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Trying to see the doctor
by tylluanpenry @ Monday, 16. Jun, 2008 - 11:57:30

I'm fond of saying 'the world's gone mad' but today I had proof that it is, indeed, on its way to hell in a handcart....

I've not seen our GP at all in the past 8 years, so since I've been feeling unwell for a while, thought I had better make the effort. I rang up last week, asking for an appointment, only to be told I couldn't even ring and ask for the appointment (let alone get one) until the following week as 'the rotas aren't made up until then.'

Besides, all the GPs were on annual leave, and nobody was quite sure which locum would be on duty at any given time. I thought it was a bit ridiculous to give everyone their leave at the same time and rely on temporary doctors, but didn't kick up any fuss.

This morning I rang and was told all the appointments for tomorrow were full.
'That's okay,' I said, 'Could I have Wednesday or Thursday then please?'
Silly me. I hadn't realised that you can now only phone for an appointment the day before you want it.

In other words I would have to phone again tomorrow to get an appontment for Wednesday. But only if I was lucky - the receptionist pointed out that there will only be FOUR appointments on Wednesday, strictly on a first come first served basis. So if I fail to get one of those, I shall have to wait for the next day and try again.

I suspect the intention behind the system is that patients will go off and (a) clutter up the local A & E instead (it already keeps you waiting about eight hours ) or (b) recover by yourself or (c) die.

So my question is this - for whose benefit is the NHS being run, exactly? It's certainly not for the patients'.

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Tags: doctor's appointment, nhs,

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moonwomanmoonwoman [Member]
http://www.moonwomenspirituality.com
2008-06-16 @ 14:22

In administration we have the 48 hour rule. Do not respond to a situation for 48 hours because it generally will straighten itself out. Sadly I believe your health care system as well as ours has adopted the 48 hour rule. Like you, I seldom go to the doctor. But when I need to go, I need to go. So it is frustrating when you and I who are not burdens on the Health Care system cannot get in.

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-16 @ 15:08

It's mad and it's quite wrong. Besides which, if it IS a 48 hour rule, it has somehow extended into over a week for me with no end in sight.

Just shows what happens when the bureaucrats are allowed to run wild!

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loiswakemanloiswakeman [Member]
http://lois.co.uk
2008-06-16 @ 15:05

I wish I could say I was surprised, but I am not. We are lucky to have a fairly well-organised medical centre here, and can usually make an appointment the next day. Ironic, as England is supposed to spend less per head on healthcare than either Wales or Scotland!

Hope you get better soon - with or without medical assistance. The admin. does seem monumentally incompetent though.

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-16 @ 15:09

The amount spent seems to have little influence on the service offered. It's now impossible to see the doctor - so why bother having them at all?

'At least do no harm' could be rewritten 'At least see your patients'. ;)

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miramazemiramaze [Member]
2008-06-16 @ 16:55

I hope you feel better soon.

LOts of love

XX

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-17 @ 18:07

Thanks, Mira - I hope I feel better soon too!

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skip2468skip2468 [Member]
2008-06-16 @ 18:35

That is nothing short of crazy. In NZ we can make an appointment as suits us almost anytime at all, within the working hours of 8am till 5pm.

For years I have been visiting the same doctor every 3 months for a general check-up, plus blood tests and medication.

They say that familiarity breeds contempt - but not always it seems.

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-17 @ 18:07

Sounds like your system is considerably better than ours!

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menhirmenhir [Member]
2008-06-16 @ 22:48

I think the spend per capita posited by the politicians is a red herring. It does not deal with the full picture. It is a useful line to set up areas for more cuts and such sound bites make useful political capital. Watch that space.

When you call the surgery, tell them you are now an emergency, or specify you require an emergency appointment. See what happens.

Meantime, write to your local Welsh MP, your First Minister, if that's what he is called and I think you may also have an MP to whom you can relate your woes in person (at his or her surgery) but with hand written detail to offer as well. Briefing notes are always, well appreciated.

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-17 @ 18:09

Very good advice, Menhir, thanks for posting this! There would have been a time I might have feared being cast off the GP's books for complaining, but since it doesn't appear to make much difference whether I am on the books or not, there is nothing to be lost!

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menhirmenhir [Member]
2008-06-17 @ 20:55

Hope things progress well for you Tylluan. I have used the process I outlined for you, sparingly, for other issues, but it has worked very well.

Many, many years ago, when a close relative needed medical help in a very busy metropolitan city, I was called for guidance - living nowhere near this person. Having phoned on the Friday, this person was told that a GP appointment wasn't available for 2 weeks. It was clear to me, when the problem was explained, that 24 hours was too long, but it being a weekend when I was called, there was not much I could do, if the individual would not go to Accident and Emergency. With permission to call the doctor's surgery and given all the details I needed, I spoke briefly with the receptionist without going into detail and made it abundantly clear that an emergency appointment was needed. "Goodness", she said, "we always have some appointment space for emergencies, why weren't we told".

The upshot of this tale was, that the individual was seen within the hour of my call, (taking a taxi to the appointment) with instructions to call me to keep me informed. There was just time to go home from seeing the GP, pack a bag and get to hospital, where the person stayed for 10 days, including undergoing an operation.

You are in a rather better personal position than the individual I assisted, in that you do feel you can explain your wants; I see the main problem in this situation as knowing when to manipulate the resource for when you require it. You don't appear to haven been unreasonable, though I would say, from your description, resources have been strangely managed.

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-17 @ 22:10

Thanks Menhir. I finally got hold of the practice manager today and explained my situation to him. Initially he kept telling me the new system was perfect and worked wonderfully well - I heard him out and then suggested he should trying being a patient once in a while. My problem is that when I am really ill I simply cannot go to the doctors, I need to go now when I feel well enough to do so. I explained that house visits were a thing of the past (which he strongly denied - well, he would, wouldn't he?)

Anyway, the upshot is that I now have an appointment for Thursday, and I am happy with this because I know I'm not an emergency and don't want to take an appointment from someone who may need it more than I do.

Fingers crossed!

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menhirmenhir [Member]
2008-06-17 @ 22:16

Two days is not unreasonable but how many days have you worked on this difficulty to get to where you are?

Well done Tylluan!!

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Margo [Visitor]

2008-06-17 @ 14:46

Tylluan, I agree it is disgusting. I hardly go to the docs either. They're not sympathetic these days like they used to be, instead they make you feel like you're wasting their time!

We put all our money into the NHS and yet the service is not there for us.

I hope you're feeling better soon. xXx

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-17 @ 18:09

Lovely to hear from you again, Margo! Things have definitely changed in the NHS and not for the better, I fear. :(

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jackfrostjackfrost pro
2008-06-17 @ 21:10

alot of people as you say go straight to the A&E then make their condition appear worse...
NHS = Not helping somebody..
Motto..who cares ...we dont!!

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-22 @ 07:53

It really is a shambles - and it's such a pity because on paper the system ought to work. I keep saying that the doctors ought to occasionally pose as patients at their own surgery - that would be an eye opener!

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philghodgphilghodg [Member]
2008-06-17 @ 23:45

Sounds familiar. Has a lot to do with waiting lists and targets.

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tylluanpenrytylluanpenry pro
2008-06-22 @ 07:53

It does indeed, Phil!

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