First, I must admit I do not use my GP often. I have to have something out of the ordinary to call on his services. Second, I must admit my previous experience of the GP service is not great. My Norwich GP delayed 15 months before referring me to the hospital for cancer investigation. The delay turned out to be life changing.
So my current experience has been very positive. The initial consultation was by phone. I did not have to sit in a waiting room crammed with coughs and colds or anything else contagious. I would not have needed a morning off work if it had been minor. And if it was sufficiently serious to need the doctor, surely it is more beneficial to sit in your own home and wait.
It also occurs to me that, with the stupid time limit imposed on doctors, on most occasions they do not have the time to examine you properly and rely on the verbal exchange to decide what is wrong with you.
So round one of my current problem was on the phone. I thought about the forthcoming conversation and wrote down my symptoms to be sure I missed nothing and could give the doctor the best information. He phoned me, I told him the problem, he asked questions, came to a diagnosis that seemed reasonable and sent my prescription straight to the pharmacy. He also told me to get in touch if the problem persisted.
A week later the medication had not worked and my condition was marginally worse. I phoned a second time and was immediately given an appointment the same day. I arrived a few minutes beforehand and was seen on time. The consultation was thorough and took over 20 minutes. At the end, though not filled with joy at the diagnosis, I had pain control in place and further tests/treatment planned. He couldn’t have achieved that in the 10 minutes previously allotted.
Maybe I was just lucky and my current GP is more conscientious than the rest, but having known a number of them socially and professionally, I have never doubted their commitment and compassion, with the one exception.
Perhaps we could consider this as one positive outcome from coronavirus. The pandemic has caused immense, undeniable suffering and hardship, but there is always opportunity in adversity. Individuals and businesses have been forced to look at the way they do things, what is important and what is not, what we want in the future and how we might achieve changes that are beneficial, changes for the better.
In the meantime, within 24 hours I had a call from a physiotherapist, so another part on the back for the NHS and my GP, thank you.