GP appointments

[lawrie]

I'm not surprised so many people go directly to A & E. I recently telephoned to make an appointment with my GP, the earliest one was three weeks hence.
On querying this the receptionist said that she would get the Doctor to ring me to discuss whether he would give me an earlier appointment.
A very rude Doctor rang back said he'd looked at my notes and I only needed a review, I have a problem with my hip, I said no it was not a review I needed but treatment, his response was that it was his decision as to whether I got treatment or not. that any treatment I had was free. At this point I became very angry and told him as I had made contributions for that last forty five years my treatment was not free and that I was not reliant on him to decide whether I got treated or not I could go private.
I think he was so shocked that somebody had gone back at him he didn't speak for a while and then said I won't change your appointment.

Expecting letter saying I have been removed from his list.

[craigwalsh]

That any treatment I had was freeWhen will doctors and other NHS professionals understand that saying this is like waving a red flag in front of the proverbial bull?

"Free" implies that somehow you are not paying for the treatment in any way. Who is paying for it? The Sultan of Brunei? Coca Cola? Or did the NHS earn the money to pay for your treatment when we weren't looking?

I spoke with a supervisor the Worcestershire County Council the other day about something not related to the NHS. I reminded the officious woman that she was a "public servant" --- not in the sense that I could ring a little silver bell and she'd bring me tea, but that she worked for the public.

She replied, somewhat surprisingly, "No I'm not a public servant."

So I asked her where the funding came from --- to pay her salary, the light bill, to buy the paperclips and photocopier toner.

"From central government."

There is somehow this notion that "central government" makes the money and distributes it. And this, of course, gives the supervisor at the Worcestershire County Council and your doctor the notion that they are the guardians of the "central government" purse.

Most seem to have forgotten how the money got into the purse into the first place.

(Did you get your letter de-listing you? When I got mine it was the best thing, in retrospect, that the NHS could have done for me. My new GP is great.)

[lizajane1983]

Hi, i am a reporter on the Liverpool Daily Post and am investigating the problems patients and GPs are currently facing.
I am looking at how long people have to wait for an appointment, whether they are happy with surgery opening hours and the issue of polyclinics and Government investment.
I would like to hear from patients, NHS professionals and medical students.
Does anybody have anything they would like to contribute? You can contact me on 0151 4722585 or lizawilliams@dailypost.co.uk

[lawrie]

I have asked my MP to look into the reasons for the long wait for appointments. After a lot of arguement he has reluctanly agreed to do so.
What is it with these people you pay their salaries and generous pensions yet try and get them to do their jobs is another matter.