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GPs/NHS
turquoiseblue
Posts: 2,431 Forum Member
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My dad has a few health problems and is finding it increasingly difficult to get seen at his doctors. Getting an appointment in the first place is tricky, but getting to see the same doctor he saw last time is a nightmare, so there's little continuity of care.
He needed an increase in tablets to control a condition. He's been backwards and forwards to the doctors for months, but the GPs refused to increase the dose in his tablets. Eventually he paid to see a consultant privately who agreed that trying an increase in tablets was a good plan and wrote to the GP suggesting this. My dad's condition improved immediately. My dad now has a worsening arthritic shoulder. Again he's been backwards and forwards to the GPs. He's paid for some private physio and then had some on the NHS the NHS physio consisted of two appointments and some exercises. The GPs today suggested an x-ray but no treatment for a very painful shoulder, which is restricting every aspect of my dad's life. He's again considering paying to go privately. My dad isn't rich, far from it, but he's at his wit's end.
Anyway, anyone else experiencing any problems like this with the NHS, or is it just his doctors?
He needed an increase in tablets to control a condition. He's been backwards and forwards to the doctors for months, but the GPs refused to increase the dose in his tablets. Eventually he paid to see a consultant privately who agreed that trying an increase in tablets was a good plan and wrote to the GP suggesting this. My dad's condition improved immediately. My dad now has a worsening arthritic shoulder. Again he's been backwards and forwards to the GPs. He's paid for some private physio and then had some on the NHS the NHS physio consisted of two appointments and some exercises. The GPs today suggested an x-ray but no treatment for a very painful shoulder, which is restricting every aspect of my dad's life. He's again considering paying to go privately. My dad isn't rich, far from it, but he's at his wit's end.
Anyway, anyone else experiencing any problems like this with the NHS, or is it just his doctors?
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if you don't like the doc's you really have to just move to another doctors as there are good doctors and some who i wouldn't trust to stick a bandage on a scratch
It really wouldn't, the NHS frequently sorts out private health care errors or poor treatments
Rubbish. As the OP has said, he went to a private doctor and it got sorted out immediately. The NHS doesn't want to treat him and is delaying it because they are rationing resources just like how it was in the old Soviet Union and Cuba.
No it isn't, that is how it is when you have a not very good doctor.
One patients experience is not enough of a sample to prove that a private system would be better.
Your knowledge of the NHS seems to be based on your flawed and somewhat bitter opinion rather than anything factual
Because someone does not agree with you, that does not make their opinion rubbish.
Indeed
And usually private doctors also do NHS work
Initially my dad was sent for physio. He had to wait ages so paid for some private physio. He then had some physio on the NHS. I agree the source of the pain needs investigating, otherwise how does anyone know what the problem is. What I would expect is some sort of diagnosis first. Did you read my post?
This is a recurrent problem and physio usually does the trick.
If your not happy with your doctor then change to another doctor. It is a simple procedure and you do not have to give a reason why unless you want to.
The thing is though, the doctor doesn't control the waiting list...it may be that it was felt that physio may have helped but now it's not really any better then further investigations are to be done. And there are certain pathways doctors are meant ot follow for different things, mostly designed to save money cos basically the NHS is skint.
I had a painful shoulder for ages and put it down to wear and tear and years of lifting so ignored it. My GP diagnosed shoulder impingement and I had a steroid injection and my shoulder has been fine for about 4 years so far so this supports your point that it is the GP rather than the system
Knowing a GP, I can tell you that they do NOT ration resources. Resources may be in limited supply, but that's not the GPs' fault. What is different is that NHS GPs do not get kickbacks from pharma companies for supplying drugs and they are loathe to prescribe drugs where they genuinely don't think they will help (like they do in many other countries). But they won't hold back in writing prescriptions or referring you to a consultant IF they think there is mileage to be had.
So maybe they are improving.
There's a few points in this that I'd like to take issue with.
I doubt very much whether a local paper would print such letters. I wrote to our local paper about the very poor "care" a relative recived in the local hospital and they contacted me and said they would not print it as it was "negative". That was about 8 years ago and I have never seen such a letter printed. They only print stuff where people say they enjoyed their stay.:rolleyes:
Sometimes people can't move to another GP surgery. We are in a fairly rural area and there is no choice. Our surgery covers this catchment area and there's no other.
Most people I know round here go to A&E.
Went to doctor with the above complaint last Friday 5th July. Have appointment with physio tomorrow afternoon, Wed 10th.
I cannot grumble at all.
You should see a doctor, that sounds serious!
My best friend has been a martyr to her leg for over a year and keeps on falling down with it. The doctors have done nothing but prescribe some creams or lotions. She's never had an x ray.
The partner of another good friend got terrible pains and couldn't walk. His NHS doctors diagnosed it as arthritis, he ended up in a wheelchair, couldn't look after himself, and so ended up in a nursing home. After a year in the nursing home, he recently paid to have his condition diagnosed privately, and it turns out his pain symptoms were caused by a side-effect of his medication for another illness. He came off the medication and is now walking pain free again.
I could go on.:(
People where I live have taken to going to a and e to try to get some help, due to the difficulty in getting an appointment, (often the phone lines are even too busy for you to get through on them), but they never get any joy there either. I've been several times to a and e with my best friend, but none of them have given her an x ray or seemed in any way concerned about her falls and leg pains, (even though she could fall into the traffic, fall and hit her head, fall walking downstairs - the doctor actually joked about it!).
So no, I wouldn't say it was just you OP, unfortunatey. I do hope your poor dad gets some help!