Thanks... I have done a bit of research but I'm only 2 months in with the med's (although these don't appear to be working particularly well). Waiting for a bladder scan too so I guess I'll have to see where I'm at when I have a review with the doc in a few weeks time. Didn't realise Donny was the closest to offer this service either so thanks again.
The bladder scan!!! Aaagh! The pressure test - good luck with that one! Then they go up with the camera.....
Ooo..... I'll add these to the list of things I'm looking forward to to get me through these difficult times
I think there are long waiting times for normal appointments at mine but think that's probably more down to government policy than the medical practice but I really don't have any issue for emergency appointments or telephone consultations and then face to face ones during the lockdowns when necessary. Maybe it's a localised issue at @MrsHallsToffeerolls surgery?
Unfortunately I had no choice, I received a letter from G.P. that I needed a blood test & all covid protocols were in place at the surgery.
You've completely misunderstood the thread. That's your failure, not one of the OP. It's extremely clear that the thread is trying to say.
Obviously this is very personal to you so I'm definitely not going to fan the flames. I think it's fair to say that GPs work very hard, but I think it's also fair to say many people have a lot of trouble getting an appointment these days. That was the case well before the current pandemic ignited. There needs to be more dialogue between practices and patients and vice versa because they're actually both on the same side. They both want the same thing: quick and easy access to appointments and first class care. That this is being eroded is entirely down to criminal underfunding. Those running the practices and the patients of those practices could be so much stronger working together all on message.
it was the suggestion that gps are on ‘furlough’ / overpaid / don’t do anything that annoyed me. It couldn’t be further from the truth. there is a wider issue too - it isn’t just about underfunding (which is indisputable) & communication (which varies from practice to practice ) - it’s about educating people to use their nhs properly (when to use it, what to use it for) and not abuse it. You wouldn’t believe some of the stories I hear.
On the latter point, our GP Practice began putting on early morning appointments for people to attend before going to work, but they stopped them. They were filled by people retired, complaining that they didn't like having to get up for these early morning appointments. Head wall interface.
What were GPs doing during lockdown and just after when face to face appointments weren't happening? Genuine question by the way. I know what they weren't doing but I've no idea what they were doing instead and how much harder (or easier) it was
Friend of mine who retired as a GP about 18 months ago returned to practice as soon as the scale of the virus became clear. He took telephone and video consultations, spent a lot of time in care homes in full PPE, covered for colleagues who were absent due to sickness or self-isolation, spent time covering for hospital medics and spent a lot of time training junior doctors. He is 68 years old, he is knackered but he keeps going. I'll tell him you think he's an idiot.
I quote "GPs moaning that they haven't been given any warning about the vaccine It's come as a complete shock to them and they're now going to have to rush to come up with plans for how to vaccinate people at short notice because nobody warned them. Idiots" He's a GP, your post says that GPs are idiots, but then you've always been good at being judgemental and making sweeping generalisations.
You’ve got that wrong or at least they were happening at my practice. I had face to face appointments throughout the last lockdown. They even had a procedure to meet me in the car park and take me into the practice without coming into contact with anyone or anything (as i was shielding) The initial triage was by phone which maybe where you are getting this wrong.