R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Can anyone suggest why the Government is getting so worked up about this issue?

I'm not convinced that current surgery opening hours are so very problematic for most people. That isn't the same as endorsing out-of-hours cover arrangements, which are a different story.

Our surgery is open from 8:10am till 6:30pm and I have not met anyone who has complained about this. I suppose that ideally I'd like to see it open on Saturday mornings if this can be achieved without working staff into the ground--but don't forget that you'd need to have nurses and receptionists on duty, not just doctors.

Now tell me I'm wrong--or right!

Ian.

SantaFefan · Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 8:26 pm Post subject:

I think you're wrong. I don't see why Surgeries can't be open 7 days a week, let alone 6.
Are people not allowed to get ill on a weekend?
If I phone through for a prescription on Friday, I have to wait until Monday to pick it up.
I think Doctors are paid enough so let them provide the service.
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

Probably a first SantaFefan I but I tend to agree with you.

Of course surgeries should be open 7 days a week-they need to organise themselves better etc.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

The Government are getting worked up about it because they recognise that it's an electorially sensitive issue. With employers becoming less amenable to allowing time off for doctor's (and dentist's and hospital) appointments in their time, people are finding it difficult to get to see a doctor in surgery hours.

Although our local health centre is open administratively all day Monday to Friday, surgery hours are only 8.30 to 11.30, 3.30 to 5.30, when, holidays and illness permitting, all seven or eight partners are available.

The government's huffing and puffing may well prompt them to extend surgery hours, but it's a certainty that, like any commercial or retail organisation, they will spread the professional availability more thinly.
_________________
Ron

tarahrah bomdiay · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 260

Clearly the problem is the actual hours GPs surgeries are open, so rather than making doctors work more hours why not try to introduce a bit of flexibilty. For example open for maybe the morning, 8-12 and then again afternoon or late evening 4-8, maybe something like that?. This would help people who can't get time off easily I think.

I also think something needs to be done about weekend opening, do they think people don't get ill at weekends?

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Most general practices seem to have decided not to open Saturdays about seven or eight years ago; wasn't that round about the time NHS Direct was launched? They also reduced the out-of-hours emergency cover then.

Like many other organisations, the government and NHS obviously decided that a call centre helpline service was sufficient. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Ron

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Are people not allowed to get ill on a weekend?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

But GPs and their ancillary staff work more hours than some complainants. Aren't they allowed to spend time with their families?

Perhaps the real need is for the out-of-hours cover to be tackled by a better means than NHS Direct, which never seems to have enough resources to deal with problems quickly enough.

But I'm pleased to have generated some debate--keep it up!

Ian.

SantaFefan · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 2:56 pm Post subject:

Care Homes & Hospitals have to cover 24/7 don't they? so why not GP's Surgeries - the front line in medical care.

I have staff rotas in place so it's fairly distributed amongst staff, plus of course, Surgery staff are generally paid more than their commercial equivalents too.

In our experience, if resident falls and cuts themselves, there is no District Nurse cover from 5pm till 7pm, because the Surgery is closed. So if need be, an ambulance call out is required.

When the Surgery is closed, Medicom cover is the alternative but this is often quite frustrating, they don't really want to answer a call unless it's absolutely necessary ( when is that? ) and of course it's a strange Doctor ( possibly from many miles away ) without the benefit of patient history so sometimes, a mis-diagnosis will occur..
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

tarahrah bomdiay · Joined: 17 Dec 2007 Posts: 260

Of course they want to spend time with their families and have time off. I'm not for one moment suggesting that each and every doctor should be available 24 hours a day. I agree that some sort of rota needs putting in place so there is at least some weekend cover.
NHS direct isn't really that good to be honest, the idea is great but from my personal experience it does not work.