Is It Just An Excuse Now

[teacake44]

For doctors to refuse to see you in person. When you look at all the action shops have taken to erect screens at their checkouts and the more available ppe, also dentists have found a way of operating, why can't doctors see a way of seeing people other than by video, and phone.
The reception areas can be screened off, and even in the room were the doctor is could have a divide, along with PPE I can't justify the continuation of refusal. What's it like in your area? that's if you've tried to get in.

[emmie]

haven't seen a GP for an age, not likely to for the foreseeable future. if they want to see me they have to come to me.
but did go to hospital where i had to wear a mask.

[chelle7272]

yes but shops don't have to follow the same guidance......

[teacake44]

There's guidance and common sense, how long does it take to clean all you say is cleaned, common sense tells me that you don't clean all that you say, may be a spray here and there, door handles, chair, reception desk, how many other places would the patient touch in a ten mins visit.

[ladybirder]

Why does the doctor have to come to you Emmie?

[New Judge]

I'm afraid that the virus issue is allowing a whole load of businesses and services to introduce "safety" measures that are simply making the business or service unfit for purpose. GPs are no exception. Fortunately I rarely, if ever, go to see my GP. It simply isn't worth the bother. By the time I get an appointment I'd either be dead or recovered.

Quite frankly it's farcical that medical professionals are refusing to see their patients. These services need to get a grip and find a way of operating properly.

[woofgang]

teacake44 "Most people don't just phone the doctors for no reason,"

pardon me while I ROFL

[diddlydo]

I agree it's pathetic. In the large village where I live no GP is seeing anyone face to face (in fact I'm not even sure there is a GP on site). If a GP agrees by telephone that you need to be seen in person, you have to get yourself to the next village 5 miles away - and this when you''ve been told by A&E 8 days earlier that you must not drive until you've had certain tests. Catch 22 unless you have a willing relative/friend.

[emmie]

because they are 25 mins walk away and 25 mins walk back, and i am knackered after 10 minutes walking, things aren't good in the health dept.

[Vagus]

We both preferred telephone appointments where possible, before the pandemic, so it makes little or no difference to us.
If the GP considers it necessary then we can have a face to face consultation. Most appointments, for us, can be successfully done by phone.

[diddlydo]

Emmie - if you can't walk there get a friend/taxi/bus to take you.

[Sqad]

It has taken a pandemic to bring into practice something that was obvious decades ago.
Home visits are a waste of time in the vast majority of cases, the rest of the medical world catching on decades ago.
The vast majority of cases may be diagnosed simply by talking to the patient or communicating in many other ways without physical presence.
Again in the vast majority of cases,visiting is a total waste of time and will not be embraced by the medical professionals again in the same way as previously.
Patients who cannot get to the surgery either by chronic ill health should be seen by nurses as for Christ,s sake many nurses now have University degrees........
Medicine in the UK has to change to benefit both patient and Dr and now is that time.

[youngmafbog]

"Medicine in the UK has to change to benefit both patient and Dr and now is that time"

Agreed. Time to a top down shakeup of the whole of the NHS. Make if fit for purpose and ready for the next 50 years.

[diddlydo]

Covid is the last nail in the coffin for face to face GP appointments. After all, a GP can field a phone call while on the golf course so why bother turning up at a surgery? So much for the wonderful NHS.

[Vagus]

Indeed squad.
Last time I saw my consultant at the hospital, the actual appointment took about five minutes. The journey to the hospital, parking, and waiting room time was about 90 minutes. When I suggested it could so easily have been done either by phone or video call, he raised his eyebrows and said ‘ it’s the nhs we’re dealing with here, Ive been saying this for years’.

[Mamyalynne]

My surgery has introduced an online consult section ,based on detail on the forms you enter then a decision is made on how to proceed further .

That could be a phone consult,a prescription generated or a surgery appointment.

[iluvmargie]

Haven't needed a Dr. for a while, dreading it if I ever do with all the stories I'm hearing of not getting an appointment or even your call being answered.

[emmie]

no friends who are available, besides which they aren't seeing patients at all. taking a taxi, well could do but that costs..

[Mamyalynne]

//they aren't seeing patients at all//

If that is true then they aren't following the instructions in the GP's Toolkit.

https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/covid-19/gp-practices/covid-19-toolkit-for-gps-and-gp-practices/service-provision

[emmie]

sorry mamy, they may be, but when i have had to speak with them it's only by telephone.

[bednobs]

emmie, that's what PiP is supposed to pay for - extra costs that you incur because of your disabilities