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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

my rant against the NHS (this time GPs)....

29 replies

AliGrylls · 19/02/2010 15:15

This morning I took my DS to dr as he had been sick for 24 hours and had not held down any food. I did not have an appointment and just pitched up, the nurse said he would try to see me as soon as possible. Within half an hour I was walking out of my GP prescription in hand.

I couldn't help thinking on my way back what a lovely GP I have. He is sooo caring and will always try to fit you in if you don't have an appointment. A couple of times I have turned up at the doorstep of his surgery at 8 in the morning with one or other complaint. I have also seen him come in from doing house calls in the morning.

However, whenever I tell DH about how wonderful he is he thinks this is just the way GPs should be. Is he being unreasonable, and is my GP wonderful? Or, in this country have we just got so used to a crap service from our GPs that anyone who is half decent is considered amazing?

OP posts:
tummytime · 19/02/2010 15:51

I think its a mixture of both. Even in an ideal service, you would realistically have to expect to get an appointment which may involve some waiting even if it is 30 minutes/ whatever. There can't ever be a system when GPs have nothing else to do than wait for people to pitch up without appointments, or at least not without massive tax rises.

However, this should be the norm more than the gps who say that you have to be at the surgery in person at 8am to get any sort of appointment that day and then wait until you're called. That is wholly ridiculous.

mazzystartled · 19/02/2010 15:58

I think your DH gives an example of the unrealistically high expectations many people have of the NHS.

Our GP practice is also fantastic, I have never not been able to get an appointment the same day for my dcs or for myself when pregnant. The receptionists are also LOVELY.

waitingforbedtime · 19/02/2010 16:01

I think tbh we've got too used to having an NHS and don't appreciate how great it can be a lot of the time.

TheFallenMadonna · 19/02/2010 16:01

Why on earth are you ranting? You just had great service from your GP, not "half decent".

memoo · 19/02/2010 16:02

They should all be like this.

However the reason they are not, is down to lack of funding. Surgeries often have too many patients for the number of GP's and so are unable to offer the service that the patients and the doctors themselves desire.

The NHS needs to employ more GP's. simples!

SoupDragon · 19/02/2010 16:05

My GP is wonderful too.

However, I think your DH is right - all GPs should be like that. Sadly, they're not.

TakeLovingChances · 19/02/2010 16:21

GPs are human, just like you and I. I'm sure we make mistakes in our jobs and aren't 100% polite all the time - same goes for GPs.

Your GP sounds like a great worker, and I'm glad he helped your DS. I'm a bit about why you called the thread "a rant" whenever you were actually saying something nice about him?

MyMamaToldMe · 19/02/2010 16:28

I think my GP's are wonderful too and am loath to ever move out of the area I am in for fear of losing them! (Not sure I understand the title of this thread though! )

MorrisZapp · 19/02/2010 16:31

I've never met a bad GP.

They all seem great to me. The appointments thing is completely separate - it's how the practice is set up.

It's all very well to moan about the NHS, schools etc all day long but we don't want to pay high taxes in the UK so we get what we are willing to pay for.

mazzystartled · 19/02/2010 16:42

came back to post what MZ said

MrsPixie · 19/02/2010 17:10

Don't want to pay high taxes?
My taxes are £8k a month I consider that rather high.

My Gp is like described in the Op - I feel really lucky and have changed many practices to find this. I do not think it's the norm.

MorrisZapp · 19/02/2010 17:28

Generally in this country we pay much lower taxes than people in countries with very well funded health care systems.

8K or 8 quid, it's relative to income isn't it, so the amount is irrelevant without reference to how much you earn.

LaTrucha · 19/02/2010 17:30

Don't understand against the NHS?

2shoes · 19/02/2010 17:34

don't get the op.
you have a nice gp so what is the point?
(my gp is lovely and will always fit dd in)

Itsjustafleshwound · 19/02/2010 17:34

I think the NHS is a great ... coming from a country where they refused to treat my MIL (who was having a heart attack in the parking lot of a hospital) until they were satisfied she had the 'right' medical aid cover ...

There are faults and holes that need plugging - but it can't be everything to everybody and I think it does a good job overall

sarah293 · 19/02/2010 17:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

OrmRenewed · 19/02/2010 17:38

My experience is more like yours than your DHs. But YANBU, he is. It isn't possible to always be as good as that. Sometimes circumstances don't permit it.

spongebrainbigpants · 19/02/2010 17:41

£8 k a month in taxes?!!!! Is that a typo?!

You must be earning serious money to pay that sort of tax - it takes me eight months to earn £8k!

MrsPixie · 19/02/2010 18:08

DH works all the hours God sends and we are grateful for every penny.

Not happy with our services overall however, and in other european countries which pay a little more tax there is no comparison with healthcare (and education), the standard imo is off the scale in a v positive way.

activate · 19/02/2010 18:10

depends. What's wrong with DS and what was the prescription for?

spongebrainbigpants · 19/02/2010 18:52

They pay a lot more tax MrsPixie, a lot more. Very few people in this country support higher taxes so basically you get what you pay for.

We are bloody lucky to have an NHS - my brother works all the hours god sends for the service (as an A&E nurse) and believe me he would give his right arm to pay £8k in taxes .

MrsPixie · 19/02/2010 19:08

My parents are Italian and resident in Italy and they don't pay a lot more, the standard of healthcare there is really very high.

I know we are lucky, I really agree in principle but the system fails so many. It is hard for nurses like your bro I am sure. Having a child who had/ has health issues opened my eyes so much to fundamental failings, esp with the GP service. I think one is lucky to find a really good GP who goes the extra mile and it shouldn't be about luck.

2shoes · 19/02/2010 19:11

Riven was he the same knobhead that couldn't understand why dd should need to go on a school trip, the temptation to slap him was very strong

Jux · 19/02/2010 19:21

Our GP is fabulous and I love him and I want to have his babies.

Original poster
AliGrylls · 20/02/2010 16:32

I can't believe he said that to you Riven. He definitely said it to the wrong woman.

The reason why I called it a rant is because I get really irked by the NHS at times. My last GP was a shocker and I was reading Riven's thread the other day about home visits and thought the whole situation was awful.

We all pay taxes for a system and the system should work for everyone. Sometimes I sit in bed at night trying to figure out what I would do to the NHS if I ever became prime.

My GP is the only good thing about the NHS.

OP posts:
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