UK population........66,000,000 and subject to Brexit rising fast.
GP’s in the UK........34,500 and falling fast.
This means on average every doctor has nearly 2000 patients to look after.
Each patient has 12 organ systems plus goodness knows how many other miscellaneous bits and pieces that need looking after. We all know how complex AF can be and that only represents a minute fraction of what can go wrong with the heart so replicate the same principle to virtually every part of the human body and you would go dizzy
True, not everyone is ill and needs a doctor but it’s impossible to imagine just how much knowledge is needed to provide every patient with an acceptable level of care so I guess it’s not surprising that they occasionally refer to Google. At least unlike most of us, they have the skill to know where to look and how to interpret the information.
I’ve got no idea why I bothered to write this but maybe it might help us to understand what the medical profession has to contend with and why sometimes they get it right and sometimes they don’t.
BobD’s post was clearly a bit of fun, mine is just me thinking aloud so PLEASE don’t bother to send any answers because there aren’t any.....God bless the NHS
My wife worked in general practice till she retired early in 1997(aged44!) and at that time the average patient list was 2000 so they are back to where they were 20 years ago.The difference being in those days they worked full time in the surgery and visiting patients at home.
These days a lot of them are part time as they are tied up doing lots of other things, there are a lot of worried well, there are a lot more prescriptions to hand out ,a lot more conditions to diagnose,but actually no more patients on their lists.
Add to that they have practice nurses and Nurse Practitioners who have taken on a lot of what the GPS used to do and you have to wonder why they are in the mess they are.
My GPS surgery is ultra efficient .You can ring first thing from 8-9 and a Dr will phone you back. If they cant deal with your problem over the phone you are seen that day.whenever I have to visit the surgery whatever day or time there is generally 2-3people waiting.There is a repeat prescription dedicated line, they have online patient access and even at 70 I am happy to use this.
If a referral is necessary they do there utmost to get it within a few weeks,not the months you hear about.
By definition GP means General Practioner, and they are there as an intermediary.Yes they have a great knowledge and can treat common illnesses( but even those ,patients are asked to deal with themselves and go to the pharmacy With medicine today and patient being more well informed ( Dr Google comes to mind plus the plethora of t v programs!) they couldn’t know it all and it is there roll to decide ,not neccisarily what is wrong with you but what speciality you need to be referred to to get a diagnosis.As more and more diseases become specialities the roll of the GP has diminished and most Drs who went into it 20-30 years ago will tell you it’s not what they signed up for and can’t wait to retire or change jobs.
And so say all of us. (I HOPE!) . And yes it was meant to be some light-hearted fun and such a shame not everybody gets that. I sometimes wonder why I bother.
Bob, it was a great post of yours and certainly made me laugh. I enjoyed reading all the answering posts too. It's because you're so popular that so many people responded. You can't have fame and no attention! Now I've picked all your toys up, keep them in your pram. Lol.
Oh what a pain, these things are sent to try us! Do you have an electric fire you could use in the kitchen until then? Sods law that it has happened just as the really cold weather is about to strike!
Well I thought it was funny Bob, clever too. I'd just copied the photo of the mug from " the poke" and was about to post it on here when I saw yours ... great minds think alike eh?
Oh BobD, do not despair! I am sure I speak for lots of us when I say you posts are very much appreciated. I don't have much to say myself, just jog along with my AF but you input is invaluable. Loved the mug story.
Vjfers, I so agree with you, I also jog along with this rotten condition but love logging into Healthunlocked . I think a sense of humour is the best medicine and the advise is as you say ‘invaluable’. Best wishes. Phyl.
Your right!!! I actually laugh and want to get my EP one. He is a very good doctor but doesn’t have much of a sense of humor. I love this website. I really follow your advice and experience. We all differ. Please keep with your posting. Here in the states private doctors are easier to get to but the cost is atrocious. Thank you Bob.
As a retired nurse, I see both sides of the coin. One doc I worked with years ago told a patient " medicine is still in many ways more of an art than a science". Medicine has come a long way, but at the end of the day, people are people, fallible and lacking answers to many problems. My faith is in God. I try to do the best I can. Whether your docs are here in the US fighting insurance companies or the NHS, it's not a perfect answer to our imperfect world we live in. Sorry, didnt intend to b so " preachy"!!!😂
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A reminder to us all. 
Anticoagulation considerations for newly diagnosed AF members
Reflections on Patient’s Day, Birmingham, 2019, a very personal overview.
Good morning day 2
