can I leave gp surgery to qualify to register at different one?

catalina66

funguy wrote: »

This is exactly why the UK GP system is soo cost efficient - 90% of all NHS contacts for only 8% of the cost. The government encourage the "small business" model and are keen to retain it as it costs them the least possible. We, the UK taxpeyers should be asking for all GPs to be salaried to the NHS just like hospital doctors so they can concentrate on seeing and treating patients rather than running a business!

However like most salaried/employed people, the working contract is 40 hours a week but with a lot of doctors working up to 70-80 hours a week, they would need twice as many GPs if they were to make them salaried!

Absolutely. Making health into a business, instead of what the NHS has always stood for, was a big mistake. Lots of paperwork and managers, instead of actual staff who care being prioritised. It would be ideal if more people had an incentive to become GPs, and were all salaried at 40 hours, as you reference, but the current climate must make a lot of potential GPs consider other options.

At my previous surgery, before moving, it came in that the doctors were asked to call all patients back, to do a mini assessment on the phone, and then decide if an appointment was needed. Even though I found it very stressful indeed, and fundamentally don't agree that any kind of safe diagnosis can be done over the phone, I felt sorry for the doctors, having all that extra work and note taking to do.

catalina66

Pennylane wrote: »

A couple of years ago there was a lot in the news about changes which were supposed to be taking place. It was intended that patients could register at whatever GP surgery they liked .... Maybe somewhere close to their workplace, just as we do with dentists. I thought it was a brilliant idea but it has obviously fallen by the wayside.

We have no choice here ...there's just one practice in our catchment area and we'd love to change to one just a few miles further away but we can't as we're not in their catchment area.

Yes, I recall that, as it sounded perfect. Dreadful to be stuck with just one practice, when there's every good reason to have free choice. I hope things change for the better for you.

It's also a shame that there isn't better regulation of GP surgeries, as then there wouldn't be the stress of wishing to be at another GP surgery in the first place. Surgeries getting it right are bound to be popular; just wish all surgeries would take patients seriously.

catalina66

Anoneemoose wrote: »

Hi,

I am the same OP. I have been struggling for years with what I call a 'Jekyll and Hyde' situation with my GP. Sometimes he can be great and listen and suggest things, and other times, I feel like an utter burden. I have numerous issues, including Fibromyalgia, painful adult acne, IBS and a form of OCD - oh and at the moment I am having to take ferritin and vitamin d due to deficiencies.

I absolutely hate the fact that I have all these things wrong with me because I feel like I am hardly ever out of the place (usually an appt every month or 2) and I honestly feel like I am asking for something out of this world. I was so fed up of the treatment I had received recently, that I wrote a huge letter addressed to my doctor to explain how he sometimes made me feel like a nuisance (I put it politely). I also explained how my ailments affected my every day life and that this time 10 years ago, I was fit, healthy and full of life and would give anything to be like that again. So, I asked for his assistance, support and expertise in finding solutions to my problems.

He called me in for an appt after receiving the letter and I took my sister with me. He was much more accommodating then! Maybe you could try that approach.

Also, I am very close to you (next town) and we have exactly the same policy with moving surgeries. It's awful really what we have to put up with.

Thanks Anoneemoose :beer: Yes, so infuriating to get blocked at every turn about moving surgeries. Another one I called today said the conditions for registering were that I'd been registered there at some point in the last 2 years, or was living with somebody who already attends the surgery, lol. The previous time I'd called them, the reason had been 'only if you have family already registered at the surgery'. Very creative thinking going on methinks.

I totally understand how awful it is to have various difficult health issues and to feel frustrated and unsupported. Physical pain, stomach upset, mental distress, and vitamin deficiency aren't pleasant at all. I hope your health improves; can bet you feel a bit better since the GP responding well to your letter ... glad that stress is sorting out for you. I too have just been prescribed vitamin D, have some IBS, as well as other things, so I know how uncomfy that latter condition can be.

I'm so glad you wrote to your doctor like that. Well done! I relate to just wanting to be fit and healthy again, and that feeling that you might be bothering other people a bit much; when you're used to being fit and healthy, it's tough being ill in the first place, never mind asking for support!

Really good idea. I've found writing things down if I know I'll get upset talking about them has worked before, and your advice is brilliant. I'll get to work!

Anoneemoose

catalina66 wrote: »

Thanks Anoneemoose :beer: Yes, so infuriating to get blocked at every turn about moving surgeries. Another one I called today said the conditions for registering were that I'd been registered there at some point in the last 2 years, or was living with somebody who already attends the surgery, lol. The previous time I'd called them, the reason had been 'only if you have family already registered at the surgery'. Very creative thinking going on methinks.

I totally understand how awful it is to have various difficult health issues and to feel frustrated and unsupported. Physical pain, stomach upset, mental distress, and vitamin deficiency aren't pleasant at all. I hope your health improves; can bet you feel a bit better since the GP responding well to your letter ... glad that stress is sorting out for you. I too have just been prescribed vitamin D, have some IBS, as well as other things, so I know how uncomfy that latter condition can be.

I'm so glad you wrote to your doctor like that. Well done! I relate to just wanting to be fit and healthy again, and that feeling that you might be bothering other people a bit much; when you're used to being fit and healthy, it's tough being ill in the first place, never mind asking for support!

Really good idea. I've found writing things down if I know I'll get upset talking about them has worked before, and your advice is brilliant. I'll get to work!

It really is a good idea because if you're like me, you are acutely aware of the time constraints of a normal appt and end up flustered. I often used to go in feeling like the underdog.

Due to the chronic fatigue issues I have relating to the Fibro, it took me a few days to finish the letter because I kept going back to it. It also meant I was able to edit it to make it sound assertive but not confrontational.

I will have a look and see if I can find the draft and PM you it - it might give you some ideas. And if you can take someone with you when you get your next appt, they can reinforce what you are saying and confirm how your conditions affect you. Good luck!

[Deleted User]

catalina66 wrote: »

Being lied to like that is hardly reassuring

I've been lied to so many times by the NHS I would never trust them again. I told the GP that two years ago, and she just laughed in my face.

catalina66 wrote: »

Sometimes it is worth making a complaint, but you have to be sure about making that journey.

It's a dangerous game complaining about the NHS. The AVMA report that many of their clients are too frightened of reprisals to pursue a complaint, and the Patient's Association recently reported that many complainants live to regret ever complaining in the first place. The Health Ombudsman boasts that they reject 98% of complaints without even investigating, and only half of the remainder are upheld. They had Mary Kerswell taken away in handcuffs by the Police just for insisting that the errors on her records be corrected.

I spoke out about being threatened by a dangerous patient who had been left on the ward unsupervised when he was supposed to be watched 24 hours a day. My punishment for that was to have the alarm on my heart monitor ignored for the rest of the week.

catalina66

Anoneemoose wrote: »

It really is a good idea because if you're like me, you are acutely aware of the time constraints of a normal appt and end up flustered. I often used to go in feeling like the underdog.

Due to the chronic fatigue issues I have relating to the Fibro, it took me a few days to finish the letter because I kept going back to it. It also meant I was able to edit it to make it sound assertive but not confrontational.

I will have a look and see if I can find the draft and PM you it - it might give you some ideas. And if you can take someone with you when you get your next appt, they can reinforce what you are saying and confirm how your conditions affect you. Good luck!

Thanks so much! And I feel exactly the same too ... always worried can't hold all the info clearly in my head and even remotely express it coherently, lol. Writing things down really removes a lot of stress, and, the same as you, it can take me days to write and edit. Thanks again, and will definitely contact advocate as well.

Oops, just realised didn't have PM set to active, lol. It is now.:beer:

catalina66

jack_pott wrote: »

I've been lied to so many times by the NHS I would never trust them again. I told the GP that two years ago, and she just laughed in my face.

It's a dangerous game complaining about the NHS. The AVMA report that many of their clients are too frightened of reprisals to pursue a complaint, and the Patient's Association recently reported that many complainants live to regret ever complaining in the first place. The Health Ombudsman boasts that they reject 98% of complaints without even investigating, and only half of the remainder are upheld. They had Mary Kerswell taken away in handcuffs by the Police just for insisting that the errors on her records be corrected.

I spoke out about being threatened by a dangerous patient who had been left on the ward unsupervised when he was supposed to be watched 24 hours a day. My punishment for that was to have the alarm on my heart monitor ignored for the rest of the week.

omg, that's dreadful. You sound like you got caught up in some really horrible stuff there. As some kind of reassurance, my experience 12 years ago about complaining (hospital, and counselling organisation) were that the results were good, plus also won case against Eon recently. I'm just waiting to hear about a complaint now too ... I made a secret recording (knew it was illegal, but had to have vital backup) and was amazed when PALS okayed that as admissible; it's meant the complaint has taken a lot more time to collate (3.5-4 months), but it also has been an incredible support ... nobody can lie when the truth is on tape, and, if they do, case even more clearly won. [Olympus DM-670 did the job perfectly]

lostinrates

funguy wrote: »

However like most salaried/employed people, the working contract is 40 hours a week but with a lot of doctors working up to 70-80 hours a week, they would need twice as many GPs if they were to make them salaried!

I'm not going to make claims like 'most' because I simply do not know. But 'many' commensurate professionals are on annual salaries and don't get over time for similar hours.