Whaaattt?

The UK pays medics more than some countries and we are guilty of enticing them here and leaving their own countries bereft. Tit for Tat re medics leaving here for better salaries and maybe conditions elsewhere. Vicious circle.

 

When I put my repeat prescription into my surgery there are very few
if any patients waiting to see a GP, most times it's empty

 

Spot on John558. I have trouble making appointments to see my GP for on going health problems. The waiting room is always empty when I turn up so why is it so difficult to arrange an appointment?

 

I think the doctors have to do an awful lot more paperwork these days. No time to see patients.

What is covered by the NHS and what is not?
The government’s contract with GPs covers medical services to NHS patients. In recent years, more and more organisations have been involving doctors in a whole range of non-medical work.

Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge are:

• Certain travel vaccinations
• Private medical insurance reports
• Holiday cancellation claim forms
• Referral for private care forms
• Letters requested by, or on behalf of, the patient
• Examples of non-NHS services for which GPs can charge other institutions are:
• Medical reports for an insurance company
• Examinations for local authority employees

Why does it sometimes take my GP a long time to complete my form?
Time spent completing forms and preparing reports is done by the GPs in their own time, and can take a GP away from the medical care of his/her patients. GPs have a very heavy workload and paperwork takes up an increasing amount of their time.

 

Which kind of points out that the NHS is pretty rubbish when it comes to sorting out who does what.
Too much red tape, too much time spent by highly trained people filling in forms.

Some goes for the police, I'm sure there are other examples.

 

Last week I fell over and hurt my ribs. This weekend they were quite painful so at 8am on Monday I filled in a contact form for my GP. I got an appointment at 10.30 that same morning!

 

Well here we go, early last month I got the trots, the two bob bits, waited two weeks before eventually thinking I need to see a doctor, rang up, all appointments gone at 9am, call back tomorrow, rang next day, yes got an appointment with a nurse practitioner, got some tablets, basically imodium by another name, and a stool test.

My actual GP rang me three days later, blood in your poo, options do you want to have a camera shoved where the sun don't shine or another test for infection, I chose infection

Another three days, you have an infection, stop taking the tablets they will make things worse and gave me antibiotics, two days and it improved substantially.

A total month in all before it settled down.

Ok so the first two weeks was because I was hoping it would go away, but you cant get to see a proper doctor, I'd tried Imodium but no, we have to continue because you are an idiot is the attitude.

 

Just be glad that they sorted you out without the need to remove your anus and half your intestines.

 

Yeah, wonderful aint it.

 

@Obelix-VendéeTo improve equality it starts at home, So I am asking you to provide a link to show the IMF calculations of where France is ranked 25th, so I can see where the UK is placed, all being equal. In theory, going by your post the UK should be 6th with France being 25th but I have my doubts. I think you have based the UK figures on being the 6th largest economy but then based Frances at 25th on IMF capita figures.

 

My wife had to stop taking a new medication because she was having a bad reaction to it. Rather than phone for an appointment with the associated long wait, she called at the surgery to make the appointment. Informed by the receptionist that she would need to speak to their pharmacist. Appointment given for 6 weeks later. The receptionist didn't discuss the situation with anybody else, just made her own decision.
The question therefore arises for me is this - If she can go 6 weeks without taking medication, was it really necessary in the first place. Alternatively, if the medication is required, how can it be acceptable to wait 6 weeks to discuss the situation?

 

Pharmacists at high street chemist shops are often very well qualified to offer advice.

 

That seems unacceptable @Allotment Boy and I would suggest that your wife rings the surgery asap to complain.

 

@lizzie27 are you replying to @KT53 post