My G.P. (rant)

[steve_b_wales]

At the beginning of last July (24) I contacted my GP to ask if I could have another Cortisone/Steroid injection in my knee, due to my arthritis getting more painful. I had one back last December, and until then, it helped ease the pain. I was told that I would be 'put on the waiting list' (because of course, 100's of patients get this done everyday down there!) Having not heard anything (no surprise there!) I phoned again yesterday, only to be told that 'we are not doing the injections this summer as the doctor is away on holidays, and that I would have to wait until October then would be contacted!) I asked why another GP can't administer the injection as I knew there are two GP's at the practice that can do this, but was told 'No'. 

I cannot change to another practice, as 'my' practice has taken on the only other one that was available two years ago. This is absolutely disgusting and I told them so. So now, I have to keep on taken CoCodamol 500's (which don't wok due to me taking them for many years) and Ibrufen cream's are rubbish and also don't work!

[rbrowning2]

is there no process to make a formal complaint about a GP service? Just because they are on holiday should not justify no treatment, but then again this country is falling apart in so many ways. 

 

[steve_b_wales]

4 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

is there no process to make a formal complaint about a GP service? Just because they are on holiday should not justify no treatment, but then again this country is falling apart in so many ways. 

 

There is a member of the Welsh Senydd who, not so long ago, wanted to know of anyone waiting/put in a queue to be connected to a GP surgery if phoning at 8am and also any other issues, but I can't remember who it was. I'll see if I can look her up.

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, What is it with GPs today ???, I cannot see they are over worked ???, When I go in my Surgery there is not many people there and waiting, I have been waiting 3 weeks for a blood test !!!!!!!, Hope you get sorted Steve👍

[steve_b_wales]

2 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, What is it with GPs today ???, I cannot see they are over worked ???, When I go in my Surgery there is not many people there and waiting, I have been waiting 3 weeks for a blood test !!!!!!!, Hope you get sorted Steve👍

The injections are 'only given' on a Wednesday! There used to me only one GP who was 'qualified' to administer the injection, which I understand due to the nature of it being given, but there are two GP's there now. Why the hell should someone suffer longer because the GP has ******** off on summer holidays. It's disgusting.

I have just emailed my MP (Chris Bryant) who to be fair, stepped in to try and sort out an issue I had with the GP surgery a few years ago.

21 minutes ago, rbrowning2 said:

is there no process to make a formal complaint about a GP service? Just because they are on holiday should not justify no treatment, but then again this country is falling apart in so many ways. 

 

I have just emailed my MP (Chris Bryant) who helped with an issue regarding this GP practice, a few years ago.

[oldypigeonpopper]

1 minute ago, steve_b_wales said:

The injections are 'only given' on a Wednesday! There used to me only one GP who was 'qualified' to administer the injection, which I understand due to the nature of it being given, but there are two GP's there now. Why the hell should someone suffer longer because the GP has ******** off on summer holidays. It's disgusting.

I have just emailed my MP (Chris Bryant) who to be fair, stepped in to try and sort out an issue I had with the GP surgery a few years ago.

I have just emailed my MP (Chris Bryant) who helped with an issue regarding this GP practice, a few years ago.

Hello, OK that sound better, good luck Steve

[old man]

To be fair and from my understanding, there needs to be intervals between.

Understand about gp's, difficult to get appointments but surgery usually empty, lots of fobbing off of treatments to others? Paramedics here? Not knocking them or their abilities.

[steve_b_wales]

15 minutes ago, old man said:

To be fair and from my understanding, there needs to be intervals between.

Understand about gp's, difficult to get appointments but surgery usually empty, lots of fobbing off of treatments to others? Paramedics here? Not knocking them or their abilities.

Yes, a minimum of 3-4 months. My last one was December 4th 2023. 

[marsh man]

28 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, What is it with GPs today ???, I cannot see they are over worked ???, When I go in my Surgery there is not many people there and waiting, I have been waiting 3 weeks for a blood test !!!!!!!, Hope you get sorted Steve👍

Certain areas must be different from others when it come to things like a blood test , over these last few months I have had at least four blood tests , the doctor tell you to make an appointment at the reception , the lady then ask you where would like to go to have the blood test done , with being retired I can go anywhere local and at any time and she normally find me somewhere either the next day , or within a day or so , I have nothing but praise for how I have been treated at my doctors .

[old man]

Ours refuse to process any tests requested outside the practice.

[oldypigeonpopper]

15 minutes ago, marsh man said:

Certain areas must be different from others when it come to things like a blood test , over these last few months I have had at least four blood tests , the doctor tell you to make an appointment at the reception , the lady then ask you where would like to go to have the blood test done , with being retired I can go anywhere local and at any time and she normally find me somewhere either the next day , or within a day or so , I have nothing but praise for how I have been treated at my doctors .

Hello, Much different around here MM, I had to phone the Churchill Oxford to see if can get my blood test done there, I am still wait 3 weeks for result on August 1st Scan🤔 , Note this new blood test is not for a PSA, it is because i have not been feeling good this last 6 months so that is why the Consultant ask my Surgery, 

Edited August 20 by oldypigeonpopper

[marsh man]

8 minutes ago, oldypigeonpopper said:

Hello, Much different around here MM, I had to phone the Churchill Oxford to see if can get my blood test done there, I am still wait 3 weeks for result on August 1st Scan🤔

I have been to three different medical centres for a blood test , one of the only ones I haven't been to was my own doctors  ☺️ , these are all in the town or on the outskirts , I have also had a slight problem with my heart , a E E G was arranged and I had that at my doctors by the nurse , the results were sent to the local hospital and I had to go to the dept of medicine to see the heart specialist , no waiting about and the nurse weighed me , took my height and a blood pressure test , waited a few minutes and I had to see the heart chap , he had it all on a screen and he explained what the problem might be and he will arrange some medicine before I have more tests , anyhow , only last week I got two letters from our local hospital and the one at Norwich , one was for a ( ECHO ) on the 14th of September at my local one and the one at Norwich will get in touch when the date will come available . as I said , no complaints at all .

[oldypigeonpopper]

4 hours ago, marsh man said:

I have been to three different medical centres for a blood test , one of the only ones I haven't been to was my own doctors  ☺️ , these are all in the town or on the outskirts , I have also had a slight problem with my heart , a E E G was arranged and I had that at my doctors by the nurse , the results were sent to the local hospital and I had to go to the dept of medicine to see the heart specialist , no waiting about and the nurse weighed me , took my height and a blood pressure test , waited a few minutes and I had to see the heart chap , he had it all on a screen and he explained what the problem might be and he will arrange some medicine before I have more tests , anyhow , only last week I got two letters from our local hospital and the one at Norwich , one was for a ( ECHO ) on the 14th of September at my local one and the one at Norwich will get in touch when the date will come available . as I said , no complaints at all .

Hello, That sounds very good👍, Now would you believe it !!!, My GP txt me tonight to say he is leaving the Abingdon Surgery, 😒

Edited August 20 by oldypigeonpopper

[Minky]

7 hours ago, steve_b_wales said:

 At the beginning of last July (24) I contacted my GP to ask if I could have another Cortisone/Steroid injection in my knee, due to my arthritis getting more painful. I had one back last December, and until then, it helped ease the pain. I was told that I would be 'put on the waiting list' (because of course, 100's of patients get this done everyday down there!) Having not heard anything (no surprise there!) I phoned again yesterday, only to be told that 'we are not doing the injections this summer as the doctor is away on holidays, and that I would have to wait until October then would be contacted!) I asked why another GP can't administer the injection as I knew there are two GP's at the practice that can do this, but was told 'No'. 

I cannot change to another practice, as 'my' practice has taken on the only other one that was available two years ago. This is absolutely disgusting and I told them so. So now, I have to keep on taken CoCodamol 500's (which don't wok due to me taking them for many years) and Ibrufen cream's are rubbish and also don't work!

I know that it is frustrating and painful.  My brother had both knees replaced.  He was on very strong painkillers which took his voice away.  He is a strongman who has taken his hand being sewn up without anasthetic but he really struggled with the knees.A word of warning /concerning repeated steroid injections.  I  had an operation on rotor cuff tendon.  And a Dutch woman sports injury consultant who treated me was horrified when she found that a doctor at the practice had given me an amount of steroid injections. Yep they did work and stopped my pain BUT she said that the surgeons went mad when they saw the damage caused by working.  Basically it is like issuing a set of ear plugs to someone with a flat tyre on a car.  And saying...Take no notice and carry on. The fact that the cars tyre is wrecked and the wheel is wrecked and everything is dragged to destruction along the road needing a major major repair rather than a pun ture repair.

Edited August 20 by Minky

[steve_b_wales]

Just had a reply from my MP's office:

Thank you for contacting the office of Chris Bryant MP. I am sorry to hear about the pain you are living with. Chris will write to the Health Board regarding the concerns you have raised. Before the Health Board will deal with us or we can make contact, first we have to get a hard copy of your consent; so I have posted them out to you today with a stamped addressed return envelope.
Best regards,

Mark
 

Mark Davey
Constituency Caseworker
Office of Sir Chris Bryant  

[TIGHTCHOKE]

A good start.   

[steve_b_wales]

7 minutes ago, TIGHTCHOKE said:

A good start.   

Yes, and to be fair, the MP dealt with an issue a few years ago, with the same GP surgery. 

[marsh man]

23 minutes ago, steve_b_wales said:

Yes, and to be fair, the MP dealt with an issue a few years ago, with the same GP surgery. 

Lets hope you get it sorted out to your satisfaction without to long to wait .

Am I right in thinking you would have had a long wait for your Hernia operation in Wales ? so you ended up going private at your own cost ?

I had mine done around the same time and my waiting time was a matter of weeks rather than months , now with all the junior doctors strike things might now be different .

Today I had my referral appointment at our main hospital for a small lump near my eye that don't get any better , this was three weeks after seeing my doctor , saw the dermatology lady more or less bang on time , then after she checked me over I had to have some photos taken at another department , again very little waiting and I have now got to wait until I hear from them and they are going to cut it off under local ,how long I have got to wait then I don't know , all depends on how busy they are but I don't mind waiting a reasonable amount of time  , again very good service and I was on my way home around an hour after leaving it .   MM

[Bigbob]

I am waiting on a new knee them they said i would have it done when i was 60 then they said i was too young and would need to wait till i was 70 , So my doctor said she has no problem giving me 2 cortisone injections a year till i get my knee done . You certainly feel it more painful as you get closer to the end of the 6 months , And like yours there's only 2 doctors in the surgery who will do the injections and its on a tuesday or thursday night , The first time i waited till my injection was due and phoned for a appointment only to be told there's a months wait .Now i phone a month before i am due a injection to be told there diarys not that far ahead but they will phone me when it is and they do its a system that works very well for me . The only thing is they wont do both knees together as they say it may put you off your legs for a day or so if anything goes wrong  so you get your second knee done a fortnight later i just laughed but the last twice i had pain in my knees after the injections that laid me up for a couple of days 

[steve_b_wales]

28 minutes ago, marsh man said:

Lets hope you get it sorted out to your satisfaction without to long to wait .

Am I right in thinking you would have had a long wait for your Hernia operation in Wales ? so you ended up going private at your own cost ?

I had mine done around the same time and my waiting time was a matter of weeks rather than months , now with all the junior doctors strike things might now be different .

Today I had my referral appointment at our main hospital for a small lump near my eye that don't get any better , this was three weeks after seeing my doctor , saw the dermatology lady more or less bang on time , then after she checked me over I had to have some photos taken at another department , again very little waiting and I have now got to wait until I hear from them and they are going to cut it off under local ,how long I have got to wait then I don't know , all depends on how busy they are but I don't mind waiting a reasonable amount of time  , again very good service and I was on my way home around an hour after leaving it .   MM

Yes, correct. When I saw one of the GP's in the surgery, he informed me that he would add my name to see a consultant, which would probably take around 18 months, then a further 2.5 years for the operation. Because of the severe pain I was in and the nature of my employment, I very reluctantly went private, to the tune of £3610:00. Part of this payment was (A) the surgeon charged £180 to inform me that I had a hernia,(I had to cough 3 times) and (B) the same consultant charged me £140 to inform me that (after the op') I was 'okay'. This was on top of his £950 for the operation itself. 

The private hospital took most of the fee. 

Edited August 21 by steve_b_wales

[marsh man]

1 hour ago, steve_b_wales said:

Yes, correct. When I saw one of the GP's in the surgery, he informed me that he would add my name to see a consultant, which would probably take around 18 months, then a further 2.5 years for the operation. Because of the severe pain I was in and the nature of my employment, I very reluctantly went private, to the tune of £3610:00. Part of this payment was (A) the surgeon charged £180 to inform me that I had a hernia,(I had to cough 3 times) and (B) the same consultant charged me £140 to inform me that (after the op') I was 'okay'. This was on top of his £950 for the operation itself. 

The private hospital took most of the fee. 

Wow , there seem to be a huge difference in waiting times and the follow up treatment from where you live to where I live , I am not saying the treatment and service I have had is the same in every hospital throughout the land but I can only go by the service I have had since I have been going to my doctors over the last few months and I have been very pleased with the service up to now , it might be a different story in having the treatment timing but as long as I am under there radar then I am happy to wait my turn .  

[steve_b_wales]

6 hours ago, marsh man said:

Wow , there seem to be a huge difference in waiting times and the follow up treatment from where you live to where I live , I am not saying the treatment and service I have had is the same in every hospital throughout the land but I can only go by the service I have had since I have been going to my doctors over the last few months and I have been very pleased with the service up to now , it might be a different story in having the treatment timing but as long as I am under there radar then I am happy to wait my turn .  

I would have waited but my hernia was in my groin and affected everything from walking, sitting down etc. Had I not paid, then I would have lost £1000's in wages by not being able to work, so I really didn't have a choice. I was annoyed( still am) that I had to pay despite paying over 50 years of N.I. contributions.

Edited August 22 by steve_b_wales

[Vince Green]

A couple of weeks back my wife's friend had a bad chest infection and needed some antibiotics. Phoned GP surgery to be told that the first available appointment was in SEVEN WEEKS time.

So, with no other choice, she went to a private walk in medical centre, paid, but saw a doctor there and then and walked out with a prescription for antibiotics .

We joked it was probably the same doctor she would have seen at her own surgery had she waited the seven weeks. 

[marsh man]

8 hours ago, steve_b_wales said:

I would have waited but my hernia was in my groin and affected everything from walking, sitting down etc. Had I not paid, then I would have lost £1000's in wages by not being able to work, so I really didn't have a choice. I was annoyed( still am) that I had to pay despite paying over 50 years of N.I. contributions.

You would think to ease the burden of long waiting times they would bring out a scheme where if you were prepared to pay a percentage of the treatment then the N H S would pay the rest , sound easy but there would be so many loop holes with various credits support that it would have a job to ever get off the ground , although I have heard where some patients get sent to private hospitals at the N H S expense , how true this is then I couldn't confirm it as I don't know anyone who have had this free treatment at a private hospital .

[oldypigeonpopper]

4 minutes ago, marsh man said:

You would think to ease the burden of long waiting times they would bring out a scheme where if you were prepared to pay a percentage of the treatment then the N H S would pay the rest , sound easy but there would be so many loop holes with various credits support that it would have a job to ever get off the ground , although I have heard where some patients get sent to private hospitals at the N H S expense , how true this is then I couldn't confirm it as I don't know anyone who have had this free treatment at a private hospital .

Hello, My older Son went to a private hospital via his GP for 2 ops but still not right and he still suffering pain and discomfort with and old football injury, I contacted my consultant to ask on scan results and another blood test, Still not heard !!!!