iggs I see, I didn't know that (obviously). That's utterly shocking. Maybe I'm really lucky as with our GP we get to see one (not nec my choice of doc, which is fair enough) usually same or next day without a problem, inc on Saturdays. For emergencies they do try to get the receptionists to triage but the last time that happened I gave them short shrift. I wanted an emergency one for LC for a problem I understood. I asked if there was an emergency appointment after school hours and she said, "if he's ill enough for an emergency appoint, he's too ill to go to school" to which I replied that I was quite capable of telling whether he was ill enough to go to school, thank you very much, or whether it was something that was contagious, and whether it was an emergency, and as she wasn't a doctor perhaps she would be good enough to give me the appointment so that I could speak to someone who was medically trained. Or words to that effect. I mean, I was very polite to her, but I think it's obscene that a receptionist should be put into the position of making those decisions.
I know, I know, many people are a nightmare when they want to access medical services and they need some kind of screening processes, but I'm a capable mother who doesn't fuss and nonsense about illness so I expect them to recognise that . (wink for realising the impossibility of that to work).
Anyways, saying that, it's like in A&E where the receptionist does a sort of triage. I once collapsed in the waiting room and was vv ill (stopped breathing) coz a receptionist didn't realise that when I came in saying I couldn't breathe, I meant, I can't breathe, let me see a doctor NOW and left me waiting for 1/2 hour until I stopped breathing and they decided they'd better help. When I went to the A&E the other week there were docs and nurses doing a pre-triage screening thing with a coloured card priority system to give to the receptionist which made SO much more sense.
Saying that, if it's the PCT which sets the standards and doesn't realise how they're being corrupted, surely they are still a bunch of cockroaches?
Grr Grr Grr.
Don't get me wrong - I'm a HUGE NHS fan, and I often think that many of its faults are beyond the wit of man to resolve - despite their best efforts - and that it's one of the best healthcare systems on the planet. But this kind of thing is just crap on a piece of toast with wee to drink and is EASY to fix.
Oops that was a long, ranty post. Sorry.
gin what casper said.