GP's & Hospitals - What is going on

Hereiam · April 23, 2024, 12:51:49 PM

The school rang my wife yesterday about our 12 yr old son who was saying he didnt feel well and said his chest was sore. Teacher said his heart rate was pretty fast. He hadn't been running about or anything. Long story short he was lifted from school and the wife thought she would call into the GP Surgery in our small town. She said the car park to the surgery was empty (this was around 2pm) and when she went to the reception she could see they waiting room was empty and they told her that there were no free appointments available and to ring this number.

She rang the number and explained what was going on and was told to be at Craigavon for 6pm.
Went up and got a ECG done which showed nothing out of the ordinary and said that it might be best to get a chest xray and sent her over to the A&E department.
My wife said it was crazy, the place was packed with only standing room and she just came home as she would probably be still waiting.

Before COVID you could ring the GP surgery and get an appointment the same day, Why are GP's not back to seeing patients, is everything just been sent to the A&E departments. What are they actually doing?

We are not ones who run every time to the doctors if one of us has have a sniffle and the last time I was we were at a hospital was when our last was born which was 8 years ago.

Surly this can go on like this as staff at the hospitals couldnt work under them conditions.

Sorry for the long post.

Milltown Row2 · April 23, 2024, 01:24:14 PM

Not all, in the surgery I'm at they are seeing people all the time, some places must different

johnnycool · April 23, 2024, 02:03:47 PM

Quote from: Milltown Row2 on April 23, 2024, 01:24:14 PMNot all, in the surgery I'm at they are seeing people all the time, some places must different

Local GP has very few slots and you have to call every morning from 9 to 9:30 or you won't get a slot that day and then you've to try again the next morning.

Too few GP's in a lot of these surgeries now.

Tones · April 23, 2024, 02:05:13 PM

My surgery will NOT see you unless you have an appointment (ring 79 times from 8.30 to be told all slots filled or get a call back from a Doctor who will do everything they can NOT to physically see you ) they will also NOT see you if you mention chest pain - they tell you to go to A&E - it's a complete joke.

clarshack · April 23, 2024, 02:27:27 PM

Quote from: Tones on April 23, 2024, 02:05:13 PMMy surgery will NOT see you unless you have an appointment (ring 79 times from 8.30 to be told all slots filled or get a call back from a Doctor who will do everything they can NOT to physically see you ) they will also NOT see you if you mention chest pain - they tell you to go to A&E - it's a complete joke.

Same for the surgery I go to.

lurganblue · April 23, 2024, 02:32:54 PM

Yeah it's a similar story for me too. I understand there is too few GPs and now an increase in population in some areas. That said, GPs being unavailable has shunted people to the A&E.

Also, who wants to make over 200 calls in the morning to be told there's no appointments left and you'll have to try again tomorrow.

To even nearly get speaking to a GP you have to say that you are in an emergency. What about non emergency consultations? You used to be able to phone and book something 3/4 weeks in advance. That facility now seems to have completely disappeared.

Tones · April 23, 2024, 02:38:10 PM

My friends aunt was up from the South, needed to see a doctor, paid £75 quid to see one in a private clinic in Armagh ran by an ex Tyrones missus, the doctor she saw is the doctor I would see if I ever got an appointment!

Milltown Row2 · April 23, 2024, 02:47:53 PM

My surgery is like that also, 200 calls, and still no appointments, but they are seeing people its not like they are sitting playing Candy crush all day

I'm lucky enough that the girl that's on reception went to the same gym and I'll send her a text and get sorted

Not what ya know and all that

Tones · April 23, 2024, 02:51:38 PM

Then Wednesday they are closed from 12 as its staff training, so any mission you have on Mon, Tue, Thur or Fri you have none on Wed, I go to another surgery beside mine to collect prescriptions once a week at different times, there's never one in the waiting rooms.

lurganblue · April 23, 2024, 02:57:12 PM

Quote from: Milltown Row2 on April 23, 2024, 02:47:53 PMMy surgery is like that also, 200 calls, and still no appointments, but they are seeing people its not like they are sitting playing Candy crush all day

I'm lucky enough that the girl that's on reception went to the same gym and I'll send her a text and get sorted

Not what ya know and all that

100%. Id say they are flat out and under serious pressure. The whole health care system is surely at breaking point.

On a side note, I'd say receptionists are taking some abuse.

Milltown Row2 · April 23, 2024, 03:01:47 PM

Quote from: lurganblue on April 23, 2024, 02:57:12 PM
Quote from: Milltown Row2 on April 23, 2024, 02:47:53 PMMy surgery is like that also, 200 calls, and still no appointments, but they are seeing people its not like they are sitting playing Candy crush all day

I'm lucky enough that the girl that's on reception went to the same gym and I'll send her a text and get sorted

Not what ya know and all that

100%. Id say they are flat out and under serious pressure. The whole health care system is surely at breaking point.

On a side note, I'd say receptionists are taking some abuse.

Police where in my place today, I'm attached to the surgery but its methadone day! Go figure

RedHand88 · April 23, 2024, 03:31:27 PM

Quote from: Hereiam on April 23, 2024, 12:51:49 PMThe school rang my wife yesterday about our 12 yr old son who was saying he didnt feel well and said his chest was sore. Teacher said his heart rate was pretty fast. He hadn't been running about or anything. Long story short he was lifted from school and the wife thought she would call into the GP Surgery in our small town. She said the car park to the surgery was empty (this was around 2pm) and when she went to the reception she could see they waiting room was empty and they told her that there were no free appointments available and to ring this number.

She rang the number and explained what was going on and was told to be at Craigavon for 6pm.
Went up and got a ECG done which showed nothing out of the ordinary and said that it might be best to get a chest xray and sent her over to the A&E department.
My wife said it was crazy, the place was packed with only standing room and she just came home as she would probably be still waiting.

Before COVID you could ring the GP surgery and get an appointment the same day, Why are GP's not back to seeing patients, is everything just been sent to the A&E departments. What are they actually doing?

We are not ones who run every time to the doctors if one of us has have a sniffle and the last time I was we were at a hospital was when our last was born which was 8 years ago.

Surly this can go on like this as staff at the hospitals couldnt work under them conditions.

Sorry for the long post.

Few points on this.
No you generally could not see a GP the same day before COVID. Routine appointments were handed out a month in advance. Slots would be reserved for emergency stuff on the day but for the most part, you had to wait a few weeks at least.

In fact, more people are seen "on the day" than ever before. The move to a day to day triage service has ensured that calls can be triaged and redirected to the appropriate person (GP, pharmacist, a&e, etc).
There are more consultations per day now than before COVID, and that's with less staff. To the point where safety concerns have very raised by the BMA.

There are a few reasons why surgeries are ridiculously busy at the minute. A shortage of doctors like I said, but as well as that the amount of people on waiting lists for secondary care is growing, leaving these people essentially going to their GP to treat symptoms whilst they wait for expert assessment. An aging population and increased rates of obesity, T2DM etc also contribute.

RedHand88 · April 23, 2024, 03:39:12 PM

Quote from: Tones on April 23, 2024, 02:05:13 PMMy surgery will NOT see you unless you have an appointment (ring 79 times from 8.30 to be told all slots filled or get a call back from a Doctor who will do everything they can NOT to physically see you ) they will also NOT see you if you mention chest pain - they tell you to go to A&E - it's a complete joke.

Would you want to be stuck around your local GP surgery if you were having a heart attack? Or be in a hospital?

armaghniac · April 23, 2024, 03:43:43 PM

Quote from: RedHand88 on April 23, 2024, 03:39:12 PM
Quote from: Tones on April 23, 2024, 02:05:13 PMMy surgery will NOT see you unless you have an appointment (ring 79 times from 8.30 to be told all slots filled or get a call back from a Doctor who will do everything they can NOT to physically see you ) they will also NOT see you if you mention chest pain - they tell you to go to A&E - it's a complete joke.

Would you want to be stuck around your local GP surgery if you were having a heart attack? Or be in a hospital?

If the GP was where I was and the hospital an hour away then I would certainly appreciate the help of the GP in the very short term.

Tones · April 23, 2024, 03:57:21 PM

Quote from: RedHand88 on April 23, 2024, 03:39:12 PM
Quote from: Tones on April 23, 2024, 02:05:13 PMMy surgery will NOT see you unless you have an appointment (ring 79 times from 8.30 to be told all slots filled or get a call back from a Doctor who will do everything they can NOT to physically see you ) they will also NOT see you if you mention chest pain - they tell you to go to A&E - it's a complete joke.

Would you want to be stuck around your local GP surgery if you were having a heart attack? Or be in a hospital?

Most chest pain isn't heart related, a qualified medical professional could tell you that, I went to A&E at 2pm and was seen around 11pm, guess what nothing to fo with my heart, its just easier to pass the buck.