I see in the news today (in the Telegraph) that the NHS has been trialling group appointments for common chronic conditions, sometimes just with a moderator instead of a doctor present to facilitate the discussion among patients who 'can share tips'. I wonder where that idea came from?
It seems like a good idea if you are not worried about the issue of confidentiality and would probably appeal more to younger people. Those like my 80 year old husband who still expect their GPs to behave like Dr Findlay might not take to it!
I am finding more and more that I only visit my GP when I want/expect her to do something, not for advice unless it is on how best to proceed with treatment. If I visit a GP and get the same advice I have had for 50 years eg over the eczema in my ears, I come out really cross! So now I make it clear I've already had all the advice I need and I'm looking for action!
What do you think?
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Buffafly
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'Those like my 80 year old husband who still expect their GPs to behave like Dr Findlay might not take to it!'
That really made me chuckle Buffafly, I expect it's possibly the view of many folk. Will be interesting to follow this idea and see if it takes off but maybe if it runs a bit like a support group it will gain some interest.
Much to my surprise I was wrong! My husband was enthusiastic about the idea, said if they had one for varicose veins/eczema he would be able to see how others are coping and how the condition might progress, and would feel better if others were worse off than him! Not quite sure that is how it is supposed to work, though we do get people here saying it did them good to realise how much more others suffered 🤔
And, not sure how many would be happy talking about their external haemorrhoids protruding and dropping their trousers/skirt infront of a dozen people for the GP to examine then to find a picture secretly taken by another patient, put up on that awful twitter/facebook nonsense of yours truely in such an embarrassing situation.
I think it is a really good idea to have these groups for those patients who have chronic conditions and need advice/support for things they can do to help themselves, instead of the expectation that every visit needs a ‘laying on of hands’.
I worked for decades as a pbysio in the NHS and trust me, it becomes very wearisome for the practioner explaining gentle neck/shoulder/knee exercises repeatedly throughput the day, and I think more believable to patients in a group who can interact with other people with similar problems trying to follow the advice and improving. Some chronic conditions simply cannot be cured but life can become a lot easier by making some changes to lifestyle and activity.
The other point is that the rate of none attendance runs at about a whopping 25% across the NHS. In these times of shortage, that is a waste we simply cannot afford.
That's a good point. I go to a "back class" on a Monday evening. It's run by a physio, about 20 back pain sufferers go along. It costs £5 a time which is very good value. It starts with some warm up exercises and progresses to ball work, stretching, strengthening, flexibility etc., all to the physio's choice of music (not always mine!). We're mainly people who've hurt our backs playing sport and it's really good. Then we all go down to the pub!
My 87 year old mum may have dementia, but she still remembers Dr Findlay!
I ended up going to see a private GP to talk about my heart related concerns as my GP kept fobbing me off. She is lovely but always running behind as what can you realistically accomplish in 10 minutes?
I think a group appointment could work well for certain conditions and I like the idea of physio led exercise classes. I certainly found out more about dealing with AF from fellow sufferers I ever did from a GP. The only problem could be group dynamics. You may have someone who takes over the session with their particular issue to the detriment of the less confident.
We all appear to be knowledgeable, empathetic listeners on here. Perhaps there’s a role for us as moderators for these patient groups if they gain in popularity?
i don’t like this idea whatsoever. Some PC liberal loony idea again by the very people who have ruined a lot of common sense this country has had, or did have, for a very long time.
Visiting your GP is a private and personal matter, where confidentiality etc are at stake here. Signing a confidentiality disclaimer is about as secure as an open draw stuffed full of money. I’m a Type 1 diabetic which comes under the chronic illness umbrella that would suffice such a group sessions idea. I also suffer with hearing problems too where hearing aids don’t help, and in a group like settings that would be totally out of the question for me and probably many others too.
Agree with you Buffafly. If I am looking for a diagnosis of a new problem or had concerns about continuing treatment e.g. new side effects from a medication or worsening of an existing condition, I would want a private appointment with my GP.
This proposal for group appointments could easily become the thin edge of the wedge. There will presumably be some sort of triage system for making appointments. I can imagine the receptionist asking if the appointment is urgent and a system that says, for example, that doctor only sees knee problems on a Thursday afternoon or when several people have the same type of complaint. Doctors will probably shift many of the appointments to ancillary staff and so there will be resource issues in a different area.
Our surgery has already shifted appointments to ancillary staff! If you want to see your GP you have to book weeks ahead. If you phone for an urgent appointment you are triaged, usually end up with a nurse and then get an appointment to see a GP sooner or later if he/she can't handle it. I would be very happy to join a group discussion about asthma, arthritis or AF but my 'suspicious lump' went straight to my GP.
I always worry about the less articulate and those who “don’t want to bother the doctor”. How many end up in A&E either because they know they will be seen or because things have become critical?
I feel that group discussions can be very useful for those that are comfortable with them...but should not be introduced to replace normal one to one GP sessions. GPs can point patients toward group sessions where they can help and save precious time reassuring or advising those who would find a group session more helpful.
I did attend a trial group session which related to living with a permanent catheter and it was a huge success. It clarified so many vagaries and grey areas arising from the condition for many people.
Friend had group appointment for diabetes support. After the usual blood and eye checks, went into group. Saved nurse giving same diet and lifestyle advice 10 times over. The info isn’t that unique. Means you get quicker appointments and if you want a one to one you can ask for it.
These groups are a great help esp when people are diagnosed with ling term conditions, it's a bit like group therapy. I was reluctant to try that but it was great, I met others who were going through divorce & it helped so much.
Now I run a heart failure support group linked to my local heart failure service.
It's been going 3 yrs, we meet once a month, chat about any problems we've had, share experiences of symptoms & medications & sometimes have a moan! It's been lovely to see the change in our members worried & stressed faces have turned into confident smiley ones as they've learnt to adapt & manage their new way of life.
I recently did a course for pre-diabetics and I learned a lot more from the other participants than from the course leader and really this is what we are doing on here so I think it could be useful.
Would this work for Afib given that almost everyone has different symptoms, medication etc.?
I agree in some respects with the GP thing. I think forums like this present a great support network and give people the confidence or the knowledge to be "fully armed" when consulting with GPs and specialists, even if the appointments turn out to be fruitless.
Whilst any medical "advice" here is based purely on our own experiences with AF and treatments, its these experiences that give people confidence and hopefully put minds at rest that, for example "yes it's normal to feel like that" or "that doesn't seem right to me"
I have been following the comments concerning advice in Groups .I have many years experience working as a Physio in the NHS and Privately .I am very much in favour of groups and took many Ante and Post natal groups .
Concerning other speciality groups I would presume the person would have had a diagnosis at some time and therefore seen a G P and or a Consultant .
I will mention one example here . Many years ago I was asked by one of the Consultants to see all Gynaecology patients post-operatively to which I replied “ I already do that on the ward before they go home “.He said yes but in addition I would like them followed up as an outpatient as well, to see how they are getting on and to promote Continence .So I set about doing this individually .Later I thought what about the other Consultant’s patients as they were not getting this service? .So I spoke to them all and they were very keen for their patients to be seen .Silly me without any extra hours for this ,I had rather a lot of patients waiting for individual appointments .SO I decided to put them in small groups and it was hugely successful as they all chatted to each other and were reassured as some had similar problems .I led the class with exercises etc and also at some point saw all briefly individually, for about ten minutes before or after the class .I also could observe and listen in the class for anybody that I thought needed to see their GP or Consultant individuallyand would advise privately at the end of the class, when all were still chatting away ,even as they were leaving .They came for 3 or 4 classes in their groups .Up to 6 in a class was good . Large groups of 15 may not be appropriate for some medical conditions except antenatal ,postnatal,backs,etc
All this was very very successful . Even I was surprised by the excellent result. .
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