Thread: Modern Doctors - Its all about the money.

Originally Posted by 101RRS

I have been with my current GP for 25 years and have been very happy with him. Doesn't bulk bill but gives you the time to go through things and has planned 20-30 minute consultations. He is about 15 years younger than me and keeps abreast of changes that good GPs should be aware of.

Unfortunately he developed some medical issues of his own and has retired - time for a new GP. 4 years ago a new GP medical centre opened nearby and I put my name down but not used them so I checked I was still on their books.

Booked in and saw a nice young lady doctor. As I am a new patient I prepared a detailed list of my ailments and all my medications with the aim of this first visit to introduce my self and to quickly run through the list. Well straight off she was not really interested and reminded me we only have 10 minutes for the consultation and did I have any specific issues. During the consultation I was reminded twice more that we only had 10 minutes. It seemed to me that the clock and the associated money was more important than what the patients needs were.

I showed her a mark on my arm and she seemed more happy with that rather than what I wanted to talk about.

10 minutes were up and out the door. Told to leave my information at the front counter - not interested in my out of control diabetes, my gastric reflux etc etc etc. I felt I was just a money making machine.

Now this mark on my arm requires follow up and I will let this GP do that but in the meantime on the lookout for a new GP who does have a patient focus and not the Cha Ching $$$$$$$.

Grumble over.

Garry

My GP not only works on a minimum of 15 minutes, but if you know in advance that you want a longer consult they will arrange accordingly.
If you need to go over time for whatever reason, so be it.
They also actively support doctors (either sex) who prefer to work part time for whatever reason and have a wait list of doctors wishing to join the practice. Well regarded in the community and haven't loss the ethos.
Used to be a waitlist for intending patients too.
Another good idea is to specifically hold open a number of daily appointments for short notice sicknesses, work medical certificates etc.
Possibly helps that they are in a not high income area.
So there are good news stories out there.

Having had my previous doctor go on to be a surgical assistant, my new doctor's first question was "Have you had a blood test for prostate cancer as you are of an age ". I had the test and was diagnosed with cancer and sent to a specialist. Last year my doctor looked at another blood test and sent me for an MRI and I had a perforated appendix. Six days in hospital with continual anti-biotics.
I have now recovered fully from both afflictions.

My GP has now in all probability saved my life TWICE.

Always happy for a bit of a chat to see how I am going, I have absolute confidence in him.

Peter

My local practice has quite a few part time doctors and all good. Receptionists ask in advance if you’ll need a longer consult but you will be billed for it which happy to do.

Our GP retired early this year also with his own health issues & we were lucky enough to get to see one of the lady doctors at the surgery, when we have an appointment, she is always running late because she tales the time with her patients. My wife also suffers diabetes & reflux & has very bad anxiety so when we have to wait it doesn't do her anxiety much good, so the doctor told us to book our appointments at 3.30pm which is straight after her break. It is working well & usually in by3.35 & she takes the time to talk to my wife & is helping her more than her Physicist & Phycologist ever have. My wife also has suffered from skin cancer for years our previous GP would always either freeze them or cut them out, the new doctor sent us to a Dermatologist who has put her on a tablet that is getting rid of a lot of the cancers & some she is freezing. There are a couple on her face that require surgery, so she was referred a Pistic Surgeon at the RBWH who has got the diabetes Clinic involved, & now without any change of diet her sugar levels are in low 7's instead of 10's. Over the last 1 1/2 months we have been to the hospital having different tests done the last on Friday doing a heart stress test before surgery. We have an appointment Monday with the surgeon & hope to find out when the OP will be.

I've sen the same doc for 20+ years. He's a few years younger than me. He has his own issues, with a heart prob. Recently he broke his hip, which is no joke at his age, and has been often absent. So, I now see a woman at his clinic. She is great, always has time, is friendly and thorough, AND bulk bills me, which, as navydiver will tell you, is more difficult these days here in Vic.
So, maybe the OP needs to shop around.

I find the standard allocation of 10 minutes for a consultation to be the crux of the issue and is really cause of the problem - greedy allocation of time . If you are older or have multiple ailments - how can 10 mins be enough time for any sort of decent review and diagnosis - it takes more than 10 mins to just write out all my scripts.

Some will say it is the system's fault for not paying enough for medicare rebate but this is irrelevant where I live as no GPs bulk bill so the patient is paying.

Tins - you correct I need to find another Doctor but easier said than done with most no longer taking new patients - at least we have walk-in Nurses clinics for minor ailments which are actually quite good.

Garry

Originally Posted by 101RRS

I have been with my current GP for 25 years and have been very happy with him. Doesn't bulk bill but gives you the time to go through things and has planned 20-30 minute consultations. He is about 15 years younger than me and keeps abreast of changes that good GPs should be aware of.

Unfortunately he developed some medical issues of his own and has retired - time for a new GP. 4 years ago a new GP medical centre opened nearby and I put my name down but not used them so I checked I was still on their books.

Booked in and saw a nice young lady doctor. As I am a new patient I prepared a detailed list of my ailments and all my medications with the aim of this first visit to introduce my self and to quickly run through the list. Well straight off she was not really interested and reminded me we only have 10 minutes for the consultation and did I have any specific issues. During the consultation I was reminded twice more that we only had 10 minutes. It seemed to me that the clock and the associated money was more important than what the patients needs were.

I showed her a mark on my arm and she seemed more happy with that rather than what I wanted to talk about.

10 minutes were up and out the door. Told to leave my information at the front counter - not interested in my out of control diabetes, my gastric reflux etc etc etc. I felt I was just a money making machine.

Now this mark on my arm requires follow up and I will let this GP do that but in the meantime on the lookout for a new GP who does have a patient focus and not the Cha Ching $$$$$$$.

Grumble over.

Garry

yes, Au is now following USA
I gave up on GPs
I have had some major med issues of late and I DO MEAN major
now I am in the QLD system, I just wait until my next check and ask em for advice
With my old GP I just get and E script, 15 dollars beats 90 visit
wishing you all the best Mister

Originally Posted by 101RRS

Tins - you correct I need to find another Doctor but easier said than done with most no longer taking new patients - at least we
Garry

True. I'm I guess fortunate that my regular GP owns the practice I go to. My recent experience in Qld with a vertebrae fracture was that I couldn't get into a GP for a follow up, which put extra pressure on the Qld hospital system, which I must say was first class.