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I have been worried for some time about receptionists at GP practices Triaging patients to determine if they should see a GP. I have suffered from depression for some time and on medication.
Last Christmas I telephoned the practice to see if I could speak to the GP. The receptionist asked for a brief description of the problem. I stated that I was worried about my mental health. The receptionist advised that there were no appointments today and asked me to ring back on Monday.
Firstly the receptionist did not ask my name, so did not know me. Secondly, they did not probe further as to how at risk I was or if I had contemplated self-harm, fortunately I was not at risk. This telephone call was not recorded on my patient record, therefore if I had taken a downward turn and done something to myself, there is no evidence that I reached out for help.
Also I have a number of long-term conditions that means I am in pain most of the time, but when seeing a GP I am only allowed to talk about one thing, so I have to pick what is the worst at that time. GP's need to look at the bigger picture, they need to establish if any of these are linked. They need to find the root cause rather than treating the symptoms. If I do talk about pain in one part of my body, regardless of how long it has lasted, then I am offered physiotherapy. They then send you for an X-ray, and then to a consultant, who then does more diagnostic tests before deciding that my condition is not treatable because it is the "early onset of..."
Okay, so "According to specialists" I have early onset of arthritis, early onset of macular degeneration, early onset of cataracts, apparently none of which are treatable at my age (in my fifties). What happened to quality of life?
Don't get me wrong, I have had some fantastic support from specific GP's over the years, but my GP Practice has gone down-hill since the start of the pandemic. I can't get to see a GP face to face, I can't see a GP that knows me and my conditions.
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