What is your GP like?

Hmmm, I think a lot of press misreporting puts things into a wrong light.


The "salary" quoted that GPs get is how much they might get from the local PCT (Primary Care Trust-like a local sub-division of the NHS). This money is ALL they get to run the practice. So that has to pay for themselves, and cleaners, receptionists, supplies, nurses, IT eqpt, any specialist equipment etc etc etc.

The "report" from a medical paper regarding prescription errors & death rates, could you tell us which one? I would be highly doubtful of the figures quoted, or of the conclusions made.

Finally, bear in mind the training and experience a GP will have, 6 years in medical school and an absolute minimum of 4 years as a junior doctor before they could become a GP (provided they pass the multitude of exams required throughout this training).

What do they do? Well, yes, an awful lot is reassuring and simple treatments. The skill is being able to differentiate the cold in a baby from the life threatening pneumonia at an early stage. Being able to tell when someone's tired because they work too hard, from being an early sign of a cancer which if missed, may mean the difference between early treatment and saving a life and dying of cancer...this is where they earn much of their pay.

Andy

PS: No doctor should be issuing a sick certificate on the NHS for the 1st 5 days-this is covered by self-certifying, any workplace which demands a sick note before this can only do so if they are willing to pay for it to be done off the NHS (ie privately), and with the employee's permission.

Oh & Samnooshka, did your diagnosis of cluster headaches or broken rib in anyway change what actual treatment was required??

The "report" from a medical paper regarding prescription errors & death rates, could you tell us which one? I would be highly doubtful of the figures quoted, or of the conclusions made.

My first reaction to the figure was also disbelief, i will try to find the actual document which states that figure. My boss pointed that journal to me when i was putting together a presentation for Health ministers in Shanghai the importance of Health informatics in reducing misprescribing. (China official figure for misprescription death is at 1,000,000/year, but some believe that figure was derived from UK and USA data, the actual figure can be a lot higher. The head of one of the hospitals we visited whilest we were there did a presentation to us stating 0 death from prescription errors from his hospital, then i asked what about patient die after leaving the hospital... i think he hates me now..). I haven't managed to get the UK figure on the internet, but the USA data are easily obtainable from google which is pretty close to UK rates.

Gp's are fantastic, I get it. I don't like mine very much but that aside, I'm willing to accept they are fantastic.

However, you get fantastic, caring people in all walks of life and they certainly don't get paid £100k a year. Sure it takes a long time to get the qualification...but £100k....£100,000....one hundred thousand pounds...crazy money. I should go back to Uni.

Certainly do not deserve that much at all. If they get it, I don't believe much that is portrayed in the media and haven't read a thing in this thread bar the first few replies.

[northwind]

Originally Posted by instigator

If they get it

Most of them don't- that's the average. Some make huge amounts, some just make a good professional wage.

Originally Posted by Dysparunia

Oh & Samnooshka, did your diagnosis of cluster headaches or broken rib in anyway change what actual treatment was required??

Yes i was given some tablets to reduce blood pressure for when i got the headaches (some stuff better than aspirin anyway), i had to be careful with these as i naturally have low blood pressure and the tablets sometimes made me feel worse, i was in and out of the doctors for about 2 years trying to get the right treatment for it and having tests as the pain was unbearable at times, we tried everything even drugs to help raise my blood pressure a little as i was passing out with my headaches and they thought that my blood pressure may have dropped each time. I still get them from time to time, but nowhere near as bad as i haven't passed out for over 4 years. the trouble is with the test though is that they will only pick up a problem if it occurring at that time, say i had a headache during the test... but every test i had was done when i was feeling fine, so i kept getting sent home and then passing out again a day or so later. I was also tested for epilepsy as that comes in many varying stages, luckily i was tested to be clear. even so i had to wait longer to get my provisional license and it took ages to get a doctors certificate to say i was clear and send that to the dvla.

To get them to take me seriously and not just send me home with paracetamol i had to keep going back saying that there is something wrong and it needs to be sorted as i wanted to learn how to drive. he eventually sent me to see the neurologist and it was her who told me what was wrong.

oh and the ribs i was given pain killers.

I understand the complexities of a gp's job, and i would never take on the responsibility they carry on their shoulders. I think i just had a bad surgery as they did have a lot of complaints about their customer service. It may have changed now i know they employed a new GP, i haven't been there since i moved out of my parents.

As for the sick notes i know my last GP wouldn't issue one before 5 days. but i didn't know that if work wanted one then they would have to pay for it, i always thought we had to pay for it, but then i haven't taken more than one day off sick at a time (apart from when i broke my rib last year and even then i went into work before i got told to go home as i couldn't lift or be useful).

Originally Posted by northwind

Most of them don't- that's the average. Some make huge amounts, some just make a good professional wage.

GPS DO NOT GET PAID THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

Sorry to shout, but it really annoys me, the figures being quoted in the press are how much they are given to pay for the practice. Their pay is how much they have left after they have paid for everyone and everything else.

Samnooshka, who provided your "clear" certificate for the driving license , your GP, or the neurologist (or your neurologist via the GP)?

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Dysparunia

GPS DO NOT GET PAID THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

The figure quoted here is average PROFIT, not the surgery grant.

GPS DO NOT GET PAID THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

I work with GPs in an out of hours service & i can say for a fact that YES they do get paid this & more on average ( i work with a pool of about 60 GPs )

Couple points GPs are self employed so have costs even after the day to day running of there surgery, medical insurance for one is close to a grand a month also the GPs that earn this are the partners most new GPs are salaried allowing the existing partners to pay them less & divy up the remaining monies.

Are GPs worth this amount i would say Yes they are, they do a superb job saving the NHS from wastefull admissions & saving lives on a daily basis, how many other professionals work as long including out of hrs , dentists hah its hard enough to get an emergency plumber never mind a dentist.

& for the love of god dont start me off on NHS INDIRECT What a total total waste of NHS cash i advise all of you to bypass this useless Tony blair pet & contact your local out of hrs provider direct.


Blazey...

Originally Posted by Dysparunia

GPS DO NOT GET PAID THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY.

Sorry to shout, but it really annoys me, the figures being quoted in the press are how much they are given to pay for the practice. Their pay is how much they have left after they have paid for everyone and everything else.

Samnooshka, who provided your "clear" certificate for the driving license , your GP, or the neurologist (or your neurologist via the GP)?

neurologist through the GP, i was waiting ages and phoned the neurologist to see if she had given it to my GP and she had. But the GP took ages to send it in to the DVLA. The DVLA then sent a form to my GP for him to fill in from their doctors, and he took ages then too. He doesn't work there now as far as i know. He received so many complaints. I was never in there for silly little things like colds and will stay away from a doctor if i can help it, anyone who knows me can confirm that, so when i do go, it is because i really need to see one. I don't even take a sick day until i am told to go home.

A lot of GPs i work with earn 150k and over salary wise.