To ask if my GP gets paid for this?

[namechanger563]

I've received a text from my GP practice asking for my up to date height and weight measurements. Just to keep my record up to date it says.

I'm sure I read a few years ago the GP's get paid for every patient they do a height/weight check with. Is this still the case?

So is this text just a money making exercise or are they actually going to help anyone?

It’s good to keep records up to date so that you get e.g. correct doses of medication, your kidney function can calculated more accurately, those at risk of malnutrition can be referred to a dietician. It might not apply to you, but it will apply to lots of people. So even if they get paid, it’s because it’s an exercise that benefits the population therefore it’s incentivised. And seriously it’s no skin off your nose is it?!?

Good, they should get paid for the work they do!

Why shouldn't they get paid for doing their jobs?

I appreciate they should get paid for this but surely they should be getting paid to actually see the patient and give them a general MOT and not getting measurements over the phone!

Why not both?

There aren't unlimited appointments available for them to weigh and measure every single patient on their books.

Having your weight and height means they can identify patients that might need preventative measures sooner rather than later.

No they dont get paid for it but it is necessary to have a recent weight ,height recors for many medication doses and also when any referrals to the hospital is made. We also update theri smoking status if possible.
If patient in surgery fro any reason we try to get a BP too

What if you don't know what you weigh? They are welcome to weigh and measure me if I'm there for something else but I don't have a set of working scales myself.

Our doctors surgery have a height/weight machine in the waiting area

@cinnamonfrenchtoast but I can never see my GP. That's my point. Getting more money just to get measurements over the phone when most people will lie about their weight anyway!

It's standard to get height and weight entered into in primary care and hospital records. If you develop a health disorder, how else can the computerised system identify you as high risk of another (e.g. stroke or a heart attack) so that the GP can advise you on preventative measures?

And given how easily weight can fluctuate, it makes sense for you to provide this and update as needed. You attending the surgery just to be weighed and measured seems a waste of everyone's time when you can provide this information over the phone or via text in less than a minute.

It's fine if you dont know it- they can get it if it becomes necessary - it is just easier to have all information to hand.
We have scales at reception that can be used if anyone wants to know their weight and the admin staff update their records.
It's no big deal

Mine keeps texting me, asking me to supply my blood pressure! How the heck am I supposed to know that if they don't!

What a waste of an appointment that would be. I can spend all day weighing people, but then you'd wait five times as long for your smear or your children to be vaccinated.

I'd use one if asked to if I was there for something else, I wouldn't go in especially though.

More than just getting paid, it's arguably a legal requiment to ensure records held about you are accurate and up to date.

But yes, they probably do get paid, which makes sense. If they didn't, there's a perverse incentive to not record weights for people at risk of diabetes or heart disease for example, as once these get identified theres another set of payments for annual monitoring, primary and secondary disease prevention etc.

It's also of value to public heath bodies to understand the demographics and heath indicators in different areas.

Yes, they get paid extra for all this and their nonsense monitoring clinics. That's the only time I hear from them. 🙄

The receptionist at our GP called to ask my weight etc. She said they was updating records.

I don't particularly want to know my weight though as I have a history of AN. I know I am in the healthy weight range so it doesn't matter unless they need a particularly accurate weight for a medication.

My record would say I am 7st 😆 at 5ft 5. If they haven't bothered contacting me to see if that has changed then they clearly aren't that bothered.

@Zebedee55 heaven forbid they get paid for monitoring patients with diabetes, heart disease etc. Why would you hear from them otherwise? You contact them if you're unwell.

Recently when the GP does a referral they have to include the patient's height and weight. I've only seen it for orthopaedic but it could be for other specialities. GP records for height, weight, alcohol and smoking are rarely up to date.

I have a blood pressure machine at home. I bought it from boots a while back.

However, if not - most pharmacists will have a blood pressure check - either manual or a machine and usually done for free.

Whilst a monitoring clinic or check may not be useful to you right now they can be for a lot of patients.
Having up to,date measurements and checks can be very useful when dealing with a variety of health conditions and medication.

I think this needs to fundamentally change....

Weight is one of the most obvious, basic crude measures of health that literally everyone can measure and understand.

I don't know why we tolerate people ignoring their health.

Can yiu imagine if everyone filled in their tax return with 'I don't really keep a record of my income or outgoings? Why should health be any different.