Shielding ended ?

[medway-lady]

This is from another website for people like me with CKD but it affects those with RA and of course I've got that too.

"The shielding programme provided a structure through which those most vulnerable to Covid could be contacted and supported when infection rates were high and people were most at risk. In their announcement of the closure of the shielding programme in England, the Government explain that people at highest risk from Covid should in future discuss any issues or concerns with their clinician. "

Problem is obvious whose doctor has the time to discuss with all their patients issues and if cases increase what next ?

[Neonkittie17]

I am not sure GPs are going to have time to discuss how people are feeling. They will refer people to counselling I feel just as they do to anyone goes in and says they feel depressed at our practice. Handed a card to make an appointment for six weeks time I believe. My GP phone greeting now says they have had a 20 per cent increase in calls in the last year so it is difficult to get back to people. The GP still have people down as immunosuppressed and CEV even if not classed as shielding to them so we are known as being vulnerable still as such for the purposes of early vaccines etc. x

[medway-lady in reply to Neonkittie17]

Our 12 GP's are rarer thanks hens teeth, goodness knows how anyone will be able to discuss worries. LOL Its rumoured that they do still exist but no-one I know has seen a live one since Dec 2019. Perhaps I've been really lucky no need to see a GP or RA consultant and I've spoken (routine ) to Nephrologist every three months but so many need to see a GP because they are ill not "worried". Just no planning or is it driving us towards a two tier system as most people I know have joined Benenden as a precaution. xx

[Neonkittie17 in reply to medway-lady]

Good idea for your health insurance. I’ve been with BUPA for some time but it doesn’t apply for RA consultant/reviews etc knowing how chronic conditions need regular reviews, but I could use it for joint replacements and anything else but routine clinics. I’ve had no need to see my rheumy ftf so that’s worked ok.

[medway-lady in reply to Neonkittie17]

I used to have insurance with work, but retired and the subscription was huge so went for Benenden they offer a phone service to a GP, I've not used it but it seems to top up on NHS. Mind your our GP's yesterday announced a huge U turn. Going back to phone in and will triage via GP by phone. Econsult will still be here but for urgent cases only if the surgery is full up and going to reopen in the evening and its two satellite surgeries. And we've all be sent emails to say write to the Secretary of State to ask for more funding for GP's for essential services. Not sure if its nothing more than a nod to keeping people happy but have to wait and see. Hopefully more GP's will open up soon.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to medway-lady]

We’ve only really had phone consults, no E. Ours won’t open for a long long time for ftf. Only if something can’t be resolved over the phone or shown on video call etc do they want to see anyone. All practice nurse services still being done though. I’ve not even looked at the email thing to see if they do that as telephone appointment worked well for me so far the twice I’ve had to do so. They won’t have a full surgery, and they only allow a couple of people in until something changes for the better they say. People are too likely to see someone they know and go over and stand over someone else. I haven been/sat in the waiting area for several years as they provide a remote place for immuno-compromised to sit alone.

I spoke to a doc month ago early August and in my discussion with him he said I needed to go straight to a (non RA) consultant and I did. Due to BUPA this happened very quickly and I got a consultant appointment in 3 days so no need to see the GP and better to go direct to the expert. That’s different when it’s NHS and you need a doc to see and assess and refer you ASAP then that is the problem at the moment and the chance of things being overlooked. 😑

The GP surgery has opened late and early for some time before the pandemic but since the pandemic it’s for nurse services.

[Knip in reply to medway-lady]

I've just had my second face to face with a GP since lockdown after a call from the surgery to make an appointment. My last two blood tests have shown that I am slightly anaemic and I know that I have lost weight...I am certain former is down to the microhaematuria I had when taking MTX before and the latter that my Thyroxine was been raised by 25% in the spring, to bring it into normal range. I remember clearly, last time, trying to up my iron intake because the iron tablets, in spite of taking with orange juice, made me feel so sick. She was very pleasant but I couldn't convince her (or the surgical team when they rang) so I now have a CT colonoscopy next Thursday along with a chest CT scan with contrast! Part of my reasoning was that I had a colonoscopy 18mths ago, followed by a gastroscopy and an abdominal scan which showed that all was clear except that I have mild Chron's Disease. That was a full MOT if ever there was one. I know my GP means well but there must be other people who are really in need of these tests but are having to wait. Sorry about the rant and I know others would feel fortunate to be getting so much attention, but there we are. Well, that feels better! Take care everyone.🙂

[AgedCrone in reply to medway-lady]

I seem to have hit gold with my new GP practice…I just needed to know if I could up a certain drug….& would have been quite happy with a message back y/n….but she called me back & when I explained she told me to come in that afternoon ….now going for X-ray next week.I’m still in shock.

[Lolabridge]

And with a six week wait to get a telephone appointment with your GP …

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Lolabridge]

Whaaaaaat??!! That’s terrible. Is that your situation at the mo Lola? I’d drop a letter in marked urgent for the GP and ask for a reply by phone in the next day or two at the most and say as you can’t get through via the phone you need to so take to someone urgently. Someone is taking the Michael there. 😢😑

[Lolabridge in reply to Neonkittie17]

That’s the norm at my surgery atm. Did an e-consult and got a next day reply. That got me some antibiotics.Six weeks ago I booked a F2F appointment to review the statin situation and will be seeing my GP on Monday. 🤞🏻

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Lolabridge]

Nooo, That’s rubbish re the long wait for your needed ftf re statins, 😑😢 I’m glad you had someone phone you back re abx. That has to be absolute priority. I speak to the scripts admin lady if it’s something I’ve been prescribed before. She then speaks to my doc for me if it’s not on repeat script but needed. It’s so difficult at the mo and can make you feel anxious. Doesn’t always give a lot of confidence in the GP situation and worrying if you are waiting. Mine are doing OK for me but I haven’t needed a ftf. Just my GP nurse .. a lovely very assertive lady called Kiran .. to help re bloods and BP. Hope all goes well on Monday. 🙏🏻💗

[Lolabridge in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thank you nk. 😘

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Lolabridge]

I hope waiting hasn’t affected your health. x

[Lolabridge in reply to Neonkittie17]

I had been feeling very poorly for several weeks but improving since getting the antibiotics. It hasn’t helped that I’ve been feeling low too and lacking social interaction. It’s hard to “shield” when you know hardly anyone else has to!!

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Lolabridge]

Oh yes it’s horrible isn’t it .. 19th month now and the comments too from some clueless people. The nasty nosey neighbour is still sneering. Sad person. He’s very damaged. I’m on abx after my small op and they send me to sleep during the day but not at night! I try not to relax too much when I sit down during the day or I’m Zzzzzz. Hope you feel improvement soon. x

[Lolabridge in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thank you. X

[Moleymum in reply to Neonkittie17]

This is how busy GPs are. My surgery is 2-3 week wait for a non -urgent appointment and our patients think that is shocking!

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Moleymum]

Yes the GP’s are very busy on the phones. As I said on another recent thread, my practice’s phone greeting says they have an increase of 20 per cent in patient calls to the practice in the last year.

[Knip in reply to Moleymum]

Ours is three to four weeks but we can have a triage appt by phone the same day. However, these are like gold dust...and the receptionists always check if it's 'urgent'. What is urgent to some wouldn't be to another, so further filtering goes on by the practice nurse, which seems sensible. I have to say that our practice is pretty good and the staff are all friendly.

[Sheila_G]

Absolutely agree.

[AgedCrone]

I think unless feeling unusually unwell we should just continue being careful & get on with our lives. Hopefully GPs will be busy dealing with people who need immediate attention having been denied f2f for so long.Yesterday I read the long list of people who are now much worse than they would have been if they could have got some medical attention much sooner.

[Lolabridge in reply to AgedCrone]

I agree AC and I never bother my GP with anything trivial. But I had been feeling unwell for several weeks. It turns out I have had a UTI (no symptoms as usual) and had to do the e-consult form (it took me an hour to complete!) to get access to the GP as the receptionists thought it could wait for a “routine” appointment several more weeks away. I did say that I thought I had an infection, which is serious for someone on RTX, but it didn’t make any difference. Clearly the GP thought I needed help as I had a speedy reply from her offering antibiotics!

[AgedCrone in reply to Lolabridge]

Being realistic…. I think GP’s should have some sort of triage phone system whereby a nurse with a few years EXPERIENCE….not one straight from university full of book learning ….but negligible experience of life…let alone of winkling out those patients who REALLY need attention. from the “worried well”…..who I know do take up precious time.I’m sure most receptionists mean well….but having to spell your name three times…mentioning a drug she has never heard of & then being told despite the GP having told you he wanted to speak to you about an unusual blood test result….…gives you a date three weeks away…just can’t be best they can do.

I know I’m going on about my new GP….but they have an email address where you can describe your symptoms presumably manned by somebody with clinical knowledge….& get a doctor’s opinion pretty quickly.

It’s not perfect…but it does do away with sitting on the phone to try to grab any sort of appointment.

I also understand they have employed two more part time doctors…because I do suspect “the budget” is often the reason appointments are so difficult to get.

[Moleymum in reply to AgedCrone]

Most practices have some form of online triage which uses an algorithm to triage when patient needs to be seen. E-consult and Doctorlink are two that our area use. We are encouraging as many patients as possible to use this as it avoids long waits on the phone to then be triaged by a receptionist who is limited by what the patient tells them. Simply emailing into a practice will probably go to an admin person so we discourage this.

[AgedCrone in reply to Moleymum]

No….apparently the email is dealt with either by an experienced nurse or one of the doctors can pick it up.It’s a small country practice & from speaking to local shopkeepers etc is very well thought of.

My previous practice used some sort of online triage service..I never needed to use it…..but of those I know who did….they were not impressed…most ended up going to the GP service offered by the local private hospital.

[Lolabridge in reply to Moleymum]

It really worries me that receptionists are doing the phone triage at my surgery. E-consult may work well if either you know what your condition is or you have an end objective in mind.When I wanted to report nausea, unusual fatigue and general malaise I ended up having to input each symptom separately and the barrage of questions I was then asked about each of them individually was so time consuming to complete (more than an hour).

The receptionist had told me to use e-consult as she said she could only offer me a routine appointment otherwise for weeks ahead.