Increased access to GP appts on evenings and weekends

[NicoleC1971]

I did once believe that investing more money via taxation into education and the NHS would solve problems but in my experience of New Labour, it was not the answer. I hope that whatever immigration system is cobbled together pre or post Brexit, allows for competent medics and teachers who can't be found in sufficient quantities in the UK, to be recruited easily. I suspect that would not be controversial to even the most ardent Brxit-eer.
As for disgruntled GPs taking early retirement isn't this somewhat due to the changing nature of health problems versus the inadequacy of training of those GPs to deal with said problems with anything other than pharmacological sticking plasters? I can see why some people feel worried that those mass appointments are just a way to save GP time but they have potential to generate innovation in the NHS though not of course if they consist of a GP giving a lecture.

 

[HSSS]

My surgery is in special measure for inadequate performance. . They are horrifically understaffed and have been for years. That said about 6 months ago they introduced out of hours appointments. A number of local surgeries share the same central facility which is prebooked by your own receptionist. It seems to be locums staffing it as I’ve not heard of my gps doing it. They have access to your notes.

It is a god send for people genuinely unable to attend in normal hours and frequently the ONLY way we can get any non emergency appointment at all. (Our system is phone today for appointment in one week, none left by 5 minutes after opening which means phone back or queue up outside the next day, ad infinitum ).

I agree the service provided by locums seems more needs based than finance based. Just no continuity of care or whole person holistic care but we don’t get that in our surgery anyway these days.

I’ve also now seen ads for Qdoctor, an online video appointment system provided by the nhs. Appoint link code provided by your own surgery.

 

[lindisfel]

The reasons doctors retire early is not because their disgruntled, but because their worn down by the system and the difficulties in replacing staff of the right calibre.
Locums and Supply teachers do not have the same responsibilities as permanent staff.

In Cumbria they have rolled out the so called Success Regime Integrated patient care having closed down all the beds in the smaller local hospitals that gave intermediate care. Ironically these are in the poorest areas, whereas the ones that have stayed open are is the more affluent areas. I wonder why?


I think integrated care will be an 'interesting animal to see if it is able to fly'!
D.

I did once believe that investing more money via taxation into education and the NHS would solve problems but in my experience of New Labour, it was not the answer. I hope that whatever immigration system is cobbled together pre or post Brexit, allows for competent medics and teachers who can't be found in sufficient quantities in the UK, to be recruited easily. I suspect that would not be controversial to even the most ardent Brxit-eer.
As for disgruntled GPs taking early retirement isn't this somewhat due to the changing nature of health problems versus the inadequacy of training of those GPs to deal with said problems with anything other than pharmacological sticking plasters? I can see why some people feel worried that those mass appointments are just a way to save GP time but they have potential to generate innovation in the NHS though not of course if they consist of a GP giving a lecture.

 

[Bluetit1802]

To be honest I really don't want this, I would much rather my GP have the weekend off so they can at least relax a little and be better prepared for the following weeks.

The problem round our way is that the GP Health Centre has been there for a dogs age but because the government wants the whole world turned in to houses, it has meant a large increase in people living in the area.

Which now means that the Health Centre is stretched to an unbelievable degree because of the amount of people wanting to use it.

Developers are not interested all they pursue is profit and are not bothered about the impact it has on the surrounding communities because they do not, as far as I can see, put any money back in to the infrastructure or services the places they want to turn into a concrete utopia.

Yes it is pain to get an appointment, but would rather have that than an even more over worked, tired GP.

IMHO

You must live in the same town that I do!

Our on-line advance booking is often full for weeks ahead APART from early morning appointments between 7am and 8am. The GPs seem to take it in turn to take these surgeries from what I can see, but I could go on now and see a GP tomnorrow morning if I chose to go so early. They don't work. They have done early evening appointments up to 8pm for a long time, which do work, and Saturday mornings shared between 2 other surgeries in different towns. All this became necessary when the powers that be allowed so many new builds, increasing the population by about 50%, houses mostly occupied by commuters from miles away, not locals.