How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[Tiggy]

I know it can be touchy subject but my Drs do home visits when its needed, but today of all days, snow everywhere and the side roads virtually inpassable the requests for visits doubled, if a person who normally comes to surgery cannot get out of their road how do they expect the GP to get in I have had to be very diplomatic all morning - not a skill I have much of normally - we do have a few poorly people that Drs have rung up today to see if they are OK and our duty Dr is borrowing a friends 4x4 to go out and see them.

 

I'm sure all our omleteers are sensible people but everyone out there PLEASE THINK

[chickencam]

People just don't think beyond their individual circumstances

[MadMitch]

People just don't think do they, It must be quite frustrating for you.

 

My general thoughts on GP's and surgeries was pretty low when I lived in Oxforshire, you could never get an apointment and they would never come out but since I moved to Wales my faith has been restored.

We have a really good surgery here but as we are quite rural though alot of elderly people and some who don't drive can't get to the surgery so on a Monday they hold a mini surgery at the shop in the next village where people can go which I think is really good.

[Tiggy]

thats a good idea, suprised its not in the pub to be fair most people are sensible, but there is always a notible minority that do forget that they are not the only patient we have. Half our Docs live in rural areas and did not make it today some of the roads between Worcester Bewdley and Kidderminster are dire. Thankfully my route to work is all main road and without the school traffic I was here in record time. Our poor district nurses are really struggling, some of their patients have rung the office to tell the nurses not to see them today "bless"

[chickencam]

there are some sensible people out there then

 

We are really lucky with our NHS services around here, we have always had a first class service and the nurses at our surgury are all lovely

[Seagazer]

I've been out all morning escorting my MIL to and from the doctors - I don't know who was most scared of falling over, her or me!

 

Its a tricky situation for the doctors, how do they decided over the phone who needs a home visit or not? Whilst I was waiting for MIL the receptionist took a call from someone who wanted a home visit yesterday and "Ooops, word censored!"ody turned up. They were desperate for someone to come.

 

I don't think I'd like to be a doctors receptionist.

[Tiggy]

thats why our receptionists don't make the decision, the request is passed to the GP or senior nurses (nurse practitioner or advanced ) to call the patient back and see what exactly they need, sometimes its advice, or they want to talk to the DR, there are times when we advise them to call 999. It seems to work OK, most of the visits are for frail elderly people, I have to say that requests for visiting children are normally denied because we just do not have the manpower, we will see any of the little ones in suregery fairly quickly

[The Dogmother]

I totally sympathise Tiggy - I bumped into a practice nurse friend today and she's had the same problem - people in the tiny villages outside Banbury town calling in to moan that the nurse/GP can't get to them - hadn't dawned on them that their villages are actually cut off!

 

Some of the places near hear are on or down very steep hills and dicey at the best of times. In this sort of weather they can be cut off for 2-3 days

[feemcg]

I work in a rural practice too and one day last week we had a mother on the phone demanding a home visit for her toddler who had been sick all weekend. The roads were treacherous and the doc spoke to her on the phone and tried to ascertain whether the situation was an 'emergency'. She was adamant the doc should visit, "and anyway I have 3 children under 5".........so he went out to the remote house, and the child was sitting up in its high chair tucking in to a bowl of Rice Krispies

[bronze]

I have to say that requests for visiting children are normally denied because we just do not have the manpower, we will see any of the little ones in suregery fairly quickly

 

 

 

On the other hand they won't come and see me or my children ever and I have three soon to be four children and don't drive. (I wouldn't expect it if we were snowed in)

I try and arrange appointments during school hours for me and just after school for the children as I can use community cars but there have been times when I have been really quite worried and they'll just say no sorry we only go out to elderly people.

I had a miscarriage at home on my own because I was stuck. It was horrible and scary.

Luckily I have good friends who have taken me to a&e when I've reached breaking point in the past.

I'm known for not being one to fuss either so generally if I want to see a doctor and soon its because theres a really genuine reason for it. I would have thought small children were under the same vunerable category as the elderly personally

[Seagazer]

We've only asked once for a home visit. My DD was about 6, had a high temperature, headache and was hallucinating. They didn't want to come out at that point but a little later she developed a rash on her legs. They were out like a shot. Thankfully it wasn't the dreaded Meningitis but a bad viral infection.

 

I think if they hadn't of come out I would have just taken her to hospital.

 

Edited for typos

[Tiggy]

I have to say that requests for visiting children are normally denied because we just do not have the manpower, we will see any of the little ones in suregery fairly quickly

 

 

 

I'm known for not being one to fuss either so generally if I want to see a doctor and soon its because theres a really genuine reason for it. I would have thought small children were under the same vunerable category as the elderly personally

 

 

I hear what you are saying, if you live in an isolated area it can be very difficult but most of our families live very close to the surgery, and those that have difficulty with transport getting to us are asked to register with a practice nearer home. We do have some very vulnerable families and the HV and GPs see them all the time, and we see little ones ASAP at the surgery, but we really cannot do visits for coughs and colds.

[Tiggy]

I have to say that requests for visiting children are normally denied because we just do not have the manpower, we will see any of the little ones in suregery fairly quickly

 

I had a miscarriage at home on my own because I was stuck. It was horrible and scary.

Luckily I have good friends who have taken me to a&e when I've reached breaking point in the past.

 

 

Sorry Bronze I just re read your post, that must have been horrible, thank goodness you have good friends, can you register with a practice nearer to you?

[Tiggy]

just to put things into perspective without upsetting anyone, the roads here are fairly clear now so our home visits will be done, today I have 4 Drs here 2 finish at 12, , they are part time because they have small children of their own, each have seen 20 patients each this morning and there were 35 home visits booked by 11.30. I have taken 100 phone calls from patients wanting to see us today or needing advice and I have a full afternoon surgery, booked at 10 min intervals from 2 - 5.30. I'm sure this is fairly typical of most large practices

Edited February 6, 2009 by Guest

[clootie]

just to put things into perspective without upsetting anyone, the roads here are fairly clear now so our home visits will be done, today I have 4 Drs here 2 finish at 12, , they are part time because they have small children of their own, each have seen 20 patients each this morning and there were 35 home visits booked by 11.30. I have taken 100 phone calls from patients wanting to see us today or needing advice and I have a full afternoon surgery, booked at 10 min intervals from 2 - 5.30. I'm sure this is faily typical of most large practices

 

 

Good Lord

[Seagazer]

35 home visits - how do they fit them all in?

[Lesley]

Tiggy, I had a slight falling out with my GP Practice over being changed from two monthly repeat prescriptions to monthly (out in a village - couldn't drive due to leg injury - no Sat. surgeries now so OH couldn't collect for me) and was very rudely told that I could register with a closer surgery.

 

I went to the nearer surgery in the next village but couldn't register as "your village is now out of our area" Just 2 miles away but all the new building meant that they couldn't take new patients

 

It's so difficult all round, I can see that, but sometimes we don't all fit the 'rules'

 

We've had to call Carl home from work 25 miles in a different direction to take a child to the surgery when I wasn't able to drive.

 

Edit - this isn't meant as a criticism, just an observation. My friend is a Practice Manager for two local practices so I know the problems.

[Tiggy]

Tiggy, I had a slight falling out with my GP Practice over being changed from two monthly repeat prescriptions to monthly (out in a village - couldn't drive due to leg injury - no Sat. surgeries now so OH couldn't collect for me) and was very rudely told that I could register with a closer surgery.

 

I went to the nearer surgery in the next village but couldn't register as "your village is now out of our area" Just 2 miles away but all the new building meant that they couldn't take new patients

 

It's so difficult all round, I can see that, but sometimes we don't all fit the 'rules'

 

We've had to call Carl home from work 25 miles in a different direction to take a child to the surgery when I wasn't able to drive.

 

Edit - this isn't meant as a criticism, just an observation. My friend is a Practice Manager for two local practices so I know the problems.

 

 

I know its very difficult sometimes, more so if you are in a rural area, luckily Kidderminster is well served by local practices and you can move easily between them.

The prescription thing is always a problem, the PCT leans on us to reduce prescribing/wastage hence the monthly scripts but we are always flexible, some people (me for instance) cannot keep up with the monthly ordering.

 

I remember last year when my ankle was in plaster, my surgery was less than helpful, OH was away I was not weight bearing at all and had to get accross to the other side of Brum, taxi was a rediculous price so I tried to arrange hospital transport. Its now is done via the GP and he refused to do it. It took a call from a GP friend to my Dr to point out the position I was in and that I had an infection under the plaster which needed to be removed, I didn't need him to visit me just sign the bloomin form!

 

I do understand how it feels to be on the receiving end, I sometimes get frustrated for the other patients when some folks seem to "hogg" the service all the time. I love going out on visits, it gets me away from the phones. Of my 10 GPs 2 have grown up families and the others all have children ranging from "bump on the way" to 17 yrs, our 2 part time girls both have young children, 2,4,5 & 7 and 18months, 4 and bump, so are really in tune with young moms and would love to see everyone at home, but with the workload in the surgery it really is impossible.

[The Dogmother]

I don't remember ever having a doc visit Except for the midwife that is.

 

S'pose I'm lucky - apart from last year's problem, I hardly ever see our doc. Last tiem I needed an appointment, they told me that my GP had left a year previously... I hadn't known

[Tiggy]

you will have been allocated to the next GP in the list, but I'm sure you can see whoever you like in the practice regardless of whose list you are on

[chickenanne]

H'mm, I do agree that some people are unwilling to make any effort to help themselves. I'm sure everyone would prefer a home visit than to have to trek to the surgery and wait in an uncomfortable waiting room for ages, after all!

But last year I was taken ill (breathing probs). OH called the doctors surgery (as i was too breathless to talk properly), to be told that the doctor finished at 11am and was too busy doing case notes in the surgery to speak to me (this was about 11.05am); the receptionist was rude and unhelpful. I would understand if he'd left or was with a patient, but he was still there and all we needed would've been a 2-miniute converstaion for some advice.

About 15 mins later my poor OH had to take me to casualty, as I was going blue around the lips and really REALLY breathless; it's a 10 mile drive, so not that far, fortunately. In retrospect, we should've jsut called an ambulance, but I thought I was being melodramatic.

I guess the problem is, some people will yell for attention when they shouldn't, and some people won't when they should.

[Tiggy]

But last year I was taken ill (breathing probs). OH called the doctors surgery (as i was too breathless to talk properly), to be told that the doctor finished at 11am and was too busy doing case notes in the surgery to speak to me (this was about 11.05am); the receptionist was rude and unhelpful. I would understand if he'd left or was with a patient, but he was still there and all we needed would've been a 2-miniute converstaion for some advice.

About 15 mins later my poor OH had to take me to casualty, as I was going blue around the lips and really REALLY breathless; it's a 10 mile drive, so not that far, fortunately. In retrospect, we should've jsut called an ambulance, but I thought I was being melodramatic.

 

 

 

that is discraceful I'd find another surgery if I was you

[bronze]

Sounds like our old surgery (old house) which was 1 minute down the road.

Dh had asthma as a child but not since then was suddenly hit by a severe attack. He managed to make it to the surgery but they wouldn't give him a prescription as he didn't have any money on him. It meant he had to drive to the next village to get the cash out. Luckily our next door neighbour gave him his inhaler otherwise I think it may have been an ambulance or worse.

[Tiggy]

Sounds like our old surgery (old house) which was 1 minute down the road.

Dh had asthma as a child but not since then was suddenly hit by a severe attack. He managed to make it to the surgery but they wouldn't give him a prescription as he didn't have any money on him. It meant he had to drive to the next village to get the cash out. Luckily our next door neighbour gave him his inhaler otherwise I think it may have been an ambulance or worse.

 

was it a dispensing practice?

 

that is dreadful too no wonder GP surgeries get a bad name, it's just a few who behave like this but we all get tarred with the same brush, I hope you get better service from your new surgery

[chickenanne]

Bronze, that's terrible! Imagine putting your patients in a situation where they end up having to use prescription meds belonging to other people, or leaving them to drive whilst having an asthma attack. Sounds like a massive failure of common sense.