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Who sits above GP's ?

Carl Wood

Member
Messages
12
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
My GP is refusing to renew my Sick note until I attend their pointless annual review. These reviews consist of Blood Pressure Check and they weigh you and then read out the names of your meds on your repeat prescription for you to say yes to each item. I told them in 30/11/21 that I was not attending these time wasting pointless reviews again. So because I have done this they are witholding renewing my sick note's. Have cut all me meds down to 7 day repeat only instead of 28 days and now have cut Freestyle Libre down to 1 per month instead of the 2 required.
So does anyone know who makes these GP's do these reviews because whoever it is Doctor's are frightened to death of them. and will do everything in their power to make you attend these reviews?
Any help advice gladly appreciated
Carl
 
Hi @Carl Wood Do they not do your HbA1c, cholesterol and feet check etc too? Going to play devil's advocate and say why not just go, and then forget about it for another year, and no more aggro - I am all about the path of least resistance and picking my battles wisely, especially since diagnosis!

I know since my surgery had a bad inspection last year, my surgery has had to tighten up on ongoing repeat prescriptions, (someone, somewhere, once probably stockpiled pills they no longer needed and took them/sold them or something and that's a no-no), so they are possibly only complying with national guidelines which cover all ailments and prescriptions etc. Same with pharmacies, I had to come back another day for my Libre, which I had been texted as ready, as the pharmacist was on lunch, wouldn't want to OD on the wrong CGM eh!

If you contact your practice manager they may be able to give you the specifics of your surgery's requirements, but if it is that you would have to miss work/not be paid to fit in with their times then maybe they are being unreasonable?

Hope this doesn't blow out of proportion and you get the meds and CGM renewed.
 
HaHa. The Practice Manager was my first port of call. The letter I got back was if you do not do as we say we will have to kick you out of the surgery and you can register elsewhere.
 
Oh @Carl Wood go for the review! We've probably spent more time reading and writing on this thread than the appointment would take! I have 'stubborn' written through me like a stick of Brighton rock, but sometimes I just can't be 'bothered' and would rather use my energy on something better. Give them their 'win' this time Life's too short.
 
I'm in New Zealand and I have to see my GP every 6 months to renew prescriptions, though to be fair I am on blood pressure meds so I guess it is worth having that review.

Are you also seeing a hospital clinic @Carl Wood ? I would have thought that if you are having an annual diabetic review with them then you might have a better chance of skipping the GP one? I find the various blood tests that get done for my annual review useful, so I don't mind it, though I do have sympathy with your situation if there is no blood work involved.

I appreciate it is annoying, but if you can't get the hospital to get you out of the GP appointments I think you may just be better off grinning and bearing it. Not going seems to be costing you more time and effort than going would do....
 
I'll put my hard hat and flakk jacket on here, but hey ho. Here's my take on it.

If your GP has signed you off sick, it must be for a reason. If you expect them to continue to sign you off sick, it is only reasonable, in my view anyway, they they ascertain you are still too unwell to work, and furthermore if you are still too unwell to work that you are receiving all the support or treatments you need.

Worst care scenario is you pop your clogs, somewhat unexpectedly, so there would almost certainly be a post-mortem. One question would likely be when did you last see a doctor, what was prescribed and was that appropriate to your needs. If the answers to those questions were "we haven't seen Mr Woods for ages, but he kept telling us he just needed to continue hos meds and collect sick notes", it wouldn't look too great for them.

In that situation would your loved ones be thrilled?

If what is asked of you is as you describe, a brief review, then that seems reasonable to me. If it is not reasonable to you, then I suggest you make an appointment to get what you do need.

I'll sit in the corner and await incoming.
 
My GP demands annual reviews to refresh my repeat prescriptions.
My doctor offers either a full check or, as in my case, allows me to be reviewed at the hospital clinic. In my case, the GP reviews are then more cursory and a nurse checks my feet, weight etc and asks about my lifestyle choices. They then provide advice and answer questions.

My son carries this attitude that only he knows whether he is managing his diabetes... "What do doctors know about diabetes?". He has now lost sight in one eye and needs further laser surgery in the other.

If you go to these appointments with a positive attitude you will find that the practitioners want to care for you, not punish you. In time you can generate a rapport with the nurse and begin to enjoy it.

Regarding the rules doctors practice under, I think this all comes from NICE and the BMA.
 
I'm assuming you're in England. GPs are independent practitioners and work under a contract. That contract is agreed between the BMA (on behalf of the GPs) and the government and the management of the NHS. One of the requirements of the contract is that certain classes of patients have annual reviews.

So I would guess that the GP is simply doing what the system requires. If you complain to the Integrated Care Board - that is the first line of accountability in your local area - I imagine that is what you would be told. You could complain to the General Medical Council making it a professional matter but I think you might be told the GP is behaving professionally in following the terms of the contract.

For a GP to legally certify and continue to certify that you are unfit to work and therefore maybe entitled to certain benefits etc the GP must be able to make that judgement on the basis of their own observations and assessments. So I'm not that surprised that the GP won't sign the legal document without seeing you.
 
I’m with the previous commentators, why not just go to your review, which is after all to keep you healthy, not just to tick their boxes. It’ll take up not much time and hopefully will get your fit note and prescriptions sorted which is ultimately what you want.
 
All GPs are required to do an annual review of our medications - part of their contract with DHSC (health).
I find it a waste of time usually but my last one was actually useful as they changed my pain meds to something better.
 
I have to part in the usual annual reviews for asthma, diabetes etc and go willingly but not for bp these are done at home and the surgery are informed. I think they also keep an eye on me more due to my mental health problems as I don't think they want to be held accountable if they don't keep tabs.
 
Hello @Carl Wood ,
Having read some of your previous forum posts, I am guessing you are more than a little fed up, frustrated, with the diabetic complications you have previously reported? Are you directing that negativity towards the HCPs?
I can only agree with the members who have responded to your request “any advice gladly appreciated” by telling you to go to the review. I would add, though, that perhaps tell doc about how you are feeling. It can be good to talk.
Best of luck. Please come back and let us know how you get on.
 
NHS medication reviews (worth reading):

NHS England » Structured medication reviews and medicines optimisation

Structured Medicine Reviews (SMRs) are an evidence-based and comprehensive review of a patient’s medication, taking into consideration all aspects of their health. In a structured medication review clinicians and patients work as equal partners to understand the balance between the benefits and...
www.england.nhs.uk

and this

However irritating and inconvenient it may be to have to have medication reviews, I still think they are necessary, and in the interest of both the patient and the health care professionals involved.

My own practice now does phone medication reviews which are quick and convenient (they call me and it just takes 5 mins), but I imagine they would be insisting on a face to face appointment if I had a history of being obstreperous, or if my meds were habit forming, or potentially dangerous.

There is also a vast amount of NHS funding wasted each year on prescriptions that the patient no longer wants or needs. A friend’s father died, and clearing the house revealed an entire cupboard of out of date pills, potions and creams that had never even been opened. Hundreds of pounds of my money (I contribute to the NHS with my taxes) all wasted. There are many, many people who do not value the service they get from the NHS, and don’t realise that their actions (failing to comply with NHS procedures, or missing appointments, or forcing their surgery to repeatedly contact them by phone or letter, or text, to attend a simple review) is wasting valuable and limited resources.
 
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