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I don’t know the answer but I do know that the current system is awful. Only this week our local doctors surgery has changed its system. If you want a same day appointment you have to go on a list and then travel 10 miles in the worst traffic imaginable to see someone. who may only be a nurse. Our local surgery has plenty of nurses who used to deal with a lot, and presumably they’ve been moved to the new community place. Our council are determined to build in excess of 10000 houses so the situation is going to get lot worse.
@luke They may ‘only be’ a nurse but probably a nurse practitioner/prescriber who has passed extra exams and can prescribe.
The reason why a lot of these centres have been developed is instead of very cough, cold, flu, tonsillitis, cut finger, skin rash etc, being seen by a GP, they are assessed by someone who is qualified do so at a cost of about £25 and opposed to a GP consultation £50. They follow the same training assessment as GP would for minor illnesses, if they think its more serious or needs a GP consultation you will still see one.
In Manchester they are developing schemes where other health care professionals who see patients are developing the same skills to take the load off GPs so that they can spend more time with patients with more complicated needs.
Most of us on this board care for horses, and most of us treat minor injuries ourselves, we think before we call a vet. Some people will even ask for advice from Joe Bloggs with no qualification or experience for advice for something that is quite a serious problem.
The NHS is seen as free, and we have paid in to it so we can use it. Instead of, I am not feeling well, can I treat this my self? should I ask for advice from a trained professional like a pharmacist? do I need to see a nurse? Can I wait to see a GP? Shall I ring for advice? Do I really need to go to A&E?
I do agree there are too many pots of money, and each area likes to spend its own pot, its a case if you do not spend it the money will not be allocated to you next year, so they spend it.
I have spoken to HCP working in Manchester and they are hopeful that this may be one solution.
http://www.gmhsc.org.uk/news/new-era-for-integrated-care-in-greater-manchester/
They said one person had called an ambulance 44 times in six months for things that they saw as an emergency but were actually managed in their home. It meant they did not see a doctor but were given support from someone with relevant training.
http://www.gmhsc.org.uk/case-study/community-enhanced-care-service-cec/