Triaging

[Loulou1969]

Hi , this is a rant since the NHS has introduced the E Consult forms to see a GP
My daughter is 19 and for the past week has developed an awful chesty cough that keeps her awake at night
She completed the form last night as she had pneumonia last year and was very ill .
I dropped her at the surgery this morning presuming she was being seen by a Dr but in fact it was the nurse .

The nurse examined her chest and said she would prescribe antibiotics as a precaution ( I know that nurses with the correct qualification can prescribe them ) and a pump to ease the coughing
I don’t mean to undermine nurses as they are medically trained but my daughter said the nurse was very sharp towards her , I feel that when Dr’s triage patients and feel it’s not serious they send the patient to the nurse

My daughter isn’t good atall some might say the Dr would have prescribed the same as the nurse did but I would feel more reassured if she had seen s Dr .

what are your thoughts on triaging ? Does it unblock the phone lines for appointments? There is a time frame for GP’s to reply to the e consult but is this putting health at risk ?

I love the new e consult triage system. It's reviewed by a GP and I have got help more quickly than waiting for a GP appointment, for example a referral to my consultant was actioned straightaway.
You sound like you are being a bit snobby towards nurses tbh

I meant to add earlier that in my experience of 2 different practices that moved to e-consult, speed of access to appropriate care dramatically improved. From immediate e-mails with a prescription sent to the pharmacy, to same-day GP or specialist nurse appointments in person or by phone, to slick referrals to ‘next step’ specialists, it’s been a huge improvement. Waiting rooms have been much quieter, and access via phone for non-standard or urgent matters immediate at all times of the day.

Same here.
I've used it twice during the last month. The first was a chest infection. I have asthma and bronchiectasis and know my condition well. I saw an ANP within an hour who gave me the correct antibiotics (it has to be a particular one).
The second contact was an undiagnosed potentially series side effect to a new drug. I was seen within an hour by a GP who arranged for me to be seen immediately at the hospital where I had tests and was given treatment all by lunchtime.

She received treatment next day, not sure what your problem is? If you don’t think it was the correct treatment, go to a walk-in for a second opinion (if they’ll see you).

It would seem that some of you are happy with the new way in which appointments are triaged your perfectly entitled to your own opinions as am I , however there’s no need to tell me how grateful I should be to have got an appointment, I do realise this , but there are times when I want to see a Dr .

I’m putting this post to bed now , have a good weekend

My problem is rude people like you my dear , It’s very easy online isn’t it !!

I hope that your DD gets well soon.

Thankyou

How was that rude? I’m not sure what your problem is? She received the appropriate treatment. Would happily ask the same in person.