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Doctors/GP's
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battleborn wrote: »You are going ott and to be frank your comments are stupid.
If we're going to be frank, pretty much everything you post is stupid. Does that help?
We've managed fine until now.
If it's about to fall off, go to A and E.
If it's not, it can wait until Monday.0 -
The mum of one of my daughters classmates is a GP who works part time. She is rotaed to work 2 days a week. She gets in for 6am minimum to catch up on emails, paperwork, and most importantly releases on treatment and drugs. She has her first patient appointment at 7am. At 930 am she is due a 15 minute break which she never takes. She finishes morning surgery at 1100am and then sees emergency appointments. After that she dictates non stop on specialist referrals. By 1230pm she works eating her lunch at her desk. Then afternoon appointments start at 130pm, misses her 330pm 15 minute break, completes afternoon surgery at 5pm, sees emergency appointments and then onto more dictation, paperwork and emails. She gets home between 7-9pm.
Even though she is only contracted to work 2 days, she goes in for a few hours the next day to catch up on paperwork. She doesn't have to do this but does. Why? Because she cares and is professional.
If she worked shifts 7 days a week, but for only 5 days she would never have enough time for a life.The man without a signature.0 -
One of the main reasons GPs become GPs is for the hours...They can have 'normal' lives as a GP compared to working every hour under the sun at a hospital. I'm not saying its the only reason but for many Drs I know who are doing their GP training it is a major factor.
Take that away and there very well may be a GP shortage.
I know that's not really the point and I do understand the OPs point of view...if the surgeries opened at weekends it would reduce the vast numbers of unnecessary admissions to A&Es. But its not the GPs fault!0 -
Posted without comment..........
(D Telegraph)0 -
I dont get it. Just because they are doctors they should work whatever hours you want? It is inconvenient for you to make up hours etc if you have to take time off work to see the gp....so instead the GP should make up hours to suit you?
how is that fair...
why should they not be entitled to a life? yes they are busy and getting an appointment can be difficult but then maybe the government should employ some more doctors.
if you are seriously il then pitch up to a&e. If not, wait until the gP can see you....simple0 -
My doctors surgery is open 8am - 8pm, 7 days a week, 364 days a year. (Closed only on Christmas day).
There are pros and cons to this:
Pros : People can get to see a doctor, relatively easily, and usually very quickly.
Cons : The surgery is staffed mainly by part-time doctors, and often utilises locums.
A patient does not, therefore have an 'assigned doctor', which is sometimes a bit awkward for those with a long term health condition (in my case diabetes) - as you feel you are not getting the continuation of care that you would regard as ideal.
When you make an appointment, you can get to see someone usually the same day, though it may not be the the doctor you want, or even one you know.
I get the best of both worlds though, by booking things to do with my diabetes (like blood tests with the nurse, and follow up with my preferred doctor), well in advance, usually 3 weeks or more, as the doctor 'overseeing' my diabetes care works only two days a week, and is very popular.
For other visits (ie my recent bout of shingles) - I see whoever is offered.
I have never felt any lack of care, no matter who I have seen. With the shingles, it was 2 different doctors over two days, then another different doctor about a week later.
All of my care, by all of the staff at my clinic has been excellent (though I do have a least favourite nurse for my bloods!).
And there is an out of hours service too, but this may be a doctor from a different practice, as they all take turns to cover from the several practices in this area.0 -
What this thread highlights is the dramatic difference between surgeries as to opening hours, length of wait for appointments, ability to see a specific GP, etc.
It seems that some GP practices are doing a good job in catering for their patients' needs, such as early/late appointments, Saturday mornings, flexibility as to booking appointments in advance, etc. That's really good to hear and promising for the future.
Also seems as if some are still stuck in the dark ages.
Sadly, my GP surgery is in the latter group, with the earliest appointment being 8.45 and the latest 4.30, with nothing between 12 and 2 as they're closed for lunch (doors locked). No weekend openings at all. They're also impossible for appointment bookings - you can't book anything in advance and have to book on the morning, then you can only see who's got appointments free that day, so it's a case of ringing every morning for potentially weeks if you need to see a specific GP, otherwise you just have to see who's on that day - not good for continuity for long term issues. It's not as if the practice is small either - they have over 10 GPs and four surgeries!
I thought it was the norm, but reading others' experiences, it seems that some practices are more flexible, so I think it's time I shopped around to see if there are any other nearby practices that are open for new patients who may have a different, more helpful, way of working.0 -
I am amazed to see that so many posters have surgeries with appointments available all day( 8-8).
My surgery, with 8 partners, only has a morning and evening surgery, with Saturday morning for emergencies.
When I woke up last week with an eyeball full of blood and a banging headache, I had to wait half an hour to see a triage nurse. She then said the obvious, that I need to see a doctor. Pain!
All the doctors in the practice are good, three are excellent, but it's a hard job getting to see one.Member #14 of SKI-ers club
Words, words, they're all we have to go by!.
(Pity they are mangled by this autocorrect!)0 -
I can see both sides tbh. It doesnt mean the doctors wouldnt have a life, just perhaps work on a rotation basis like a lot of other people do.
Think in terms of productivity.
Kids have to be taken out of school/after school, adults need to get time off work. If you could go to the doctor on your days off/before work/after work, it would increase productivity across the country. They could also be recovering during their weekend instead of having to wait until monday and therefore be back at work/school sooner - if its something that keeps them off work/school.
I think most people would prefer a 9-5 gig (not all). But imagine what that kind of world would be like. No shops, no bars, no cinema etc.
However worthwhile to note that many GP's do actually work beyond 9-5 as on call, often working on a rotational basis.You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means - Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride0 -
Surely with the cost of equipping surgeries now, it makes sense to use them 7 days a week. Obviously this would mean different work patterns for clinical staff0
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