Doctors!

[Xanthi]

Did anyone see Dr Golda-Parker on BBC Breakfast news this morning? Prescribing her political expertise in suggesting that people with chronic conditions should only get free prescriptions for that specific condition? As system needs 'giggling up'. Giving the example that thyroid patients should ONLY get their thyroid treatment free, but if that patient gets an infection, that should be paid for? Obviously another doctor who has little understanding or sympathy for our condition! Perhaps I could suggest she 'use' some other, more benevolent issue to launch herself on TV?

[bluebug]

There is another one of her previous interviews on Youtube - youtube.com/watch?v=FjS2lAK...(Not working as expected?)

I'm just glad I'm not one of her patients.

[Xanthi in reply to bluebug]

Oh my, what nature of physician is this country breeding? My suggestion for saving money on the NHS is to only pay the best doctors, maybe a sort of ofsted system (that teachers have to suffer), but rated by their patients! 😊

[cwill in reply to Xanthi]

Oh I like that. My ghastly surgery that I think had brain fog and serious illhealth got me I could have pursued for negligence always gets top marks for patient satisfaction. The general public must have very low expectations...

[bluebug in reply to Xanthi]

My last crap GP practice was rated by patients. It got an excellent rating even though people had started to queue up in person to ensure they got an on-the-day appointment on that day, they go through reception staff like water and they had several crap locums who they took ages not to rebook.

My current GP practice was also rated by patients. It has got a good rating though the reception staff actually answer the phones so you can book an on-the-day appointment by phone, the reception staff have worked there for years, they don't tend to use locums and you can easily see online which doctors are in when.

[Saggyuk in reply to bluebug]

I must admit, pharmacists are hugely underutilised. Most of them have had to learn as much as GPs and many I've known have better knowledge than them plus they have to keep updating and relearning more than docs.

[bluebug in reply to Saggyuk]

Thing is every time myself and a few people I know have asked a pharmacist their advice has been go to the GP.

[Saggyuk in reply to bluebug]

They're quite good round here and there's a whole heap of things they can treat listed on posters everywhere but they have set a specific scheme up in my town some years back whereby they are now allowed to prescribe many things on behalf of GP so you can get it free if have free prescriptions anyway. I just had assumed they had done that everywhere??

Plus my little local one on my road does blood glucose testing, heart pressure and so on and will give general advice. I went in with a skin infection once and required antibiotics, a quick call to my GP practice and got it prescribed with a quick fax so didn't have to trek to GPs or waste time.

[Valarian in reply to Saggyuk]

I've mostly had really good experiences with pharmacists - a while back, one overheard me asking for the best antihistamine to deal with a bad bite, and without being asked, came over to take a look at it as there had been a problem locally with infected horse-fly bites. Then, just after I'd been diagnosed with high blood pressure and a hyperactive thyroid, I manage to stand on a wasp (eek !), and realised I'd never thought to ask my GP about interactions between my prescription and otc painkillers and antihistamine. The pharmacist took the time to explain everything, and again took a look at the sting to make sure there were no obvious problems .

On the other hand, don't get me started on assistants in supermarket pharmacies who seem to think being dressed up in a little white coat makes them experts ! I've had to be very firm about wanting to see a real pharmacist, when the initial response to my request was to peer through her glasses and try reading the packet ! Had to explain that I am perfectly capable of reading for myself, but the packet didn't answer my question .

Living in Wales, all my (NHS) prescriptions are free anyway.

[cwill]

So much for the ratings improving quality.

[Saggyuk]

If the docs treated us properly in the first place, we prob wouldn't need to be prescribed so many other pills lol!!!

The amount of drugs they wanted me on permanently the past 20 yrs is astronomical. I refused all as none of them helped. I no longer need any of them anyway since I resolved my own health issues - well apart from the thyroid meds and iron.

[LuckyKat]

They're worried about the cost and yet there must be many, like me, who are saving them money. I have an exemption card that isn't used at all since I have to purchase my own NDT and the Vit D that was prescribed was not sufficient so I buy my own along with all the other supplements that keep me well.

Perhaps a better system (in my dreams) would be one where we did only receive free treatment for our thyroid conditions, but that it was all-encompassing and provided us with everything we need to be well.

[Xanthi in reply to LuckyKat]

Agreed LuckyKat. One (inadequate treatment) obviously pre-empts the other (a greater need of medications). I think many (myself included) personally pay for supplements or thyroid hormone. Though I'd hope they wouldn't remove exemption of other prescription fees; would seem a bit unfair until they get the first bit right - but that's another contentious story . . .