GP Out of Hours sevice

[TitusGroan]

We recently had occasion to use our GP's out of hours service. What a total shambles it was. The person we saw turned out to be an Emergency Care Practitioner - basically in this case an ambulanceman who had done a 10 or 20 week long course. How can anyone consider this to be a suitable replacement for a fully trained doctor? Why are the government risking the health of the population with pseudo doctors like this? Typical New Labour - dumb it down and dress it up with a a fancy title and a shiny uniform In our particular case he diagnosed a viral chest infection as evidenced by a 0.2C increase in temperature and tried to prescribe antibiotics. You don't need to spend 5 years at medical school and go through another 5 years post grad training to know that antibiotics do not affect a virus. This bloke was even armed with a car so he could make house calls! Needless to say it was the local A&E for us where we insisted on seeing a proper doctor (definitely no one with 'practitioner' in theirjob title)
Thanks Tony.

[doompixie]

You don't need to spend 5 years at medical school and go through another 5 years post grad training to know that antibiotics do not affect a virus.

It doesn't seem to help either. Can't even recall the amount of times me and other family members have been prescribed antibiotics for a viral infection, and I'm only 20

[midge61]

HI
What was the diagnosis from the "proper doctor"?

[TitusGroan]

The doctor, no need for the parenthesis, diagnosed severe hayfever and gave the little chap a dose of vapourised steroids which sorted him out in about 15 minutes. Much happier little boy and relieved parents.

Having read through my first post I realise there is an error: GPs are of course General Practitioners. My comment about 'no one with practitioner in their title' was directed at the ranks of 'nurse practitioners' 'emergency care practitioners' and the rest of them who have completed their 20 week courses and are playing doctor. These people are dangerous and ae no substitute for a properly trained doctor. Whilst the nurse is playing doctor who is making the beds, feeding and looking after the patients? The 'Health Care Assistants', thats who. Another New Labour con trick like teaching assitants in schools. Continual dumbing down and dressing up with a fancy title. Nurses playing doctor, HCA playing nurse, ambulance men playing 'ECP'. f
Thank god I have private health insurance through my job.

[midge61]

Hi
Glad your little boy is ok and it was nothing serious. I do feel your being unfair with your comments though. I took the folowing from the NHS and think you will find ECPs have a little more than a basic 20 week training course.
Emergency care practitioners


This page introduces the role of emergency care practitioner, including information on where they work, training and where to find further information.


Opportunities for qualified and experienced paramedics and nurses

Background:

At least one million people currently taken to A&E every year could be treated at the scene.

The role of emergency care practitioners (ECPs) utilises the skills of paramedics and other professionals (such as nurses) to support the first contact needs of parents in unscheduled care. In 2005, there were approximately 600 employed nationally, mainly employed by ambulance services.
Job role:

ECPS undertake a range of activities including:

• carrying out and interpreting diagnostic tests
• undertaking basic procedures in the home
• undertake routine assessments of patients with long term conditions in their home. This helps people with such conditions to better manage their own health and avoid unnecessary visits to hospital
• having the ability to refer patients to social care services, and directly admit patients to specialist units
• prescribe a wider range of medications

More patients with urgent, but not life-threatening, conditions will be treated at home rather than being taken to hospital. This could benefit, for example, older people who have had a fall and suffered cuts, bruises or other minor injuries and would prefer not to leave their home for treatment.

Where ECPs work

Most ECPs rotate around a variety of settings that include minor injuries units and front line ambulances. Many also work in GP out of hours facilities and may see patients in their own home.

Training

Staff who are employed as ECPs will be experienced and qualified practitioners who have received additional training. This is usually provided in conjunction with a university/higher education institution. This includes greater assessment and examination skills and more training for the treatment of minor injuries and illnesses. ECPs are also trained in the management of long-term conditions.

[alibobsy]

We have a great out of hours service in our area. It is a purpose buildt surgery and you ring up to make an appointment and go and see a proper GP. They even stock a range of basic drugs so you don't always need to take a prescription away and hunt for a chemist to fill it. They also do home visits and cover weekends. So I guess it like everything else in the NHS if you live in the right area the service is great, wrong area and you are scr**ed.
BTW I have hayfever and asthma, hayfever tends not to sit on your chest like that, might be worth asking your own GP about the possiblility that he may have asthma. Having had asthma and hayfever and allergic rhinitis since I was very young I have tried almost every drug going so if you want to ask any questions about any drugs he is prescribed I can give you my experience of it if you like. You can also get liquid antihystamine from the chemist which is handy to have in to treat any allergic symtoms early and even helps stops swellings around bites and insect stings.
Hope he is better now.
Good Luck
Ali x

[louis wu]

Titus,

Your posts on this thread concern me. You obviously have some idea of the ECP role (at least that is the impression you give), and you convey that in a way that portrays you as some kind of expert in the field.

Your post also does not ask for any advice, it just gives a monologue of how poor they are at the service they give. In fact you go much further that than, and call them dangerous

These people are dangerous and ae no substitute for a properly trained doctor.

This statement is not just aimed at the ECP that attended your home, but is a blanket statement regarding all ECP's. And this is where you show your ignorance.

You also go on to say that the ECP that attended your house diagnosed a viral chest infection, and wanted to prescribe anti-biotics. Unfortunately, as is the nature of an internet forum, we have no proof of this, and we are forced to accept version of event without any evidence. Now, as your rant is concerning the lack of ability of ECP's, it is easy to draw the conclusiion that your recollection of the events that took place have been manipulated to show the ECP in a bad light.

Natrually, I have no evidence of this, but I do know a little about the ECP role (obviously more than you) and find it very difficult to imagine a trained healthcare proffessional mentional Viral and antibiotics in the same examination/treatment. If indeed this was the case, then I assume you have paperwork to prove this, and have brought this to the attention of the Ambulance service, and PCT in your area. If not, why not? as surely you wouldn't want this person making the same mistake again.

Your post is ill concieved, badly informed, and conveys a false picture of the role of an ECP.

I also notice that this user name has only made 2 posts, and was created around the time that this thread was created. It is odd that a bank charges website is the place that a new member would choose to make this as their first post, unless of coarse you have created another user name in which to post this under. If so, why? unless you are concerned that someone with more knowledge on the subject would be able to show the post for what it is and didn't want to taint your other user name. Any which way, may I suggest you do your homework on a subject before attempting to ridicule it, as in my, and no doubt many others, you have suceeded in only making yourself look foolish

Louis (my original user name by the way)