I think some-one needs to point out that when we changed we were allowed
to drop out but that it was one out all out not an individual choice and
that we pay for the privilege. Well you lot do I opted out for a 1 in 1
with no holidays.  The PCTs took what HMG said was a reasonable amount
and chose to spend it how they liked.
It is not GPs fault that OOH cover is diabolical it is the PCTs and then
HMGs. I assume that the % taken for the compulsory opt out is increasing
year on year so GPs are paying more to opt out and luckily earning more
because they are working harder.
What I do think GPs are responsible for is the lack of access in-hours
that my A&E husband and also fellow mothers in the playground report to
me. I need to catch up with an ex-partner to find out what is going on
to make life so difficult but perhaps some-one on the list can explain.
Locally having opted out of OOH (compulsorily not that we wanted to stay
in) GPs now seem to shut access at lunchtime and offer fewer emergency
appts. In the local city where hubbie works surgeries insist that
patients ring in on the day between 8 and 8:30 only and can have no
other access to an appointment. A&E attendances have increased by 20%
since the new contract and its mainly patients who have tried to get an
appt but can't and before any-one says (as I used to) that its not true
hubbie has tried to ring up to make one for the patient (to educate them
as to how to behave) and he can't either get through as phones are
diverted or can't get past the receptionist.
Is this now standard and can any-one please tell me why? I have been
contemplating coming out of retirement to do a few locums when number 2
son starts play group  but am seriously thinking that GP is not where I
want to be anymore. My Nan had a visit from a GPR yesterday who is doing
his VTS and plans to go straight into private practice. For the first
time in my idealistic life I wasn't scandalised but actually thought
that that might be the way to go.
Yours despondently
Portia

In message <[log in to unmask]>
, Paul Bromley <[log in to unmask]> writes
>Nothing would induce me to do OOH again. 3 years I moved to a lower
>earning practice (quality of life). I did some OOH to cover my salary
>drop. I took a big tax hit on this extra work. having stopped OOH in
>August, I am now getting off the tax treadmill, but obviously still
>taking the hit without the money coming in.
>
>Regarding OOH I think we need to get the message to them that to do
>any OOH work we would increase our weekly hours to dangerous levels.
>Would you fly with a pilot who had not had prior rest?? I remember the
>bad old days when I started at 8.00am on Friday morning, knowing that
>I would then be working till 6.30 on the Monday - not a good feeling,
>and certainly nothing I would like to go back to.
>
>
>> I'm in 2 minds myself.  On the one hand, I would give my support to calls
>> for boycotting C&B for example.  But I do wonder if the 0% is the prodrome
>> to get us to take our eyes off the ball before bigger battles come along
>> (OOH springs to mind).
>

Portia
ex-GP,  now full time mother and loving it!
reply to : [log in to unmask]

Illness is an invented label attached by a monopolistic medical profession in 
order to catch, subjugate and exploit its clients --Ivan Illich
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