Scary.

[Dawn]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/7908742/Axe-falls-on-NHS-services.html

[mike]

So much for the promises to protect the NHS, but did anybody expect any different from them ?



No doubt the usual 'I'm alright jack' brigade will defend them and blame labour 

[midnightrider]

The NHS would save billions each year if they weeded out all the hypochondriacs who clog up the countries waiting rooms every day of the week with very trivial reasons for being there. Think of the money saved on prescriptiopn charges alone, thats if most of the patients actually pay for them. I booked an appointment to see my GP over 2 weeks ago, I managed to get in to see her tomorrow.

[Dawn]

I use the electronic appointment booking system that my GP surgeryis part of (emis-access) and I have been able to get appointments same day, or in 2 weeks at the choice of time to suit me. 
Simple click of a button, no constantly hitting redial to get through, and easily cancelled too if need be.

I have never waited for a fortnight for an appointment and think it is totally unecessary.

Ask about it - your surgery may be part of this scheme.

[blondeviking]

Dawn, hope you dont mind me asking, but which surgery are you with?

[Dawn]

It is in Northwich, but I think alot of them are involved.

[mike]

waiting a fortnight to see a doctor is more or less the norm at ours and if you want to see a specific doctor you can wait up to two months  

[Dawn]

you can choose the doctor in this system - they all have appointments available.

[mike]

you can choose the doctor in this system - they all have appointments available.

it sounds like a whole other world 

[RB]

waiting a fortnight to see a doctor is more or less the norm at ours and if you want to see a specific doctor you can wait up to two months  

I thought you were guaranteed to be able to see a doctor on the same day.
This is something which has improved at my Doctors.
I work away and I used to find it impossible to see a Doctor. If I ring up in the morning at 0830 exactly I will be number 7 in the queue but eventually I get trhough and am able to see a doctor same day.

[mike]

we can see a (non-specific) doctor the same day if its really urgent......... but you will be told to come either at the end of the morning surgery or evening surgery and just have to wait around till a doctor becomes available, you can end up sitting around for up to 3 hours.

[Steve]

I thought you were guaranteed to be able to see a doctor on the same day.
This is something which has improved at my Doctors.

Yes you were right about the same day thing, but this is one of the targets which is going to be relaxed by the ConDem government!

It's hard being a Tory, but at least I can blame the Lib Dem amateurs!!

[RB]

Yes you were right about the same day thing, but this is one of the targets which is going to be relaxed by the ConDem government!

It's hard being a Tory, but at least I can blame the Lib Dem amateurs!!

I havn't heard they are going to relax this target.
As far as I know they have said they will review the National Health Service and scrap things they deem to be ineffective.
The Tories have promised to increase National Health Spending while Labour promised to cut it ( not protect it ) at the Election.
I think a lot of people are going to jump up and down no matter what the Tories do becuase they don't like them.
Maybe you are right but I'll wait and see what happens first.

[mick george]

If you need to see the doc on the same day but can't get an appointment, just go to walk in centre.Its the best thing since sliced bread. you are accessed by a nurse and if she thinks you need to see a doc you only wait a short while. If she decides you have no need to see a doc she sends you away with lots of advice.
Simples

[Steve]

RB, as far as I know I tell the truth!

Heard it on the news, only fact I omitted is the current target is to see over a certain percentage of patients within 48hrs, not necessarily same day as per topic of this post. Can't remember what that percentage is though.