Getting a GP appt

[MidlandMary]

I was in our local pharmacy today to get help with my kids hayfever issues.
I noticed lots of self-service kits on offer, from thyroid to UTI infections and colon function.
All fine, this can be done via these services but I wonder, in that my daughter needed antibiotics for an ear infection recently, prescribed by a nurse, what is the role now of a GP?
I'd rather a GP but on the NHS this doesn't seem possible now.
Have GP's gone private now? I don't blame them if so 😔

Thank you, she's had 2 tympamoplasty surgeries and her ENT surgeon has a different opinion to yours.

My DD1 is a GP . She is in her surgery from 7.30 am till 6pm usually later She is allocated 10 min per patient . Plus the calls,referrals,home visits (yes they are still a thing for bedbound patients) Her surgery do same day calls/face to face...they have a ring on the day only system that is triaged and she reckons it is excellent.
They have specialist nurse practictioners for certain criteria, and a Physicians Associate (who isn't much use as his scope of practice is very limited...as it should be). Not every problem needs a doctor but anything reasonably complex will get to see one>
My own surgery has a crap system and it's currently 6 weeks wait for a phonecall unless you can ring (and get through) at 8am and beg!

I can always get an appointment with a GP pretty easily, I know I am lucky my surgery is very good. Either do an e-consult and get a call back which I find better as I don't have to go to the surgery, I have an in person appointment scheduled for Monday. The nurse practitioners do the more regular things like my father's diabetics check ups but the Drs are definitely still seeing people for non routine issues. I think you are worrying unnecessarily.

"Sorry, but those who think you're getting an actual GP ..
You're not."

You are wrong. I absolutely am seeing a GP if I need to. How do I know they are a GP? They've been at the surgery for years and I can check that the are on the GMC register.

I was very glad recently that there are other ways to get treatment for minor things though. Received excellent treatment from a pharmacist who diagnosed and prescribed appropriately, so I didn't need to use up a GP appointment.

Okay will leave this here.
You got a GP verdict via a HCP. Yeah okay.
I can see a private GP via my employer's healthcare scheme.
That's where they are .. not via the NHS.
Ask where they are on site ..

Really?

I’ve not come across a practise that doesn’t do at least a small amount of private work.
Travel letters, medicals, insurance reports etc.

What are you on about, I see the GP at my GP surgery if and when required. They are actual GP's OP. Do you not want your son to become one for some reason so trying to make the case for him not being required in the future? People are living longer with more and more problems so absolutely positive they will be needed long into the future.

Are you quite ok? 😳

Nope.

I got an asthma check done by an asthma nurse.

I got a child development check from a health visitor.

I got an assessment of wrist pain from a physio based at the GP practise.

I got a paramedic phone assessment, then face to face, and then a GP review when I had a cough that meant couldn’t catch breath.

It’s not always an appointment with a GP when you contact a practise, but they’re definitely still there and doing patient contacts. They’re just not the only health professionals that deliver primary care through GP practises.

Don’t understand!

Gosh, this seems maybe local to us.
Thank you Mumsnet, grateful for your support 😟

So many of the people who think they needs a GP don’t actually need a doctor - and that blocks the slots GP’s have to offer
I think it’s great that surgeries now have precscribing nurses, paramedics and pharmacists as it leaves quicker access to doctor to those who need it.
and i do know when I see a GP as they’ve been there years and new ones can be identified by their photo on the practice website - I find it odd that you are so insistent that you know how every gp surgery operates?

Er, thanks .. I don't insist on knowing how every surgery operates.
I'm grateful for all feedback xx

Yes they do that sort of thing but not seeing patients privately.

Maybe in your area...

In our surgery the staff board, complete with photos, tells you who everyone is and who are GP's, who are nurses, who are pharmacists etc.

There's also a brilliantly helpful list of who runs the asthma clinic, which GP does contraceptive implants and when, and the likes.

They also have set rules with some patients. I call for me, I get triaged like anyone else and signposted to the right person. Call for DD4, who has extensive needs and complicated conditions and she gets an appointment with one of two GPs - nobody else.

Yes, thank you. My point is that this is a postcode lottery. My NHS provision is so useless that we had no choice to go private.

So you've changed your point from your "Sorry, but those who think you're getting an actual GP ..
You're not." statement then...

My GP practice is pretty much inaccessible if you work full-time on-site, so I’ve had to pay privately for every medical issue for the last few years, with the exception of longstanding repeat prescriptions (although looking at my repeats slip I’m now 2 years overdue a review). It’s incredibly frustrating and tbh there are a few medical things I’m trying to just cope with having at the moment as I can’t afford to keep paying. So it’s not rosy everywhere. Regarding GPs vs AHPs - I’ve no idea as I can’t access any of them anyway.

Sounds like you were wanting a GP when you should have just gone to a pharmacy in the first place.

Same, I never have any issues getting an appointment at all, I can always see a GP when I need to.

Always have to wait 2 weeks for an appointment here

I rang up asking to see a GP for my knee sprain, the only appointment I could for a fortnight was a phone consultation with a nurse practitioner. You can't examine a physical injury on the phone. and where I live that appy would cost you $40 only to probably end up in a and e. So now trying to sort something through my physio but hobbling about...

I have no issue, same day appointments always available
Also evening and weekend ones
If it’s something like I’ve got tonsillitis/uti for the millionth time I just ask for the nurse (can’t remember her proper title) as she’s seen me before and it leaves the GP free then for other people

Both my appointments have/will be with doctors. I have seen a nurse practitioner for antibiotics for a simple infection though

I am in good health and hardly ever go to the doctor, but as it happens I went yesterday. I saw a real GP, face to face, having made the appointment a week before.