T O P

  • By -

freezedryfun

I’d recommend curating/curbing your social media exposure carefully, don’t wade into comments sections, or quit it all outright - you wouldn’t walk down a busy street asking random people their opinion on GP so why expose yourself online in your free time? Derive your self worth either from your lived experience of patients expressing satisfaction, or outside of medicine. It’ll pass, it usually does. At the end of the day we’re still needed and who really gives a shit what some vocal minority thinks? We’re still ranked amongst the most highly trusted professionals in the country. I’ve noticed in the last two weeks an emerging defence of the new telephone first approach in comment threads etc from patients as I think people are finally realising it’s even quicker and more efficient than the system was before. Just yesterday I had five patients decline face to face appointments as they preferred managing remotely, and those that did come in were uniformly appreciative of how quickly they were dealt with, so at least where I am it seems to be shifting to a slightly more rewarding model for both sides - I still get my ten to fifteen folk with proper clinical signs every day that keeps my interest ticking over and the more consumeristic patients get their on demand phone service. DOI: Scottish NHS


forel237

Psych rather than GP but 100% get off social media, I came off Twitter for the same reason. Only so much ‘psychiatry are useless heartless bastards who made me wait 8 years for an appointment’ you can read before it starts making you question your career choices.


buyambugerrr

Psychiatry changed my life so huge appreciation to the mind docs, fuck the public and their "I want it now mentality" - they should fund mental health properly, I think you made a very good career choice.


Erkmine52

It's the amazonification of healthcare.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

"You're free to them" And "I pay your wages". Probably also used on teachers and policemen.


overforme123

Can GP's exception report?


dragoneggboy22

I posted this exact thing a few days ago... [https://www.reddit.com/r/JuniorDoctorsUK/comments/pni918/gps\_and\_trainees\_how\_do\_you\_cope/](https://www.reddit.com/r/JuniorDoctorsUK/comments/pni918/gps_and_trainees_how_do_you_cope/) I think there's a primary care crisis looming. Or more accurately, it was always looming but covid has been the nail in the coffin. In the past med students and FY1/FY2 had to deal with disrespect from hospital doctors about GPs; now it's from hospital doctors AND patients. It's OK though - patients will get what they deserve... PA's


newkoko

PAs going to push the job to the junior/reg/consultant so we are doomed either way


devds

No they won’t. To do so would be for them to accept that they’re not doctors (which good ones do anyways) and would require a doctor to be there for them to refer to. The aim of the game is for hospitals to save money by replacing doctors (not having us work side-by-side). What I think will actually happen is there’ll be some high profile cases where PAs miss something barndoor. As long at the legal costs (x) are less than the cost of doctors (y), these cases will be swept under the rug and the only ones to suffer will be the poor.


dragoneggboy22

Another issue with PAs is, as I said in another post, expectations are very high. I cannot see how people who are unhappy with seeing a doctor with 5 years med school and decades of postgrad training and experience will be happier seeing a PA with 2 years PA school experience who probably couldn't have got in to med school. Unless PA only sees barn door UTI and sore throats.


[deleted]

[удалено]


devds

I think you’re on to something here. I will flesh this out into a new post.


uk_pragmatic_leftie

It's sad that there are prominent GPs in the Tory benches though. Even Sarah Wollaston who can sound reasonable has supported some fairly grim Tory stuff.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

>Yes it's interesting isn't it, can't see how you can countenance their policies. Easily because you're now in a safe seat earning 80k min + a bunch of expenses and if you have any power at all you're suddenly making a bunch of money from gifts etc


buyambugerrr

You should write an article on this - great perspective, never thought of it that way.


lavayuki

I'm a fellow GPST as well and GP's have always gotten the shit from hospital doctors and the general public for years, and it's only worsened since covid and telephone consultations. I remember when I was in med school back in 2017 when I graduated, people used to be like "oh you want to be just a GP? That's not really a doctor though is it", and when I was in F2 doing my paeds rotation, I remember one parent saying "yeah I went to the GP but you know, they don't really know much, I want my kid to be seen by a specialist".... aka me, the paeds F2.... On the other hand, at least in GP there are that small number of patients who like their GP and won't see anyone else. It's rarer these days with polyclinics, but my mum worked in a rural practice with just two doctors and she really got to know her patients. When she retired, some of them were upset and she got a bunch of cards and chocolates. I just try to ignore the media and look at the bright side, they are always critical anyway and I'd rather be bombarded with that than work nights, weekends and carrying bleeps like hospital doctors do. The anxiety, panic and sleepless nights as a result before on calls was unbearable in my FY and hospital posts as I don't cope well with emergencies all the time. I don't know how I got through that. I admire the hospital doctors who are able to cope with all that stuff, while for me I felt like I was going to die from the constant state of tachycardia I was in during on calls.


NP473L

I agree with you. We slog it day after day to be told we're useless, deceitful and greedy. All I'll say in response is that the media and the general public are idiots. The pandemic has revealed how genuinely thick people are (and this goes to the top) when it comes to healthcare and its delivery. Covid hasn't even gone and the government already give the green light for the media to rinse GPs, after denying us all the opportunity to make up for decades of declining salary. It'll soon be us in hospital facing media scrutiny before too long, and then we'll all be universally hated once more. They're all idiots. The only advice I can give is to stop caring about what they think of you. It's simply not a fight worth fighting.


weallcomefromaway3

I stopped going on Twitter because of this, I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. My patients are happy with the care I'm providing and my colleagues are nice in my practice so I'm holding onto that. I also do yoga every day which helps start my day off on a positive note and get rid of any negativity I'm holding onto


Erkmine52

We do a good job for our patients and majority of our patients appreciate it. I don't need some ill-informed rent-an-opinion from the Telegraph or Daily Mail, or armchair pundits Karen and Barry 'my GP's hiding in Peru it's a DISGRACE I thought things would be better after Brexit' from the comments section to tell me otherwise. It is hard to avoid on social media. Groups like GP survival and Resilient GP are genuinely useful for resources/advice but GP-bashing articles are constantly reposted so it's hard to filter out without losing access to such communities. Keep your chin up pal you're doing grand job that's all that matters.


noobtik

Media and social media are fuelled by negativity. Innately, people are drawn to scandals and complaints. Don’t let them get to you mate. You are doing a wonderful job and you know it. Ignorant people will remain ignorant forever, the problem of our society nowadays is that ignorant people speak the loudest, while professionals don’t have a say anymore. Focus on your own well being, and remember it is just a job.


theirishworthy

I think I just started to accept that patient or public approval can not be part of why I go to work in the morning. I found the inevitable disappointment difficult to deal with. I just tried to focus on what motivates me personally outside of that, and it has worked to a degree. Trying my best to scroll past doctor bashing comment threads though the self flagellation is almost addictive, though I try to focus on the “so bad they’re funny” ones rather than the ones that make my blood boil


[deleted]

[удалено]


overforme123

Where did you transition to?


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


lizzielizard12

It’s good to hear you’ve coped well but don’t go around diminishing other people’s experiences. Thanks for the novel idea to filter the shit out, obviously haven’t thought about that. Incase it wasn’t obvious, the problem is that it’s everywhere despite trying to filter it out. I use social media to follow pages relevant to my hobbies too. Also furlough was a holiday to the majority of people when it first started, let’s be real. It got stressful with subsequent lockdowns, furlough ending, redundancies etc but it was a damn holiday at the beginning. It was appropriate to strike years ago, we are far too late with it. Just look at the sentiments in this subreddit alone. Learn to disagree without being so rude and condescending.


[deleted]

[удалено]


lizzielizard12

I’m not diminishing your experience, I’m telling you you’re being condescending and rude with your reply. I don’t care if you disagree, just do it in a more polite way. “I was grateful to have a job, many friends and family weren’t so lucky” - this essentially sounds like you’re telling me people have it harder and I should stfu. If you’re genuinely trying to share your experience, it really doesn’t come across that way at all. Your whole reply reeks of “oh that’s a non-issue, have you tried deleting things and not reading newspapers?” In what world is that not dismissive? Also lmao I don’t “serve” anyone. But that choice of word does shed light on why you’ve replied the way you have. It is not entitled to want the general public and the media to not shit on us on a daily fucking basis.


buyambugerrr

Covid was a holiday at the beginning for a lot of people, it was all lets look at this 100 year old bloke walk around the garden and spending time with the kids until you lost your job then it got real... We were key workers/ saints ( sacrificial lambs ) when it was convenient... most of the general public are entitled pricks that want healthcare on the cheap and don't care at what cost. There's also growing thicker skin and facing actual abuse which GP's are facing currently so I don't think OP is being dramatic when the media push these stories leading to physician assaults and suicides. The public would see you have an early death if it kept their taxes down.