Yesterday I had 73 patient contacts - comprising 2 full surgeries,
6 housecalls, telephone calls, "popping into the treatment room to see
extras for the nurse", etc. I worked solidly from 8.15 until 8pm, then
spent 2 hours checking last weeks blood test results etc. I have not
yet found time to do the 18 referrals engendered by yesterdays patients.
Now it is today. It is not Monday, so maybe the workload will be
lighter, but I woke at 4.30 trying to recall whether I wrote notes on
all my housecalls.
One of yesterdays patients demanding a home visit for his 10 year old
said" I know how hard you work" - how can he? Does anyone who is not
themselves a GP know how hard we work?
TV programmes like Peak Practice and even the real life one don't help.
I enjoy general practice, I like the challenge of medicine, but I cannot
work at this rate for very long. Perhaps once the rewards came in
positive feedback from patients, but the good feelings it engenders
don't last long when the next patient is a "something must be
done"patient. A decent income would help - at least one to pay a locum
and afford a holiday, not either /or.
Oh, well, time to leave for work; mustn't forget to take the children to
school... where are they? and put the cat out? oh, return the video, put
the washing in, feed the fish, get the supper in the slow cooker, mop up
the spilt milk... crying? me? over spilt milk?
Almost.
Katie
GP Aldershot
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Katie Law
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