Don’t put off going to the doctor!

GDB2222

Aegon, the big insurance company, report a 31% drop in critical illness claims in May. Most of those claims are for cancer, so that is an indication that people are putting off Going to the doctor and getting diagnosed.

unholyangel

Is it the patients putting it off, or the doctors surgery/health board putting it off? 

We've family/friends who have been waiting on tests to confirm their diagnosis for something which can be fatal over 6-12 months. We've friends who have pernicious anaemia who can't get their injections (again, can be fatal if not treated) and who have had to take time off work as they're struggling even with daily tasks at home - nevermind the added workload being placed on them at work (keyworkers). 

The GP's surgery keeps telling them to call back, that they need to get an appointment as soon as one becomes available (because their conditions are so serious) - but that they can't give them one now because the health board has suspended those services as non-essential. 

But hey, I can book an appointment for a contraceptive injection! 

Which is entirely backwards imo - particularly with how readily available available the alternative contraceptive options are while there are no alternatives for some of those suffering right now. 

GibbsRule_No3.

I agree, my doctors are still not seeing or doing regular injections or tests. PPOV I think I am in more danger of not being diagnosed with something by not having the regular tests than I am in danger of COVID.  Our GPS and practices need to get back to seeing patients.

mobilejo

I cannot get through to my GP - the online appointment system has been taken down, and the phone lines are engaged all day. My wife made 127 call in one day and still did not get through. 

People will let small niggles go untreated where they otherwise would have sought treatment. Sometimes, those small niggles are the signs of bigger issues that a doctor would have spotted, if they were actually able to see one.

silvercar

I must have been very lucky or my surgery is very organised.
I phoned at 8.35am, was triaged by the receptionist and told a doctor would phone me back that morning. Doctor phoned back within 20 minutes, short chat and he sent a prescription straight to the local pharmacy. Previously, I would have been allocated a sit and wait appointment at the end of morning surgery  and eventually seen the doctor and would have been given a prescription to take to the pharmacy. 

greenbee

Like @silvercar my surgery has been very good at moving to telemedicine over the past few months and most appointments are now same-day phone calls. If you need to be seen, that’s then set up. So my Wednesday GP call resulted in a blood test appointment this Tuesday, and I’ll get a call back when results are in. F2F appointments are going to be more complicated because of the added PPE changes needed, and consulting room disinfection. They booked my (overdue, cancelled due to my quarantine pre-lockdown) smear at the same time to minimise the disruption.

whizzywoo

Mine and my husband's experiences with the GP surgery has been similar to greenbee and silvercar.  Very efficient and very quick and no problems at all.  

GDB2222

My doctors were doing a telephone triage long before Covid. You'd ring up for an appointment, and a doctor would call you back to decide what needed to be done. 

hobbgoblin

Had an ongoing issue now since Feb, doctor keeps prescribing over the phone as they arent letting people in. Now been referred to ENT who have just text to say they arent accepting referrals due to covid 19.

Not really sure where to go next

deejaybee

I managed to get an appointment for my " 3 monthly " HBAC  test the other day ( to check blood sugar levels ) obviously it was later in the year than it should have been... ( had to mask up etc )

So maybe things are sloooooowly getting back to normal in my area...

Although saying that, i usually have a yearly eye test for potential retinal damage around this time of year, but heard nothing yet for this year...

Gonna-be-debt-free

mobilejo said:

I cannot get through to my GP - the online appointment system has been taken down, and the phone lines are engaged all day. My wife made 127 call in one day and still did not get through. 

People will let small niggles go untreated where they otherwise would have sought treatment. Sometimes, those small niggles are the signs of bigger issues that a doctor would have spotted, if they were actually able to see one.

Same here.  For all intents and purposes, the GP is closed and has been since March.