Are you a GP? We know there are loads of you out there...

[RowanMumsnet]

We at MNHQ have been talking to the Royal College of GPs, and they thought it might be useful for GPs to know a bit more about Mumsnet.

As part of that, we're putting together some information for GPs about what Mumsnet is, what it's not, and how they or their patients might find it useful.

If you're a GP yourself, we'd love to know how you would you sum up Mumsnet in a sentence - or a paragraph - for a GP colleague who didn't know much about it. Has Mumsnet ever been useful for you in your professional life, and could there be other ways you think other GPs might find it useful? Are there any misconceptions about MN we could clear up?

And anything else that occurs to you!

Thanks v much

MNHQ

I think the comments you make are very interesting alarkinthecity. I am sorry that GPs feel constantly harangued. Do you think it would help to listen to what upsets patients though? Usually it's accessibilty of simple services that practices used to provide through nurses, etc, that are no longer available, 28 day prescribing, and quite rude reception staff.

Not meaning to be critical but GPs always say these things are nothing to do with them but as self employed people surely they are. My GP is happy for me to waste time going to the hospital for a blood test but I am constantly invited for a health check with the nurse where I will be weighed and measured. I can weight and measure myself but I can't give myself a blood test and I just don't see the logic.

The system feels so often to conspire against the needs of the patient and when it's common sense issues at stake I just don't see why that is acceptable. On the big stuff my GP is always fine and gives good advice but the associated stuff seems to go wrong - the referral isn't written, the repeat prescription isn't done, reception staff don't look up when they speak to you. Unfortunately it's the little things that upset people and detract from the bigger picture of how hard you work because it's the little things that the patients battle with and which are so frustrating. I know my GP practice does its best but it doesn't seem to have a handle of what's acceptable when one has to deal with the tier under the GPs and often one feels those tiers must be working on the GPs instructions and that's hard.

Near, that is very interesting. See, I would say my GP is excellent, but when I think about it, I have been to see her twice in the last 18 mos for a skin condition and actually neither of the things she has prescribed has cleared it up. I just figure it is trial and error and what works on some won't work on me.

But the reason I rate her is because she always listens, takes what I say seriously, is good humoured and appears experienced, and also because her practice is very well run. I can book an appointment via an auto phone system or online, and I can choose a same day appt, that week, or in two weeks' time. When I arrive at the surgery, I book myself in using a wall mounted computer and it tells me how late my GP is running, so I know. The reception staff are always friendly and when my kidney surgery went wrong and I was scared and in pain, they found me an 8.30 appt with a locum with no fuss.

So I agree with you - the smooth running of my GP practice and their caring attitude means that I think they are the best doctor's surgery I've seen in this country even though they cannot always "cure" me.