Coronavirus: social, economic and other changes as a result of the pandemic

[french frank]

Popped round to the doctors today, to drop in a repeat prescription request.

Now, in addition to the massive pull up sign telling us to keep out, and the table across the internal door, they have a full door- sized plastic screen with a little slot to hand over requests and receive prescriptions, which is literally the only medical activity taking place there. I wish I was making this up.

It really is madness. We are being taught to treat other people as little more than walking virus carriers, and unless we are very careful it will end badly.

It may be local madness. My surgery is open - for booked appointments only (can be done online), and face-to-face appointments are available. There are also telephone appointments. There's an electronic prescription service, delivery to one's nominated pharmacy. On a related matter, I also had occcasion to ring NHS 111 on a dental matter and was answered very swiftly (after all the coronavirus statements) and given excellent advice.

[teamsaint]

It may be local madness. My surgery is open - for booked appointments only (can be done online), and face-to-face appointments are available. There are also telephone appointments. There's an electronic prescription service, delivery to one's nominated pharmacy. On a related matter, I also had occcasion to ring NHS 111 on a dental matter and was answered very swiftly (after all the coronavirus statements) and given excellent advice.

I know that it is a mixed picture. My niece works in a GP practice, and she tells us there is a mixed picture of people working hard to deal with backlogs, and bad in the sense of some poor management of patients .

[Anastasius]

...
It’ a mess, but we can make choices in how we deal with it.

...

I'll try again. What would you propose instead ? What would be your choice(s) ?

[teamsaint]

I'll try again. What would you propose instead ? What would be your choice(s) ?

I really don't know why you expect me to respond after your earlier abusive post.

So I won't.

[oddoneout]

No treatment at all at our branch, which is one of five, just prescriptions.

That suggests to me that each site has been considered with respect to how best to deliver overall services within the constraints of keeping the public and staff safe. That includes looking at space to circulate and wait at a safe distance (which will also include things like toilets and staff work space) and ventilation. There will be different cleaning requirements(with differing costs) depending on usage.
Surgeries which are one stop shop set-ups have much more of a problem trying to meet all the demands on one site. I've just checked arrangements for my GP surgery and basically any form of drop-in(eg to make appointments) is now strongly discouraged, for obvious reasons. They have put in place all sorts of contact and consulting arrangements, not solely online, and stress that face to face appts are still available where clinically necessary. It looks as if some treatment clinics are still happening, but I have no knowledge of the extent of coverage compared to 'before' . Fortunately it is a fairly modern single storey building with wide corridors and an existing one way system for the treatment and consulting rooms, which will have made it easier to put measures in place.

[Anastasius]

I really don't know why you expect me to respond after your earlier abusive post.

So I won't.

Teddy out of the pram, then. Either that or you really don't have any proposals to offer and so my original post remains valid.

[teamsaint]

Teddy out of the pram, then. Either that or you really don't have any proposals to offer and so my original post remains valid.

You carry on with the personal stuff, ( at least the third go and counting) .I have a job to do, and a run to go for, which will be a lot more fun.

Incidentally, I posted at some length about my feelings about lockdown, freedoms etc recently. If you are SO interested in my views, refer to that.

[Serial_Apologist]

Teddy out of the pram, then. Either that or you really don't have any proposals to offer and so my original post remains valid.

If you treat others in an uncivilised and abusive manner, you truly must be a nasty piece of work if you than complain about them giving you the non-answer you expected and in all probability really wanted to justify your non-case in the first place.

[Anastasius]

If you treat others in an uncivilised and abusive manner, you truly must be a nasty piece of work if you than complain about them giving you the non-answer you expected and in all probability really wanted to justify your non-case in the first place.

Um, no. I really wanted to know. Never mind. I'm weary of people always complaining ...I see it on other forums. I don't spend my every living moment on this firum but dip in from time to time. Maybe it is coincidence but every time I do, there is a post from TS along the lines of 'It will all end badly".

[Anastasius]

You carry on with the personal stuff, ( at least the third go and counting) .I have a job to do, and a run to go for, which will be a lot more fun.

Incidentally, I posted at some length about my feelings about lockdown, freedoms etc recently. If you are SO interested in my views, refer to that.

I will. Are they in this thread or the main Covid thread ?

[Dave2002]

No treatment at all at our branch, which is one of five, just prescriptions.

That is poor. I wouldn't necessarily expect treatment, but I would expect consultations and referals if needed. What are they doing?

[oddoneout]

That is poor. I wouldn't necessarily expect treatment, but I would expect consultations and referals if needed. What are they doing?

Using different sites for different things as I suggested earlier?

[Anastasius]

I think the real reason that people go into medicine is for the pay and the status, in the main.
Fair enough.That is how the world turns.

Well, I went looking to see what positive suggestions you had made and stumbled on this little gem.

I'm speechless.

[Study Session]

Well, I went looking to see what positive suggestions you had made and stumbled on this little gem.

I'm speechless.

Great news, Anastasius. And bravo Teamsaint.

[teamsaint]

Well, I went looking to see what positive suggestions you had made and stumbled on this little gem.

I'm speechless.

Good . But you didn’t read the post I referred you to, did you ?

( Funny though how given the choice, people tend to go into high status , well rewarded occupations).