Self Care Campaign.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Anyone who knows me, or has read my blogs, knows that I avoid seeing my GP/Doctors like the plague.
I was interested to read that the Self Care Campaign(a group made up mainly of GP's and Representatives from the pharmaceutical industries......and a single solitary General Nurse) have come to the conclusion that 20% of GP's time is wasted by patients with trivial complaints....ailments which could be dealt with by over the counter medications and advice from a pharmacist.

It is interesting to note that the research which led the group to come to this sonclusion was funded by.......you'll never guess.......Pharmaceutical Companies.
They reckon that the NHS could save 2 Billion pounds per year if these 'worried well' patients could be educated and encouraged to treat themselves.

How would these 'worried well' individuals treat themselves??????
Why, with over the counter medicines of course.

So knowing my dislike of visiting a medical practitioner, you would, perhaps assume, that this would meet with my approval.

It doesn't!
If an individual is worried enough to jump through the hoops that it takes these days to obtain an appointment to see a GP.....then they should be able to see a GP. (For goodness sake by the time you have got an appointment you are either dead and buried or better)
This is a service that we pay for.

I looked very briefly at the White Paper which documents the finding of this group of people and Noted that one of the GPs on the committee was Simon Fradd....this is the chap who negotiated the contractual changes to GP's working conditions...negotiations which meant that the salaries of most GP's rocketed for doing less work.
Do you see a pattern emerging?

Do you entrust your health care needs to a friendly local pharmacist, or would you prefer to see a GP....who, after all will record your problems on your notes for future reference?????

[jaysay]

I got over the appointment thingy at the docs surgery Margaret many moons ago, although my present GP doesn't operate one. When I lived in Haslingden and rang for an appointment, the conversation went something like this

good morning could I have an appointment to see Dr smith please

just a minute I'll see when she's free, next Tuesday is the earliest

oh, well in that case I think I'd better have an house call then as I May just have died by next Tuesday

err umm well, we might be able to push you in at 4-15 this afternoon

that will be fine

Thank you good morning

[Margaret Pilkington]

Jaysay, I think you count as a 'special case'........but the rest of us mere mortals are at the mercy of the system.
Although, I do know that at Pals you can see a Nurse, and if she feels that you warrant being seen by a doctor, then she can arrange that for you.

My main concern is that some ailments that may be considered as trivial, could be something far more sinister.
Also that any consultation that you have with a pharmacist, will not appear on any of your health records.

[shillelagh]

pharmacist has told me quite a few times when ive gone in for something .. jen you cant have that it'll interfere wi the tablets you already on ... and either suggested something else or told me to see the doc ..

jaysay you dont have the touch wi doctors receptionists ....

[cashman]

went to see the doc a few days before i went on holiday, was told by receptionist, i didn't need to see doc, the nurse or whatever would suffice, so i was given appointment n i did, she syringed my lug n said if it aint right in 7 days, see yer doc, went on hols, 14 days later home - still not right, so i went docs yesterday, asked to see doc, repeating what nurse had said to me, was told i could have appointment with assesment team,so i did, got assesed n this un says, please wait i have to get a doctor to check this out, so waits in empty room, fer 5 mins, doc comes, looks in me lug n says ya got a bad infection, ( i says i know but cant get to see a ruddy doctor.) so i reckon, this self care campaign, is just more crap,to put folk off seeing any begger. cos if ya want too,its Mission Impossible.

[garinda]

At this moment I have no complaints.

I have a great G.P. in Dr. Smith at Rhyddings Surgery, who I get to see the same day, if needed.

Fatima, the pharmasist at Emric Eccles also goes out of her way to be helpful too. Making sure the drugs are easy to access, sounds a small thing, but it's hard poppin' some tablets from a card when you've Pd. They also collect my prescription, and deliver it if I can't get in, though I always try to.

I agree, if someone thinks they need medical advice, they should see a doctor, not a pharmacist. No matter what the pharmaceutical companies think.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Cashy, you are right.......and most people who 'know' their own body also know when it isn't running right and seek medical attention.

I think that most folk with a cough or a cold will try the over the counter stuff first and then if this doesn't settle the condition they get off to the Doctors.

[cashman]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Cashy, you are right.......and most people who 'know' their own body also know when it isn't running right and seek medical attention.

I think that most folk with a cough or a cold will try the over the counter stuff first and then if this doesn't settle the condition they get off to the Doctors.

agree, but the "Daleks" on reception will "Exterminate" ya if ya attempt to see one.

[cashman]

i twice asked to see a doctor, was refused n then had to see one, fer2 reasons,(1) assesor was not sure. (2) assesor cannot issue prescriptions. which given the time took to actually see the doc, defeats the whole object of this ludicrous system. IMHO.

[jaysay]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Jaysay, I think you count as a 'special case'........but the rest of us mere mortals are at the mercy of the system.
Although, I do know that at Pals you can see a Nurse, and if she feels that you warrant being seen by a doctor, then she can arrange that for you.

My main concern is that some ailments that may be considered as trivial, could be something far more sinister.
Also that any consultation that you have with a pharmacist, will not appear on any of your health records.

Not in those days Margaret, I wasn't always as bad as I am now