My faith in GPs has been restored....

[Bazzypants]

Hi all just been to my GP surgery to ask my doctor if he could sign me off work for bit as I am feeling so tired and in pain with this RA in all the years I have had it I have never asked and the other week my own GP deemed me fit for work with a rather large swollen ankle and it was very painful to... so when got a different doctor I thought omg but he was really great he spoke to me it terms I could understand explained a few things to me that I had asked and he then with out hesitation said I was unfit for work and was signed off for a month, and I hope in that time I will get the appointment for the injections in my knees. He was the best GP I have ever had .... why because he actually listened to me and I thanked him for that. It has restored my faith .... Well at least till the next visit lol xx But I do have one moan lol I have got to pay almost £25.00 for the meds oooooh bugger.xx

[farm123]

It is such a nice feeling coming out of any appointment feeling 'looked after'. Are you in the UK. A pre-payment certificate costs £29 for three months or you can do one for a year by DD for approx £105. Prices may have gone up in April but have not renewed yet to find out. I know its a fiddle but you can backdate certificate and reclaim money spent if you have kept some of the form. It is all on website. Just make sure which website you go to as you do not want to pay extra admin charges - think it was through nhs website - sorry not got time at the moment to check. Farm

[Bazzypants in reply to farm123]

Hi thanks farm123, will look in to that x

[Hidden]

Hello

If you need a large script it may be useful to get yourself a Pre-Payment Certificate you may find it cheaper that way.

I do not know how much they are now as now been over sixty get mine FOC. I take about eight types of medications.

so you can see how much that is for a months supply.

All I can say is I hope you manage to calm your condition down in this given time

Good Luck

BOB

[Bazzypants in reply to Hidden]

Thanks borderriever, for your fed back I think we should get it free for RA really but hey we can hope xx

[skinnycappuccino]

Hello there I'm very pleased that you got a nice, competent GP It makes such a difference when someone is actually interested, kind and knows their job. I've lost faith in my GP but I think your post has given me hope again so thank you for posting this!! Best, Christine xxxx

[Bazzypants in reply to skinnycappuccino]

Hi thanks skinnycappuccino, its not often I come away pleased from my GP but today was a good day and I am filled with positivity. Good luck to you on your next visit. xxx

[Riedenise]

Hi there, so pleased you have found a sympathetic Gp that listens to you & helps. I have a pre-paid prescription certificate it costs me £10.40p each month & saves me a fortune! I get 10 meds a month, work out how much that would cost & I only pay £10.40p. So apply on line for one, keep your receipts for your scripts as you can claim back, but only to a certain date ok. good luck. Rie

[allanah]

Great, that will make such a difference to o to someone supportive. You ill hate me but I get free prescriptions cause of my diabetes, but I wouldn't wish it on anyone though!! Hope you get your injections sooner rather than later. X

[Hidden]

That's brill you got to see a gp who understood how RA is affecting your life , I know what you mean about other doctors being unhelpful , my surgery has 8 doctors & I can honestly say 6 are not worth seeing the one who's been really helpful and supportive in getting my DLA is always booked for mths , a tip I found is book her next available appointment just in case then you can always cancel if not needed . Hope you can now get some time too rest and hopefully the ankle and knee will feel better , I also pay £10.40 a month for pre payment meds . Regards Teresa

[Bazzypants in reply to Hidden]

Hi felicity10, thanks for responding, yes I am hoping they will work. It really helps when you get a doctor that is very helpful.x

[s7j7e7]

Glad you had some real help from the GP you saw, but please bear in mind all the other people who could benefit from that same GP, and don't keep making appointments you won't keep.

[Bazzypants in reply to s7j7e7]

Hi don't get you reply I have never made an appointment and not kept it ???? think you may have me mixed up with some one else or you have misread my post x

[s7j7e7 in reply to Bazzypants]

Hi, sorrry I was trying to reply to Felicity; I certainly didn't mean you. (If you look at the post times, mine should have appeared first.) I don't think it's fair that she keeps making appointments and then cancelling them if she doesn't need them, thus making someone else wait longer or miss a more convenient spot for them.

[Bazzypants in reply to s7j7e7]

Hi there bit of a misunderstanding thanks for responding x

[Hidden]

I have never missed an appointment or cancelled less than 48 hrs before and to be honest only had to cancel once because was taken into hospital , what I'm saying is to see my gp her next available appointment today is 34 days away , if I don't book it when will I get to see her who knows how they are going to feel in 34 days I don't know from one day till the next . She actually advised me to do this book her next available appointment , people please don't go booking appointments and not attending this wasn't what I stated or implied and I will apologise if it's come across wrong , I've only recently had the confidence to reply on a forum now I'm not so sure I'm feeling pretty tearful right now .

[nomoreheels in reply to Hidden]

Hiya Teresa. Just been looking through news feed & figured you'd replied to the wrong member. I can't believe what I've read, do you really have to wait 34 days for an appointment if you specify a GP? It's obviously quite a large Practice if there are 8 GPs. Can you not sign up with another local Practice, it seems an impracticably long waiting time and open to abuse. As you rightly state how on earth can you be expected to know how your feeling from day to day with RA. My Practice has a phone at 8.30-9am & see same day booking system which works well (as long as you're prepared to wait in the queue till your call is answered). A limited number of advance appointments are also available for those unable to phone within these times (ie school runs or work commitments). Granted it's a smaller setup, 3 full time and 1 part time GPs plus 3 Nurses & 2 Healthcare Assistants but it runs well.

Don't be upset, I'm new to this too & surely communicating and giving your perspective and receiving others' with people in the same boat as you outweighs being fearful of making an honest mistake. I know I've already had some great advice and personal experiences on my first post and been warmly welcomed. I am so pleased I joined this great site. You are obviously a caring contributor, things will seem better in the morning, don't stress, we all know that gets us nowhere!