Save the NHS? Why?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by clueless1, Jan 30, 2014.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    I've been with my local Surgery and Doctor for 30 years and although I use it rarely on the occasions I do I get an appointment the same day and always have done. When my Wife fell ill he was the only Doctor my wife would accept to make a house call. Whenever my wife got worse he came immediately no matter what time of day or day it was and I am very grateful for that. However, my neighbours are registered with a Surgery in the center of town and if they ask for an appointment and they can be told it will be two weeks before an appointment is available:dunno:. No Surgery that cannot give an appointment within two days is fit for purpose and in fact by holding the patient back can actually, in my opinion, endanger their health and perhaps Life.
    So move down here, Clueless, and register with my Surgery!!!:coffee::heehee:
     
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    • wiseowl

      wiseowl Admin 24/7 Staff Member

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      My appointment was for 9am I was called at 9.50am so I sat there another 5 minutes and then the doctor came back and called me again,he then said I called you once,didn't you hear me,I said yes I heard you but I decided to sit here a little longer as I have been waiting 50 minutes already and my time is just as important as yours is,as I followed him to his room he remarked that I could go back and wait some more if I wanted to,so I said OK and turned round to walk to the waiting room,he followed me and said look I think we have got off to a bad start,so I accepted that as his apology and allowed him to to see me;):blue thumb:

      I was at all times polite courteous and showed him the respect that he expected,I also mentioned that if a patient was ever late they were made to wait until end of surgery so I thought I would keep him waiting,ever since then he and the lovely Ladies in reception have always treated me with the respect that I expect:):blue thumb: Ps,and I still look after all their 40 Roses:heehee:
       
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        Well, despite my high ratings of my particular Surgery in being always able to get an appointment the same day I am prepared to wait, say, 20 -25 minutes beyond the appointment time because I would rather ensure that the Doctor was giving his patients as much time as was needed [including me].
        I'm not sure what the standard time for examining and treating a patient is that GP's set for their working day, although I think I saw somewhere it was 5 minutes of less. Having said that I've never had an impression from my Doctor that he was under any time pressure.
         
      • Victoria

        Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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        PT NHS is brilliant. Appointments are basically on time unless there is an emergency. I am not allowed to use the UK NHS as I have permanent residency here but my 'contributions' have been tranferred as in all EU countries.

        If one goes private here as t'other has to do as 1) he is American and 2) he doesn't get his UK pension until August this year, a 30-minute appointment costs €30 and again you are seen on time unless there is some untoward circumstance ... at the same time, you can be seen earlier than your appointment if you are there ahead of time, as with the NHS here.

        Funny thing is no one seems to have surnames here ... it's Dr Paulo or Dra Ana if Portuguese or just Bernie or Michelle if British or Dutch or whatever. Very informal and almost all doctors wear jeans with white coats ... and the women high heeled shoes or boots ...:hate-shocked: In the summer our dentist (Portuguese/German) wears shorts and he's a biggish guy and the women mini skirts ...
        :heehee:

        PS @pete, sorry didn't know about your Mum. xx
         
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        • wiseowl

          wiseowl Admin 24/7 Staff Member

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          That's OK if your appointment (8.30am-9.30ami)s in the first hour but the poor old Owl who's
          appointment is at 12.30pm won't see the doctor until the next day:lunapic 130165696578242 5:
           
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          • Victoria

            Victoria Lover of Exotic Flora

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            That is totally unacceptable in my opinion. :hate-shocked:
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              There are about six doctors where I go.
              If you see one of the ones who is not your doc, you just get a quick appointment, and they tell you to make another one, with your own doc if the problem continues.
              They waste their own time, and ours, mostly just trying to avoid doing anything that might step on someone else s toes.
              Its diabolical, the Doc that came round to see my Mother was actually missing his surgery, so others were waiting back there while he was "laying it on the line to her".
               
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              • Sheal

                Sheal Total Gardener

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                I have no real issues with my surgery or doctors, but I do object having to wait over a week for an appointment. The same goes for our hospital. I waited almost two years for appointments in two different clinics.

                When I heard the horror of what my son has to pay out in medical insurance in America, I have more respect for our NHS. I'm also using some very expensive medicine permanently and there is no way I could afford to pay for it!
                 
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                • ARMANDII

                  ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                  Any GP Surgery that can't give an appointment the same day or by the next day has lost it original purpose to give the best medical treatment to patients........and is not fit for purpose. There should be a review to bring Surgeries into a working state where they can offer an appointment with 48 hours.:coffee:
                   
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                  • Lolimac

                    Lolimac Guest

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                    These stories are making my blood boil....but they are all too familiar....When i'm at work i come across several doctors throughout the shift and the majority i have sadly lost total respect for....going back a few years they were held in such high regard...you did get the odd abrupt one who let their position go to their heads but they still did a great job....now things are very different and a good doctor is very hard to find IMO ....
                    @clueless1 .....I'm with Shiney...get yourself to A&E if you get fobbed off again:dbgrtmb:
                    @mowgley and you too:dbgrtmb:....you shouldn't have to put up with it....
                    @shiney ....now that's the way everyone should be treated:dbgrtmb:
                     
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                    • longk

                      longk Total Gardener

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                      I hope that you're going to create merry hell Clueless!

                      My GP is excellent. On the few occasions that I have seen her she is loathed to prescribe anything, yet if in doubt she will always follow any necessary routes of diagnosis. I went down a few years ago and apologised to her as I was sure that it was "just the flu". She asked questions, took a blood sample and arranged on the phone in front of me to have it tested urgently. She was right - she suspected Weils Disease. Her thorough investigation and prompt actions saved me from a much more serious problem.
                      She also insists on an occasional check-up (once every couple of years or so) before continuing my repeat prescription for Codeine too.
                       
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                      • rosietutu

                        rosietutu Gardener

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                        Oh gosh, How lucky we are here in Dorset, If you are feeling really rotten and make our surgery by 8am when they open, you can usually get an appointment that morning, or if you don't mind who you see possibly in an hour, tis a group practice. If you have been waiting more than 15 mins you are requested to tell reception who will then chase it up. Yes we have got the best here,
                        Oh and our vet is pretty good altho considerably more expensive !
                         
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                        • pamsdish

                          pamsdish Total Gardener

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                          The standard time for a patient is 10 mins, I know this because I sat reading the huge T.V. that streams such information for patients whilst waiting for my appointment Wednesday, my appointment was 9 am, first patient called by a nurse, 9-05, first patient called by a Dr 9-10, I went in at 9-15. this is a large practice with 6 Drs and a locum, and quite a few nurses.
                           
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                          • JWK

                            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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                            I hope you get yourself sorted clueless1, that's very poor service.

                            It makes us feel lucky we have a very good service from our GP here. It's not so good in our local hospital though, the admin is bad rather than the medical care. We have quite a few visits with our aged in-laws and it's hit or miss with getting appointments, quite often they lose letters or deny getting them from the GP. (Our GP is excellent and we ring him up and get him to re-fax letters to get things moving again). The most annoying thing is they give the same appointment time to everyone who has a morning session, so we take Father-in-Law along at the specified 9:00am appointment to find a dozen or more patients all hanging around. It can take 2 or more hours sometimes to get seen, it's a terrible system. I understand they do this because so many people fail to turn up or come late, so rather than face up to those inconsiderate people they make the majority suffer.
                             
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                            • Marley Farley

                              Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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                              Clueless that is absolutely dreadful treatment.. I would change to another Dr.. We are very lucky here like Armandii.. Never running very late unless there is an emergency.. I always see the same Dr which I think helps then you build up a rap-our with them... Or maybe like Woo you need to call his bluff.. Either way that is no way to be treated... I hope you are getting your other problem sorted out.. Sounds like there is some definite anxieties there, so please get checked out..
                               
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