GP's please why are you not back to seeing us face to face

[whenwillthemadnessend]

Just that really ?

Please can any GP's explain the reasoning

If dentists physios and accident and emergency doctors can see people why can't GP doctors?

@Kazzyhoward is it only the GP surgery who can do your blood tests ? Round here you can go the the GP, the phlebotomists at the hospital or a local supermarket has a satelite service run by the hospital phlebs, its only for a few hours in a morning but handy non the less. Our GP sends us DH's blood form in the post and then he has the option of going to any one of the above. DH prefers the supermarket option because its free to park and he is difficult to bleed and the phlebs always get it on the first go

The German state system seems to work well. A basic system like the nhs so everyone has access to good basic healthcare plus top ups available. I would like to see something similar here.

@frumpety it’s the same at my GP, they do their own bloods, not allowed to go elseswhere as other places won’t accept the blood forms. It’s all to do with funding. Even though I work at the hospital and am next door to phlebotomy.. the hospital won’t take the GP’s blood forms. @Kazzyhoward

@LadyWithLapdog when I use mine I always see top nhs consultants in their private consulting rooms - best of both worlds

@Foxhasbigsocks thankfully we haven’t needed too much so far. But it is one thing that’s attracting me to a job I’ve applied for. I’m an ardent NHS supporter but I’m not getting any younger and the NHS is not getting any better.

The most helpful aspect is being able to arrange appointment around one's own diary and being treated like a human being.

@RosesAndHellebores yes agree

I find in private appointments I have long enough to actually explain the issue, get treated with courtesy as do the kids - especially helpful as one of my dds has sn. I’ve made a lot of use of private gp on video calls during lockdown through private health insurance and they are all nhs gps but because they have a bit longer they are brilliant with my anxious dd

@LadyWithLapdog when any of us have needed surgery I always try to go to private wing of an nhs hospital eg St Mary’s in London. Then you get a private room, better food, same nhs expertise but just a nicer experience

@Foxhasbigsocks I looked into it and I thought private appointments via apps (telephone, videos) are still only 10 minutes long. Do you mean private appointments face to face via work insurance?

@Foxhasbigsocks

The German state system seems to work well. A basic system like the nhs so everyone has access to good basic healthcare plus top ups available. I would like to see something similar here.

It’s good for the better off, certainly. The downside is four times as many people unable to access or utilise healthcare because of cost. Less good if you’re one of those at the poorer end of polarised wealth.

Both really - I’ve never felt rushed in any private appointment I’ve had.

Sorry that was to @LadyWithLapdog

I would like to see the NHS with the same level of funding as German healthcare though.

@LemonRoses my understanding was everyone in Germany is able to access basic care. Can you show me a link if that isn’t right?

Thank you, foxhasbigsox.

Insurance doesn't cover GP appointments. They have to be paid for privately.

When dd was ill a few years ago with anxiety and depression and self harming BUPA paid for the psychiatrist consultations and 5 sessions of therapy. It also covered some day patient therapy. It did not however pay for the ADHD/ASD assessments or follow ups. However having access to the psychiatrist was exceptional especially as CAMHS did diddly squat.

Was also very helpful for things like grommets when the dc were tiny and when dd smashed her leg aged 9, after the emergency op she was seen by a consultant at our local private hospital who saw her every two weeks and repeated Xrays at 5 weeks (which wouldn't have happened on the NHS because her first follow up was 8 weeks after the bones were manipulated back). This meant that at 5 weeks he could see the (fantastic) extent of the healing and it allowed the cast to be cut down from thing to just below the knee which was incredibly more comfy for her.

I can also compare and contrast my breast lumps. Private hospital was always very smooth and courteous. The NHS breast clinic was utterly hideous.

@RosesAndHellebores it must depend on the policy - mine includes free private gp appointments and is with AXA

[quote Foxhasbigsocks]@LemonRoses my understanding was everyone in Germany is able to access basic care. Can you show me a link if that isn’t right?[/quote]
Percentage of people with an inability to access healthcare because of money. See below taken from Kings Fund report.

I’ve been seeing patients through out face to face if it’s necessary clinically or they are vulnerable. I won’t see someone just cause they want. The telephone contact allows more focussed examinations if need to come in and simple things can be sorted quickly over phone.

The additional work placed on general practice has been vast alongside short staffing both from recruitment, staff illness and isolation period with covid has made it more difficult to get appointments. Also the abuse of the service by some is appalling as it’s free to contact anytime.

Full report
www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/media/commission-background-paper-social-care-health-system-other-countries.pdf

Thanks @LemonRoses that’s very interesting

I guess to properly assess that against the nhs we would need to factor in the fact that certain treatments aren’t recommended at all on the nhs due to inbuilt economics. Eg until very recently on the nhs the top hearing aids weren’t available. So my dm didn’t even know there was a better one available until she went private. Her hearing aid has just gone on to the nhs scheme, 4 years later.

I wonder if in Germany they are more likely to tell people what’s available but then certain things are at an additional cost.

@RosesAndHellebores - is determined to put the whole of the NHS staffing in a useless bucket regardless of the excellent service provided by the majority and in particular over the last year. You do realise that there will be some poor performing people in your profession and organisation?

@LemonRoses
You pay a percentage of your income, topped up by your employer.
Children are included until they are out of full time education.
There are rates for all: OAPs, SAHP, for people out of work it's payed by the job center etc. You have to pay a contribution for certain things but means tested.
As with unemployment, care and pension contributions - I pay into the pot for all (social contract idea)
People above a certain income can opt out and go private.

You see, my private care experience regarding grommets was completely different. My DH had private insurance at the time. We were booked for grommets for a DC only to find out on the morning of the surgery that DC couldn’t have it as they didn’t do general anaesthesia in such young children. So back to the NHS we went. Funny how it’s so variable.

[quote Prokupatuscrakedatus]@LemonRoses
You pay a percentage of your income, topped up by your employer.
Children are included until they are out of full time education.
There are rates for all: OAPs, SAHP, for people out of work it's payed by the job center etc. You have to pay a contribution for certain things but means tested.
As with unemployment, care and pension contributions - I pay into the pot for all (social contract idea)
People above a certain income can opt out and go private.[/quote]
I understand how it works. I don’t believe a system that costs more but allows four times the number to slip through the net is better than the NHS.