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Original poster

GP won't see DS without a covid test

85 replies

justasking111 · 02/11/2023 15:15

DS adult has been really poorly with something which has gone to his chest, when his little boy had it wound up on antibiotics and steroids.

My DIL tried to make an appointment for him but the receptionist said GP wouldn't see him without a covid test. So she went to the in-house pharmacy for a covid test kit who said we don't carry those you'll have to order elsewhere online.

Is it reasonable for GPs to still insist on covid tests when their own pharmacy doesn't carry them?

OP posts:
Mothership4two · 02/11/2023 15:20

What about other chemists? We have two within a mile of us that both sell Covid tests.

Bigtom · 02/11/2023 15:22

It’s ridiculous. That is all.

creativegoblin · 02/11/2023 15:24

Yes fair enough by GP

FrenchandSaunders · 02/11/2023 15:25

Madness to request that these days, particularly if your own pharmacy doesn't bloody stock them.

Thatsplentyjack · 02/11/2023 15:26

Absolutely ridiculous. They will.have people cing into the surgery with covid every day and they don't even know it!

DwarfPlanetFiend · 02/11/2023 15:27

That's ridiculous. I attended an appointment at my GP surgery a week ago when I had confirmed Covid. I let them know and we both wore masks. It's part of life now.

Dacadactyl · 02/11/2023 15:28

I'd just say yeah he's done one and is negative

CyberCritical · 02/11/2023 15:29

They sell them in supermarkets for £2, or Poundland, or Superdrug. It's reasonable for a GP to ask a patient to do a simple, quick and cheap test that could prevent them infecting a whole waiting room of vulnerable patients.

TravellingSpoon · 02/11/2023 15:30

I got some delivered from amazon on Prime next day delivery.

Original poster
justasking111 · 02/11/2023 15:33

Weirdly our own health board aren't testing in the hospitals now it's just this surgery. He's got hold of a test now which is negative so the GP has agreed to see him.

It's a bit scary that a GP could refuse to see a covid positive patient. Where do you go from there?

OP posts:
firef1y · 02/11/2023 15:33

CyberCritical · 02/11/2023 15:29

They sell them in supermarkets for £2, or Poundland, or Superdrug. It's reasonable for a GP to ask a patient to do a simple, quick and cheap test that could prevent them infecting a whole waiting room of vulnerable patients.

Not everyone has supermarkets that sell them on their doorstep. My local co op (only supermarket) doesn't, and Boots (only pharmacy in town) went several weeks with none in stock. If our GP had the same rule no-one would have been seen for a couple of weeks.

ExtraOnions · 02/11/2023 15:33

You can get them from Tesco, ASDA, Boots … I think I saw them in Home Bargains.
I keep a stock in, Mum is in a Care Home with a number of other high needs people, so I try to be extra careful

EskSmith · 02/11/2023 15:35

It is only ok if the surgery provide you with a test to take for free. Otherwise I sing feel they have a leg to stand on.

Mariposista · 02/11/2023 15:44

For heaven's sake, this is what stopped my poor friend getting help earlier, and se ended up with a horrible chest infection. Some of it was her fault for 'not wanting to make a fuss', but even so.

BitofaStramash · 02/11/2023 15:45

Totally ridiculous

Duckskitbank · 02/11/2023 16:10

The GP is a ridiculous wimp.

Myfabby · 02/11/2023 16:17

Duckskitbank · 02/11/2023 16:10

The GP is a ridiculous wimp.

or could have a pre-existing condition, lives with someone with a pre existing condition, wants to protect all of the people he sees that have pre existing conditions that Covid could exacerbate.

plenty of possibilities i'd consider before arriving at ridiculous wimp.

PianPianPiano · 02/11/2023 16:23

Myfabby · 02/11/2023 16:17

or could have a pre-existing condition, lives with someone with a pre existing condition, wants to protect all of the people he sees that have pre existing conditions that Covid could exacerbate.

plenty of possibilities i'd consider before arriving at ridiculous wimp.

Show quote history

But the ds could have flu, pneumonia, any number of things that would be problematic if the GP has a pre-existing condition, lives with someone with a pre existing condition, or wants to protect his patients from. The GP will be coming in to contact with a multitude of different illness during their working day!

And the point really is that if the GP wants to insist that patients do a covid test, than the surgery should be providing them, not expecting people to go hunting for them before they'll see them. What about people on their own who might not have someone to go to the shops for them?

Even during the height of the pandemic, GPs weren't refusing to see people if they had covid - they just took additional safety measures and had them waiting in seperate areas away from other patients.

GirrlCrush · 02/11/2023 16:32

Duckskitbank · 02/11/2023 16:10

The GP is a ridiculous wimp.

Really? So he could put his own health at risk as well as all staff and other patients, many who will be vulnerable

And he's a 'wimp'??

dylanschicken · 02/11/2023 16:35

It's a bit scary that a GP could refuse to see a covid positive patient. Where do you go from there?

They didn't say that, they wanted to know if he was negative or not. Perhaps if it was positive they would have seen him but taken extra precautions re PPE or referred elsewhere. You can't assume they would have said no and offered no alternative.

InTheRainOnATrain · 02/11/2023 16:39

The home tests are shit anyway especially an old near expiry ones you might have in the back of a cupboard. I’d just lie and say he’s done one and it was negative.

Starlightstarbright2 · 02/11/2023 16:41

On the one hand I see no issue however you can no longer get tests from gov website if you work for the nhs .. so lots less will be working in the nhs with Covid but also derectives are changing due to an increase in tests

CharlotteRose90 · 02/11/2023 16:42

It’s normal, I keep a pack of covid tests at home now. In my gp if you say you have covid they see you in the mobile room outside rather than have you in the main waiting area.

Duckskitbank · 02/11/2023 18:02

@GirrlCrush he or she should have a good enough grasp of statistics to see that covid is now no more dangerous than any other RSV or influenza. Yes, GPs should be prepared to see ill patients, it’s part of their job.

Riverstep · 02/11/2023 18:25

At this stage, there should be processes in place for seeing patients without them having to have taken a covid test first. The tests are no longer free and money is very tight for some people. Even if it is a case of treating someone as potentially positive and using an appropriately allocated treatment room and ppe. I can’t believe that this is still going on after three years.