Also peri-menopause, haven't had a period for 4 months with a myriad of symptoms. I get told that I need a face to face appointment, when I phone to make one there are none available and get told to phone on the day. Spend 45 minutes trying to get through to be told all appointments are gone. More and more people will be forced to go private because really there is no access to health care for a lot of people now.
Not blaming GP's at all but something needs to be done. The system is well and truly broken.

I’m incredibly thankful for the amazing care I get at my GP surgery. I think there is currently huge pressure.

You'll be the first to complain when I miss something because my brain is fried after 60 contacts 200 scripts 100 results numerous interruptions and queries.
FWIW I dont earn 100k and if I did it wouldn't be enough and my pension I have paid heavily into since I was 20 odd.
You are the problem.

sense of entitlement exhibited by so many people (as evidenced on this thread)

This is unfair. Apart from luckydip’s ignorant and unpleasant comments, I just see people questioning why the system seems to have very suddenly got so bad (my own surgery was great pre-Covid and adapted to Covid very well, but now has a booking system seemingly designed to stop you making an appointment) and expressing dissatisfaction that it is so difficult to get medical advice now. That isn’t entitled, or do you think we should all be grateful for a service we aren’t receiving?

I sympathise with GPs as it sounds intolerable for them, but that doesn’t mean I can’t express how this system makes me feel as a patient.

Well half of em only work 3 days a week and now they've voted to shut up shop at 5pm.
On the occasio s in the last couple of years that I have managed to see a doctor, there is usually one other person or nobody else in the waiting room.
Whereas once upon a time there would be a few waiting (for the various GPS, nurses etc)
So what are they actually doing?

Also the tirage system doesn't help, I did an econsult about stomach pains, which had been going on for in excess of 4 months. I had to have a phone appointment first and then low and behold she needs to see me to feel my stomach. Everything we discussed I had put in detail on the econsult so a waste of time to have the phone call - I know its quicker but a bit of common sense would save everyone time.

If its impossible I'm not sure who the 100s of patients we see and speak to every day are? I must be imagining them while I play golf

I don't know what the answer is, but a genuine thank you for everything you do.

Personally I play golf and drink coffe every day....

I agree with you at only having so much time in one day, however I'd like to ask doctors what the advantage of phone appointments over face to face.lare. I have spoken to a doctor over phone, had to come in to see nurse twice and then have appointment with pharmacist. This could all have been done in one face to face appointment with the doctor, at one nurse appointment she was back and forth to the doctor's room relaying what I was saying to him. How is this a useful use of limited resources?

According to this article two GPS are earning over £500k, there must be loads earning over £100k, plus massive pensions.

How about the the population stops pointing the finger at GPS and starts taking some responsibility for their own health and well-being. People stuffing their faces with fast food and crap, sitting on their backsides, smoking, drinking, no exercise but then expecting doctors to wave magic wands and make years of self abuse disappear?!

Don't get me started on the idiots on here who kick off on people wanting to ring the emergency services accusing them of wasting NHS time and resources! How about the people actually start taking their own health more seriously and stop causing long term chronic sickness and morbid obesity and reducing the need for such a high demand in care!

I think you're equating people complaining about the system with people complaining about GPs?

The fact is that it's hard to get an appointment right now. That's not your/GPs' fault, but it is a reality.